An Amish Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

am in charge of my father’s house.”
    “What did you mean when you told the innkeeper that your lodgers would have to live plain?”
    He really didn’t know? Grinning, she said, “You will be wanting your money back when you find out.”
    “Do you give refunds?”
    “ Nee, when money goes into my pocket it does not come out easily.”
    “Okay, then tell me gently.”
    “Plain living means many things. No electricity and all that comes with it. No television, no computers, no radio.”
    “Wow. What did I get myself into?”
    She glanced at him, but he was smiling and didn’t look upset. Feeling oddly happy, she said, “We go to bed early and we get up early. My father farms and isthe local farrier, but we will not put you to work shoeing horses.”
    “Thanks for the small favor.”
    “I have two brothers, Jacob is fourteen and Noah is ten. I also have a sister. Anna is eight.”
    His mood dimmed. “I wonder if I have brothers or sisters.”
    “You are welcome to some of mine,” she offered, hoping to make him smile again. It worked.
    “Don’t you find it hard to live without electricity?”
    “Why would I? People lived happily without electricity for many centuries.”
    “Good point. Why don’t the Amish use it?”
    “We are commanded by the Bible to live separate from the world. Having electricity joins us to the world in a way that is bad for us. We do not shun all modern things. Only those things that do not work to keep our families and our communities strong and close together.”
    “I still don’t get it.”
    “That is because you are an Englischer. ”
    “I’m a what?” He frowned.
    “English. An outsider. Our word for those who are not of our faith. This is our lane.”
    Karen slowed the horse and turned onto the narrow road where a large white sign with a black anvil painted on it said, Horse Shoeing. Closed Wednesdays. The word Wednesdays was currently covered by a smaller plaque that said Until Further Notice.
    John sat up straighter. “Where did you find me?”
    “A little ways yet.”
    When they approached the spot, Karen drew the horse to a stop. John jumped down and walked into the knee-high winter-brown grass and shrubs along the verge ofthe road. The sheriff had combed the area for clues but found nothing.
    Karen kept silent and waited as John made his own search. One look at his face made her realize John Doe was still a wounded man, but he was in need of more than physical care.

Chapter Three
    J ohn stared at the matted grass around his feet. No trace of the incident remained. No blood stains, no footprints, no proof that he had ever lain here.
    Squatting down, he touched the grass and waited for an answer to appear. Why had he been in this place?
    Had his injury been an accident or had someone deliberately tried to kill him? Had it been a robbery gone bad as the sheriff thought? No matter what the explanation, the fact remained that he’d been left here to die. The knowledge brought a sick feeling to the pit of his stomach.
    Standing, he shoved his hands in his pockets and scanned the horizon. All around him lay farm fields. To the east, a wooded hill showed yellow and crimson splashes of autumn colors. A cold breeze flowed around his face. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, hoping to trigger some hint of familiarity.
    Nothing.
    He searched his empty mind for some sliver of recognition and drew a blank.
    He’d been so sure coming here would make him remember. This was where his old life ended. He wantedto see the scattered bits of it lying at his feet. He wanted to pick up the puzzle pieces and assemble them into something recognizable. Only there was nothing to pick up.
    Now what?
    He glanced toward the buggy where Karen sat. He’d been found on her land. Did she know more than she was letting on? Sitting prim and proper with her white head covering and somber clothes, it was hard to imagine she could be involved in something as ugly as an assault. But what did he