by Debby Giusti
“Where is it? Where’s the information?” His face was next to hers. His rancid breath fanned her neck.
“Tell me,” he threatened.
“I have...nothing.”
He slapped her face. “Don’t lie to me.”
She rolled against the buggy. “A toy...for the baby. That is all Will gave me.”
“Where is it?”
“In the house.”
“Take me there.”
She tried to stand. Her legs buckled.
He kicked her again.
“No!” she cried.
“Stand up,” he demanded.
Glancing down into the nearby hole, she felt her stomach roil. She grabbed the spokes of the buggy wheel and pulled herself upright.
He laughed at her struggle.
Through matted hair, she stared at the evil flashing from his eyes. “You killed Ezra’s parents.”
He shook his head. “You’ve got that wrong. My boys killed them. They needed money and wanted to earn it on their own.”
“You call murder a way to earn money? You are despicable.”
“I told them no one would track them down and no one has. Not until you. Did Will tell you what happened?”
“Was he involved?”
Wagner laughed. “What do you think?”
“Tell me!”
“First, give me the information Will provided, then you can learn the truth about your boyfriend.”
“You killed William because he knew too much. He wanted to leave town, to get away from you, but he needed evidence. Did he blackmail you?”
“He thought he was smart, but Will was stupid and easy to kill.”
“You have no goodness within you.”
He tipped back his head and laughed.
The door at the far end of the shop opened.
Ezra!
Rosie’s heart stopped. He had come to save her, but saving her meant putting himself in danger. Tears burned her eyes. She blinked them back, needing a way to distract her assailant.
“You loved my mother,” she said, baiting him. “But she wanted nothing to do with you.”
“What are you talking about?” Wagner snarled and stepped closer to the drop off. “If Emma had married me, you could have been my daughter.”
“I thank Gott for the father I have,” Rosie responded.
He raised up, ready to lunge at her.
“Wagner.” Ezra’s voice sounded loud and menacing.
Larry startled and turned too quickly. His foot slipped over the edge of the drop off. He flailed his arms, trying to gain his balance, and toppled backward into the pit, his hands thrashing the air, his scream echoing in the workshop. He landed with a thump.
Nausea swept over Rosie, followed by vertigo. She clutched the wheel of the buggy, ready to collapse, but before her legs gave way, Ezra was there, wrapping her in his arms.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded.
“Wait here.” He glanced into the pit and hit a large button on a sturdy pipe attached to the floor. Slowly, the dropped platform, carrying Larry Wagner, rose to the first floor and came to a stop.
Ezra grabbed rope and tied Wagner’s hands and legs to the nearby support column before hurrying back to Rosie.
“Wagner’s alive, and he will come to soon. Where are the children?”
“In the buggy, headed to Peter’s house. He will notify the Willkommen sheriff.”
“We need to join them there.” Ezra wrapped his arm around her shoulder and ushered her out of the workshop and toward the barn.
“Are you sure you are okay?” He touched her hands, her arms. He ran his fingers over her back.
Tears streamed from her eyes.
“Talk to me, Rosie. Where are you hurt?”
She was in shock, and suddenly unable to speak. All she could do was step into Ezra’s embrace. He held her tight as she cried. Her tears were for all that had happened since she had first fallen in love with Will. For her mistake that caused so much pain to her parents and to Will and to Ezra’s parents.
“Rosie, it is over. Larry Wagner will not hurt you again. The manager of the nursing home is on his way out of town with the pharmacist, but they will be found.”
“Too much has happened, Ezra.”
“What do you mean?”
“I cannot stay,” she gasped, knowing they had no future.
“You have to, Rosie. You and Joseph.”
“Every time you look at my son you will think of his father, one of the men who killed your parents.”
“My mother said, ‘Doppelgänger,’ that means two people.”
“But there could have been someone else, namely Will.”
“He may have overheard me bragging about the money my father kept in his shop, but other people were within earshot that day, including your boss at the nursing home. O’Donnell could have shared the information with the twins.”
“You are trying to make me feel better.”
“I want you to stay, Rosie. My parents died sixteen months ago.” He provided the exact date. “My life changed that day, but when you—”
Rosie gulped in a deep breath. “Are you sure of the date?”
“Yah, of course, I am sure of this.”
“That was the day Will drove me to Dahlonega. We found a drug store and I bought the pregnancy kit.”
She grabbed his arms. “It was the day I found out I was pregnant. We had a leisurely lunch in town and did not get home until late that evening. That means Will was not involved with the robbery or the murders.”
“Rosie, even if he had been involved, that would not have changed the way I feel about you or Joseph.”
The sound of an automobile caused them to glance down the hill. Ezra let out a sigh of relief and motioned the car forward. Rosie wiped the tears from her cheeks as the vehicle pull into the driveway.
