Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 2

by Samantha Price

  The detective nodded. “I’ll do that.”

  Ettie wiped a tear from her eye.

  “Are you all right, Mrs. Smith?”

  “It’s sad all around. Such a senseless waste of life, and for what?”

  “When life doesn’t turn out the way people planned, they often try to force the dice to fall in their favor,” the detective said.

  “By killing?” Ettie asked.

  “They often see that as the answer to their problems. Brandy was certain that with her competition out of the way Norman Cartwright would fall in love with her. She might have even thought the murder would’ve bonded the two of them together.”

  Ettie shuddered. “That’s a horrid thought.”

  Elsa-May brought a tray of coffee and cake into the room.

  The detective sprang to his feet. “Let me help you with that.” When he sat back down, he said, “I suppose it’s thrilling for you ladies to see a real detective in action?”

  “What do you mean?” Elsa-May asked.

  “Watching me put the pieces together.” He smiled as he tapped a finger on his head.

  “You did well, Detective,” Ettie said, as she poured him a cup of coffee from the pot.

  When the detective left, Elsa-May let Snowy back in the house. Snowy ran around sniffing everywhere the detective had been.

  “That’s right we had someone in the house,” Elsa-May said to the dog.

  “Oh, Elsa-May, why did Margaret go in for such a dangerous life?”

  “She thought she was helping people, and she probably did help people during the years she was with the police force.”

  “And Brandy; who would’ve thought she would be capable of murder?”

  “She did have drive and ambition,” Elsa-May stated.

  “I don’t think the two go together—murder and ambition.”

  “They did in this particular case.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Ettie murmured.

  Elsa-May sat back down. “What? You’re agreeing with me?”

  “I am.”

  Snowy started barking and ran to the door seconds before a knock sounded. Both sisters pushed themselves to their feet and walked to the door. Before Ettie opened the door, Elsa-May scooped Snowy up.

  At the doorstep stood Jeremiah and Ava.

  “Look at you two,” Ettie said. “You look so happy. Come in.”

  As Jeremiah walked past Elsa-May, he patted Snowy. “There’s the culprit,” he said.

  “He’s usually very good,” Elsa-May said.

  “Jah, he’s usually good because he’s chewing on my slippers or things he shouldn’t be chewing on.”

  “Don’t listen to Ettie.” Elsa-May laughed.

  They all sat in the living room, and Jeremiah rocked on the wooden chair. “This chair needs some serious attention.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you to take a look at these chairs.”

  “We should just get new ones and be done with it,” Ettie said.

  “Nee! I can fix these. I’ll take a couple with me today and bring them back when I finish and then take the next two. They’ll be as gut as new.”

  Elsa-May jutted out her bottom jaw. “See, Ettie, what did I say?”

  “All right. You got your way again, Elsa-May!”

  Elsa-May chuckled as she sat with Snowy in her arms. “I can tell you’ve got some news for us. Are you expecting, Ava?”

  Ava gasped, and her face turned red. “Nee, but we’ve both come here because … you tell them, Jeremiah.”

  “We’d like to buy your haus, Ettie.”

  “You would?”

  “We would. And that way my grossmammi can live with us in the grossdaddi haus,” Ava said.

  “What about your new home that you built, Jeremiah?”

  “We’ll sell it,” Ava answered for him.

  “I’ve done so much work on your haus, Ettie. I know it pretty well, and we both like it. It’s the place we got to know each other better.”

  Ava beamed a smile at Jeremiah, and then said to Ettie, “We can pay what Brandy originally said it was worth if that’s okay with you.”

  Ettie laughed. “If that’s what you want to do I’m more than happy to sell it to both of you. I don’t want you to pay too much; we can talk about the price after you sell your other house.”

  “Would you wait for it to sell?” Jeremiah asked. “We’d need the money from the sale of it to pay you.”

  “Jah. I will. I think Agatha would love for Ava to live in her haus. That makes me so happy.” Ettie wiped a tear from her eye hoping no one would see it.

  Jeremiah and Ava looked lovingly into each other’s eyes.

  Ettie stood up. “I’ll go and fix us some tea.” Ettie managed to get to the kitchen before another tear fell. So many things had happened surrounding Agatha’s old house, and now a lovely young couple would live there and one day, soon she hoped, they would raise their kinner there.

  Once she’d put the pot on to boil, she sat at the kitchen table and held her head in her hands. Life was a cycle, some of it good and some bad. Long ago, Horace had been murdered in the house, and then hidden under the floorboards, Margaret had been murdered right in front of the house, but soon that same house would be filled with the love and laughter of two wonderful young people.

  The thing is to hold in your mind only the good, Ettie reminded herself.

  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

  Philippians 4:8

  Amish Quilt Shop Mystery

  Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Book 5

  Copyright © 2016 by Samantha Price

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The personal names have been invented by the author, and any likeness to the name of any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  “Jabez, can you move the table closer to the window?”

