Lily & Caleb

By Sarah Amberson

Lily had heard about the Amish murder for the last couple of months from everyone around town. It was the talk of everyone. They all wanted to know who would want to kill someone within the Amish community and why.
She was a new reporter, and this was only her second story. It had been hard to get her foot in the door at the busy news office and she was one of the only two women working there. It seemed that most of the men looked down on her as a newbie in the business. They were skeptical that she really belonged there. She had looked for good stories to follow, hoping to get one that would set her name in the business.
And then they had heard rumors about Caleb Bontrager from a small midwestern Amish community. Supposedly, according to "sources", Caleb had been the last person seen with Andrew Yoder alive the night he had died. But no one really knew if it was true or not and that was exactly why Lily was going to investigate for herself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jun 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201606299

Book preview

LILY & CALEB

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SARAH AMBERSON

table of contents

LILY & CALEB

MAYBE AMISH

LITTLE AMISH SECRETS

UNDER THE AMISH TREES

THE AMISH ENGAGEMENT

—-*—-

Lily took a couple of big breaths. She loved walking. It was tiresome when it was for long distances or lengths of time, but she still loved it. She probably could have gotten someone to pick her up or take her out to the little community that was in the middle of nowhere, but she didn’t like depending on others and the scenery was certainly pleasant enough.

The trees were a huge array of different colors, making the sky nearly shine with their radiance. Fall was Lily’s favorite time of year, spring a close second. There was something special about seeing all the trees in their colorful glory and there was excitement in the cool crisp mornings.

There was also something very mesmerizing about seeing the trees growing their new leaves in the spring, but fall was still her favorite for some reason.

Little houses finally appeared in the distance and she walked faster. She was finally almost there. As she got closer, the details came into focus. She could see children playing in the schoolyard under a large oak tree and the sounds of their excited voices in the distance made her long again for the innocent days of childhood.

She had been looking forward to this trip all week long. She had heard about the Amish murder for the last couple of months from everyone around town. It was the talk of everyone. They all wanted to know who would want to kill someone within the Amish community and why.

She was a new reporter, and this was only her second story. It had been hard to get her foot in the door at the busy news office and she was one of the only two women working there. It seemed that most of the men looked down on her as a newbie in the business. They were skeptical that she really belonged there. She had looked for good stories to follow, hoping to get one that would set her name in the business.

And then they had heard rumors about Caleb Bontrager from a small midwestern Amish community. Supposedly, according to sources, Caleb had been the last person seen with Andrew Yoder alive the night he had died. But no one really knew if it was true or not and that was exactly why Lily was going to investigate for herself.

She wanted to find out who was the murderer, if there was one at all. The Amish community was a closed community to begin with. They certainly weren’t open with talking about something like Andrew’s murder or accident, whichever it had been.

It wasn’t that Lily was insensitive. She was a reporter and reporters went after stories. They wanted the truth and they wanted something that would be good in the papers. She needed this story.

Lily straightened her shoulders and ignored the stares she received from the people on the street and in their yards. She knew that her simple attire wasn’t exactly the same as the Amish clothing and it was easy to see that she was an outsider.

She felt a little encouraged when she spotted a little store on the main street a little further into the town.

She had been to Amish towns before. She loved the naturalness of their products. She knew that most things were made of fresh and organic materials by the women in the community.

She pushed through the door and a little silver bell rung above her, making the young woman from behind the counter look her way. Lily walked up to the counter and picked up a little jar of honey. It was a clear golden color and looked as if it would be delicious on some hot toast.

I’ll take this, Lilly said, giving a look around the store. It was filled with all kinds of things. She was certain that if she wasn’t in a hurry, she would love to stop and explore for a while.

Sure thing. You aren’t from around here, are you? The young woman was staring at her curiously. She was wearing a white bonnet and a dark blue dress. Even though Lily didn’t dress like the Amish, she admired their simple beauty.

No, no I’m not. I am actually looking for someone. Do you know Caleb Bontrager?

The girl’s eyebrows rose, and she looked surprised. Why are you looking for Caleb?

Lily put on her friendliest smile. She couldn’t tell the girl why she was really looking for Caleb. She had a feeling that people in this community would protect each other, even a murderer.

I just would like to talk to him for a few minutes. I have some questions for him.

I see, the girl looked suspicious. He lives in the gray two story house on the right at the end of this road but I’m not sure he will want to answer questions.

Lily smiled and took the paper bag with the honey in it and handed the girl the money in exchange. Thank you so much. You have a lovely store. Have a nice day.

