Free An Amish Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Kelly; Beckstrand Charlotte; Long Hubbard Page A

have it?” Mary asked. “A living Nativity won’t require anyone to memorize parts, but we still have to plan it out—”
    â€œSeth built that new room for Clarabelle and Rowdy and the kitties!” Lucy exclaimed.
    â€œ Jah !” Sol looked more enthusiastic than Mary had ever seen him. “Clarabelle—or even a cow—could use her stall,” he said. “We could stack hay bales for you to sit on. And if we’re there at Ben and Miriam’s, you can take Emmanuel back to the house if he gets too cold.”
    â€œThat little stable would shield ya from the wind, too,” Bishop Tom remarked as he stroked his silver-shot beard. “Ben could probably borrow some lights or space heaters from the Schrocks. Lots of our Mennonite friends will probably come that night, if we let them know what we’re doin’.”
    â€œRebecca!” Taylor blurted. “She’s not Plain, so she can post notices on her computer, and print up posters for store bulletin boards all around here. I bet bunches of people will come! This is going to be so cool !”
    â€œI think so, too!” Mary said. As she hugged Emmanuel, the whole idea blossomed in her imagination and in her heart. It was so good to see Lucy and Sol wanting to participate with the Leitner kids, who’d originally had the idea. “We’ll need a cow and some sheep—”
    â€œI can talk Dan Kanagy into sharin’ a ewe and a lamb or two. I’ll bring an older cow from my dairy herd—and I’ve got a trailer to bring them all down the road,” Tom said with a nod. “The Knepp kids and the Zooks’ll be tickled to take part, so the only challenge will be gettin’ Joseph to cooperate.” The bishop looked at Mary as though he had information from a Higher Source about the nature of her relationship with Seth Brenneman.
    Mary let out a laugh. “Last I heard, Seth was telling Teacher Alberta he wanted no part of any play-acting.”
    â€œIt’s not like anybody’ll need to talk. Everyone can sing carols and just enjoy seein’ who all comes,” Tom said. “Doesn’t have to be Seth who plays Joseph, either. Invite whoever ya want, Mary. Ben would probably help out.”
    As they discussed a few more ideas, Mary felt a surge of happiness and Christmas spirit. What a wonderful sensation—all from being invited to see the Leitners’ Nativity set, and visiting with a bishop who was open to new ideas. Didn’t this afternoon’s surprises suggest that she’d made the right decision, selling Elmer’s farm to start fresh in Willow Ridge?
    As she and the kids prepared to leave, Mary felt a tug on her sleeve. It was Taylor, smiling up at her. “I didn’t mean to sound bossy about you and the baby being in an outdoor Nativity,” she said in a low voice.
    â€œOh, I know that, sweetheart,” Mary replied. “You’re just excited—and so am I! You’ve made my whole Christmas season shine a lot brighter, you know it?”
    Taylor’s face lit up, and then she grinned furtively. “I’m not telling you who to pick for Joseph, either,” she murmured. “But it just fits that Seth is a carpenter, like Joseph was. And anybody can see how he cares for you and Emmanuel.”
    Can they, now? Mary wondered. In the last few minutes, a bishop and a seven-year-old girl had pointed this out to her as though the whole world already knew she and Seth should be together. It was too soon to go along with such a match—or to assume Seth would want to—but Mary smiled as she put on her jacket. She couldn’t imagine any twenty-something man wanting to court a widow with three kids, but thoughts of spending time with Seth certainly put her in a better mood than mourning Elmer did.
    â€œAnd besides, he’s so nice. And cute ,” Taylor added with a decisive nod.
    â€œI won’t go