  Jabez gave a quick nod and then he and David lifted the table to where Bethany had ordered.

  When the table was in place, David turned around with his hands on his hips. “That better?”

  “A little to the left.” She motioned with her hands.

  Jabez shook his head and said, “Okay, you're the boss.” He then murmured to David, “Even though I don't see it’ll make any difference.”

  David stifled a laugh. Bethany heard his comment and ignored it. She watched until they moved the table where she wanted it, and when she gave them a nod of approval, she turned away to see how everything else in her new store was going. The store meant everything to her and—like everything in her life that she could control—it had to be perfect. Now the food tables were in exactly the right place for the night’s event, and soon her friends, Jill and Kathy, would arrive with the food. She spun around when Jabez tapped her on the shoulder.

  “Is that all you want us for today?”

  She stared into Jabez’s clear blue eyes set against smooth honey-colored skin, lost for a moment, wondering if they’d ever be more than friends. When he raised his superbly shaped eyebrows as if to say ‘well?’ she pulled her gaze from him and looked around the room to see what else she might have him do. All the heavy work had been done. There was no reason to keep Jabez or David there any longer. “I can't
think of anything right now, but you’re coming back tonight, right?”

  “Jah. We’ll be back for the big opening night.” He slapped his hands on his solid thighs. “We need to change out of our old clothes and into something more decent.”

  She looked up and down at their clothes. “Denke. I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

  “And me?” David asked.

  “Mainly you,” Bethany joked, getting a stern look from Jabez.

  After they’d said goodbye, Jabez and David left the store and Bethany was alone. She was glad that Jabez was coming back for the special event. For too long she’d had a secret crush on him and she’d heard he felt the same, but their relationship had never moved beyond one of friendship. She’d often considered making her feelings towards him known, but if he didn’t feel the same it could ruin their friendship. As Bethany always did when thoughts of Jabez bothered her, she kept busy. And tonight, with the opening of her quilt shop, there was plenty to keep her attention off her secret crush.

  Bethany adjusted the quilts on the walls and made sure everything was straight and just so. Everything had to be right for the night.

  Invitations had gone out to everyone in her Amish community and all the workers and the store owners in the shops nearby. It had always been her dream to be a successful business owner so she would be able to provide for herself. Since her mother had died one year ago, she was on her own as much as anyone could be on their own in the community.

  “In your own world of daydreams and floating quilts.”

  Bethany turned around to see a figure in the doorway silhouetted by the afternoon sun. She shaded her eyes so she could see better. “Is that you, Ettie?”

  Ettie walked towards her. “It is. I’ve come to see if I can offer a hand.”

  “Denke, but there’s nothing to do here at the moment. I’ve just had Jabez and David arrange the tables for the food and drinks. I’ve got drinks down there, and the girls are arriving soon with all the food.” Bethany looked back to the door. “Where is Elsa-May?”

  Ettie huffed. “Just because we live together doesn't mean we have to go everywhere with each other.”

  “I know that, but you usually do.”

  “Elsa-May is taking her new dog to dog training lessons at Quinton Black's house. Obedience classes, I think they call them.”

  “I see. She is coming tonight, isn't she?”

  “Jah. She'll be here.” Ettie looked around. “What is it that I can do? There must be something.”

  Bethany took hold of Ettie’s arm. “You can tell me what you think of how I’ve designed the store. The quilts are at the back here, and I've hung some so people can see the full size and the pattern when they’re laid out. And then I put the fabric on the shelves at the side here. Do you think that’s the best placement for everything? Think of yourself as a customer.”

  Ettie’s gaze ran around the store, taking everything in. “I'm no expert at this sort of thing, but it looks very good and very professional. You’ve put a lot of thought into everything, that’s clear to see.”

  Bethany smiled, wondering what she could give Ettie to do. She’d already gotten everything organized and her friends would be there soon to help with the party. “There’s nothing to do. I'm really hoping this store is successful. I'm a little worried because there are other stores like this nearby. It’s not as though it’s the only one.”

  “You can't start off worried,” Ettie said. “You must start off with confidence.”

  “Jah, you're right, Ettie. I’ve taken a calculated risk. Now all I can do is wait and see.”

  “And work hard.”

  “That too. Would you like a cup of hot tea while we wait for the girls?”

  “I came here to help, not to drink tea.”

  “I’ve had this place organized for the past two days. The builders finished ahead of schedule, so I was able to get in early and have everything organized. Organizing things is what I do best. If you have a cup of tea with me, that’ll help me calm down a little.” Bethany lifted her hand and tried to hold it level. “Look at my hand—it’s shaking.”

  “It’s shakier than my hand,” Ettie said with a laugh.

