{"product_id":"annas-return-isbn-9780451491565","title":"Anna's Return","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the third Pleasant Valley novel, the Amish community welcomes back one of their daughters, but she hasn’t returned alone...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler has come back to Pleasant Valley with a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. She is also hiding secrets: the baby is not hers by birth, nor does she intend to stay. Rather, she desperately needs sanctuary from the child’s violent father...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt surprises Anna how quickly her Amish habits return to her, and how satisfying it feels to reconnect with her friends and family. Even Anna’s childhood friend Samuel, whose slow, thoughtful manner used to frustrate her, becomes a fond and reassuring companion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut Anna hasn’t fully faced the consequences of her irresponsible youth, and now, her mere presence may endanger the family she holds dear. If she wants to stay, she must seek forgiveness from the community whose blessing she took for granted, and experience the true change of heart required to make a new beginning.\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Novels of Marta Perry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What a joy it is to read Marta Perry's novels!...everything a reader could want—strong, well-defined characters, beautiful, realistic settings, and a thought-provoking plot. Readers of Amish fiction will surely be waiting anxiously for her next book.”—Shelley Shepard Gray, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Sisters of the Heart series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A born storyteller, Marta Perry skillfully weaves the past and present in this heart-stirring tale of love and forgiveness.”—Susan Meissner, author of \u003ci\u003eSecrets of a Charmed Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sure to appeal to fans of Beverly Lewis.”—Library Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perry carefully balances the traditional life of the Amish with the contemporary world in an accessible, intriguing fashion.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perry crafts characters with compassion, yet with insecurities that make them relatable.”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[Perry] has once again captured my heart with the gentle wisdom and heartfelt faith of the Amish community.”—Fresh FictionA lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led \u003cb\u003eMarta Perry\u003c\/b\u003e to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels, including the Pleasant Valley series and the Keepers of the Promise trilogy. She lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.Chapter One\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She was beginning to fear that the prodigal daughter wouldn't make      it home after all. Anna Beiler pressed on the gas pedal. \"Come on,      you can do it.\" The old car responded with nothing more than a      shudder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Daad would probably say that this was what she got for depending      on something so English as a car to get her home, and maybe he'd      be right. Just the thought of seeing her father made her stomach      queasy. How would he, how would any of the family, react to Anna's      turning up at her Amish home three years after she'd given up all      they believed in to disappear into the English world?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The car gave an ominous sputter. It might be her prized      possession, but she didn't know much about its inner workings.      Still, that noise and the shaking couldn't be good signs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She gripped the steering wheel tighter, biting her lip, and faced      the truth. She wasn't going to make it to the Beiler farm, the      place where she'd been born, the place she'd left in rebellion and      disgrace. She'd been almost nineteen then, sure she knew all about      the world. Now, at twenty-two, she felt a decade older than the      girl she'd been.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But there, just ahead, she spotted the turnoff to Mill Race Road.      Two miles down Mill Race was the home of her brother and      sister-in-law. Joseph and Myra would welcome her, wouldn't they?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Forced into a decision, she'd have to take that chance. She turned      onto the narrow road, earning another protesting groan from the      car. Her fingers tensed so much that she'd have to peel them from      the steering wheel. Worse, now that she was so close, all the      arguments for and against coming here pummeled her mind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Was this the right choice? Her stomach clenched again. She didn't      know. She just knew returning was her only option.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was strange that things looked the same after three years.      Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, didn't change, or at least not      quickly. Maybe there'd been a little more traffic on the main      road, but now that she was off that, not a car was in sight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The fields on either side of the road overflowed with pumpkins,      cabbage, and field corn that had yet to be cut. Neat barns and      silos, farmhouse gardens filled with chrysanthemums, sumac topped      with the dark red plumes that made them look like flaming      torches-this was September in Pennsylvania Dutch country, and she      was coming home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maybe she should have written, but when had there been time?      There'd been no time for anything but to get out of Chicago as      quickly as possible. And there was no way she could explain the      unexplainable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She glanced into the backseat, and her heart expanded with love.      Gracie slept in her car seat, good as gold, just as she'd been      throughout the long trip. At not quite a year old, she could      hardly have understood her mother's fear, but she'd cooperated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The neat white sign for Joseph's machine shop stood where it      always had. Anna turned into the narrow gravel lane, determination      settling over her. It was far too late to worry if her decision      would work. She had to make it work, for Gracie's sake.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Joseph and Myra's place was a hundred-year-old white frame      farmhouse, identifiable as Amish only by the fact that no electric      lines ran to the house. They owned only a few acres, not enough to      farm but plenty for the machine shop that her mechanically minded      brother ran.