A Lancaster Amish Treasure for Jacob: A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob, #9

By Rachel Stoltzfus

Mystery. Treasure. Danger.

When respected community leader, Old Man Dietrich, passes on, Jacob discovers that the old man has hidden a treasure worth thousands on his land. Can Jacob and his two best friends solve the mystery and find the treasure before it's too late? Or will this pursuit of wealth put Jacob in peril of losing his new Amish home?

When respected community leader, Old Man Dietrich, passes on, Jacob discovers that the old man has hidden a treasure worth thousands on his land. Now it's up to Jacob and his best friends, Mark and Ezekiel, to solve the mystery and find their fortune without getting caught. But as the three boys set off on their greatest adventure yet, will they find the hidden treasure before it's too late? And will the pursuit of wealth put Jacob in peril of losing his new Amish home?

Find out in Book 9 of the Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob series, A Treasure for Jacob.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Global Grafx Press
• Release date: May 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513071343

Book preview

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I have to thank God first and foremost for the gift of my life and the life of my family. I also have to thank my family for putting up with my crazy hours and how stressed out I can get as I approach a deadline. In addition, I must thank the ladies at Global Grafx Press for working with me to help make my books the best they can be. And last, I thank you, for taking the time to read this book. God Bless!

​Chapter 1

Oddly enough, Jacob had never been to a funeral before. Then again, he had never had anyone close to him die before. This was not to say that Moes Dietrich was close to him by any means, but he was a member of the community here in Hope Crossing, which made him somewhat like family. He had expected a lot of things at the funeral, but the one thing he hadn’t expected was that it would be so short.

Thomas had explained to him that the Amish, at least here, did not find it prudent to dwell on death. After all, why worry about the immortal soul of someone who had surely gone to heaven?

More importantly, who was Moes?

Jacob had never paid much attention to the people around him, though after the last week, he supposed that he might want to start. As it turned out, Moes Dietrich was one of the most well-known and influential people around Hope Crossing, at least until his demise. It had been his idea to build the schoolhouse, at least in its current location, and he had even donated a considerable sum of money toward the church.

Thomas had been more than happy to inform Jacob of all of Moes’ contributions to society when he’d uttered the words ‘What the heck is Moes?’ just after the news of his death had reached their ears. Jacob had listened patiently, and then he’d been forced to listen again for somewhere around twenty minutes as a few people spoke at the funeral.

Then it was over. They piled out of the church as if a service had simply ended, and to Jacob’s surprise, no one was crying. Not a single tear seemed to have been shed. Perhaps it was because Mr. Dietrich’s family had all passed away before him, or maybe it really was the belief that he’d gone to heaven. As if to answer his question, Sarah walked beside him with her arms swinging at her sides.

I wonder what heaven’s like, she said aloud, though not loud enough for anyone around them to hear. What do you think it’s like, Jacob?

She stood a full head shorter than him, but always made it seem, somehow, as if she were not speaking up to him. In fact her unparalleled confidence had eventually grown on him, making him subconsciously forget that she was younger and smaller than he.

Today she dressed as she did any other day, in a white prayer cap and a dress that might as well have been a sack cloth, but given that it was an extra special day (a funeral) she had taken it a step further and pulled out one of her nicer gowns. It held much in common with every other dress she owned, save for the fact that there was no discernable stain on the apron, and the hem of the skirt didn’t seem to be torn. More importantly, it had actually retained its original color rather than being faded or bleached like so many of the other dresses she owned.

Of course, when she went home, that dress would come off and it would be carefully placed back on the hanger from whence it came, only to reappear for Sunday service.

I don’t know, Jacob shrugged. What does the Bible say about it?

It doesn’t say much, she said, not skipping a beat. But I bet it’s beautiful.

Well there you go, Jacob said helpfully. It’s beautiful.

Sarah snorted.

Jacob glanced across the parking lot and saw Cheri standing off by herself, staring blankly at the crowd of funeral goers. She was as lost as he, but at least he could stick beside Sarah and pretend to belong. Cheri had come from the English world, much like Jacob, but under entirely different circumstances. If Jacob had his way, he would never have come here. Cheri, on the other hand, came here entirely of her own free will. That was a huge difference. He felt, however, that there wasn’t a single person in the Mast household, aside from himself, that didn’t want her to go home. Jacob couldn’t have cared less.

He spotted Deborah across the gravel lot, standing with her father. He thought about waving to her or perhaps even walking over to see her, and then he thought better of it; her father was not a tolerant man. He turned his head, hoping that the man wouldn’t see him staring at Deborah. The last thing he wanted to do here was cause a scene, and he didn’t think he’d get much sympathy if he were simply pummeled right here in the lot.

After all, he could still feel the eyes of everyone upon him, watching, seeing if he would do something wrong. It was well known that almost no one wanted him here, and he was certain that this wasn’t just in his head. It wasn’t so much the things that he’d done, but the past that followed and haunted him like an angry spirit that just wouldn’t let go. He couldn’t figure out which he loathed more: the past, or the present.

He walked alongside Sarah for a few moments, listening to the idle chatter outside of the church, wondering when the body would be buried, and hoping that he wouldn’t have to be a part of it. If that was the only thing he had to worry about today then he’d be doing pretty well, if he did say so himself.

He cocked his head and listened in on a nearby conversation. It was a few boys, maybe slightly older than he was, dressed in the typical Amish fashion, though one had removed his black cotton coat and stood there with it draped over his arm.

Did you hear about the treasure? The coatless boy said to two others. I heard Mr. Dietrich had thousands tucked away somewhere and he never did tell anyone where it was.

Treasure? Jacob echoed. His uncalled for and unwelcome interruption caused the three boys to stop their conversation, take a glance at him, and then move off in a different direction, continuing their conversation far away from his prying ears. Jacob grumbled a bit, but wondered what they could possibly be talking about. Was there a treasure to be found? If so, how much could it be worth?

I know! Sarah said. I’ll ask the bishop about it! He knows what heaven looks like!

Jacob blinked and looked over. Sarah was still there and he’d completely forgotten.

I don’t know, Jacob said half-heartedly. I hear he’s pretty busy.

He’ll see me! Sarah said. He has to!

Jacob reflected on what Thomas had told him once about never approaching the bishop without an appointment. The bishop, after all, was a very busy man. Sarah could get into serious trouble if she tried, especially after being warned. He studied her for a moment turning this over in his mind, and then simply shrugged.

She turned and rushed in the direction of the church where she assumed the bishop still stood, or sat. It didn’t take Jacob long to surmise that she wasn’t so much asking for his permission as she was asking if it were a good idea.

I probably should have said something, Jacob said as he turned to look for Thomas amongst the crowd. 

Said something about what? Thomas asked from behind, nearly causing Jacob to jump clean out of his skin.

Oh, nothing, Jacob said. He wasn’t lying; he really did consider it to be nothing, considering his interest level. "Say, did you hear about any treasure