The Secret of the Medaillon

by Rebecca Byler

  THE SECRET OF THE MEDAILLON

  A Leah Troyer Mystery Series, Book 1

  Rebecca Byler

  Copyright ©2016, by Rebecca Byler

  All Rights Reserved

  rebecca.byler.author@gmail.com

  License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to others. If you wish to share this book, please purchase an additional copy. If you are reading this book and it was not purchased then, you should purchase your own copy. Your continued respect for author's right is appreciated.

  This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to people is purely coincidence. All places, names, events, business, etc. are used in a fictional manner. All characters are from the imagination of the author.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  List of Amish Words

  More Books By Rebecca Byler

  Bonus Chapter: The Stolzfus Sisters, Book 1

  Chapter 1

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter 1

  "One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out." Luke 8:22

  It had been ten years since Amos was gone. We were supposed to get married, but my love for him wasn’t enough to make him stay for good. Gott had taken him away from me so soon, and I had no choice but to accept the reality.

  “What if he survived that day, Samson?” I asked, taking a quick break from knitting, and glancing at my dog, who sat beside me.

  Samson whined reluctantly as if he was telling me I’ve been asking the same query for the thousandth time this week.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized, as I gave him a soft tap on the forehead. “You must be very lonely being with me,” I added.

  My lovely dog suddenly turned his head to meet my eyes and barked at me gently in protest. Honestly, he was the only one I had right now. I hoped he was saying I’ve got the wrong impression.

  “Ach Amos!” I muttered, slumped on the chair. I temporarily put down the blanket which I was working on. Samson tucked his head back on the floor and returned to the same bored facial expression. “I wonder how many children we would have now,” I sighed. “If only that accident hadn’t happened. You should have been sitting with me now, having your kaffee and watching me while I put the final touches on this cloth,” I breathed out.

  Staring at the couch for a while, I imagined him looking at me with the pair of blue eyes I had never forgotten. Indeed, I needed to persuade myself I must stop this lonely routine. After all, I had been stuck and alone in this house for a decade now.

  Today is the death anniversary of my loved ones. Yes- loved ones. My familye was gone with my beloved, Amos. Though it had been years since the tragic accident, the pain was still there, and perhaps, it will always be here until my day’s end.

  I never questioned Gott, I know he has his own reasons. Though it hurts, I’ve learned how to surrender everything to Him, and to trust His will. The Bible says, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”, and for that, I have chosen to stay still to wait for the answers at the right time.

  “Hey there, sweet Leah,” a voice said, interrupting my busy head. It’s my best friend, Rebecca, who just married an Englischer three years after my fiancé passed away.

  “Ach!” I mumbled and rolled my head exaggeratedly. “How many times do I have to tell you not to surprise me like that?” I complained, with a trace of a grin on my face. To be honest, I am delighted to see her doing the same thing whenever she comes to my house.

  Rebecca giggled like a teenager while Samson finally stretched his legs and wagged his tail to meet our guest.

  “Samson!” she shouted enthusiastically, as she gave him a quick stroke on the head. “Nice to see you again, boy.”

  I watched her until she reached the couch next to mine, with an interrogating eyebrow.

  “Shouldn’t I be the one nagging you today?” she said.

  “What? What have I done this time?” I wondered, slightly raising both of my hands defensively.

  “I heard you, you were talking to Amos again!” she replied. “It’s been ten years, Leah. You should move on. There’s so much life out of this haus. Take some time to travel outside this town and clear your head,” Rebecca insisted.

  “Rebecca, my Rumspringa is over,” I said calmly. “Look at me, I am thirty years old!”

  “I am not telling you to go and leave our faith, nor telling you to attend a Sing,” Rebecca answered. “All I was saying is get a life Leah- a real Life.”

  “I am happy with my life,” I defended.

  “You think reading your mystery book series, and knitting, while you talk to a deceased person, is normal? Come on, my friend, you need to see the world, and loosen up a bit,” she insisted.

  I rolled my eyes and said nothing. I know I would never win when Rebecca started this kind of conversation. Samson seemed to get my point as well, so he stood up and went upstairs, probably planning to get a nap in the bedroom.

  “What a faithful buddy you have in there, Leah,” my friend commented, gazing at my lovely dog until he vanished from view. “I am truly amazed at how long he’s been by your side.”

  “He’s been with me for almost twelve years now,” I said proudly.

  “Wow,” Rebecca muttered, then her face suddenly became anxious.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked her, curious.

  “What would you do if it’s time for him to leave you?” she said in a serious manner. I threw her a confused look, so she cleared her throat and continued. “I mean, Samson is a Sheepdog, Leah. The maximum life span of his breed is only twelve to fourteen years.”

  At first, I was a bit appalled. However, I actually managed to rebuke the fear of losing him. “He won’t leave that soon, Rebecca. He seems very well and healthy!” I defended.

