Christmas in Apple Ridge

by Cindy Woodsmall

  She turned.

  “Sadie!” His heart beat faster, and he nearly ran to her.

  She shivered all over, and he grabbed a quilt from the display rack and wrapped it around her. He rubbed her arms through the layers of thickness, trying to warm her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  She shook. “I’ve been in Apple Ridge for hours, even spent some time with Andy and Tobias, waiting for you to get home. Then it struck me to come here so we could talk privately. Andy wasn’t a fan of the idea, but I wouldn’t listen to him.” She drew a shaky breath. “Horses and buggies are better at getting around in the snow than cars and trucks, right?”

  “Ya. I’ve used a horse and carriage to pull more than one four-wheeler out of a ditch.”

  She rubbed her gloved hands together. “Then why’d I have such a hard time getting here?”

  “The roads must be bad, and you shouldn’t have been on them.”

  “Like I shouldn’t have been out riding the night I found you on the ground?”

  “This is different, Sadie.” He tugged at the fingertips of her gloves until he slid the half-frozen knit things right off. “You were in no danger that night.” He sandwiched her cold hands between his, warming them.

  “Actually.” She shivered. “As things turned out, that’s arguable.”

  “I suppose it is.” If he could undo any of his rash behavior, he would. He kissed her hands before covering them again with his own. Would she think that too forward? Was she here to let him know they could remain friends like they’d agreed to be when they began their pretend courtship? He didn’t want to do any more damage to their relationship—it was Christmas Eve, and she was here. That was far more than he’d dared to hope for. Still, he couldn’t throttle his foolish heart.

  He led her to Mattie Cakes and held a chair for her.

  Although he didn’t want to leave her side, he went to put a kettle of water on the stove and struck a match to light the burner. He could fix either tea or hot chocolate faster than he could fix a pot of coffee, and she needed something hot as soon as he could get it ready. “Tea?” He held up a box of peppermint tea bags. “Or hot chocolate?”

  “Hot chocolate, please.” She folded her hands on the table.

  As he opened a pouch of powdery chocolate mix and dumped it into a mug, she said, “Levi, I think I know what happened the Saturday night we were supposed to talk. I’d like to know if it’s accurate.”

  A shudder ran through him. Please, God. “Okay.”

  “The feelings you have for me are like a skittish and unfamiliar horse. Daniel was like the booming fireworks. And ‘the horse’ threw you. You landed hard and were too addled to think clearly.”

  He liked her analogy. It was very Sadie-like—honest but kind. He poured hot water into the mug and stirred. “I’m sorry.” He set the mug in front of her and took a seat.

  She wrapped her hands around it. “So Mammi Lee said.” She took a sip. “The thing is, we have unfinished business. And while we’re here where we can talk openly and freely, I want to know what you had planned to say that Saturday night before Daniel showed up.”

  He went to the display case and took out the cake the customer hadn’t picked up. He removed it from its box and set it on the table between them. “It’ll take a while to explain it all.”

  She peered at the many colors of the frosting. “It’s beautiful.”

  He passed her a fork, kept one for himself, and sat down. “Mattie’s cakes taste even better than they look. Dive in.”

  They ate several bites and shared the cup of cocoa.

  Sadie peeled out of the blanket and her coat. “I about froze to death to get here to talk to you. You can’t keep stalling.”

  He forked a bite of cake. “Try me.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “You want to eat the cake or wear it?”

  He chuckled. “Okay. What I wanted to say was—”

  Bells jangled. “Levi?”

  At Jonah’s yell, Levi stood. “Over here.”

  Jonah motioned for him as he made his way to the office. “We need to reach the midwife. We’ve called her twice, and each time she gave us some instructions. Now it seems her phone’s not working.” Jonah picked up the phone, punched several numbers, and waited. “Same as what’s happening with the cell she gave Beth. We can’t get through. It goes straight to voice mail, but it won’t let me leave a message.”

  Sadie came up behind Levi. “Is she in labor?”

  “The midwife didn’t think so, but Beth’s water broke ten minutes ago. I can’t take her out in this weather. An ambulance can’t get through, either—at least, not until morning. The baby will be premature, not by a lot, but we have to get Mandy here. She’s been delivering babies for forever. She’ll know what to do with a preemie.”

  “Where does she live?”

  “Barton’s Ridge.”

  Levi let out a whistle. “Even if you reach her, chances are she can’t get here on her own.”

  Jonah pressed his fingers into his forehead and closed his eyes. “I know nothing about these things. Lizzy would at least know something about delivering a baby, and I’ve tried to reach her, but she and Omar are at his children’s place for the evening. Obviously no one can hear the phone ringing in the shanty.”

  Sadie moved closer to the desk. “I’m not your best bet, but I have helped with several births. One was premature, and I watched a midwife tend to her.”

  “That helps, Sadie. Thanks. If you two will stay with Beth, I’ll go on horseback.”

  Levi stepped forward. “I’ll go. Beth needs you.”

  Jonah studied him. “It’s bad out there. And Barton’s Ridge is dangerous any time of year.”

