A Solitude Christmas Miracle -5th in Series-Amish Country Murder Mysteries

By Saundra McKee

The Holidays are quickly approaching in the peaceful village of Solitude in western Pennsylvania. Amish country is rocked by the critical shooting of a beloved citizen on the first day of buck season. Dana and her Amish friend, Fannie are determined to find the shooter or shooters and bring them to justice. Clues are gathered from mediums, prisoners, PIs, hidden cameras, scriptures and neighbors as the two amateur sleuths seek answers, provide solice to the wounded and try to prepare for Christmas. The shocking conclusion shakes the worlds of these women in ways that could never have been predicted or imagined. This is the fifth book in the Amish Country Murder Mystery Series and takes place during the present day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saundra McKee
• Release date: Sep 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465859716

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.

Book preview

A Solitude Christmas Miracle

Published by Saundra McKee at Smashwords. Copyright 2011. Saundra McKee

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

Sunday

Are you actually polishing those bullets?

Absolutely, replied Larry. It brings me good luck.

Dana snorted, There are so many deer roaming around Solitude, I don’t think you’ll need much luck in bagging one.

Larry nodded. I just wish the weather would cooperate a bit more. For early December, it’s really warm and rainy, not the ideal weather for tracking deer or for getting them butchered. My daughter can’t believe that the schools are closed here for the first day of buck season. It’s definitely just a western Pennsylvania holiday.

There’d be very few teachers or students there if they tried to have school. A lot of folks need the venison, especially with the current economy. You know they’re predicting colder temperatures and a few inches of snow by Tuesday. I’m so glad it was snowy in Germany last week when we were there. It made the Christmas Markets all the more quaint. I still need to unpack, but I’ve just been wiped out. Jet lag, I guess.

Larry kissed his bride of four years on the forehead. Take your time, sweetheart. We did have a great time though, didn’t we? Really gets you in the holiday spirit.

Dana smiled. I need to start decorating the house soon. I’m so thrilled that your daughter and her family are coming. Let’s make it really special for your, or I guess our, grandson and your little namesake, Larry. He’s never seen snow. This will be his first time out of Florida in the winter. Fannie and Eli have already volunteered to take us on a sleigh ride.

That sounds great! Hopefully we can have our friends in for dinner, too. I’m always telling Loren about all of the citizens of Solitude. I’d love for her to meet them.

That’s a great idea. They’ll be here the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Let’s plan on something on the 30th. I’ll get it on the calendar. Maybe Fannie will help me bake some things ahead. She’s used to cooking for large groups.

I love her pies, agreed Larry. Aren’t she and Eli hosting church at their house today? I wouldn’t mention cooking for a big crowd to her for a few days. I think Eli said they’d have around twenty families there.

Dana nodded. At least they only have everyone there for church every eight months or so. Fannie said everyone brings some food as well, so she doesn’t have to do all the cooking. I think she was just making meat loaves and mashed potatoes. Speaking of food, should I pack some sandwiches for you to take with you out hunting tomorrow?

Nah, I’ll have my buck before you’ve finished your breakfast. I’m feeling lucky.

Just be careful. It always sounds like a war has broken out on the first day of buck season. All those people from the suburbs and city wandering around the woods and firing at anything that moves. I think half of them are hung over, too.

You’re getting cynical in your old age. I wear so much fluorescent; I look like a Christmas tree. I’m sure the deer are laughing at me.

Dana grinned. Do they talk to you too? It’s just that every year several people end up getting hit by stray bullets. I have a friend who lost her husband that way. They had three small children at the time.

Oh, I almost forgot. I invited Bob and Sharon over to watch the Steelers’ game later this afternoon. I was talking to the Switzers at church, and Bob’s going hunting with me in the morning.

Thanks for the heads up. We brought plenty of snack foods back from Germany. Let’s just order pizza. I don’t feel like cooking. I’m sure Bob and Sharon will bring goodies from their wine and cheese shops. Maybe I’ll get Nellie out for a walk before they come over. She really missed us and has been nervously following me around.

She definitely didn’t lose any weight staying with your niece. She spoils that dog as much as we do.

Oh, did I tell you that when I went in to pick Nellie up, Carly told me that she’s been dating a new guy named Steve. He’s a former police officer who runs his own detective agency in Pittsburgh now. She seems quite smitten. She claims he looks like a young George Clooney. We’ll have to invite them up over the holidays.

Sharon and Bob arrived by three o’clock. The two women had been friends since elementary school. Sharon retained her homecoming queen/cheerleader good looks and energy and ran the local cheese shop. Her husband was retired from the state police and had become a vintner. Dana felt he was a dead ringer for Richard Gere. Both Sharon and Bob had had problems over the years with infidelities but were currently doing well.

Dana passed out cold drinks to everyone and Larry and Bob immediately began making plans for their morning hunting expedition. Sharon said, Dana, tell me all about the Christmas Markets. I want to convince Bob to take me there next year.

Dana motioned Sharon over in front of the fireplace. Well, the markets take place during the four weeks of Advent and date back to the Middle Ages. They originated in Germany, but I guess Austria, Alsace and other places have them, too. Some of the larger cities have several markets. We didn’t go there, but I heard Berlin has sixty. Most of them are festively decorated and offer all kinds of food, drink and seasonal items in open stalls. A lot of the articles are handmade. There are people singing and dancing to holiday tunes as well.

Sharon leaned forward. Oh, it sounds delightful. Did you buy much?

"Of course! I’ve set out some of the stollen, cookies and candied toasted almonds that we got there for you to sample.