Hannah's Remission (Amish Romance) (Amish Circle Series Book 1) by Esther Weaver

Chapter 1
    Hannah felt the sunshine soaking deep into her bones. Around her, the wheat stalks rustled in the wind. She ran, and as she did, her kapp flew back off of her head and her hair streamed out behind her. It had come free from the ponytail she normally had it tied back in. Her hairnet had fallen off long ago and she knew she would get a lecture for losing it.
    The sun made Hannah feel overly warm and she felt sweat starting to soak through the fabric of her dress. She knew she was chasing someone but she couldn’t remember who and she couldn’t see them. She just knew how wonderful it felt to stretch her legs and just run for the fun of it.
    She had almost forgotten how good it felt. As she had gotten older, the chances to kick off her shoes and stockings and just run for the sheer joy of it had gotten fewer and farther between. She had more responsibilities, more jobs that she had to do around the haus . So, whenever she had the chance to kick up her heels and race, she made sure to take them.
    She heard a giggle and tried to figure out whose voice it was. She was pretty sure it was one of other girls that she hung around with. Grace Kauffman, Elizabeth Springer, Jane Sommer, and Hannah were all as close as close could be. They had grown up sharing secrets and inside jokes, playing harmless pranks on one another and talking about the million things that young girls find so important growing up. Hannah knew that they would be friends forever.
    She was nearing the edge of the wheat field. Hannah began to slow down a bit wondering exactly where she would emerge. Her father’s fields were quite large and when the stalks were as high as they were it was difficult to figure out exactly where she was. She wondered if she would emerge closer to the haus or farther along the fence line where the field was bordered by a stream.
    Hannah slowed and then stopped. She slowly turned in a circle, her head back, her eyes closed. She loved the way the sun felt on her face. She had rolled up the sleeves on her dress so that they only covered her arms above her elbows and she loved the way the heat soaked into her lower arms as well. She listened to the sounds of the birds as they sang and flew around her. Then, she heard the sound.
    “Haaaannnnnaaaaah...” Her name was long and drawn out. It sounded as if someone was trying to coax her somewhere. She furrowed her brow as she tried to figure out whose voice it was. Was it Grace? It didn’t sound like her. It sounded like someone older. The voice was very familiar though.
    “Haaaaannnnaaah...” Again, the long call came, the voice ringing out over the warm, summer air. Hannah recognized the voice. It was her mother, Emma Sutter. Hannah sighed, knowing that her mother was likely calling her to come and finish her chores. She had been having fun but now the time had come for her to get back to the haus and begin her daily list of chores. She began walking towards what she thought was the edge of the wheat field when her body began to rock back and forth. It was the strangest feeling. It was almost as if someone was shaking her.
    Hannah’s eyes flew open and she looked up into Emma’s worried face. The room was full of light but it was no longer a warm, summer glow. She felt hot and sweaty and uncomfortable. She reached her hand up and touched her head and once again felt the short stubble there. For a moment, she felt confused. Where had her hair gone? She closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness washed over her and she could hear her mother breathe in suddenly as she saw how disoriented and dizzy Hannah was feeling.
    “Ach, dochtah , did I wake you up too fast? The doctor says that I shouldn’t do that. Are you okay?” Emma pressed her hand against Hannah’s forehead and peered anxiously into her face. “Do you need a washcloth to wipe your face?” Her hand fluttered down from Hannah’s face and twisted nervously in her lap.
    “ Nee, Maemm, danka . I think I’m okay. I was