Willkommen Sheriff’s Department was stenciled on the side of the car. Aaron and his friend Peter sat in the passenger seat next to a big guy in uniform behind the wheel.
Ezra squeezed her hand. “Looks like law enforcement has finally arrived.”
TWENTY-THREE
Rosie sat in the living area of the Stoltz house later that same day, holding Joseph in her lap, relieved that all the children were home and unharmed. The EMTs had bandaged the cut on her forehead and a bad scrape on her arm. She was sore and bruised, but thankful to be alive.
“We went as fast as we could,” David said, his eyes wide, his words tripping one over the other, as he explained the children’s escape down the back of the mountain. “Mary was crying, but Katherine told her Gott would provide.”
“I was scared,” the little girl said truthfully. She slipped her hand into Rosie’s. “I did not want anything to happen to you.”
“You were brave, Mary.” Rosie looked at all of them. “You were all very brave.”
“We went to Peter’s house,” Belinda explained. “And stayed with his mamm while Aaron and Peter hurried to the grocery and called the Willkommen sheriff’s department.”
“The pharmacist had already notified them,” Aaron added. “Rayleen had let Mr. O’Donnell think she liked him, but all the time she had been gathering evidence on the drug operation. She knew the police in town were corrupt and feared if she did not get outside help, she might end up dead, like the nurse.”
“But how did you boys meet up with the sheriff?” Ezra asked.
“We saw his car parked in front of the pharmacy and ran to tell him what was happening on the mountain. He wanted us to show him the way, although he planned to drop us at a neighbor’s house. When you waved us forward, Ezra, we knew we would be safe.”
“The sheriff’s timing was perfect,” Ezra said. “And the local police and ambulance arrived soon a
fter the sheriff.”
“Did they catch the manager of the nursing home?” Belinda asked.
Ezra nodded. “Yah, Mr. O’Donnell was apprehended with a suitcase filled with patient drugs from the nursing home. The staff is being questioned and the FBI has been called in to determine if any drugs crossed state lines. The Wagner twins and Dr. Manny were also arrested, and law enforcement is studying the information Rosie was able to provide on a flash drive.”
“What about Mr. Wagner?” David asked.
“He is in the hospital now and expected to recover.” Rosie patted the boy’s shoulder. “Why do you ask, Davey?”
“Before we dropped your aunt Katherine off at her house, she said she knew him when he was a young man. He made mistakes and did not try to be a good person. She said we should always try to do our best.”
Rosie nodded. “Katherine is right. I wish she could have been with us this evening, but she is leaving in the morning to visit her sister and will stay for Christmas.”
The children sat in silence for a long moment, each one, no doubt, reflecting on what had happened.
“I give thanks to Gott that we are all together.” Ezra shared what Rosie was thinking.
Suddenly, he glanced at the wall clock and smiled. “Get your coats and capes, children. We must hurry to the schoolhouse.”
Mary looked confused, then her face widened into an excited smile. “The Christmas pageant.”
She placed her hand on Joseph’s forehead. “He feels cool, Rosie. We still need a baby Jesus.”
Rosie laughed. “I think Joseph would like to be in the pageant as long as you will be near him, Mary.”
“Did I not tell you?” Her face beamed. “Because my name is Mary, I get to hold Joseph while the angels sing and the shepherds visit the manger scene.”
David stuck out his chest. “I am a wise man.”
Ezra laughed and ruffled David’s hair. “You are wise beyond your years. Now hurry, children, so we can get to school on time.”
* * *
The schoolhouse was abuzz with activity when Rosie and Ezra found seats. Mary held Joseph and stood near the front of the classroom with a blue veil draped over her blond hair. Joseph was wrapped in a blanket, looking sweet and innocent. David stood to the side with the other two wise men.
Susan had found John Keim in the crowd and was sitting next to him. Belinda was chatting with a girlfriend and Aaron and Peter were surrounded by friends, who probably wanted to hear more about riding in the sheriff’s car.
Rosie sighed, relieved that she knew a little more about Will’s involvement with the drug racket. He had attempted to gather evidence to incriminate the guilty, although whether he planned to give the evidence to the authorities or use it as leverage to be free of the operation, she would never know. At least he had not been involved in the robbery and murders.
Ezra placed his hand on her shoulder. She smiled at the warmth of his gaze and the strength of him as his arm touched hers. The teacher snapped her fingers to get the children’s attention. The room started to quiet.
“Mary kept her secret about being the star of the pageant,” Rosie whispered.
Ezra nodded. “Usually she tells everything, but she kept this a surprise. No wonder she wanted Joseph to be in the pageant.”
