An Amish Christmas at the Apple Blossom Inn

By Tracy Fredrychowski and Debra Torres

Orphaned just weeks before Christmas, the Beiler sisters suddenly discover they could lose their home and what's worse-each other. To make ends meet, sisters Sadie and Katie are plunged into working at the Willow Spring's Apple Blossom Inn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Tracer Group, LLC
• Release date: Nov 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985926910

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.

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A Note about

Amish Vocabulary

The Amish language is called Pennsylvania Dutch and is usually spoken rather than written. The spelling of commonly used words varies from community to community throughout the United States and Canada. Even as we researched this book, some words' spelling changed within the same Amish community that inspired this story. In one case, spellings were debated between family members. Some of the terms may have slightly different spellings. Still, all come from our interactions with the Amish settlement near where we lived in northwestern Pennsylvania.

While this book was modeled upon a small community in Lawrence County, this is a work of fiction. The names and characters are products of our imagination. They do not resemble any person, living or dead, or actual events in that community.

Glossary

Pennsylvania Dutch Deutsch Words

ach. Oh well, so it goes.

aendi. Aunt.

Biewel. Bible.

bruder. Brother.

datt. Father or dad.

dawdi. Grandfather.

denki. Thank You.

dochder. Daughter.

Englisch. How the Amish refer to non-Amish people.

ferhoodled. Confused or mixed up.

fraa. Wife.

freinden. Friend.

g’may. Amish community.

guter marye. Good morning.

gut. Good.

jah. Yes.

kaffi. Coffee.

kapp. Covering or prayer cap.

kichlin. Cookie.

kumm. Come.

mamm. Mom.

mudder. Mother.

mommi. Grandmother

nee. No.

Ordnung. Order or set of rules the Amish follow.

Rumspringa. Running around period.

schmutz. Dirt or mud.

schwester. Sister.

singeon. Singing/youth gathering.

wie geht’s. How’s it going.

willkumm. Welcome.

wunnerbarr. Wonderful.

The Amish are a religious group typically referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch, Pennsylvania Germans, or Pennsylvania Deutsch. They are descendants of early German immigrants to Pennsylvania, and their beliefs center around living a conservative lifestyle. They arrived between the late 1600s and the early 1800s to escape religious persecutions in Europe. They first settled in Pennsylvania with the promise of religious freedom by William Penn. Most Pennsylvania Dutch still speak a variation of their original German language as well as English.

Prologue

October - Willow Springs, Pennsylvania

Ice pellets bounced off Amanda Beiler’s heavy brown bonnet. She pulled two of her younger schwesters in closer, burying their faces in her middle. Her other five schwesters flanked her on either side, all staring aimlessly at the pine box being lowered into the cold November ground.

Her Amish community's slow and steady voices echoed off the leafless trees while they sang the last hymn. A heaviness charged Amanda’s chest as Bishop Weaver closed in prayer and her neighbors lined up one by one to shovel dirt into the hand-dug grave. The last three days had been a blur while she struggled to understand Gott’s will.

The doctors said her mamm’s lungs were weak and couldn’t withstand the upper respiratory infection. But Amanda knew it had more to do with a broken heart than weak lungs. Ever since her datt died in a silo accident three years earlier, the smile that once covered her mamm’s face had long disappeared.

Without looking towards the woman who pulled her twin blonde-haired schwesters from her embrace, she stood frozen to the ground as Bishop Weaver moved closer.

He said, "Gott’s will be done in a soft but stern tone. Letting a few seconds of silence fall between them, he continued. It’s not our place to question why but trust the purpose for all He does. The Lord will never abandon us during our times of grief, and He will always provide if we open our hearts and eyes to see it."

A lump formed in Amanda’s throat as she gasped for air, suddenly realizing they were orphans. She saw his mouth move, but the words he said barely registered.

Turning to leave, he added, The Bible tells us, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Without lifting her eyes from the hole in the ground, she said in a hushed tone, "Gott can’t comfort my four-year-old schwester in the middle of the night."

Bishop Weaver towered beside her small frame, leaned in, and said, He can, and He will, through you.

