The Orphans' Amish Christmas: A Willow Springs Amish Mystery Novella

By Tracy Fredrychowski

It will take an Amish miracle to save Christmas for the Willow Springs Children's Home orphans.

When presents are stolen right before the annual Christmas benefit, Lydia Troyer and Aaron Shetler join forces with Detective Lewis Powers to unravel the mystery. The town's Christmas spirit is tested by strange events th

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Tracer Group, LLC
• Release date: Nov 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987904060

Tracy Fredrychowski

USA Today Bestselling Author and Faith, Hope & Love Reader's Choice Award WinnerTracy is a country girl at heart, an author, a homesteader, and a lover of all things simple living. Her passion lies in capturing the essence of the simpler side of life, much like the one she enjoyed growing up in rural Pennsylvania.Her life has always been intricately linked with Amish culture, and it's only fitting that she has a deep, genuine love for their simplicity, sense of community, and God-centered way of living.Growing up in Northwest Pennsylvania, Tracy spent her childhood immersed in the heart of Amish Country. The rhythmic clip-clop of horse and buggies was her morning soundtrack as Amish men journeyed past my home to work. Now residing in South Carolina, she frequently travels through the Amish regions of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Her journeys are not just visits but research expeditions. She takes pride in writing Amish fiction that authentically represents their culture, thanks to the invaluable insights from friends within these communities.

Book preview

By Tracy Fredrychowski

AMISH OF LAWRENCE COUNTY SERIES

Secrets of Willow Springs – Book 1

Secrets of Willow Springs – Book 2

Secrets of Willow Springs – Book 3

APPLE BLOSSOM INN SERIES

Love Blooms at the Apple Blossom Inn

An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn

NOVELLA’S

The Amish Women of Lawrence County

An Amish Gift Worth Waiting For

The Orphans’ Amish Christmas

An Amish Christmas Table: Love Beneath the Pine

THE AMISH WOMEN OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

Emma’s Amish Faith Tested – Book 1

Rebecca’s Amish Heart Restored – Book 2

Anna’s Amish Fears Revealed – Book 3

Barbara’s Amish Truth Exposed – Book 4

Allie’s Amish Family Miracle – Book 5

Savannah’s Amish Ties That Bind – Book 6

Ruth’s Amish Words of Faith – Book 7

A WILLOW SPRINGS MYSTERY ROMANCE

The Amish Book Cellar – Book 1

The Amish Baker Caper – Book 2

www.tracyfredrychowski.com

Chapter 1

Snowflakes pirouetted like feathers caught in a breeze as Lydia Troyer locked the front door of the bookstore and turned the closed sign in the window. For the past eight hours, she thought of little else than attending the Willow Springs Children’s Home Benefit with Aaron Shetler that evening. Willow Springs and the whole community of Northwestern Pennsylvania looked forward to the annual play and caroling hosted by Barn Builders, Inc., a local Amish company.

It was the first year Daniel and Saloma Raber, owners of Raber Farms, offered to host the much-anticipated event at their newly renovated barn. All of Willow Springs’ prominent financial donors and most of the Amish community would be in attendance. She smiled as she thought of how nice it was to live in a community where both Amish and Englisch could come together for such an important cause.

Stopping long enough to adjust the red bow she had placed around Yankee’s leather collar; she patted the brown Labrador and handed him a snack from the jar on the counter. Lydia bent and wrapped her arms around his neck. I know, buddy; you’re not crazy about this, but the children will love it. Only a few more hours; I promise to take it off as soon as we get home.

Shutting off the last of the lights, she headed upstairs to get ready. Aaron was always prompt, and she didn’t want to keep him waiting. Returning to Willow Springs shortly after her father passed away eight months earlier, her longtime childhood friend was the key reason she gave up her promising career in Pittsburgh and re-joined her Amish community.

There was no hiding she had fallen back in love with Aaron and his young daughter Mattie Rose. The two of them had become her reason for living. If not for Aaron, she may have closed her father’s beloved bookstore and moved back to Pittsburgh, drowning her pain and loneliness in the bustle of an Englisch life. However, the love of a child showed her that there was more to life than what her past dictated, leaving her yearning for the security of her Amish community.

Slipping a new forest green dress over her head and pinning it in place, she added a fresh new white apron and kapp before dabbing lavender oil on her wrists.

This was her first Christmas since returning to Willow Springs, and she couldn’t help but be ecstatic. Aaron’s evident love for her radiated every time they were together, and she was certain it wouldn’t be long before he asked her to become his fraa. Just the thought gave her a girlish, tingly feeling.

Pulling aside the blue pleated curtain from her upstairs apartment window, she peered down Main Street, hoping to see Aaron’s buggy. When he stopped in earlier, he reminded her to dress warmly, and that he had a wonderful surprise when he picked her up. Not wanting to be late, she gathered her warmest wool coat, mittens, and a new hat she’d picked up earlier at The Mercantile.

Calling Yankee to follow her downstairs, she snapped on his lead the minute they reached the front door. How about we wait outside? I’m sure you’d enjoy a little fresh air.

Juggling her keys and Yankee’s lead, she didn’t notice the sleigh bells until the beautiful sound stopped beside her. When she turned toward the street, Aaron and Mattie Rose stared at her in silent joy.

"Lydia, Datt brought the sleigh for us. I brought extra blankets, and Datt heated bricks in the stove for our feet before we left."

The mere delight in Mattie Rose’s voice tickled her so profoundly that she was speechless as she climbed inside. When Mattie Rose insisted she sit in the middle, she smiled in Aaron’s direction at her apparent ploy to let them sit close. After covering them both with blankets and securing Mattie Rose’s hat, Aaron asked, Are my girls ready for some holiday fun?

Mattie Rose could hardly contain her little six-year-old self. Her eyes were wide with excitement, almost as if she’d consumed one too many candy canes. "Oh, Datt, I’ve been waiting for this night all week. It’s all we could talk about in school today. Nobody got any work done; even our teacher gave up and let us color Christmas pictures instead of doing our schoolwork."

In a stern but playful tone, Aaron asked, Do I need to have a word with your teacher about your inability to focus?

Her little face beamed with an almost comical happiness as she replied, Not unless you need to talk about every other scholar in first grade.

Lydia giggled and pulled the little girl close. I remember how exciting Christmas was when I was a child. With a quick elbow to Aaron’s side, Lydia teased. "Do you know your datt once got lost in the woods looking for the perfect pine bough to bring home to your grossmommi on Christmas Eve? It took all the neighbors looking well into the night to find him. And when they did, he claimed he wasn’t lost; he was following the North Star."

Aaron piped in. "And if I remember correctly, Lydia ate so much of her mamm’s Christmas fudge that she missed out on playing Mary in the Christmas play."

They laughed, and Aaron snapped the reins to get their sleigh back on Main Street, heading toward Raber Farms three miles away. Perched on either side of the sleigh were lit lanterns, and both horses were adorned with bells that played a beautiful sound as they maneuvered through the snow-covered streets.

As Mattie Rose held her head high, catching snowflakes on her tongue, Lydia looped her arm through Aaron’s and lightly squeezed. It’s almost Christmas. There was a sweetness beyond words in the air, and the effect of the season was enchanting.

Aaron whispered, Merry Christmas.

Life had been almost unbearable as an Englischer for the last five years, but with Aaron’s declaration of love, the burden had been removed from deep