Beyond the Crossroads

Three-year-old Daniel and his two brothers sat on the back seat of Daat’s carriage on a dark morning of November 1943. Over Wolf Rock Mountain, the horse struggled up the steep narrow gravel road. It was a long drive, seventeen miles to church.On cold mornings at Hatville School, he sat on his fingers to warm them. For playing ball, a sawed-off manure fork handle was their bat.In the farmhouse, Mamm scolded, You naughty boys! Playingball in the kitchen. A-huh, you broke a dish, I see.While swimming in the Pequea Creek, the mischievous cousins scared several cows off the bridge, hoping to see them swim. Twas nearly a tragedy. Every boy was scared. Beyond the Crossroads is full of adventures in the life of an Amish boy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The events happened before those of Just a Hired Boy, published in 2009.