A Simple Christmas Wish by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC042000, FIC053000, Orphans—Fiction, Amish—Fiction, Family secrets—Fiction, Forgiveness—Fiction, Christmas stories
ISBN: 9781441242273
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2013-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

8

Rachel stood in front of the fire for a while in an attempt to dry out her jeans that had gotten dampened on her unexpected fall. She wished she would’ve packed another pair of pants now. Although she’d brought along an extra sweater and shirt, she had planned to make these jeans last the day or two she’d expected to be here. Perhaps she hadn’t thought things through well enough.

With her jeans dried, she started pacing back and forth in the living room, trying to think of a strategy—a way to get Holly out of here before it was too late—when she heard the front door creak open. She jumped, turning to see that it was Benjamin again.

“Sorry to startle you,” he said. “But I thought I should take you over to have some lunch and to meet Mamm.”

“Oh?”

“Come on,” he urged. “No one really cares how you’re dressed. It’s not like they think you’re Amish.”

“You’re sure?”

“Ja. Get your coat and come on.”

Soon they were trekking over the path that had been made earlier. The snow was getting inside her boots, but she was more concerned with how the snow would’ve gotten into Holly’s shoes and whether she was warm enough in that thin dress and shawl. She had been completely serious about her threat to get a plane to fly Holly out of here if she got sick.

“You seem deep in thought,” Benjamin said.

“Oh—sorry.” She looked over at him. “I’m just worried about Holly.”

“Why?”

She let her guard down, explaining about how Holly’s clothes seemed inappropriate and how the pins bothered her and how her shoes were probably all soggy from the snow.

“I wouldn’t be too concerned. Those black stockings the girls wear are pretty thick and warm and they have lots of layers of under-things beneath those dresses.” He chuckled. “Trust me, I was the only brother of three sisters.”

“Three sisters?”

“Ja. Ruth lives in a settlement a few miles from here.”

“Does she know about Miri?”

“Ja. Everyone knows, Rachel. This is a small world here.”

“Oh.”

“Mamm has probably taken Miriam’s death harder than anyone.” He sighed. “Although it’s been difficult for all of us. I think every one of us feels somewhat responsible.”

“Responsible for her death?” Rachel was confused.

“I mean responsible that she left the settlement. As senseless as that may seem, it probably makes us feel somewhat responsible for her death too.”

“Oh.” Rachel shivered, pulling her scarf more snugly around her neck. However, she wasn’t sure if it was the temperature that had chilled her just now . . . or his words.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that Mamm is not exactly herself. My father died last spring, which is why I’m helping with the farm. But this news about Miriam—well, it’s been hard on her.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I was hoping you might be able to say something to encourage her.”

“Right . . . well, I’ll do what I can.”

He pointed to a red barn that was very similar to the Millers’ barn. “That’s where they are. It sounds like they’re already having lunch.

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