  “I’ll get through.”

  Sadie paced the floors, stopping every few minutes to look out the window in the dark of night. No sign of anyone. It’d been hours, and they’d heard nothing. At least a dozen times she’d checked the cell phone the midwife gave Beth, but was it even getting a signal? She and Jonah were taking turns sitting with Beth.

  Jonah came to the doorway, looking as if he were the one in pain. One look told him all he needed to know. No one had arrived. He left the bedroom door ajar. “She’s dozing.”

  Sadie poured him a cup of coffee. “She’ll be fine, and so will the little one.”

  Jonah nodded before taking a sip, but he didn’t look convinced. “I haven’t told you that it’s nice to see you back in Apple Ridge. Will you be staying long?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Has anyone told you the story of Beth and me?”

  “No.”

  They heard Beth moan long and loud. Coffee spilled from Jonah’s cup as he set it down. They both hurried to the bedroom.

  Beth clutched each side of the pillow behind her head and panted. When the contraction eased, Jonah held her hand. “Sadie doesn’t know our story.”

  Beth smiled. “I’d like to hear it too.”

  “One hot summer day I was minding my own business. I was in Pete’s Antiques in Ohio, and this beautiful young woman about ran over me in her all-business-all-the-time way.” Jonah told of the many months of letter writing and getting to know each other and the inevitable discovery of secrets that threatened to end their friendship. He stopped talking each time Beth had a contraction.

  “Then, on a Christmas Eve night much like this one, Beth tried to get from Pennsylvania to Ohio to let me know she loved me and would marry me.”

  “Really?” Sadie sat on the edge of her chair. “That’s what I’m doing here … sort of. Only I’m not sure how Levi feels.”

  Beth and Jonah gave each other a look. Beth smiled. “Be bold, Sadie.” She groaned the words before she gasped and gripped Jonah’s hands as another contraction took command of her body.

  An odd rumbling sound vibrated the room. Jonah glanced at Sadie, and she left the bedroom to hurry down the hallway and onto the front porch. Lights shone in her eyes from an odd-looking vehicle coming strai
ght toward her. A minute later the vehicle turned, and she saw a huge green tractor with an enclosed cab. An Amish woman with a medical bag climbed down. “Has she delivered?”

  “Not yet.” Sadie peered into the cab, desperate to see Levi. But all she saw was an Englisch man.

  “Help him get the incubator and the car battery into the house.”

  “Where’s Levi?”

  She paused. “I don’t know. On his way to find me, he saw a couple stranded in a ditch. He went back to help them while I finished delivering another baby. It was a long labor, but Levi never showed.”

  She placed her hand on Sadie’s shoulder. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

  But Sadie had heard Jonah’s description. She imagined sheer drop-offs that couldn’t be easily spotted on a clear day, let alone at night. In weather like this, a treacherous ridge could swallow lives whole.

  Mandy grasped her arm. “Go on. Help Parker. He’ll be wantin’ to get back home as soon as he can.”

  Sadie stayed busy doing everything Mandy asked, but she’d never prayed so fervently in her life—for safety for Beth, her baby, and Levi. When Mandy no longer needed her for a bit, she hurried across the parking lot to the store and used the office phone to call Levi’s cell. It went to voice mail. His phone apparently wasn’t charged—again. She battled thoughts of his lying somewhere in the freezing snow. The moment she stepped back into Beth and Jonah’s home, she heard Mandy.

  “Kumm, Beth, push,” Mandy coaxed. “It won’t be much longer. Push.”

  Beth moaned, long and hard, and then—

  A baby wailed.

  Joy rose within Sadie.

  Then silence.

  Sadie waited, her heart pounding. She moved down the hallway and listened outside the closed door. She heard soft voices talking and Beth crying.

  Sadie’s eyes filled with tears. Dear God, please.

  Should she go in?

  She leaned her head against the doorframe and prayed. The door creaked open, and Jonah stood there, his eyes filled with tears. He smiled. “I have a healthy son and a strong, beautiful wife.” He laughed and wiped his cheeks. “Kumm.”

  She stepped into the room.

  Mandy was grinning. “That little one weighs a good six and a half pounds. He’s technically a preemie, so keep a watch on his breathing, but he’s a healthy boy if I’ve ever seen one. Pink as anything.”

  Beth continued to cry. “Look.” She shifted the bundle in her arms up just a bit for Sadie to see him better.

  Sadie edged in closer. “Merry Christmas.”

  Another round of sobs broke from Beth, and she looked to Jonah. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

  Jonah moved to her side and brushed some damp hair from Beth’s face. “Merry Christmas, indeed.”

  Sadie and Mandy slipped out of the room.

  It wasn’t long before everyone except Sadie was dozing. She pulled an armchair in front of the window. The snow clouds were gone, and the stars shone bright, but she saw no evidence of a moon. Dear God, please help Levi get home safely.

  She studied the dark, white landscape until the sky wasn’t quite as dark as before. In the distance she saw something moving, maybe a deer. She studied it for a moment, then rose to her feet to get a closer look.

  Levi?

