The Covered Bridge by Karen Harper tells of Abby Baughman, a woodcrafter who grows and sells mushrooms, herbs and prepared chutneys for a living. Across the covered bridge near her house, a man called Ben has returned to live although he was shunned by the church elders. Strange noises, lights and travelers disturb Abby and she runs to Ben for help when her house is broken into. Ben, we learn, once beat up a drunk 'English' man who was trying to rape a girl of the Plain People. He should not have used violence and because he refused to admit that he had been wrong, he was barred from the community. Now he has come back to make wooden carved hope chest and gift boxes, and to try to return to the community. But Ben carries another secret from his time outside, and this may be enough to get him, and Abby, killed.

Fallen in Plain Sight by Martha Perry tells of Sarah who daily keeps house for an elderly English man and discovers him dead on the stairs one morning. The home is full of old curios and antiques and has been willed to a historical society. Several people get very interested in the contents and the lawyer who is overseeing the estate appoints Sarah to catalogue and pack everything. As this gives her a little independence away from her family's eyes, she agrees, and her good friend Jacob, whom she has known too long to feel romantically about, drives her back and forth in his buggy. A series of unpleasant events - horses let loose, intruders, items stolen - scares Sarah more and more, and a hit and run when a van smashes into Jacob's buggy and nearly kills them convinces her that first, something sinister is going on, and second, she means more to Jacob than she had realized.

Outside the Circle by Patricia Davids introduces Lena, a schoolteacher - a position which is only held by Amish maidens. A newcomer to town, Isaac, brings along his little daughter to enroll. Ruby has been mute since her mother's accidental death three years previously. Lena is very good with her and Isaac admires the young woman. Lena however has her own worries. Somebody is illegally hunting deer on protected land nearby and the carcases are being left, just the heads taken for trophies. Killing deer for meat in season, with required permits, is considered appropriate by the Amish, but none of them can understand this poaching. The people do not approach the law officers and Lena is forbidden to do this. Isaac is a woodcarver working for a family member, but Lena is concerned that the poaching only started since he arrived - and someone is certain to get hurt.

I really liked these stories and the flavor of the life they show. This is not my life, and I would not wish to follow some of the aspects presented, but it is a life worth living and a rich antidote to modern celebrity 'culture'.

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