Squeezing her gloved hands together, she uttered back without moving from her spot. How can He think placing eight girls all by themselves will fill any of us with hope?

Raising his eyebrows, he said, Turn around.

Without questioning his instruction, she slowly turned to face the hundreds of eyes peering back at her. Each was etched with pity that burned a hole in her heart. It took all she had not to run and find a place to grieve in private. Before she had a chance to flee, he said, What you’re failing to remember is this community is willing and able to surround you with what you need.

The bishop tucked the small leather-bound Bible under his arm and said, "Gott has not left you, and neither will we."

Amanda scanned the crowd and relaxed when her eyes met Maggie and Bella Schrock, her two best friends. Their faces were lined with compassion as they walked her way.

Maggie reached for her hand. Henry will take us back to your house so we can put the food out.

Bella wrapped her arm around Amanda’s shoulder and pulled her close. We’ll take the little girls with us and get them out of the cold. Do you need us to gather up the other girls as well?

Amanda looked over her shoulder until she located her schwesters. It looks like the bishop’s wife has them. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out in a slow and controlled manner, she said, "I need a few minutes with Mamm."

Maggie gestured toward the sky. Are you sure? Those clouds are dark like this icy rain will turn to snow any minute.

Amanda didn’t turn toward the sky. Thank you both for being by my side. I don’t think I could have done this without you.

Bella pulled her Englisch-styled coat around her tighter. That’s what friends are for. I’m sure you’d do the same for us.

As the girls turned to leave, Mrs. Sorensen, the Apple Blossom Inn owner, stepped beside her. Not known for her tender demeanor, she surprised Amanda by taking her hand. I will always treasure your mother’s friendship. You wouldn’t think a grouchy old woman like myself would make friends with a sweet woman like your mom, but she was one of my dearest friends. Leaning in closer, she said, There will always be a part of her inside of you. Use those memories on the days when life seems too hard to handle.

She straightened her back and patted Amanda’s other hand, I’m certain you’ll need to stay home and care for your sisters. I won’t expect you back at work. If you need anything, you know where to find me.

The woman’s strong perfume lingered long after she flipped her silk scarf and walked away.

As the last of the buggies pulled away from the tree-lined field that served as the Amish graveyard, Amanda moved until the tips of her black boots met the soft soil that lined her mamm’s grave. In the last twenty years, she learned not to question the Lord’s plans. But at that very moment, when her knees buckled and the cool mud made it through her black skirt and wool stockings, a wave of emotion overcame her. She pressed her forehead into her clasped hands as her elbows dug into her thighs, and she begged Gott to explain why.

Sadie

By Debra Torres

​Chapter 1

The steady drum of ice pellets on my black umbrella matched the beat of my broken heart. As Mamm was lowered into the frozen ground, fear wrapped its tendrils around my insides, and my breathing grew shallow. I waited until a gap formed between the mourners gathered at the Willow Springs graveyard, big enough for someone my size to slip through.

My body tensed, ready to bolt, when my sister Katie slipped her hand into mine and held tight.

Oh no, you don’t.

I stared straight ahead as the torment raged inside of me.

Three years earlier, we buried Datt after he fell to his death climbing our silo—an accident that should never have happened. I was there that day, and its memories made me squirm.

My breath came out in nervous puffs that freezing November afternoon. I told him to be careful—several times.

"Datt, why can’t we do this another day?" I was fourteen, well accustomed to Northwestern Pennsylvania’s icy winds. But Datt just drew in his lips as his eyes followed the iron rungs all the way to the top.

"Quit your worrying over me, Dochder. The hole in the silo’s roof won’t fix itself, ain’t?"

But c-c-couldn’t we wait for a warmer day? My teeth had chattered despite my thick black coat. One that’s not so c-c-c-cold?

Datt's wool cap shook left and then right as his long strides took him into the barn to fetch the tools that he would need to mend the broken roofing panel sixty feet up.

