
Nursing Her Amish Neighbor
by Marta Perry
on-sale Dec.28
Love Inspired
Blurb:
Healing his physical wounds is just the beginningโฆ
Seeking a break from her nursing duties, Miriam Stoltzfus returns home to Lost Creekโand encounters her most difficult patient yet. Her childhood neighbor, Matthew King, is suffering after an accident left him injured and his younger brother dead. But he doesnโt want anyoneโs help. Can Miriam guide him through his grief to prove heโs still the strong, confident man she remembers?
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nursing-her-amish-neighbor-marta-perry/1139670406?ean=9781335758972ย
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335758972_nursing-her-amish-neighbor.html
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Excerpt:
โIt takes time to come back from lying in bed,โ Miriam said, as if she knew his thoughts. โIโve heard a therapist say a week of exercise for every day in bed.โ Sheโd moved closer, and as he tried again, she put her hand on the middle of his back, pressing.
He could feel how much easier that made it to pull up. And he could also feel the shape of her palm and the warmth of her skin through the thin cotton of his nightshirt. He looked at her, feeling that awareness move between them.
โHere, let me help.โ Betsy charged in, inserting herself between him and Miriam.
Jealous? He couldnโt be sure.
โThatโs right.โ Miriam, unruffled, moved Betsyโs hand slightly. โGood. Now donโt push. Just use your hand for a little extra support. We want his muscles to work but not strain.โ
โYah, I see. I can feel it.โ Betsy sounded pleased, her antagonism slipping away.
With the two of them behind him, he couldnโt see either of their faces. But he didnโt like the idea of them ganging up on him.
โBetsy, do we have any lemonade?โ
โI donโt think so. Do you want some? I can make it.โ All her eagerness to please him rushed back.
โWe could all use some after we finish here, ainโt so? Why donโt you make a pitcher?โ
โRight away.โ She hurried off.
โDonโt worry about it.โ Miriam seemed amused. โSheโs still your willing servant.โ
โThat wasnโt the idea,โ he said stiffly, his temper flaring that she could read him so easily. โIn case you havenโt noticed, it makes her happy to do things for me.โ
โI noticed.โ She looped the handles back up over the bar and pulled down a pair of stretchy bands. โAs long as sheโs helping you to get stronger, I donโt object.โ
โStronger.โ He almost spat out the word. โStronger for what? None of this is going to do any good. Itโs useless. I canโt be the person I was.โ
She seemed unaffected by his anger. โWeโll never know that if you donโt try, will we?โ
He glared at her for a long moment as
He glared at her for a long moment as a thought formed in his mind. He turned it over, looking at it from all angles. Would it work?
โIโll tell you what,โ he said. โIโll make a deal with you.โ
โWhat kind of a deal?โ Miriamโs expression was cautious.
โI promise to do everything you sayโฆto try my hardestโฆfor a month. If Iโm not much better by then, you agree to quit.โ
Miriam stood very still, considering before she spoke. โI canโt speak for Tim. Just for myself.โ
โYah. Just for yourself.โ
โWhoโs going to decide whether or not youโre much better?โ she said. โYou?โ
His jaw hardened. She wasnโt going to make this easy.
โNo,โ he said abruptly. โHow aboutโฆ Betsy?โ
Her lips twitched. โDonโt you think Betsy has her own reasons for wanting to be rid of me?โ
He raised one eyebrow, a gesture that used to attract the girls. โIf youโre really making progress, youโll have won her over by then. Whatโs wrong? Donโt you have any confidence in your work?โ
She seemed to wince at that. After a long moment, she nodded. โAll right. Itโs a deal.โ
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Author Info:
Marta Perry realized she wanted to be a writer at age eight, when she read her first Nancy Drew novel. A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta to the books she writes now about the Amish. When sheโs not writing, Marta is active in the life of her church and enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children and six beautiful grandchildren. Visit her online at http://www.martaperry.com.
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