  “I'll show you where I make the tea.” Bethany pulled back a curtain behind the sales counter to reveal a small sink over a cupboard, with just enough countertop space for an electric teakettle.

  “It's not a big space,” Bethany said.

  “That's all you need to hide your kettle and a few food items. It certainly is a good idea to put it behind that curtain.”

  “I think so too. I was going to have a door built, but the door would’ve taken up too much space. It’s much easier to have a curtain.”

  “Very tidy.”

  “I think so too. I can make myself a cup of tea and I can sit behind the counter with a cup when I'm not busy. It would be exciting if I was rushed all day and had no time to eat or even have a cup of tea.”

  “I think you'll do well here, Bethany.”

  “I certainly hope so.” Bethany filled the kettle with water. “It’ll be better than helping Mrs. Fisher on her farm.”

  “It was gut timing now that her boys have returned home.”

  Bethany nodded. Helping on the farm had given her a little money, and with the sum her mother had left her she had enough to open the store and keep going for three months. The store had to make money after that or she could lose her house.

  “Your mudder would've liked to have been here to see what a great job you’ve done with everything.”

  Bethany switched off the kettle, turned around, and gave Ettie a smile.

  “I'm sorry, dear. It probably wasn't the best thing to bring your mudder into the conversation. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “That’s all right, Ettie. She's been gone for nearly a year.” No one in the community would've known what it was like behind closed doors. Her mother had been all smiles and polite to everybody in public, but at home she was a different person. She’d never been cruel or mean physically, but she had been cold and indifferent. So much so that Bethany had often wanted her to beat her or hit her; at least that would’ve shown some emotion toward her.

  Bethany looked at Ettie. If she’d had a grandmother still alive, she’d want her to be Ettie or someone who was kind and genuine like Ettie. Bethany had always known that Ettie was concerned for her welfare. Ettie had always found time to stop by her house when she was growing up. It was almost as though she’d known what Bethany’s mother had been like without having to be told.

  Chapter 2

  Ettie looked across at Bethany when she felt Bethany staring at her. When Ettie smiled at her, Bethany smiled too and then looked away. Bethany’s face was too lined for a girl of twenty-five. What had caused a young girl so much strain? Her mother, Sybil, had temporarily left the community when she was young and had returned when she was expecting Bethany. Maybe that was it. Could Bethany be the way she was because Sybil had never married, leaving Bethany an only child? An only child in the community was an oddity. Growing up without a father figure and no relatives can’t have been easy.

  Sybil was not the loving kind of woman that people thought she was. Ettie had known that right away. Sybil was only too eager to have others look after Bethany as a baby. Often Sybil would say she was coming down with a cold and didn’t want Bethany to catch it. People in the community were happy to take Bethany for a few days—what was another child to care for in families that had between five and fifteen children? Bethany’s mother had never seemed a happy woman. Ettie had never mentioned it to anybody. It was just a quiet observation. Would Bethany end up never married and alone like her mother before her? Perhaps that’s why the store was so important. If the store became a success, maybe that would give Bethany the peace she was looking for.

  “Ettie, I said it’s fine. Mamm is with Gott, and I’m fine on my own.”

  “No young girl should be on her own.” The words slipped out of Ettie’s mouth be
fore she could stop them.

  “It’s not through choice, Ettie. If I could marry, I would.”

  “What’s to stop you doing so? You could still have your store. Many women marry and work out of the home these days. It’s not like it was when I was your age.”

  Bethany giggled and her fingertips covered her mouth. “That’s not what’s stopping me. It’s just that I’ve never met a man who saw me as wife material.”

  Ettie’s eyebrows wiggled. “Wife material? You’ve been around fabrics for too long.”

  Bethany smiled. “I’m different from the other girls. They were interested in boys years before I was, and I guess I never saw that as being the most important thing in life—getting married, I mean.”

  “What’s the most important thing to you?”

  “Being able to provide for myself is important. I don’t know if that’s because Mamm is gone and I’m alone, but it’ll make me feel safe if I can make my own money. I don’t want to rely on other people.”

  Bethany sprang to her feet when the kettle boiled. “Milk and sugar, Ettie?”

  “Nee. Just weak and black for me.”

  “Good, because I don’t have milk. I’ve got no room for a fridge.”

  Bethany passed Ettie a cup of tea and then sat down with her.

  Ettie wanted to hint to Bethany that she shouldn’t put so much faith in earthly things, but she didn’t want to sound like she was preaching to her, nor did she want to bring Bethany’s mood down. The young woman had a dream and right at that moment, Ettie was not going to ruin it by warning her to place her faith in God and not in riches that can take wings and fly away at a moment’s notice. Sometimes knowledge like that had to come through experience rather than being told.

  “What’s happening with you, Ettie? I don’t get much time to talk to you after our meetings on a Sunday.”