Pumpkin Pie Mystery

by Naomi Miller

  Table of Contents

  Pumpkin Pie Mystery (Amish Sweet Shop Mysteries, #1)

  ENDORSEMENTS

  BOOKS BY NAOMI MILLER

  — ONE —

  — TWO —

  — THREE —

  — FOUR —

  — FIVE —

  — SIX —

  — SEVEN —

  — EIGHT —

  — NINE —

  — TEN —

  — ELEVEN —

  — EPILOGUE —

  Rachel's Pumpkin Pie

  Rachel's Sweet Potato Pie

  Naomi's Honey Butter

  Naomi's Roasted Turkey

  ENDORSEMENTS

  “A delightful story you'll not want to put down until you finish it. You will turn each page and wonder what will happen next. Naomi Miller is a talented and wonderful author, and I can't wait to read more of her stories.”

  ~ Molly Morris Jebber, author of

  Two Suitors for Anna

  “A delicious and delightful story with a large helping of fun and a dash of romance.”

  ~ Jennifer Beckstrand, award-winning author of the

  Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series

  “I'm ready to pull up a chair in the Sweet Shop, savor a slice of cinnamon bread, and dig into this juicy mystery.”

  ~ Dana Mentink – award-winning author of the

  Love Unleashed series

  “Blueberry Cupcake Mystery” is a warm and cozy mystery just right for reading in one sitting. This short novella is sweet in more ways than one and will not only whet your appetite for a bit of mystery but might just tempt your taste buds with its descriptions of The Sweet Shop’s offerings.”

  ~ Vine Voice

  “A light-hearted, quick read that will help you escape from the stresses and drama of day-to-day life. Fans of Amish fiction of any age will love this book.”

  ~ Reviewer

  “A sweet, refreshing novella that will satisfy your sweet tooth as you weave your way through the crumbs to find the “whodunit”.”

  ~ Goodreads Reviewer

  “A sweet, fun and intriguing mystery you can really sink your teeth into.”

  ~ Rachel L Miller - author of the Amish

  romance series: Windy Gap Wishes

  BOOKS BY NAOMI MILLER

  Amish Sweet Shop Mystery series

  Blueberry Cupcake Mystery

  Christmas Cookie Mystery

  Lemon Tart Mystery

  Pumpkin Pie Mystery

  Chocolate Truffle Mystery

  (coming in 2018)

  Adventures of Sophie Kitty

  Sophie Finds A Family

  Sophie Celebrates Thanksgiving

  COMING SOON

  Sophie's New Home

  Pumpkin Pie Mystery

  Copyright © 2017 by Naomi Miller

  1. Fiction / Religion & Spirituality / Christian Books & Bibles / Christian Fiction. 2. Fiction / Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Mystery / Cozy. 3. Fiction / Christian Books & Bibles / Literature & Fiction / Amish & Mennonite.

  S&G Publishing, Knoxville, TN

  www.sgpublish.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, without written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible (KJV)

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental

  Cover, graphics and formatting by Expresso Designs

  First Edition 2017

  To God be the Glory...

  A NOTE FROM NAOMI MILLER

  When I felt the Lord calling me to write Amish fiction that was fun to read, free from stress, anxiety, and other stomach-tightening reactions, I wasn't certain if readers would enjoy it. I'm thrilled to find loyal readers who look forward to the release of new books in the series... many more readers than I expected.

  As with any work of fiction, I’ve taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating circumstances necessary to my characters or plot. I've created fictional characters in a fictional town. Any inaccuracies in the Amish, Mennonite or English lifestyles portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

  God bless you!

  ~Naomi

  GLOSSARY

  The German/Dutch dialect spoken by the Amish is not a written language. It is solely dependent on the location and origin of each settlement. The spellings below are approximations.

  * * *

  ach = oh

  aenti = aunt

  allrecht = all right

  appeditlich = delicious

  bruder/bruders = brother/brothers

  buwe/buwes = boy/boys

  danki = thank you

  dat = dad

  dochder = daughter

  du bischt daheem = you’re home

  Englischer = non-Amish person

  freind/freinden = friend/friends

  frau = wife

  froh = happy

  Gott = God

  gudemariye = good morning

  gut = good

  hochmut = pride

  hungrich = hungry

  in lieb = in love

  jah = yes

  kaffe = coffee

  kinner = children

  kumme = come

  maedel/maedels = girl/girls

  mamm = mom

  naerfich = nervous

  nee = no

  onkel = uncle

  rumschpringe = running around time for youth

  schweschder/schweschders = sister/sisters

  verrickt = crazy

  was iss letz = what's wrong

  wunderbaar = wonderful

  To every thing there is a season...

  Ecclesiastes 3:1

  For Gwen

  — ONE —

  Katie looked across the table at her freinden. Freida was giggling as Thomas brushed icing off the end of his nose, a half-smile on his face.

  Danki, Gott, for bringing mei two freinden together. They are such a wunderbaar couple.