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the pasture to the right of the lane a bay horse lifted his      head, eyeing her curiously, probably wondering what a car was      doing here. Tossing his mane, he trotted a few feet beside her      along the fence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e If Gracie were awake, she would point out the horsey, something      that up until now Gracie had seen only in her picture books.      Everything about this place would be strange and new to her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to Anna. For her, it all had an almost heartless familiarity.      The very sameness made it seem to her that Pleasant Valley had      gotten along quite nicely without her, thank you very much, and      could continue to do so.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Joseph's shop was in the large outbuilding at the end of the lane,      while off to the left beyond it stood the horse barn. Surely      there'd be room in one of them to store the car.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Get it out of sight-that was all she could think. Get the car out      of sight, and then they'd be safe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Maybe she ought to drive straight to the shop. She could park      behind it, if nothing else. As if it had read her mind, the car      gave one last sputter, a cough, and died, just short of the house.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, don't do this,\" she muttered. She switched the key off and      then turned it on again, touching the gas pedal gently.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Nothing. The car seemed to sink down on its wheels, like a horse      sagging into clean straw after a hard day's work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She pounded the steering wheel with the heel of her hand. Still,      at least she was here. Joseph would help her, wouldn't he? He'd      always had a tender spot for his baby sister.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mindful that Gracie still slept, Anna slid out of the car, leaving      the door open for air, and straightened, groaning a little. Her      muscles protested after all those hours in the car, to say nothing      of the tension that had ridden with her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She glanced down at the faded blue jeans, sneakers, and wrinkled      shirt she wore. It might be less harrowing for Joseph and Myra if      she'd arrived in conventional Amish clothes, but she'd certainly      have drawn attention to herself driving a car that way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not giving herself time to think about their reaction, she walked      quickly to the back door.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She knocked on the screen door, paused, and then knocked again,      louder. Nothing. The inner door was closed-odd on a pleasant      September day. She opened the screen door, tried the knob, and the      realization seeped into her. The luck that had gotten her all the      way here from Chicago had run out. No one was home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stood on the back step, biting her lip, frowning at the car.      The dark blue compact, liberally streaked with rust, had been her      friend Jannie's, and now it was hers, the only car she'd ever      owned. Pete knew it well, too well. If he'd followed her-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That was ridiculous. Pete couldn't possibly have known where she      was going. She had to stop jumping at shadows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But her common sense seemed to have fled. All she could think was      to get the car out of sight and submerge herself and Gracie in the      protective camouflage of the Amish community as quickly as      possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Joseph and Myra were away, but one of their horses might still be      in the barn. If she could hitch it to the car, she could tow the      vehicle out of sight. Hurrying, she checked the sleeping baby.      Gracie still slept soundly, her head turned to one side in the car      seat, a small hand unfurling like a leaf next to her face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gracie was all right. She just had to keep her that way. Anna      turned and jogged toward the barn, urged on by the fear that had      pursued her all the way from Chicago.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She slid the heavy door open and blinked at the dimness, inhaling      the familiar scents of fresh straw, hay, and animals. From one of      the stalls came a soft snort and the thud of hooves as the animal      moved. Thank heaven. If the horse had been turned out in the field      for the day, she might never have caught it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The bay mare came willingly to her, nosing over the stall boards.      It was Myra's buggy horse, most likely. Wherever they were today,      they'd taken the one Joseph drove. Did he still have that big      roan?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lifting a lead line from the hook, Anna started to open the stall      door.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A board creaked behind her, and she whirled toward the sound, her      breath catching.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What are you doing with that horse?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A man stood in the open doorway, silhouetted against the light      behind him. Not Joseph, for sure, but Amish, to judge by the      outline of him and the cadence of the words he'd spoken in      English.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Well, of course he'd spoken English. That was what he thought she      was, standing there in her jeans and T-shirt-an English woman. A      horse thief, maybe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He moved toward her before she could find the words for an      explanation, and she could see him better. Could recognize him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's . . . Samuel Fisher, ain't so?\" The Amish phrase she hadn't      used in three years came readily to her lips. Samuel was her      sister-in-law Myra's brother. Maybe Joseph and Myra had asked him      to look after things while they were gone today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He stopped a few feet from her, assessing her with a slow, steady      gaze. Slow, she thought. Yes, that was Samuel. Maybe deliberate      would be a kinder word. Samuel had never been one to rush into      anything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So. Anna Beiler. You've come home, then.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He'd switched to Pennsylvania Dutch, and it took her a moment to      make the mental change. After so much time away, she even thought      in English.