He leaned closer and winked playfully. “There is a secret I have not told you yet.”
Her cheeks warmed. She tilted her head. “Is it a Christmas secret?”
“Hmm. I guess it is.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Not now.” He glanced at the front of the classroom. “The pageant is starting. I will tell you later.”
TWENTY-FOUR
That night, after the evening meal had been eaten and the dishes washed and put away, the children went upstairs as if they knew Ezra and Rosie needed time alone.
Susan offered to put Joseph to bed and Rosie appreciated her thoughtfulness.
Ezra took Rosie’s hand once they were alone. “Remember the night John Keim came to the door to talk to Susan and you said they would huddle in the cold just to be together?”
She nodded. “I remember.”
“If you do not mind, I would prefer we stay inside to talk.”
Rosie laughed. “Otherwise the children would be watching us through their bedroom windows.”
He squeezed her hand. “I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me, Rosie, and how I need you in my life. So much has happened recently and some people would think that more time would be needed, but I have loved you my whole life.”
Her heart nearly burst at his words, the feeling of being loved and accepted filling her to overflowing.
“I love you,” he said again. “I have always loved you since I first noticed you in school, only you never had an interest in me, and I never thought I had a chance to win your heart. If not for the mistakes we both made, if not for the pain of losing my parents, I might never have had the courage to tell you how I feel.”
“Oh, Ezra, you don’t know what you are saying.”
“But I do know—I know I love you, and just as Mary said, I want you and Joseph to be part of our family. I want to be Joseph’s father and help you raise him. He is wonderful baby, and he will grow into a gut man. But I want more children, and we will add onto our house. Aaron and I will run the buggy shop and make good buggies for the community that will bring honor to my father’s name. He was not proud of my actions before his death, but he always knew that with Gott’s help, I could turn my life around. First, I must be baptized, then...”
“It is too soon for us, Ezra. You do not know what you are saying.”
“Rosie, you are a beautiful woman. You make me a better man. I want to spend my life with you forever, if you will have me.”
“You are you asking me to marry you?” she asked, unwilling to believe her ears.
He nodded. “If you say no, I will not be able to—”
Raising on tiptoe, she captured his lips with hers, and cuddled more closely against him, both of them melding together. When she finally pulled back, she smiled sweetly.
“My answer is yes.” She laughed. “Yes, Ezra Stoltz, I will marry you.”
“On Christmas?”
She shook her head. “You know the banns must be announced in church for three weeks. We must prepare the house. The children will help. I will ask Susan to be my attendant. Dresses need to be stitched. I must buy a new kapp. Food must be cooked so that everyone will be able to join in our celebration.”
“Your parents?”
“Yah, I will talk to my datt and tell him I understand why he was hard on me. I must forgive him. Then perhaps he will be able to forgive me.”
“And I will talk to the bishop about accepting baptism.” Ezra pulled her closer. “For so long, I struggled with anger and guilt, but now my heart holds only joy.”
His eyes twinkled as he gazed down at her. “We will tell the children after we read the Nativity story on Christmas morn. Until then it will be our Christmas secret.”
“I like secrets,” she sighed, “when I share them with you.”
She turned her face to his. Her heart soared as they kissed, sealing the promise of their future together.
“Merry Christmas, Rosie.”
“Merry Christmas, Ezra. You have given me the best gifts of all—the gift of family, the gift of a future walking at your side and, most important, the gift of love.”
He brushed his lips against her forehead. “Gott rescued us from a place of darkness and brought us into His light.”
She nodded. “He has blessed both of us by bringing us together. Forever.”
“Which is how long I want to keep kissing you.” Ezra’s voice was low and husky with emotion as he lowered his lips to hers.
Forever, she thought, was not nearly long enough.
* * *
If you enjoyed this story, look for the other books in the Amish Protectors series:
Amish Refuge
Undercover Amish
Amish Rescue
Keep reading for an excerpt from In Too Deep by Sharon Dunn.
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Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Amish Christmas Secrets, Book 4 in my Amish Protectors series (Book 1, Amish Refuge; Book 2, Undercover Amish; and Book 3, Amish Rescue). With nowhere to go, Rosie Glick turns to Ezra Stoltz when the man who killed the father of her child comes after her. Ezra knows Rosie’s hiding secrets. But Ezra has secrets of his own. The mistakes they both made during their youthful attraction to the Englisch life will haunt them forever, unless they can stop the man who’s out to do Rosie harm. If you carry the guilt of past mistakes, I hope Rosie and Ezra’s story will lead you to forgiveness and peace.
I pray for my readers each day and would love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] or write me c/o Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Visit me at www.debbygiusti.com and at www.Facebook.com/debby.giusti.9.
As always, I thank God for bringing us together through this story.
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby
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