I'd read The Shepherd's Bride] and looked forward to
finding out more about the Amish characters. Patricia
Davids has a knack of bringing people to life in a modern
setting while they choose to follow the rules of their
rural community. THE AMISH NANNY includes alpacas, kept
for
their fine wool.
Ethan Gingerich has seen the lady he adored marry someone
better off, and now he works quietly at hauling timber
with
his team of massive Belgian horses. His brother and
sister-
in-law have recently died and left him to care for their
three young children. One little boy thought he could ride
the neighbour's alpacas - not knowing that their backs are
not strong. No harm was done, but Ethan can't watch the
kinner every minute, and he isn't able to get any work
done. Besides which, it's calving time.
Clara Barkman is assisting Ethan's neighbour Faith Lapp
with spinning, having been helped by her sister Lizzie to
run away from an unpleasant uncle and a marriage she
didn't
want. Clara's a pretty young maid
who can't resist chatting to the children and helping them
out of trouble in the stream. Farmland holds many dangers.
Ethan asks Clara in front of her family if she will come
to
work for him as a nanny. She's considering doing teaching
work in autumn and this seems like a good way to start.
The
children will be adequate chaperones.
The oldest boy, Micah, is stubborn and uncooperative,
since
Ethan has no idea what chores or disciplines are
appropriate, and Micah silently blames God for the
untimely
death of his parents, though Clara takes time to
understand
this fact. For her part, Clara carries a fear of horses.
Can she overcome these difficulties to make a happy home?
And has she any business growing to admire the hard-
working
timber man?
I enjoyed seeing Ethan's strong team hauling trunks out of
the woods, in an environmentally friendly manner. This is
not a safe job to do alone, as we discover. While Clara's
scenes are generally domestic, the farm setting and Fourth
of July festival are enjoyable. Patricia Davids writes in
a
lovely descriptive manner so THE AMISH NANNY will suit
those wanting a gentle romance with strongly described
characters and a lively background.
A reclusive Amish logger, Ethan Gingerich is more
comfortable around his draft horses than the orphaned
niece
and nephews he's taken in. Yet he's determined to provide
the children with a good, loving home. The little ones,
including a defiant eight-year-old, need a proper nanny.
But when Ethan hires shy Amishwoman Clara Barkman, he
never
expects her temporary position to have such a lasting hold
on all of them. Now this man of few words must convince
Clara she's found her forever home and family.
Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of
the Plain People.
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