Free Brian's Choice by Vannetta Chapman Page B

bishop in case anyone needs in over the summer.”
    She walked down the steps and then turned to look at him.
    â€œPerhaps we should come back a few weeks early to work on our lesson plans together.”
    â€œA good idea.”
    â€œI have them every now and then.”
    He snagged her hand and laced his fingers with hers as they walked toward the road. After Stella was found, he’d nearly confessed his love to Katie, but he’d stopped short. Only later did he realize the reason was fear—and fear was a part of his old life, not his new one. He’dasked her to dinner the first week in January and had been seeing her socially since.
    Brian was certain of his feelings for Katie, and that they were true and would last his whole life, but she was younger. He’d wanted to give her time—time to be sure, to change her mind if need be, to pray about their life together.
    Now he pushed all those questions away, stopped in the middle of the schoolhouse lane, and pulled Katie into his arms.
    â€œI have a good idea.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œMarry me.”
    â€œMarry you?”
    â€œBe my wife.”
    â€œWife?”
    â€œYou can teach until our first boppli arrives.”
    â€œ Boppli? ” Katie’s voice had risen with each question, and the last came out as a small screech.
    Deciding words were overrated, he framed her face with his hands and kissed her. When she finally pulled away, breathless and blushing, they continued their walk down the lane.
    â€œSo you’re asking me to marry you?”
    â€œI am. It’s your choice, Katie. If you’ll have me—”
    â€œOf course I’ll have you, Brian. It’s what I’ve prayed for since…well, I don’t know how long.”
    â€œSo I’m the answer to your prayers?” The smile on his face grew and he began to laugh.
    â€œWhat’s so funny about that?”
    â€œNothing at all, Katie love, but I’d like to hear you say yes.”
    â€œYes.” She turned back toward him, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a kiss on his lips. “I choose you, Brian Walker.”
    Those were probably the happiest five words he had ever heard.

    Want to know more about Cody’s Creek and the Amish of Oklahoma? Continue becoming acquainted with these interesting, tenacious, funny, challenging, and kind people in Anna’s Healing , the first book in the brand-new Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

Author’s Note
    The town of Cody’s Creek does not exist in Oklahoma. The place I visited and researched was Chouteau, which was originally called Cody’s Creek when it became a stop on the Katy Railroad in 1871.
    Set in the state of Oklahoma, this story highlights the struggles and adjustments the Amish have endured in order to carve a successful life out of the hard-packed Mayes County soil. Though Plain settlements have existed in Oklahoma for more than a hundred years, they are slow-growing communities partially due to the harsh conditions that have required them to make adjustments, such as allowing the use of tractors. And yet the Chouteau Amish continue to endure, and they do so with grace and humility. They still use a horse and buggy when traveling to church, weddings, or funerals.
    Conversions from Englisch to Amish are rare. I researched these extensively—any change to the process was done in order to fit the characters and plot of my story. Each Amish community is unique, though of course they share many historical, cultural, and religious practices. As with any work of fiction, I’ve taken some liberties in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish lifestyles portrayed in