A Solitude Noel

By Saundra McKee

The holidays are in full swing in the western Pennsylvania village of Solitude. Then a beloved member of the community dies suddenly and unexpectedly during a sleigh ride to a festively decorated covered bridge. Suspicions and fear abound as the police aided by sleuths Fannie and Dana seek justice and to vindicate the death of a dear friend. This is the 24th in the Amish Country Murder Mystery Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saundra McKee
• Release date: Jul 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301612420

Saundra McKee

I am a retired educator. I taught in the public schools for 15 years and at the university level for 22 years. I love to travel the world. I enjoy politics, dogs, mysteries and water sports. I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

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A Solitude Noel: 24th in the Amish Country Murder Mystery Series by Saundra McKee

Smashwords Edition. Copyright 2013. Saundra McKee

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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All characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. While some of the places mentioned actually exist, they are used in an entirely fictional manner.

Chapter 1

Early December

Dana tightened her red scarf and put on her green gloves as the winter winds swept by her and her Old Order Amish friend dressed in black, Fannie. There had been several inches of snow on the ground since Thanksgiving. They began unloading the wreaths and other holiday greens from Dana’s SUV.

I still can believe that Larry bought me a covered bridge, laughed Dana. I just love to stand here and look at it. And Eli and your boys have done a wonderful job restoring it. It’s going to be a wonderful stop for cookies and hot chocolate on the sleigh rides that Eli and Larry are giving this weekend. We should be able to raise some much needed funds for our garden club.

Fannie nodded. I didn’t even realize the bridge was here. Does the road go anywhere?

Not really. It went to a coal mine that has been closed for years. I almost forgot the bridge was here. It had fallen into serious disrepair. I’m still amazed that Larry talked old man Jenkins into selling it and the land around it. He’s such an old miser.

The women began hanging wreaths and wrapping greens around exposed parts of the bridge. Larry said he’ll string some battery operated lights along the roof this afternoon. He’s got some kind of contraption that won’t require him to climb up on the roof. It’s going to look like a Christmas card. The newspaper is coming out tomorrow to take pictures.

Eli said the bridge was built back in the early 1800s. I was doing some reading about covered bridges. I guess the main reason for the roof was to protect the wood and keep the snow and rain off. I also read that the bridges were made to look like barns so that animals wouldn’t be spooked when being herded over them. Someone even said the roofs leveled off the hay on the hay wagons. Seems like there are lots of stories and folklore surrounding these old bridges.

Dana smiled. My mom always said they were called Kissing Bridges because young sweethearts could sneak a smooch while passing through them.

Fannie spotted Sharon pulling up in her red Mercedes convertible. I can’t believe she took that fancy car out on these roads.

She wanted to help us out since she and Bob are going out of town to visit their kids for the holidays and can’t help with the sleigh rides.

Hey girls. It’s looking wonderful! I hadn’t thought about this old bridge for years. I used to love all the spooky old stories associated with it when I was a kid.

What stories? queried Fannie. "I didn’t know it was here.