Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land.

(Deuteronomy 10:19 KJ)

When wealthy Maddy Johns celebrates her college graduation in following Germany’s romantic road, her life takes a strange turn. In Dinkelsbühl, she meets an American, Jacob Bruckner, who has roots there, and Maddy becomes tangled with concern for a German orphanage and for Jacob’s relatives living in the Black Forest. As Maddy tries to save the orphanage from closing and the Black Forest castle from being sold, her life becomes tied to Jacob’s, but will their different life styles stand in their way of a long lasting love?

Excerpt from Chapter One

Maddy Johns dug a spoon into the whipped cream topping of her chocolate ice cream and slipped it between her lips, letting the cold dessert melt on her tongue. She scanned the scenery and sighed. This was the life.

After six years of college, Maddy had graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master’s degree in history, and today, she was relaxing in the quaint German village of Dinkelsbühl, bathed in the warm July sunlight and the charm of the twelfth century village. The pleasure lay as sweetly on her heart as did the creamy treat on her lips.

Looking past the ornate buildings and the Lion Fountain, she focused on the children gathering in groups along the street near the Wörnitz Tor, one of four town gates that surrounded the walled city. Curious, she stretched her neck, looking for a waiter to ask about the occasion. With none in sight, she settled back and noticed a pleasant appearing man sliding into a chair at the next table. He smiled, and she smiled back.

He studied the sweet shop menu, eyed her ice cream sundae, then returned the menu to the table.

Curious about the children, Maddy wondered if he spoke English and scuffled to organize her German sentence properly. When she felt confident, she leaned toward him and asked, "Bitte, sprechen Sie Englisch?"

He tossed his head backward with an amused laugh before answering. "I’m American."

Heat, not caused by the sun, rose up her neck, and her laughter joined his. "Then, you probably couldn’t answer my question."

"Try me." He slid his chair closer and focused his russet-brown eyes on hers.

Maddy gestured with her spoon. "The children," she said. "I wondered why they’re gathering beyond the fountain."

"Rehearsing," he said. "Next week is the Kinderzeche."

She grinned. "I got the kinder part. . .but--"

"It’s a children’s festival. About a hundred years old, I think."

"Ahh," she said, turning back to her melting sundae.

"Looks good," he said.

Maddy lifted her eyes to his again. "Pardon?"

"The sundae. Might have one myself while I wait."

Wait? Curiosity jiggled through her. She eyed his friendly face and pushed her reserve aside. "Would you like to join me?" she asked.

"Sure," he said, rising. "I’m Jacob Bruckner."

"Madeline Johns," she said. "Most people call me Maddy."

As he slid into the chair facing the children, the illusive waiter came through the doorway. Jacob placed his order, then folded his hands across his belly and leaned back. "Vacationing?" he asked.

She nodded. "You, too?"

"No, I live here."

Surprised, she straightened her back. "Right here?" she asked, swinging her spoon in front of her in a wide arch.

He ducked. "Whoa! You wield that spoon like a weapon."

Grinning, she dropped it on a napkin. "I’ve been told I use my hands too much. Too enthusiastic, they tell me."

"They?" He arched a brow and gave her a wry grin.

"They. . .you know, people, my folks and friends. When I get excited, everybody ducks."

"Thanks for the warning."

The waiter appeared and placed an identical sundae in front of him.

"Danke schön," he said in thanks.

The waiter nodded and moved off, wiping tables and adjusting chairs as he headed back inside.

Jacob dipped his spoon into the ice cream, captured some chocolate syrup, and raised it to his lips. Licking his lips, he tapped the sundae dish. "Good."

"So tell me, why do you live in Dinkelsbühl?" Maddy asked.

"Can you think of a better place?"

At the moment, she couldn’t. The past couple of days had been wonderful. She shook her head in agreement.

"For four years when I was in the army, I was stationed a few miles from here and I loved this city."

"I can’t blame you," she said. "So who are you waiting for?" In a flash, a wife came to mind.

"A few kids from the orphanage."

With that, he’d caught her attention and she felt her eyebrows lift.

"During my stay here, I volunteered at the orphanage between here and Nuremberg. . .and found it one of the most meaningful experiences of my life."

"Really? And that’s why you’re staying here?" Doing charity work? Maddy could hardly imagine that being motivation for anyone.

He laughed. "Well, I have to admit that with the name Jacob Bruckner. I have roots in Germany." Like a German, he used the "y" sound instead of a "j," then rolled his "r."

She grinned. "Me, too, but I’m a mutt," she said. "A little blend of everything." This man amazed her. He seemed to find pleasure in the simplest things. She liked that attribute as well as his warm smile and easy manner. But his compassion awed her. "What did you do at the orphanage?"

He licked the spoon and rested it on the edge of the dish beneath the stemmed glass. "All kinds of things. Lots of my army buddies went with me. We painted, did repairs, helped in the garden. The orphanage is run by a missionary with limited funds so our donated time meant a lot to the staff and the children."

"You’re a Christian, then?"

"Absolutely," he said. "Jesus said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not. I consider those words a Christian mission."

"That’s wonderful." A tingle of guilt rattled up her spine. Coming from a well-to-do family, she’d always lived with luxury and never thought about volunteering for a cause. Her education had been her focus for most of her twenty-five years.

He looked at her quizzically. "You’re not a believer?" A serious expression dimmed his smile.

"Oh, yes, I’ve gone to church..." Church, yes, but that nothing else. "I just never–"

He touched her arm. "Don’t feel bad. A lot of Christians don’t do volunteer work. Not even for their own congregations."

