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    Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery
    Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery
    Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery
    Ebook94 pages1 hour

    Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery

    By Saundra McKee

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    About this ebook

    In 1990, Dana Blades, retired history professor, and her childhood Amish friend, Fannie Byler, solved the murder of the local Amish schoolteacher. It is now over ten years later and the two women find themselves embroiled in a series of fires, explosions, threats, and the suspicious death of a close friend in the usually tranquil village of Solitude. Once again, the two collaborate to determine what sinister forces are at work in their community as they come to grips with personal issues that threaten to overwhelm them. Second in a series.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSaundra McKee
    Release dateApr 20, 2011
    ISBN9781458145130
    Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery
    Author

    Saundra McKee

    I am a retired educator. I taught in the public schools for 15 years and at the university level for 22 years. I love to travel the world. I enjoy politics, dogs, mysteries and water sports. I am a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.

    Read more from Saundra Mc Kee

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      Book preview

      Solitude Slaying - Saundra McKee

      A Solitude Slaying: An Amish Country Murder Mystery

      by Sandy McKee

      All characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. While some of the places mentioned actually exist, they are used in an entirely fictional manner.

      Published by Saundra McKee at Smashwords. Copyright 2011. Saundra McKee.

      PART I

      March 2003

      Prologue

      It’s been over ten years since Dana Blades, retired history professor, and her childhood Amish friend, Fannie Byler, solved the murder of Solitude’s sixteen year old Amish school teacher, Constance Slaughbach. Dana, the widow of a Vietnam War pilot, had returned home in 1990 to look after her mother, Edith, who had suffered some mini strokes. Dana’s mother passed away in 1995. Fannie had helped Dana care for Edith so that she would not have to go into a nursing home. Then in 1996, Dana underwent treatment for breast cancer. She has been healthy for over five years and is a volunteer for Reach to Recovery that reaches out to others afflicted with the disease.

      After her mother’s death and her cancer treatment, Dana assumed a full time position as a professor of American history at a local university determined to stay close to her roots, her younger brother Phil and his family and several close friends. Fannie and her husband Eli’s children are now grown and have families of their own. Fannie helps Dana with cleaning and cooking each week and Eli uses his carpentry skills to keep the old Victorian home that Dana’s great grandfather built in good shape. Dana is considering turning the twelve room structure into a bed and breakfast.

      The Amish population in the area has grown to over three hundred families as have the number of specialty shops and restaurants. There are now six one room Amish schools in the area. Tourists continue to come to the Solitude area in large numbers to purchase Amish goods and to observe and absorb the lifestyle of the Old Order Amish that has remained unchanged for over 300 years. The town of Solitude, while populated mostly by English or non Amish residents, has changed little. There is still no cell phone service or cable television available. The village is over fifteen miles from a town and police station of any size.

      The center of the town’s activities remains the General Store/Post Office where folks gather each morning to get mail, bread and milk and exchange news.

      While both Dana and Fannie share a devotion to Christianity, Fannie’s views are as conservative as Dana’s are liberal. On her campus and in the community, she is often at the forefront of liberal causes. Fannie fears that her friend’s outspoken views will lead to trouble.

      Chapter 1

      Monday 9:00 a.m.

      Fannie, I’m so glad that you could come by today. I’m having a group here tomorrow afternoon. You do such a great job making the house shine. Do you have time to put together some snacks? I can pick something up at the bakery if you’re too busy.

      I’ve got lots of time these days, sighed Fannie. My kids are so busy. Even Eli has had a lot of jobs lately. What should I prepare?

      Oh anything you want is fine….just no meat. This is an animal rights group. Most of them are vegetarian. Some don’t even eat dairy products, explained Dana.

      Well that definitely limits the possibilities. I don’t get it. God put the animals here to sustain us. We’d be overrun with them if we didn’t eat them. The deer alone would take over our land if the hunters didn’t shoot them. I’ve seen you eat meat many times, Dana.

      And I still do, Fannie. My only gripe is how animals are treated inhumanely. Have you ever seen how chicken and veal are produced by some of the big manufacturers? It’s sickening. They are stuck in pens where they can’t move. I also have a problem with the puppy mills where dogs are forced to have litter after litter. And my brother Phil and his kids like to hunt. They eat the meat and don’t waste it. I just don’t like archery. Too often the deer just get badly wounded and infected and suffer needlessly. And don’t get me started on how they test drugs and cosmetics on animals.

      Fannie shook her head. Some folks just have too much time on their hands to worry about these things. Back when people had to work all day to make ends meet, this would be the last thing on their mind. Did you do something different with your hair?

      Now don’t distract me, and yes, I had it lightened a bit, covers the gray. One of my students told me that I reminded her of Kathy Bates. I love Kathy Bates, but I’d really like to remind my students of a younger more stunning star. Anyhow, as far as the animals, once again, let’s agree to disagree. Most of the people at the meeting will be students and faculty from the university. They’re good people with strong ideals. Many are Christians too. I have to go to campus to meet with advisees and then have a couple committee meetings. I should be home around four. Will you still be here?

      Probably, Eli said he’d come by for me after he finished working on the leaky roof on the Post Office. He said it would likely take him most of the day. He suspects some rotted wood.

      Why don’t you two just stay for dinner? I’ll pick up pizza on the way home. Eli has promised to talk to me more about plans for turning the house into a Bread and Breakfast. Dana suggested.

      Something tells me that my Eli won’t turn down pizza. He likes the Meat Lovers. Animal rights don’t concern him.

      Chapter 2 Monday

      1:00 p.m.

      The boom from the explosion brought all the citizens out into the streets. Smoke and flames were billowing through virtually all the blown out windows of the old Victorian house. Eighty seven year old Helen Beam, who had been Dana’s mother’s oldest friend, called 911 and rushed toward the burning structure. At least Dana’s car is gone. She must be at school. Thank God! she commented to no one in particular.

      Suddenly Eli Byler came charging off the roof of the Post Office and toward the burning home. Help! Help! he shouted. My wife, Fannie is in there!

      Eli carried Fannie out with tears streaming down his handsome face. She’s breathing, but not conscious. Eli and some other men working in the neighborhood had rushed into the burning building and found Fannie blacked out in an upstairs hallway. The ambulance arrived before the fire trucks and rushed her to the hospital in Kittanning in record speed. By the time the fire trucks arrived from eight miles away, Dana’s house was a total loss.

      Helen had relayed the message to Dana at the university who raced into town by 1:45. She stared in disbelief at what had been a family home for generations. Helen gave Dana a

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