  “Jah,” she agreed. “But who knows, right? What you can see outside may differ from inside. You better bring him to a veterinarian once in a while. Believe me, Samson is getting older. He might need some extra care if you’d like him to live longer,” she added.

  A veterinarian? I don’t think Samson needs one. He survived these past twelve years without a doctor. Besides, Rebecca was just exaggerating. My dog was still in good shape, and he didn’t need any medical attention, for goodness sake.

  “…. just tell me! I haven’t met him personally, but I have heard a lot about him, so I know where to find him.”

  Ach! I forgot Rebecca wasn’t over with her persuasion yet. Honestly, I barely understood her speech, but I needed to keep gathering my senses if I’d like to sleep in peace tonight. If I should disagree, she won’t stop bugging me for the next couple of hours.

  “And since when did you become interested in animals and their doctors?” I interrogated, to divert the spotlight from me to her.

  Rebecca finally stopped, then she slumped lazily on the couch.

  “Remember my cousin, John?” she started.

  “Of course, the one who didn’t return after his Rumspringa?” I said, and giggled.

  “Jah, the one who wanted to court you before, but you immediately turned him down becaus
e you were in love with Amos!” she teased, with sarcasm. “I still wonder if you were the reason why he chose to stay in the city rather than coming home that time.”

  “Ach! Don’t put the blame on me, honey,” I said, grinning. “Everyone should be responsible for his own choices.”

  “Right,” Rebecca sighed. “But anyway, he came back after five years of losing himself.”

  Getting back on my knitting project, I picked up my stuff again as I tried to fuel our conversation. Having my friend around kept away the pain of my loneliness for a while.

  “So, what about John? How come he was involved with your newly found interest in animals and doctors?” I asked, completely pondering now.

  “Well,” Rebecca uttered. She straightened up and regained her composure. “His friend is a veterinarian. As a matter of fact, his horse was sick last week! I’ve seen it myself! Oh dear, I thought he was going to lose Princess for good. But thankfully, when I met him yesterday, he said his friend named Joshua visited his place, and cured the poor thing.”

  “Joshua?” I repeated. “He sounds familiar,” I commented, remembering where I had heard the name before. Then, it hit me. “Jah, he was the one who attended to Mrs. Miller’s dog!”

  “So, you’ve met him before?” Rebecca asked, surprised.

  “Nee, not really,” I answered. “She just mentioned it when we had a little chat this morning.”

  “That’s great! At least, someone else can attest to the doctor’s skills,” she said, clasping her hands together.

  As she mentioned, Joshua is a bachelor. So, I had this feeling my friend had another agenda aside from solely referring Samson for a medical checkup. I could see it in her eyes. Perhaps, she wanted me to focus my attention on another man. But I am not interested in other men anymore. All I want is to marry Amos, but of course that is a very foolish thought as he is already with the Lord. But that is the way I am: a foolish dreamer.

  Fortunately, her husband, Arthur, came to pick her up. It was getting dark anyway, so he must have been looking for her. At last! She had no chance to tell me what she wanted me to do anymore.

  Chapter 2

  "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" Luke 12:25

  I woke up early in the morning to water the plants. My garden was the first place I wanted to visit before I started my day. And when I was not busy, I would spend as much time there as I could, reading one of my favorite Agatha Christie mystery novels, under the shade of the oak tree in my back yard. Of course, Samson was with me whenever I go into my yard.

  I decided to pack the strawberry jams when the sun finally set its place in the blue sky. After all, I had to make a living too. So, I had to hurry and deliver my products to Corner’s store, before the market day started.

  Because of the accident a decade ago, I never rode a buggy again. Besides, it was a good day for exercise. The marketplace was just a few blocks away from my residence, and as long as Samson was with me, I knew I wouldn’t get tired.

  “Good morning, Leah!” the owner of the store greeted me, delightfully.

  “Ach! Thank goodness! I thought you forgot about the delivery! My customers are coming any time now,” he added, tapping my shoulder. He actually reminded me of my late father.

  “That won’t happen, Mr. Corner,” I assured him. “I made the jam extra special just for you.”

  “Danke, my dear,” he uttered. “Would you please help me place the jars on the shelf?”

  “Jah, of course,” I said, and immediately arranged my products in the right corner of the store.

  Mr. Corner lived alone. His wife had passed away a few years ago, and his only son left the community and married an Englischer in the city. Perhaps, those were the reasons why he kept himself busy starting up a business.

  It didn’t take long before his customers started to flood into the store. So, I stayed a bit longer to lend a hand. It was nice to see most of them bought my products, and the shelf was already more than half empty after an hour.

  “It’s market day, what would you expect?” Mr. Corner commented when he caught me staring at the shelf, and completely in awe. “I should have doubled my order,” he added and chuckled.

  “Ach!” I said. “If you did, I don’t think I would be able to meet your demand,” I answered, truthfully.

