A Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection Read Online Free

close. “Let’s not argue about this, Katie. You know that it’s not a good idea to invite my sister for
Grischtdaag
. Maybe we can take the
kinner
and see her in the spring. We could take the train down. The
kinner
would love it.”
    Kathryn inhaled his comforting scent, soap mixed with his spicy deodorant. “
Ya
, they would love it.”
But it’s not the same as Grischtdaag
!
    “We’ll plan a trip,” he said, his voice softening. “In the spring.
Ya
, it will be
gut
, and it won’t involve my father and his temper.”
    She nodded, though she wasn’t convinced waiting until the spring would help heal the family. She listened to his breathing as it changed, slowing down and deepening. Her mind swirled with ideas of how she could arrange to invite Anna Mae without alienating David. Surely he would change his mind when his sister was standing in front of him.
    Although she was going against her husband’s wishes, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was God’s will for Anna Mae to come and see the family again.
    Kathryn’s thoughts turned to the time of Anna Mae’s decision to leave the community. Oh, how Mary Rose, Anna Mae’s mother, had cried. Mary Rose had begged Anna Mae to stay, promising that Anna Mae would find a nice Amish man to marry. However, Anna Mae had insisted that Kellan was the love of her life and she was meant to marry him.
    Mary Rose had taken to her bed for a week after Anna Mae left. She’d said that the pain of seeing her daughter leave had debilitated her.
    Wouldn’t it be God’s will for Mary Rose to see her daughter again and know that she was well and happy with her English husband?
    Kathryn waited until she was certain David was in a deep sleep and then she wiggled out of his grasp, gingerly rose from the bed, and plucked the letter from the bureau. She took the kerosene lamp from the nightstand, lit it, and tiptoed down to the kitchen.
    She fished her stationery from the desk and sat at the table. Closing her eyes, she sent up a silent prayer for the right words. She then poised her pen and began to write a letter to Anna Mae.

CHAPTER 3
    O pening the mailbox, Anna Mae fished out a stack of envelopes from inside and leafed through them.
    “Bills, bills, bills,” she mumbled with a sigh. They always came near the first of the month. But when Anna Mae came to a plain white envelope with pretty penmanship, her heart fluttered. She read the return address, squealed with delight, and hugged the envelope to her chest.
    Kathryn had answered
!
    Anna Mae rushed into the house, dropped her bag on the kitchen table, and tore the envelope open. Lowering herself into a chair, she read the letter.
    Dear Anna Mae
,
    I was overjoyed to receive your letter. It seems like only yesterday that you were with my sisters and me in the bakery, making cookies and cakes while laughing and sharing stories about our friends in the community
.
    How wunderbaar that God will soon bless you with your first baby! You and Kellan must be overjoyed! I’m so very happy for you and will keep you and your baby in my prayers
.
    My mamm, sisters, nieces, and I stay busy these days. The bakery is very busy right now during the holidays, and we’re still a favorite tourist stop during the spring, summer, and fall
.
    The family is all doing well. Amanda is fourteen, Ruthie is twelve, Lizzie is ten, Junior is eight, and Manny is four. David says he wants more, but we’ll have to wait and see what the Lord has in store for us. Your mamm and dat are in good health, as are your siblings, nieces, and nephews. Our family is very blessed
.
    It would be wunderbaar to have you and Kellan come for Grischtdaag! I can’t think of a better time of year for the family to reunite. Would you like me to work out the details for you? How many days would you and Kellan like to stay? Do you know where you’d like to stay? Of course, you’re welcome to stay with us, but you might be more comfortable at the Paradise Bed and