An Amish Christmas by Patricia Davids Page B

“Let us see if any one recognizes John Doe.”
    Harold said, “Amber and Karen are asking around inside. I thought the women would be more comfortable talking to them.”
    John followed the men through the maze of buggies to the barn. Inside, youngsters were engaged in games and chatting in groups. He caught sight of Jacob and several of his friends looking down from the hayloft. He was surprised to see the young men were much older than Jacob. The boy’s friends were staring at John with outright curiosity and snickering.
    Eli asked for everyone’s attention, speaking English out of deference to John and Harold. He briefly explained John’s situation and asked if anyone knew him or had seen him before. John scanned the faces of the young men and women looking for signs of recognition. The only one he knew was the freckle-faced redheaded young woman he’d met several days before.
    Sally, that was her name. He smiled and nodded to her. Her eyes widened. She spoke to her friends and then hurried past him back toward the house.
    He followed Eli and Harold from group to group speaking to elderly couples, young parents with children and teenagers that had paired off and were enjoying the social event. Each time he met with expressions of compassion but no concrete information.
    Giving up for the moment, John excused himself fromthe older man and returned to the house. Something in Sally’s expression stayed with him. He wanted a chance to talk to her in private but didn’t know how that would be possible. He was about to open the door when Karen came out with Sarah Wyse, the singer, by her side.
     
    Karen stopped in surprise when she saw John in front of her. “We were just coming to find you. John, this is Sarah Wyse.”
    The way his eyes roved over Sarah’s face sent a prickle of envy through Karen. Immediately, she chided herself for allowing such emotion to taint the day. Sarah was pretty. The young men had flocked around her when she and Karen had been in school together, but none of that had gone to Sarah’s head. She remained a devout member of the church in spite of all the heartache in her life.
    John said, “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Wyse. I wanted to compliment you on your beautiful singing voice.”
    Sarah glanced from Karen back to John. “Compliments are not needed. All gifts come from God. We do not seek honors or to stand apart from each other.”
    “I’m sorry,” John said, “I did not mean to offend you.”
    “No offense was taken. Karen says you have some questions for me.”
    The three of them moved to the end of the porch so they weren’t blocking the flow of traffic in and out of the house. John said, “I don’t know how to say this, but your voice sounds familiar to me. Is there any way I could have heard you singing before?”
    “Not unless you have heard me as one of many voices praising God in song during our church services.”
    He heaved a tired sigh. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
    “I wish I could be more help. I will inquire about you when people come to my shop. We have townspeople, Amish and tourists in.”
    John said, “I’ll ask the sheriff to send over one of the photographs he had taken of me.”
    The women exchanged glances, then Karen said, “Sarah would not be able to show it. We consider photographs of people to be graven images. They are forbidden.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He looked embarrassed.
    Karen couldn’t help herself. She poked his shoulder. “Oh, John, you don’t know your name, you don’t know about the Amish and photographs, what do you know?”
    “Karen!” Sarah looked aghast.
    John looked shocked for a full second then he threw back his head and laughed. “I know if I go back in the house someone is going to try and make me eat more. I’m still stuffed to the gills.”
    Relieved to see him more comfortable, Karen said, “Then you had best go walk up an appetite because supper will get under way in about an