Accused (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society #3) Read Online Free

“Let’s go.” He walked out the door toward the barn with Angela hurrying behind him.
    Angela leaned against the barn door and watched Robert as he hitched a buggy to one of his horses. She scrutinized his strong arms lift the buggy and strap the leather onto the horse. He spoke to the horse in a low, soothing voice as he worked. Angela liked people who were kind to animals.
    Elsa-May was right; this could be the mann for me , she thought. We both felt something as we sat in the kitchen just now; I’m sure he felt it too. His touch sent tingles right through me; surely that means something.
    During the ride home, Robert told Angela everything he knew about his bruder’s case wherein he was falsely accused of murder. Angela wrote everything down so she wouldn’t forget anything.
     

Chapter 5.
    A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,  
    but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
    Proverbs 15:18
     
    That evening, not only did Elsa-May and Ettie come to Emma’s haus for dinner, Silvie and Maureen came as well.
    Angela was well aware of her Ant Elsa-May’s crime solving abilities and she guessed that these widows helped her.
    As the ladies were all helping to prepare the meal, Elsa-May pulled Angela aside for a quiet word. “How did you like Robert?”
    “ Ach , it was terrible. It wasn’t he who wrote the letters; it was Jacob.”
    “His nephew, little Jacob?”
    “Yeah, he’s most likely eleven or twelve. He admitted to it and he said he wanted his onkel to be happy. I still find it hard to believe that I was fooled by a child of his age. It’s obvious that he is a very smart boy.”
    Elsa-May chuckled. “Bless his little soul.”
    “I was extremely embarrassed. I felt such a fool going there to meet someone I thought I might marry and he knew nothing of me, nothing at all.”
    Elsa-May waved her hand dismissively. “Apart from all that, what did you think of Robert?”
    Angela giggled a little. “He was lovely. Just the sort of mann I’d like. You were right about that, Ant .”
    Elsa-May leaned toward her and spoke quietly. “Don’t give up; Gott works in mysterious ways.”
    “Did you know about his bruder, Jacob’s daed ?” Angela asked.
    “ Ach, jah. A terrible business, on bail for murder and then killed before he could clear his name. Both Ross and his fraa , Linda, died in that buggy accident.”
    “So, you believe he was innocent?” Angela’s eyes grew wide.
    Elsa-May filled her cheeks with air. “I don’t know any details. I’ve always assumed he was innocent. No Amish mann would ever have done what he was accused of.”
    “Robert wants to clear his bruder’s name for Jacob’s sake. He thinks that’s why Jacob has been unruly. Although, he’s not sure whether Jacob knows or not, but he must have heard some kind of gossip. Anyway, I said I’d get your help.”
    Elsa-May nodded slowly. “ Jah , I’ll help. We’ll all help. Did he tell you anything?”
    “He told me everything he knows and I even wrote it down.”
    Elsa-May patted her on the arm. “Tell the ladies over dinner.”
    Angela drew her chin backwards. “ Ant , that’s not very nice dinner conversation for the ladies.”
    Elsa-May held Angela’s arm firmly. “Believe me, they’ll appreciate the conversation more than talking about the last quilt they sewed or the batch of strawberry preserves they’ve just bottled.”
    Once the dinner table was set, they all sat down to eat.
    Elsa-May began. “Now ladies, you all know Robert Geiger and how his bruder, Ross Geiger, was accused of murder before he died in the buggy accident?”
    The ladies nodded.
    “We are going to try and clear his name,” Elsa-May said.
    “What if he’s guilty?” Ettie said.
    Elsa-May glared at her schweschder. “Then things remain the same, but if he’s innocent, we will be able to clear his name for his son’s sake.” She looked at all the widows. “All in?”
    “ Jah ,” the widows chimed.
    “Tell us what you know,