The Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kelly Long Page A

excessively concerned and even more confused. “I’ve never heard of a goat filling hearts with cheer.”
    â€œThat’s why it’s important that we start this new tradition. You’ve been missing out on half the fun of Christmas for far too long.”
    â€œI had no idea,” Titus said.
    Anna poured more milk into Titus’s nearly full glass. “I will need you to come up every day in December to feed it and milk it and take care of it. I’ll be too busy, and Felty is too old to learn how to milk a goat.”
    â€œI’m only eighty-six,” Felty said.
    Oh dear. She hoped she hadn’t offended Felty, but it couldn’t be helped. They needed Titus to come to Huckleberry Hill, and Felty’s age would have to be the excuse, no matter how weak it sounded.
    Titus pinched his toothpick between his thumb and index finger. “I really want to help you, Mammi, but there’s one problem. Once when I was little, a goat tried to eat me.”
    â€œA goat tried to eat you?” Felty said.
    Titus’s head bobbed up and down like a buoy on the lake. “I was five years old. He jumped and rested his hooves on my shoulders and knocked me to the ground. Then he snatched the lollipop out of my mouth with his teeth and ate it, stick and all. I’ve been afraid of goats ever since. Maybe we should ask Ben to help you with your goat. I don’t know if I’m brave enough.”
    Anna swiped at the air as if pushing that suggestion as far from her mind as possible. “Ben has a wife, a little one, and another on the way. He couldn’t possibly come every day.” She squeezed his hand, probably a little too hard, because her knuckles turned white. “Titus, I need all the courage you can muster. Our goat needs you. You’re the only one who can save Christmas.”
    â€œYou need me to save Christmas?” Titus stared at her for a few moments as the toothpick between his lips bobbed up and down like the second hand on a watch. “You’re not planning on eating this goat, are you, Mammi? I don’t like to eat a pet once I’ve named it.”
    â€œEating it? Titus, I could never eat our Christmas goat. Christmas is a time for peace on earth and goodwill toward men . . . and goats.”
    Titus nodded as the uncertainty in his eyes gave way to calm determination. “I’ll do it, but only because I love you so much, Mammi.”
    â€œ Wunderbarr, ” Anna said. “You won’t regret it.”
    Concern passed across Titus’s features. “I’ll be okay. I just have to remember to leave my lollipops at home. No sense in looking for trouble.”
    â€œ Gute idea,” Anna said. “Now. I want to talk to you about a special Christmas beanie.”

C HAPTER 2
    T rina Benson rolled her car to a stop in front of the gravel road that led up to Huckleberry Hill. She bent her head to peer up the snow-covered lane. “Katie Rose, I hate to say this, but I don’t think my little hatchback is going to make it up that hill, even with snow tires. I’m sorry, but can you manage?”
    Katie peered up the hill. It had been eight years since she’d been to Bonduel, but she still remembered the steep and long walk up Huckleberry Hill. She had a large, heavy suitcase to drag up with her, but she would be in trouble if Trina got stuck in the snow or lost control and slid down the hill and into a tree.
    â€œThe older I am, the more nervous I get driving in the snow,” Trina said. “I should probably quit driving altogether and move to Florida.”
    Katie fished into her pocket and handed Trina some money. “I could use a little fresh air after that stuffy bus.”
    Her heart only started galloping when she got out of the car and pulled her small traveling bag and her giant brown suitcase out of Trina’s trunk. For once, she regretted being such an obedient child. If she’d had her way,