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"As you can see.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's been a long time.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Three years.\" She shifted her weight impatiently from one foot to      the other. She didn't have time to stand here chatting with      Samuel. The baby could wake-someone could spot the car. \"Do you      know where Joseph and Myra are?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He took his time about the answer, seeming to register every      detail of her appearance as he did. \"They've gone over to      Fostertown for the day. Joseph didn't say anything to me about you      coming.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why should he?\" The words snapped out before she could moderate      them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Samuel's strong, stolid face didn't register much change-but then,      it never had. His already-square jaw might have gotten a little      squarer, his hazel eyes might have turned a bit cold, but that was      all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As for the rest-black suspenders crossed strong shoulders over a      light blue work shirt, and a summer straw hat sat squarely on      sun-streaked brown hair. He seemed taller and broader than he had      when she'd last seen him. Well, they were both older. He'd be      twenty-six, now, the same as Joseph.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Joseph and I are partners in the business, besides him being my      brother-in-law,\" Samuel said, voice mild. \"Usually he tells me if      he expects somebody, 'specially if he's going to be away.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Sorry,\" she muttered. \"I didn't mean to be rude. Joseph didn't      know I was coming.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ja, I see. And you thought you'd take Betsy to go and look for      them?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, of course not.\" Her fingers tightened on the lead rope.      \"Look, Samuel, I need . . .\" How to explain? There wasn't any way.      \"I need to put my car in the barn or the shop, but the engine      died. I thought I could pull it with Betsy. Will you help me?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He kept her waiting again, studying her with that unhurried stare.      Her nerves twitched.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Well?\" she demanded.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Samuel's firm mouth softened in a slow grin. \"I see you're as      impatient as ever, Anna Beiler. Ja, I will help you.\" He took the      rope from her, his callused fingers brushing hers. \"But I wish I      knew what you are up to, I do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stepped out of his way as he opened the stall door, talking      softly to the animal. He didn't seem to expect any answer to his      comment, and she couldn't give one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What could she say? She could hardly tell him that she'd come home      because she had no place else to go-and that she was only staying      as long as she had to. Little though she wanted to deceive anyone,      she had no choice. Gracie's future depended on it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Samuel looped the lead rope through the ring in the upright and      went to get the harness. The deliberate movements gave him a few      moments to consider. Was he doing as Joseph would want?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Well, Joseph might not be happy to have a car stowed in his barn,      but he would be wonderful glad to see his little sister home      again. Samuel knew him well enough to be sure of that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He lifted the harness from its rack and carried it to where the      mare stood patiently waiting. Anna was not quite so patient,      moving back and forth like a nervous animal pacing in its stall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll harness her up and use a chain to attach her to the car.      That should be plenty gut enough to move it, long as we're not      going uphill.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She caught the harness strap on the other side of the mare as      Samuel tossed it over, pulling it into place. \"Where should we      take the car, do you think? The barn or the shop?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He considered. \"Joseph might not want it in the shop, where people      are in and out every day. Let's put it in the back of the barn for      now.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e If she was home to stay, she'd be getting rid of the car first      thing, he supposed, so what difference did it make? When he'd      first spotted the car, and then seen the woman going into the      barn, he'd thought it was someone looking for the English couple      who lived down the road. Anna Beiler had never entered his mind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Anna ran her hand down the mare's shoulder, crooning to her, and      then reached underneath to fasten a strap.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seems like you remember how to do this,\" he said. \"I thought you      might have forgotten, after living as an Englischer so long.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's coming back to me.\" Her voice was dry and clipped, all her      softness saved for the animal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Anna had changed, no doubt about that. Those jeans and shirt      didn't leave a lot to the imagination. She'd always been slim, but      now she was almost skinny.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The blond hair he'd always seen braided neatly back under her      prayer covering was now pulled into an untidy knot at the back of      her neck. Her slim shoulders were stiff, as if she couldn't let      herself relax.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The strain showed in her face, too, in small lines around her blue      eyes and in the tight way she held her mouth. He remembered a rosy      face always alive with feeling-either passionately happy or sad or      angry. Anna had never done anything by halves. She'd always felt      everything more intensely, it had seemed, than anyone else.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now- Well, she looked as if the outside world had knocked all that      youthful spirit out of her. The English world could do that. His      own experience had taught him well.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300989128933,"sku":"NP9780451491565","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780451491565.jpg?v=1767721624","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/annas-return-isbn-9780451491565","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}