  Katie wondered how she could have missed Freida's true feelings all this time. They had been freinden for many years—ever since they started school together.

  However did she keep it from me, her best freind! Why did she never confide in me?

  Of course, it had been a surprise for everyone. Katie had not been the only one who thought Freida was interested, not in Thomas, but in his outgoing and high-spirited bruder.

  Timothy's personality simply seemed more suited to Freida's lively and gregarious nature. Everyone had naturally assumed that he would be courting Freida soon.

  Thinking of Timothy and Freida together, Katie could see where she had missed an most important piece of the puzzle.

  Katie had always figured that Timothy was somehow missing Freida's attention. Perhaps it was simply because he was too interested in getting into mischief than paying attention to maedels.

  Fortunately, Timothy's oblivion had worked in everyone's favor. He had paid no attention to Freida, which had given his bruder the courage to take the next step.

  It had been a surprise to the whole community when the bishop had read the banns for Thomas and Frieda.

  Freida's giggles slowly quieted as Thomas took her hand. A look passed between them that sent a feeling of longing through Katie.

  Determined to ignore her sudden melancholy, Katie turned her thoughts to other things. The wedding was less than two weeks away—the day before Thanksgiving—and there was much to be done if they were to be ready on time.

  Once Freida and
Thomas decided on a cake, she would need to check the supplies to make certain she had everything she would need.

  She and Freida would need to finish their work on their dresses and aprons. And Katie needed to finish her own work on the quilt she would be giving them for a wedding gift.

  Perhaps I could ask mamm to help me with it. She is so much faster at quilting than me. Her stitches are prettier than mine, too.

  “Thomas, don't.” Freida's words pulled Katie out of her thoughts.

  “Nonsense. I am only following your example, dear heart.” Thomas said, laughing as he reached toward Freida with a finger liberally covered in frosting.

  Freida pulled away, giggling when Thomas smeared the frosting on her nose.

  Katie watched her freinden laughing over the frosting and cake bits. It was difficult to believe that only a few months ago, Freida had been certain she would never get a proposal from the buwe she liked.

  To see the two of them today, it would appear that they had been together for years.

  And in just over a week, they will be getting married.

  A small ache spread through Katie's chest and she was surprised to find herself wiping a tear from her eye.

  When Thomas leaned in to wipe the frosting off Freida's nose and place a kiss where it had been, Katie eased her chair away from the table. Neither of her freinden seemed to notice as Katie made her way quietly to the kitchen.

  For sure and for certain, Freida will let me know which cake they decide on, just as soon as she can.

  Katie brushed away several more tears as she went to work, pulling random ingredients off the kitchen shelves and lining them up beside the mixing bowl already sitting on top of the tall, metal prep table.

  Working with no real aim in mind, Katie measured ingredients into the bowl, stirring wet into dry, whipping eggs in a separate bowl before adding them to the mixture.

  Every few minutes, a laugh floated back to her from the front of the store. She had to remind herself more than once that she was froh for her two freinden, as she continued to mix and stir, before rolling out dough. Finally, she stopped working, bowing her head before closing her eyes.

  Help me, Gott, to be froh for my freinden. . . and not to be wanting what they have. Mei heart is heavy; please take away the doubts and fears. Bring me contentment. Bring me joy. Bring me love—if it be your wille.

  * * *

  Freida pushed through the swinging doors between the store and the kitchen, with Travis close behind her, just as Katie pulled a tray of cookies from the oven.

  “Katie, those look wunderbaar. What recipe is that?”

  The sweetness and wonder in Freida's voice immediately sent a wave of guilt crashing through Katie.

  She had kumme into the kitchen to hide from her freinden and feel sorry for herself. Because of her own actions, she had most likely missed a lot of the planning and decision-making—plans she should have been involved in, since she was Freida's side sitter.

  Turning away to hide the blush that colored her cheeks, she made a show of sliding the cookies onto a cooling rack.

  “They are a new recipe, Freida. Nothing special.” She waved away her freind's praise as the blush spread and filled her face with heat.

  “Oh, come on now, Katie. Your recipes are always special. You have to know that.” Travis spoke up then, only adding to Katie's embarrassment.

  She ducked her head, determined not to say anything else. After all, what could she say? She certainly shouldn't agree with her freinden that her recipes were special. Hochmut was a difficult, but necessary, thing to avoid.

  After several long seconds of silence, Travis spoke again, this time addressing Freida.

  “So, did you and Thomas pick a cake, then?”

  When Freida answered, her voice was full of excitement and another emotion that was not easy to identify.

  “Jah, we did. And I can tell you it was no easy thing, with how wunderbaar Katie makes everything taste.” She laughed, then Katie heard her footsteps moving away.

  Katie sniffed, blinking away the tears that unexpectedly attempted to escape—tears she thought she had gotten control over. And then, before she could think about being left alone with Travis, he spoke again, his voice softer—and much closer than it should have been.