You’re welcome. Have a nice day, the girl replied with a troubled expression. Somehow, the girl didn’t sound quite as friendly as she had at first.

Lily brushed it off. She wasn’t here to make friends. She was her to get a story. It didn’t take her too long to get to the gray house. On her way, she felt lots of stares and strange looks, but she refused to pay attention to them. When she got to the front yard, she paused a moment to admire the house.

It wasn’t an overly large house. It was quite quaint. It had little window boxes that held flowers and green plants. It had carved wood doors and a little porch with steps that led up to the door from two different directions. On the top floor there were plants on a small balcony that trailed down over the railing.

Stop stalling, Lily, she whispered to herself.

There was something a bit unnerving about the fact she was about to face a possible murderer.

Of course, maybe it would all turn out to be a rumor and Caleb Bontrager might have nothing to do with the crime. But then again, it might very well have been his fault and she would be instrumental to bring him to the light.

Being a reporter, and a female one at that was a challenge. She was often discriminated against and had a hard time selling her stories, but she knew that if she could get the exclusive scoop from Caleb, she would have no trouble selling this story.

She fished around in her bag until she found her notepad and a pencil. When she was ready, she swept a stray strand of hair up behind her ear and made her way up the porch steps. They creaked a bit as she went, momentarily making her worried that they would crumple under her weight.

When she was closer to the door, she had to admire the craftsmanship of the man that had created it. It was beautiful. There were carved animals around a small window in the center at eye level. The window had a frosted glass pane with an engraved flower in the center. She raised her fist and knocked firmly on the hard wooden surface.

A few moments later, it creaked open and there was the man who she assumed was Caleb Bontrager. He had broad shoulders and was a good head and a half taller than her. His hair was brown and tousled giving him a boyish appearance. He was wearing jeans and suspenders with a plain blue shirt. He had a clean-shaven face and twinkling blue eyes.

Yes? May I help you? he asked curiously as he looked down into her eyes with a relaxed friendly expression.

Lily’s tongue froze and words refused to come from her mouth. What had she gotten herself into? She couldn’t seem to think of a single word to say and stared open mouthed at him for way longer than was appropriate.

—-*—-

Caleb felt a bit of amusement at the discomfort on the pretty Englisher’s face. She wasn’t the person he had expected to be at the door when he opened it but she was quite beautiful and delicate like a flower in the spring.

She was slim and petite with light brown hair that fell in natural curls around her shoulders. Her blue eyes were somber and curious with a hint of fear.

I- I um, am a reporter from... well, I travel. The young woman was stuttering and Caleb’s usual dislike for reporters was offset by the fact that he felt a bit of sympathy for her.

I see. You’re here about the Yoder case, aren’t you? Caleb knew that it was what she was here about. It seemed that every reporter and their brother had taken turns coming through town and asking him about Andrew’s death.

Caleb wasn’t even sure who had given his name to reporters in the first place, or even more, who had told the press that Andrew had died and that someone was possibly responsible for his death. It had been an accident. Why did the newspapers have to always spin everything into something bigger than the real thing?

He shook his head. Well, it figures. Why don’t you come have a seat and I will answer your questions to the best of my ability like I have umpteen times before.

The young woman looked nervous but nodded and followed his lead, sitting down on one of the benches on the porch and smoothing out her skirt. She fumbled with her pen and notebook and almost dropped the pen.

So, what brings you to our community? Caleb asked. It was the same with all the reporters. He was certain she would start asking a bunch of pointed rude questions soon and he would have no choice but to leave her out here on the porch without answering anything while he sought some peace and silence inside.

Well, I umm... heard about the incident that happened here last month. Some of my colleagues led me to believe that you might know more about it. Some say it was a murder and others say it was an accident and I’m here to find out the truth.

Caleb rose his eyebrows. She was certainly being more polite than most of the reporters he had spoken with so far. The ones before her had started with questions like, why he had killed the Yoder boy? And what was he going to do when he went to jail for his crime?

Caleb forced a little smile. I see. So, are you the only female reporter that works in your office? All of the other ones who came to ask about this were men. Caleb wasn’t sure what made him ask. Maybe he was just curious.

Of all the reporters who had visited him, she was the first that wasn’t a man and she looked young and inexperienced for sure.

I know one other, the young woman answered as she fidgeted.

You didn’t introduce yourself. What’s your name? Caleb realized he was actually curious.

I’m Lily... Lily flipped the page on her little pad of paper and held her pen poised. I actually have some questions about the death of Andrew Yoder.

Caleb nodded and his face fell grim. He had known she was here about Andrew, but he had been hoping that it wouldn’t come