"I guess some of us take our faith for granted."

"It’s never too late to begin," he said, his voice encouraging.

"That’s true." She wanted to know more about the orphanage, but didn’t want to pry.

Jacob dug into his ice cream, and she turned her attention to the children further down the street. They appeared to be organized in sets of eight like square dancers. Recorded music drifted up the street, and she watched them skipping and gliding to a lovely folk tune.

"You don’t think I’ll let you off that easy, do you?"

Jacob said.

She pivoted toward him and studied his face. "What do you mean?"

"I told you about me. Now, it’s your turn."

Let her off that easy? The comment had flustered her for a minute. She’d assumed that he might ask her to visit the orphanage with him. When he didn’t, disappointment edged through her. The emotion surprised her. The man was a total stranger. Why would he ask her to go with him? She pushed a pleasant expression to her face. "What do you want to know?"

"First. . .why are you in Dinkelsbühl? Are you here with friends?"

"No, I’m alone."

His eyes widened. "Really. Most people travel with a friend or two? Why not you?"

"I was stood up." She grinned. "My girlfriend was offered a job she couldn’t refuse so she had to cancel." She picked up her spoon again and stirred the melting ice cream. "So here I am alone."

"Too bad."

Maddy wasn’t sure it was so bad. Since arriving, she’d changed her itinerary and spent time where she wanted with no one else to consult. "The trip is a gift from my folks. . .for completing my master’s degree."

"Whew!" He rubbed his neck. "My folks couldn’t afford a bus ticket to the next state. . .but that never mattered. I love them just the same."

"Mine can afford it," she said, then wished she hadn’t. It sounded snobbish—-not at all the way she felt.

He seemed to ignore the comment and continued. "So how do you happen to be sitting at Café Rohe on a sunny July day."

"Same as you, I suppose. I love the town. When I arrived, I’d planned to follow the Romantic Road so I headed straight for Würzburg. My plan is to go all the way to Füssen. It’s 211 miles."

"You aren’t even one-third down the Romantic Road, you know."

"I know. I’ve decided to stick around here for awhile. I have the whole summer." She lifted her head at the sound of the children’s voices and glanced down the street. "You don’t see things like this just any old places."

"You don’t," he said. "Let me catch the waiter and we’ll walk closer so you can really hear the children. If you’re staying another week, you’ll be in Dinkelsbühl for the fest. . .costumes, parade, children’s band, and all."

Excitement spread across his pleasant face.

"I’d love that," she said. "Tell me what it’s about."

He looked heavenward a moment and frowned. "Let’s see if I can get this right." He returned his gaze to Maddy. "It reenacts a time during the Thirty-Years War when the Swedish Colonel von Sperreuth marched his army into the city and attacked it for weeks. The city’s three mayors knew they couldn’t resist so they decided to surrender, but instead the watchman’s daughter gathered the children and led them to the enemy where they confronted the army and begged them to withdraw from the city."

"So they did?" Maddy asked, caught up in the tale.

Jacob nodded. "Sure did, tradition says that the colonel had recently lost a young son and so he gave in to the children and that’s how they saved the village."

Maddy gestured toward the activity near the Wörnitz gate. "You mean, the kids act out the whole story."

He nodded. "I’ll get the bill and we can head down the street and watch for a while." He rose and went inside.

Maddy watched him go and tried to imagine being excited about a children’s festival or volunteering to help the needy. The idea seemed alien to her, but each time he talked about those things, a smidgeon of guilt poked at her conscience.

When he came out, he beckoned her to follow. He bounded to the street, and she hurried after him.

She caught up with him near the Löwenbrunnen, one of the village fountains surrounded by half-timbered houses. In the center, the statue of a majestic lion sat on his haunches circled in flowers.

"What’s my share?" Maddy asked.

"Share of what?"

She realized he knew what she meant, but she played the game. "Share of the bill."

"Zilch. All ice cream sundaes are free today."

Seeing no sense in making a scene, Maddy gave him a quiet thank you, but felt uncomfortable accepting the gift of a stranger.

Jacob clasped her arm and guided her through the crowd, his warm hand sending a tingle up her limb.

"Is this okay?" he asked, motioning to the location.

"Wonderful," she said, amused at the two children who inched their hands upward to send him a shy wave.

He chuckled and waved back. "Gretchen and Henri," he said.

"They like you." Like was an understatement. From their gleeful grins and delightful waves, Maddy knew they loved him. She sensed he was real—-no pretentiousness, no hidden motives, no negativity. Jacob seemed like a loveable man.

Intrigued by the children, she watched their intricate dance patterns. With eyes focused on Jacob, the boy named Henri missed his step. With apprehension, Maddy followed his awkward stumbles until he righted himself.

"You seem to distract children and adults," Maddy said, thinking of herself latched to his side.

"I’m the Pied Piper."

"I hope not," she said. "Didn’t he lead the children away from the village to get even with the city fathers?"

He shrugged. "Bad example, I guess. Maybe I’m more like the ice cream man."

She grinned, finding that most appropriate since they’d met over a sundae.

The dancers moved to the side, and a children’s band lifted their instruments and played a final tune. Within seconds, Jacob had been surrounded by seven smiling faces speaking at once in German.

His patience awed Maddy, and in a mixture of German and English, he introduced her to the children. They chattered and laughed while she tried to remember each one’s name.

Jacob covered his mouth and whispered. "I’d better get these kids back before Brother Karl thinks I am the Pied You-Know-Who," Jacob said.

[ Home ] [ Novels ] [ Worship Resources ]