  “Katie, I hope you know we weren't trying to embarrass you. It's just that we both enjoy your baking so much. No one else's baking comes close to being as delicious as yours.”

  Katie nodded her head furiously, answering in a small voice.

  “I was not embarrassed by what you said—well, not entirely.”

  “Then something else has you upset?”

  She shook her head again before answering, “What would make you think I am upset?”

  “Because you're crying on your cookies.” He spoke softly, his voice filled with concern.

  He must have moved closer to Katie while he was speaking because she could feel a soft breath against her neck as he spoke.

  She moved away from the cookies and began to search for a towel to dab at the cookies. After locating a towel and giving herself a gut internal pep talk, Katie turned back to face Travis—just as Freida walked back into the room, chattering as she came.

  Thankful the awkward moment had passed, Katie nodded to herself and turned to carefully dab at the cookies that were rapidly cooling on the open rack in front of her.

  “Can you believe how much there is left for us to do, Katie? We have the dresses to finish and you have the cake to bake and there are a dozen other things. I am for certain going to forget something.”

  Katie looked back at Freida and smiled. “For sure and for certain, you don't need to worry about that. Your mamm will not forget one thing.”

  Freida laughed before she responded. “You are right about that. She probably has lists of the lists she has made.”

  They all laughed at that, though an uncomfortable silence quickly replaced the laughter when Freida pushed through the kitchen door.

  Travis waited for Katie to speak—about the wedding, or her family—anything. But Katie remained silent. It was several long minutes before Travis finally broke the silence.

  “Well, I guess I had better get to these deliveries.” His voice sounded odd, but Katie said nothing for fear that she would only make things more awkward between them.

  Just as he was loading up the last of the deliveries, the phone rang. Katie listened for a moment—and when no one answered it, she went to pick up the kitchen extension.

  She was surprised to hear Mr. O'Neal's nephew on the other end.

  “Has Travis gone out yet with his deliveries?”

  Katie was surprised by the question to be sure; immediately she was reminded of all the times Mr. O'Neal had kumme in to the bakery, asking about where Mrs. Simpkins had gone. . . how he could reach her. . . when she would be back. . . and so many other questions, Katie could not possibly remember them all.

  Wondering about it, she answered Sean's question—as she tried to think of a way she could find out what was going on. “Not yet. He is almost finished loading up now.”

  “Great. Could you ask him to deliver Uncle Andrew's order too, please.”

  “Jah, I can do that.” His rushed tone had her worried now. “Is everything all right?” Katie worried that her being unable to answer Mr. O'Neal's questions had made him angry with them.

  But angry enough to stop picking up her orders? If only Mrs. Simpkins had not made us promise not to tell him where she has gone.

  “No, everything is not fine. I do not know how Uncle Andrew does all of this by himself, but I cannot do it all. If you could just have Travis deliver that order, it's one less thing I have to worry about.”

  “Jah, I will tell him.”

  “Thanks, Katie.” And with that, he hung up—without even saying goodbye.

  Katie shook her head as she moved to the back door and called to Travis.

  — TWO —

  Travis set down the box he was h
olding before turning back toward the bakery, surprised to hear Katie asking him to come back in.

  When he opened the door, she was just walking out of the walk-in cooler with a large box Travis was certain he recognized.

  “What is it, Katie?”

  “Sean just called. He wants you to please deliver Mr. O'Neal's order.”

  “But Andrew always picks up his Friday order.”

  Katie was already nodding, “Jah, he does, but Sean asked if we would please deliver it.”

  “Did he say why?”

  This time Katie was shaking her head before he finished. “He did not say, but he sounded a bit odd.”

  Travis shook his head in return, but took the box from Katie. “What could be going on?”

  Katie opened her mouth, but closed it before she said anything, giving a slight shake of her head as she did.

  “Is there something you are not telling me Katie-girl?”

  When she only shook her head again, Travis pressed. “Katie?”

  “Ach. All right. I am worrying about whether or not Mr. O'Neal is angry with us. He has been in the bakery nearly every day since Mrs. Simpkins left, trying to get us to tell him where she went.”

  When she said nothing else, Travis asked, “And?”

  “Well, we promised Mrs. Simpkins that we would not tell him where she has gone—so we have not.”

  “Is there more to that?” The confusion was beginning to make him dizzy.

  “Jah, there is more to it. I am afraid we may have made Mr. O'Neal angry when we would not tell him how he can reach Mrs. Simpkins.”

  “So, you think he is angry at you; that is why he wants me to deliver his order?”

  “Jah.” Katie nodded again.

  “But wouldn't he just cancel his order if he were angry at you?”

  “I thought perhaps he would still need the order for his High Tea today. But mayhaps he will be canceling his next order.”

  “Ah, I see the problem.” Travis smothered a laugh at how confusing the whole thing was.

  He did not see any reason to think that Mr. O'Neal, who was a business man, would be angry over something so simple, but he was not going to argue with Katie.