Love Finds You in Amana Iowa (35 page)

Amalie leaned down and handed her son the box she once thought Friedrich had made for her, the fragments of rose petals still inside, and he slowly walked it over to the tombstone. Matthias kissed her hair, and she clung to him as their son placed the small box by the fresh flowers.

She wished Carl and Louise could be there to see the child they called grandson honor their son.

“He should be here soon,” Matthias whispered, and she nodded her head. Matthias took her hand, and together their family walked to the base of the hill to meet the man whom they had traveled eight hundred miles to see.

A carriage was waiting by the entrance to the cemetery. The door opened, and a handsome man stepped out of the carriage, dressed in a black suit and top hat, followed by a woman dressed in yards and yards of a vibrant green color, a newborn child secured in her arms.

The man took off his hat and stretched out his hand. “My name is Taylor,” he said. “Taylor Barnes.”

Matthias shook Taylor’s hand and introduced Amalie and their baby daughter. Then he nudged their son forward.

“This is our son,” Matthias said. “His name is Friedrich Roemig.”

Tears damped Taylor’s eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, son.”

Friedrich placed his hands on his hips. “You don’t look one bit like a Rebel.”

Taylor laughed as he wiped his cheeks dry with a handkerchief. “What exactly does a Rebel look like?”

Amalie was horrified when Friedrich pulled his eyes back and crossed them.

“Stop that,” she commanded.

Taylor laughed again, messing up Friedrich’s hair. “I think your son is right, ma’am. A lot of Rebels looked exactly like that.”

Amalie took a deep breath, relief washing through her. She’d been afraid her heart was still filled with hatred for the man in front of her, but God had replaced the hatred with love.

When Taylor introduced his wife, Udela Barnes held out her elegant glove to Amalie. “I am so grateful—” she began, but tears interrupted her words.

Matthias stepped forward again, speaking to Taylor as Udela wiped her tears. “We were surprised to get your letter.”

“It took me a long time to find you, and then I didn’t think you would want to meet me,” Taylor said. “But over the past months, Udela and I, we felt like we were supposed to contact you.”

Taylor took a book out of his pocket, and Amalie looked down to see the Gospel of John.

“I’ve had this since the battle.” He handed the Gospel to Amalie and she opened the first page to read Friedrich Vinzenz’s name. “I’ve taken good care of it for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, and then she leaned down and showed the Bible to her son. “Friedrich’s parents will cherish it.”

“Friedrich died a hero.”

Amalie glanced over at Matthias, but instead of jealousy, she saw only kindness in his face. “He lived as a hero as well,” she replied.

Tears filled Taylor’s eyes once more.

“Please—please forgive me,” Taylor asked of her.

She watched the young man, thinking for a moment that he was begging forgiveness for keeping Friedrich’s book for so long, but then she realized what he was asking. He wanted her to forgive him for being alive.

Her gaze wandered from his tears to the eyes of his wife and then the face of his precious child. Friedrich wouldn’t want him to carry this burden another day, and neither did she.

“It was God who rescued you, Taylor, and it was God who called Friedrich home. You did nothing wrong.”

“Please—” the man begged again.

Amalie remembered the part of her that had blamed this man for Friedrich’s death, a Confederate fighting to keep people enslaved. Friedrich had died for Taylor, and in her heart, she had hated the Rebel that he used to be. Yet God had redeemed her and her family, even with her hatred, and she knew He desired to not only rescue this man’s life, but his soul as well.

She put one arm around Taylor Barnes and the other around his wife.

“You are forgiven,” she whispered.

When she released the Barnes family, she heard little Friedrich behind her, cheering for them all.

It was such a pleasure for me to return to the Amana Colonies to write a story that takes place more than thirty years before my novel
Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa.
The United States was in turmoil during the 1860s, but the Community of True Inspiration remained strong during the War Between the States. The Inspirationists’ faith in God and pursuit of community was intertwined with their work and families and the building of their colony.

