Rebecca's Rose (40 page)

“Look at the floor,” she said.

Levi stared in awe at the smooth finish that practically glowed at their feet. “When I bought the place, I didn’t think it would be salvageable. Nathaniel’s work, no doubt.”

They walked through the archway to the empty kitchen, where the walls sparkled a crisp white. Spaces stood open for a stove and an icebox, and the cabinets looked brand new.

“Nathaniel’s doing, again,” Levi said, wiping another tear away. “I have a little money left over from the house payment. I’m not letting him foot the bill for this.”

Rebecca ran her hand along the smooth countertops. What would it be like to cook in such luxury? Her heart swelled. To cook for Levi.

Levi took her hand, and they floated up the steep, narrow stairs to the three bedrooms. The two smaller rooms stood empty like all the other rooms in the house, but the larger room contained a bed made up with a stunning Amish quilt appliquéd with red roses.

Rebecca gasped and ran her hands along the quilt, caressing the petals of the abundant flowers, fingering the tiny stitches that outlined every rose.

She looked up to see Levi watching her. When their eyes met, he promptly turned on his heels and tromped down the stairs.

“Levi,” she said, quickly following him to the front room.

He stood looking out the window.

“Did something upset you?”

To her surprise, he gathered her in his arms and sighed in contentment. “I don’t believe that anyone has ever loved someone as much as I love you. I think my heart will leap out of my chest if we don’t marry soon.” He pointed out the window. “Plant a thousand roses if you want.”

“What about pasture for the cows?”

“Only if there is room left over. I’ll buy you every hosta you ever dreamed of, and we’ll fill this room with seed catalogs. What else can I do for you?”

“Nothing. If I never touched another rose in my life, I would be perfectly, absolutely happy with only you.”

“From now on, your happiness is the only thing on my list.”

“Then you can successfully cross that one off.”

Rebecca shivered as he tightened his arms around her and brought his lips to hers.

She was home.

JENNIFER BECKSTRAND grew up with a steady diet of William Shakespeare and Jane Austen. After all that literary immersion, she naturally decided to get a degree in mathematics, which came in handy when one of her six children needed help with homework. When daughter number four was born, she began writing, and between juggling diaper changes, soccer games, music lessons, and dinner preparations, Jennifer finished her first manuscript in just under fourteen years.
Rachel’s Angel
, a historical western, won first place in two writing contests. Soon Jennifer turned her attention to the Forever After in Apple Lake series, about three cousins who find love in Wisconsin’s Amish country. Her debut novel,
Kate’s Song
, was the first book in the series and released in 2012.
Rebecca’s Rose
is the second book in the series, and the third,
Miriam’s Quilt
, will release in 2013.

Jennifer has two Amish readers who make sure her stories are authentic. No matter the setting, she hopes to pen deliriously romantic stories with captivating characters and soar-to-the-sky happy endings.

A member of RWA, Jennifer is the PAN liaison in her Utah RWA chapter. She lives in the foothills of the Wasatch Front in Utah with her husband and two children left at home. She has four daughters, two sons, three sons-in-law, and one grandson.