An idea came to me, and I rushed into the house for the teakettle. At least I could warm the first few steps of his climb. Coming back out, I’d rubbed the freezing rungs with a hot rag, careful to dry them. Right before he started his ascent, I tried to make the long trip upwards safe for my datt.

But we hadn’t factored in the wind.

Why hadn’t Datt thought about the wind?

Why hadn’t I?

The gusts that were strong enough to pull my blue scarf off my head—sending it rippling through the air and me chasing after it—were enough to send my father flying out into a field of drying dent corn.

A hot tear rolled down my frosty cheek.

I hadn’t even known he’d fallen.

I stared down at my black boots.

Maybe I could have done something more.

It took an hour for Mamm, my schwesters, and me to find him there.

Datt left us all alone, and my heart still clenched at his loss.

Even back then, I feared our family would fall apart. Another wave gripped my insides as Mamm joined Datt, leaving all eight of us on shaky ground.

Thuds of dirt hitting Mamm’s coffin brought me back to the moment. Each one of the g’may passed the gaping grave and dropped a handful of earth onto her pine box.

Mamm.

I’d tried to help her, as well. But obviously, it wasn’t enough. Her sickness had started small but then made its way into her lungs—already weak from the pneumonia she had barely recovered from last winter.

What more could I have done? I had put our youngest schwester Constance to bed and was in the kitchen boiling water for Mamm’s honey and lemon tea when Amanda’s sobs told me our mother had joined Datt.

Fear crept its icy fingers up my spine.

Who was going to help us now?

Who was going to lead this family? Who would keep us together?

Bishop Weaver ambled over to Amanda and bent his head low to her height. Clenching my fists, I thought of the huge responsibility that had landed in my sister's lap. Her shoulders sagged at their discussion and the bend of her back deepened.

The bishop’s words were doing little to bring her comfort, that was for sure.

Families were heading out of the icy rain and back to their buggies. Some gave me a nod and an encouraging word as they passed. I had a hard time making out what they said.

There was more than enough space to escape now. Maybe if I left, the fear of what would happen to us would stay here at the gravesite and leave me alone.

But it wouldn't be the case. I was aware of that. 

Escaping the moment would help, though. Katie no longer gripped my hand, and I took a step forward and was almost out of the circle of the g’may when the bishop’s wife called me over to where she had gathered Ellie, Esther, Martha, and Mary. Katie was walking her way while holding Constance as well.

I blew at the hairs that had escaped my bun and tossed my plan aside as my black boots obeyed the bishop’s wife.

Huddled in with my sisters surrounding me, I found warmth despite the weather and wished the moment would freeze in time.

The bishop left Amanda, and she joined us after having a brief conversation with Betty Smucker. And now, here we were all together. Everyone I loved the most in the whole wide world.

I couldn’t lose another family member to death, or just as worse, separation.

Wouldn’t.

And I knew one thing. I had to do everything in my power to keep things that way.

​Chapter 2

Later that evening, Sadie softly entered the small bedroom Constance shared with her sisters. The day had been difficult for them all, and the four-year-old girl had been extra clingy.

Katie had put her to bed an hour ago, but when Sadie quietly pulled the door open, she was surprised to find not only her youngest sister awake but a caramel-colored fur ball in the bed next to her.

Tsk, Constance! What are you doing bringing the rabbit to bed with you?

She regretted her harsh words, seeing her schwester’s cheeks wet with tears.

Walking over to the bed, Sadie pulled out a clean tissue from under her apron. Softly, she shook her head as she wiped the young girl's face.

"Ach, I suppose you're okay for now." She stroked the rabbit's soft fur and fondly remembered Datt's mischievous grin the day he'd brought the bunny home.

Calling all his daughters, he had them gather around to guess what he had in the large pocket of his denim work coat. When the dark blue fabric started to wriggle, they’d all squealed with delight and began to yell out whatever kind of animal that came to mind.

Sadie suppressed a smile, remembering one of the twins had suggested a bear cub.

Datt had put his finger to his lips since Mamm was in the bedroom nursing Constance, who was a baby at the time.

"Shhh, Dochders, he'd shuffled them to the kitchen to help with the noise. Whoever guesses correctly gets to choose a name!"

