The Amish Witness
SHATTERED AMISH SANCTUARYAfter witnessing the murder of her best friend, Elizabeth Lapp flees to the Amish community she left years ago, hoping the killer won’t find her. But the murderer follows Elizabeth, trapping her in her family’s barn, and she’s sure she won’t survive—until an Amish man rushes to save her. As the attacker runs off, Elizabeth sees her rescuer is none other than Thomas King, the handsome farmer she left behind with her dreams and her heart. Now widowed with two small children, Thomas vows to keep her safe…despite not being ready to forgive her. And suddenly, the man whose love she longs for—but can’t allow herself to accept—is all that’s standing between her and a cold-blooded killer.
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SHATTERED AMISH SANCTUARY
After witnessing the murder of her best friend, Elizabeth Lapp flees to the Amish community she left years ago, hoping the killer wonât find her. But the murderer follows Elizabeth, trapping her in her familyâs barn, and sheâs sure she wonât surviveâuntil an Amish man rushes to save her. As the attacker runs off, Elizabeth sees her rescuer is none other than Thomas King, the handsome farmer she left behind with her dreams and her heart. Now widowed with two small children, Thomas vows to keep her safe...despite not being ready to forgive her. And suddenly, the man whose love she longs forâbut canât allow herself to acceptâis all thatâs standing between her and a cold-blooded killer.
âThomas!â
The urgency in Elizabethâs voice made his blood run cold. Had that man returned? He raced toward the back of the barn. When he cleared the open doorway, he skidded to a stop.
Elizabeth stood to his right, leaning heavily against the barn wall.
Thomas shot a hurried glance in every other direction, trying to find the danger or intruder, but saw nothing. His heart squeezed at how fragile and small and scared Elizabeth looked. Her body trembled and the piece of paper she held in her hand rattled.
âElizabeth? Whatâs wrong?â
The blood had drained from her face. She was almost as white as the paper. Fear widened her eyes and she didnât speak. Shakily, she held out the note.
He slid it from her fingers. Anger coursed through his body when he read the words: âI want what is mine. I will contact you again soon with a time and place to meet. Tell no one. I warn you, give it to me or die.â
âI wonât let anyone harm you,â Thomas assured her.
The national political scene was the initial inspiration for this story. So many politicians ran on family values and Christian beliefs but didnât hesitate to sling mud and ridicule their opponents only to rally around and praise the same opponents if they were elected.
Made me think a lot about secrets and lies.
This story came to life when Elizabeth and Thomas emerged from the recesses of my mind. Would the Amish, famous for their family values and deep religious beliefs, keep secrets and lies? If so, what kind of secrets and what would be the motivation behind them?
And, as always, most of my stories deal with questions of trust and forgiveness because I believe each one of us is faced with these issues at some time in our lives.
I hope you enjoy the story of Elizabeth and Thomas as they are forced to face these issues amid a backdrop of danger and intrigue.
I love to hear from my readers and can be reached at [email protected] and also can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Blessings,
Diane Burke
DIANE BURKE is an award-winning author who has had seven books published with Love Inspired Suspense. She won first place in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense and finaled in the ACFW Carol Award for book of the year. When she isnât writing, she enjoys taking walks with her dog, reading and spending time with friends and family. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at [email protected]. She can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
âJames 5:11
To my granddaughter, Emberleigh Valcich.
You are deeply loved.
Contents
Elizabeth Lapp couldnât distinguish anything out of the ordinary in the shrouded stillness of the empty Amish landscape. She lifted her kerosene lamp closer to the windowpane, pressing her face against the cool glass, and stared harder. Still nothing but dark winter shadows sheltered by even darker ones stretching across the Lancaster farm.
He was out there.
She knew it.
If not today, tomorrow or the next day, but heâd be there. Every instinct told her he would come. Sheâd seen him standing over Hannahâs dead bodyâand heâd seen her.
Heâd come. If only to silence her...
Dear Lord, please keep me safe. Bless me with inner peace and wisdom as I face the days ahead. And thank You, Lord, for leading me home.
The first glow of morning sun would not touch the horizon for a few more hours. Elizabeth chastised herself. There was work to do, more than enough to occupy her mind, and she needed to get to it. Chores came early on an Amish farm, even in winters in Lancaster County, when the fields lay dormant under drifts of waist-high snow.
A finger of light from the quarter moon was the only thing illuminating the distance between the house and the barn. She studied the shadows. She dared one of them to move and prayed in the same moment that none would.