  She slid into her shoes and grabbed her coat. She hurried through the house on her tiptoes. Once on the porch, she saw a man in snowshoes taking one slow step at a time.

  “Levi!”

  She ran as fast as she could through the white blanket. He spotted her and removed his snowshoes. As soon as he stood, she careened into his arms, knocking him over. They both tumbled into the snow, but she didn’t care.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Before or after this encounter?”

  She laughed, caressing his face. “I was so worried.”

  “I know.” He gazed into her eyes. “I’ve been doing everything I could to get here. I didn’t want you to worry. How’s Beth?”

  “The midwife got here, and Beth and Jonah have a healthy baby boy.”

  “Gut. Now I’ve got something I want to say.” He pulled a glove off and ran the backs of his fingers against her cheek. “I love you, Sadie. And I want to marry you if you’ll have me. If you need to serve a year or two of missions first, I’ll wait. But I don’t want to live a lifetime without you.”

  His words burrowed deep into her soul. He loved her! Not only did he want to marry her. He trusted her enough to fearlessly do so. Her heart jumped and skipped, but she couldn’t find her voice.

  Thank You, God, for bringing Levi and me together, for being greater than all the trials that have damaged and molded us.

  Her soul overflowed, but she was unable to respond. She stood, and then helped him up. She picked up the snowshoes and held them up to him, silently asking questions.

  He shook his head. “I’ve had a night like I can’t believe. The kind only God could get me through.” He put his arm around her shoulders, and they began walking toward the house. “I’d say someone’s been praying.”

  She looked up at him. “Lots of someones—including me. One of my prayers went like this: ‘Dear God, please help Levi get home so I can tell him that I’m not leaving Apple Ridge and that I’ll make an excellent wife—not perfect, mind you, but excellent.’ ”

  Levi halted and studied her. “Well, I survived last night, and I’m right here with you. I mean … I’m not dreaming.”

  She smiled. “I could slap you to prove it.”

  He barked out a laugh. “The first memory I have of you is being slapped, and then you threatened to do it again if I didn’t stay awake.”

  “And look at us now. If something proves successful, it bears repeating. But we’ve grown a bit since then. Maybe I should kick you instead.”

  He laughed and pulled her into his arms. Despite his exhaustion, she felt the magnitude of strength within him. As cold as the air around them was, all she could feel was the warmth of his love.

  He held her close. “I look forward to a lifetime of being with you. How about a kiss instead?”

  “Well … since it is Christmas.”

  His warm lips met hers and lingered. “Merry Christmas, Sadie.”

  “The first of many, Levi.” And she looked forward to every day with him between each Christmas, to honor and cherish him and their marriage, to assure him there was nowhere she’d rather be than by his side.

  She lowered her head to his chest as the beauty of dawn began to sparkle against the snow. The sky held clouds of lavender and pink and orange.

  It was a dawn to remember—the first one they’d share—the dawn of their first Christmas.

  OATMEAL AND HONEY SOAP

  9 ounces olive oil

  4 ounces coconut oil

  3 ounces palm oil

  1 ounce castor oil

  ¼ cup colloidal oatmeal

  1 ounce honey

  2.52 ounces lye

  8 fluid ounces water

  *optional: extra whole oats and honey

  Directions:

  1. Prepare the lye water. Set it aside to cool.

  2. Melt the solid oils together. Set them aside to cool.

  3. Mix the olive oil, castor oil, and oatmeal.

  4. When the solid oils are approximately 120° Fahrenheit and the lye water has cooled to approximately 100° Fahrenheit, gently pour the lye water into the oils. (Never pour oils into lye.)

  5. Stir until trace.*

  6. Add the oatmeal mixture and then the honey until well mixed.

  7. Pour into prepared molds and cover with plastic wrap. (Optional: sprinkle whole oats and drizzle honey lightly over the top of the curing soap.)

  8. Allow to stand covered for 48 hours.

  9. Remove from molds and cut as desired.

  10. Allow to age in open air for 2 to 3 weeks before using.

  I’d like to thank a reader friend for sharing her soap recipe with us. Thank you, Kristin Lail! I connected with Kristin thr
ough Facebook and later discovered she’s an avid reader and book reviewer who loves to make soaps. She’s a wife and mom to five daughters. If you’d like to read Kristin’s reviews or purchase some of her soaps, you’ll find her website at www.ASimplyEnchantedLife.com. Or you can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Senchanted.

  * Trace is the stage of soap making when the ingredients are fully mixed and ready for additives and pouring into molds. In the mixing process when the ingredients resemble vanilla pudding, when the mixture is thick enough that dripping some of it across the top of the mixture leaves a trail of drips that don’t immediately sink back into the liquid, you have reached trace.

  About the Author

  CINDY WOODSMALL is a New York Times best-selling author with ten works of fiction and one of nonfiction. Her connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media, including ABC Nightline, the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and National Geographic. She has three sons, two daughters-in-law, and one granddaughter and lives outside Atlanta with her husband of thirty-five years.

  As spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.

  Read an excerpt from this book and more on

  WaterBrookMultnomah.com!