Sadie smiled as she remembered the joy of the secret in her father’s eyes and the intense guessing game that started.

She sat down in the bed next to her sister and, pulling the soft bunny into her arms, she cuddled in close.

Do you remember the history of how this rabbit got his name?

Constance giggled despite her glistening eyes and nodded. Tell me again, though.

Well . . . I think it was Ellie. She was aware the story was her little sister’s favorite, as was the housebroken pet.

"No Sadie, both the twins! Constance smiled and gave her a playful shove. You've got this story down better than I do, c'mon!" 

The four-year-old blew her nose and tossed the tissue into the trashcan next to the bed.

Sadie smiled. It was good to hear her sister laugh again. She couldn't imagine the difficulty in losing Mamm at such a young age.

She held up her hands in surrender. Okay, okay. I’ll tell ya the tale right.

Constance’s face lit up as Sadie retold how the twins had decided to name the baby animal together after they had collectively called rabbit in their small circle with Datt.

They couldn’t decide on a name though. Ellie wanted the name Judy after one of their aendi’s, and Esther was fixed on her favorite fruit clementine.

Mamm, coming out of the bedroom cradling baby Constance, solved the issue by joining the names together.

And so, Judy Clementine had gotten her name.

Only . . . Constance held up a slim finger.

"Jah, only—Dawdi told us a week later Judy Clementine was a boy—but by then, the name had stuck."

"Jah, stuck!"

Sadie reached over and turned down the oil lamp at her sister’s bedside and snuggled in beside her.

"Judy Clementine and I will stay with you till you fall asleep, Schwester." Constance pressed into her and soon a soft whiffling filled the dimly lit room.

Staring up at the ceiling, Sadie’s eyes misted as the stark reality of her family’s vulnerability crept into her thoughts. Any peace she had moments ago vanished.

Gott, how is our family going to get through this?

SADIE SHOULDN’T HAVE been surprised at how quickly a plan came together. The next week, after they had eaten a lunch of potato casserole a neighbor brought by, Amanda asked for some time with Sadie and Katie after the dishes were done.

Ellie, Esther, Martha, and Mary were at school, and their eldest sister had run upstairs to put Constance down for a nap. The kitchen was painfully silent between the two of them while they washed and dried the dishes. From time to time, they exchanged nervous glances, but Sadie didn’t want to talk, and she was sure Katie must have felt the same way.

What was there to say, anyway?

After the last dish was put away in the cabinets of their small kitchen, the three of them met in the bedroom they all shared.

Amanda closed the door, and tears sprung in her schwester's eyes before she began to speak.

Sadie felt so bad for her. From one day to the next, things had changed so drastically. Memories of Amanda's life flooded in from when her sister's cheeks were rosy as she busily went from working at the Apple Blossom Inn to singings and frolics.

Not long ago, she had teased her big sister about when she was going to find a beau and start a family of her own.

Now, where did the death of their mamm leave Amanda? Would a happy future of being a fraa and a mudder be lost to her? Sadie gulped at the realization.

It would, wouldn’t it?

This is not fair.

Had she said that out loud?

Amanda took in a deep breath and wiped her eyes with the apron on her black cape dress.

"No, but this is what we've got right now. The bishop would say we must accept the will of Gott."

She didn’t sound too convinced, and Sadie clenched her fists. Even if he had spoken the truth, she didn't have to like it.

Katie, quiet but practical, was often way ahead of her. "I believe Gott has a plan for us, even in our sorrow. But what does this mean for us, for our family? How are we going to do this? After Datt died, you were the one who brought in money from the Apple Blossom Inn."

Amanda nodded her head as more tears spilled. This is what I want to talk with you two about. Sadie got up to pull a few tissues from the box on the dresser and gave one to her. She started to get an idea of where this was headed, and she wasn’t sure she liked it.

Her older sister took a moment to wipe her eyes afresh and blow her nose. After the funeral, Mrs. Sorensen said she would do what she could to help our family.

Sadie’s stomach did a flip. Amanda’s experience