The Amish Christmas Sleigh Read Online Free PDF Page A

lantern. But Sebastian rubbed at his temple as if even the small circle of light was too much.
    â€œKate, I’m going to lie down and sleep this off. Feel free to work as little or as much as you like—you can just straighten up a bit maybe. I’m sorry things are such a mess.... I, uh . . . sorry—I feel dizzy. . . .”
    He fled the dim circle of light and soon she heard a door close, leaving her clutching her bucket handle in indecision. Perhaps I really should go to Sarah King; she could at least send him something to ease his pain. . . .
    Her mind made up, Kate set her cleaning supplies down and quietly slipped from the cabin.
    Sarah King lived about half a mile from Sebastian in a rather secluded cabin. Kate knew she could take the horse and sleigh most of the way there but would have to hike the last hundred feet or so. She was glad she’d worn her sensible black boots, even though they only covered her up to her ankles. Still, her knitted stockings were warm and she hastily moved through the light snow falling to untie Janey, her faithful sorrel horse.
    She navigated with ease through the snow on the dirt road that was crisscrossed with other sled tracks fast being filled in by the snow. She passed Ben Kauffman’s general store and then the school, and soon she saw the healer’s cabin perched on its rocky ledge. She got out and tied Janey’s rein to some low-hanging bare branches, then began the climb upward. She slipped only once, sliding down and coming back up with a cold mouthful of snow. She sputtered, floundering, then regained her footing and soon knocked at the wooden door.
    Sarah King welcomed her with a bright smile.
    â€œKate, kumme in,” Sarah invited. “Would you like some hot cocoa? I hope everything’s going well—Ben’s not ill, is he?”
    Kate shook her bonneted head, inching toward the open fire’s warmth with grateful feet. “ Nee, Ben is well. It’s—it’s actually Sebastian Christner. He’s got a bad migraine and is feeling quite poorly.”
    â€œ Ach, nee . . . I hate migraines.” Sarah moved to the large cabinet in the kitchen that was filled with mysterious bottles and vials and dried bunches of herbs. Kate watched as the other girl began to mix various crushed herbs and dried flowers in a small wooden bowl. “Is his stomach upset, too?”
    â€œUh—I’m not sure, but he said he was dizzy.” Kate felt herself blush, wondering if Sarah was privately questioning how she knew that Sebastian was ill, but the healer seemed to find nothing out of the ordinary and Kate began to relax.
    â€œYou’ll have to brew him a tea using these herbs—I’ve got feverfew and butterbur here as well as some mint. Make sure he drinks a full cup and quickly—it should bring him relief in a short time.” Sarah handed her a small brown bag of pungent herbs, and Kate tucked it inside her wool cloak.
    â€œ Danki, Sarah. I appreciate your help,” Kate said, smiling.
    Sarah dimpled in return. “And I appreciate that you have been granted access to the mysterious Sebastian Christner’s life. I don’t think he would have let you see him sick if he didn’t trust you. People don’t usually want to be vulnerable unless they’re with someone they like.”
    Once more, even though Sarah’s tone held no curiosity, Kate felt herself color hotly. To think . . . he might like me.
    She bade the healer a gut day and felt that she fairly floated out the door, not minding that the once-light snow had now become mixed with freezing rain, making her climb back down to the sled even more difficult. Still, she managed to untie Janey and urge her back out into the slippery lane, anxious now to get to Sebastian with some relief.
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    The persistent striking of ice against the cabin roof only served to aggravate the pain in Sebastian’s head; he felt entirely miserable. He