  “Then, you should start thinking about getting married, Leah. It’s not too late to find your other half,” he insisted. “Soon, I will certainly double my order, so you need someone to help you,” he added and winked.

  At noon, the strawberry jams were out of stock. Though Mr. Corner was quite pleased with the sales, he regretted not saving one jar for his personal consumption. So, I promised to bring a separate one for him on the next market day.

  I bid my farewell as I went out of the store. Samson was missing. He was probably wandering around again like he always used to whenever we were visiting the area.

  “Samson!” I called out amidst the noisy crowd. I knew, no matter how overwhelming the buzzing noises were, he could still figure out and hear my voice. “Come on, boy! We’re going home now!”

  I continued my search, and at last, I found him taking a nap in the vacant stall, which was located a few meters away from Mr. Corner’s place.

  “There you are!” I exclaimed in relief. “Let’s go! We’re going home.”

  Samson didn’t move an inch as if he was too tired and sleepy to respond. “Ach, don’t give me that look again, boy. I know you’re tired, but you have to get up now. I promise I will let you continue your nap as soon as we reach the haus,” I said and helped him get on his feet.

  Lazily, Samson stood up, whining, or complaining, perhaps.

  “He looks sick,” a voice said behind me. I turned around and realized it was my friend’s cousin, John.

  “John,” I said, acknowledging his presence.

  “Hey Leah,” he said. Pointing at Samson, he asked, “Is he yours?”

  “Jah,” I answered. “He’s a bit lazy sometimes,” I added.

  “Pardon me, but I don’t think he was just lazy today. I mean, he seems a bit at uneasy,” he commented and took a closer look at my dog. “I have a friend who can check on him,” he continued. “I can drive you there if you’d like,” he offered.

  “That’s so nice of you, John. But I am in a hurry today. Perhaps, some other time,” I answered politely.

  It wasn’t that I was avoiding him, or something. It was just, I was not convinced that Samson was really sick. So, sending him to a veterinarian would only be a waste of time.

  “Okay,” John said kindly. “Just let me know if you need help,” he added.

  I spent the rest of the day, reading my favorite mystery novel. Since it was cold outside, I decided to stay indoors and enjoy my kaffee alone in the kitchen. Anyway, I wondered if Rebecca would drop by for another visit later. I was sure our topic about the veterinarian wasn’t over yet. Also, I would rather not have to talk about my unexpected meeting with her cousin this afternoon, or else, I will regret it.

  In the middle of my daydreaming, a soft knock on the door caught my attention. Certainly, that was not my friend. She was too loud whenever she was around, and she would definitely not knock so quietly. So, I took a quick glance out of the window and realized it was my neighbor.

  “Hi Mrs. Miller, how are you?” I greeted her as soon as I opened the front door.

  “I’m fine, Leah. Danke for asking,” she replied in a lovely manner.

  “Please, come in. It’s quite cold outside,” I said. “How can I help you?”

  “I am sorry I disturb you, dear. I was wondering if you can make a quilt for me? You know, my dochder will come home next week, and get married. I wanted to give them a special gift on their wedding day next month,” she said.

  “Ach! Sure!” I said, totally delighted. “Where will the wedding take place?” I asked her, as I remembered her daughter was involved with a non-Amish man.

  “In our house, dear,”
Mrs. Miller replied, with a triumphant tone. “Fortunately, the young man was willing to be baptized and embrace our community. I thought we were going to have a problem with that,” she chuckled.

  “That’s really wunderbaar!” I exclaimed. “I’d be happy to help you with your present. Would you like to join me for a cup of kaffee?”

  “Certainly, honey,” she responded, happily.

  So, I helped her ton the couch and prepared another cup of kaffee for her. Even if we barely spoke with each other, I must admit that I enjoy Mrs. Miller’ company. We could actually talk about almost anything as if we were of the same age.

  “Leah, there was another thing I’d like to consult you on,” she uttered after a while.

  “What is it, Mrs. Miller?” I said.

  “Well, could you please take a look at this?” she asked, pulling out a golden locket from her pocket. “Do you think, my dochder would like it?”

  I stared at the old, but still sparkling necklace. It was, indeed, the loveliest locket design I had ever seen. It was not every day you would see Amish women wearing something like this as the Amish usually do not wear jewelry, not even wedding rings.

  “This is our familye heirloom I promised to give it to her when she was little,” Mrs. Miller uttered, probably reminiscing the moment of her daughter’s childhood days. “It is our familye’s tradition to pass it on during our dochder’s wedding day.”

  “Wow,” I uttered. “How old is this locket?” I asked, quite intrigued.

  “A hundred years old, perhaps,” she answered. “It came into the possession of our family through an inheritance from a distant family member who never got baptized and choose to live in the Englischer world instead. I’m not sure if Sarah will still remember this. But when she was just a child, she would cry for it. Even so I have never worn it I love it and I just look at it occasionally when I think of my deceased familye.”