In spite of the community’s beliefs regarding pacifism, eight men left the Amana Society to fight in the Civil War, though many of these soldiers returned to the Amana Colonies after the war ended and rejoined the Society. Adam Stahl, one of these Amana men, was a private with the 28th Iowa Infantry. Seventeen additional men from Amana were conscripted to join the Union Army, but after the elders paid commutation fees, these men were relieved of this duty.

The Amana community donated thirty thousand dollars (worth approximately half a million dollars today) to the war effort along with blankets, coats, and other supplies for the soldiers. And they continued to pray for peace in the States and petition the country’s leaders to humble themselves and search for a peaceful resolution to the war that cost the lives of more than 600,000 men.

The Amana Colonies no longer operate as a commune, but their community is still vibrant along with the Amana Church (
www.amana-church.org
). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Amana Church members guide and support each other in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and they recognize their obligation according to Scripture to pray on behalf of their civil government as well as be subject to its authority. Amana men served in both world wars and have fought in subsequent conflicts around the world.

Thank you to Peter Hoehnle
(The Amana People),
Brandi Jones, Emilie Hoppe
(Seasons of Plenty),
and other friends in the Amana Colonies for helping me learn about the rich history and spiritual vibrancy of the Inspirationists. Thank you, Peter, for your meticulous work checking my facts, coloring in the lines of this story, and providing me with the information to reflect the heart and heritage of the Amana Society and its people. Any errors in this novel are my fault.

A special thank you also to:

The incredibly talented team at Summerside Press—Carlton Garborg, Rachel Meisel, Ellen Tarver, Jason Rovenstine, and Suzi McDonough. Thank you for the opportunity to journey alongside you in telling the stories of small towns and communities across our great country. It is a pleasure working with each of you.

Pinn Crawford, a miracle worker of a librarian. I am continually amazed at the old books and articles you are able to locate. What would I do without you?

Sandra Bishop, my agent. Thank you for your constant friendship and direction.

Kelly Chang, Kimberly Felton, Leslie Gould, Jenna Thompson, and my sister, Christina Nunn—thank you all for your insight and expertise.

My parents and both friends and family members who continue to pray and encourage me as I write. I am thankful for each one of you.

Jon, Karly, and Kiki—I am blessed every day by your love and grace.

And, most of all, I am grateful to Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“For the L
ORD
is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5
NIV
).

Blessings,
Melanie Dobson
www.melaniedobson.com

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of eight historical and contemporary novels, including
Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa
and
The Silent Order. Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana
was chosen as the Best Book of Indiana (fiction) in 2010, and her suspense novel
The Black Cloister
received the Foreword Book of the Year award in 2009 for religious fiction.

Melanie is the former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family, and she worked in public relations for fifteen years before she began writing fiction full-time. She spent her high school years living in Iowa where she became intrigued by the Amana Colonies and Amana people, and she now resides with her family near Portland, Oregon.

www.melaniedobson.com

Want a peek into local American life—past and present?
The
Love Finds You
™ series published by Summerside Press
features real towns and combines travel, romance,
and faith in one irresistible package!

The novels in the series—uniquely titled after American towns with romantic or intriguing names—inspire romance and fun. Each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Summerside Press plans to publish at least one novel set in each of the fifty states. Be sure to catch them all!

N
OW
A
VAILABLE

Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky
by Andrea Boeshaar
ISBN: 978-1-934770-37-5

Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas
by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-934770-45-0

Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado
by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
ISBN: 978-1-934770-46-7

Love Finds You in Valentine, Nebraska
by Irene Brand
ISBN: 978-1-934770-38-2

Love Finds You in Humble, Texas
by Anita Higman
ISBN: 978-1-934770-61-0

Love Finds You in Last Chance, California
by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-934770-39-9

Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina
by Tamela Hancock Murray
ISBN: 978-1-934770-65-8

Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
by Loree Lough
ISBN: 978-1-934770-66-5

Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida
by Debby Mayne
ISBN: 978-1-934770-80-1