A Sister's Secret (13 page)

Ivan wrinkled his nose. “I’m in no hurry for that. Besides, women have too many peculiar ideas to suit me.”

Cleon grimaced as a vision of Grace came to mind. She’d been acting kind of peculiar herself lately. He hoped she wasn’t getting cold feet about marrying him. His whole being ached with the desire to make Grace his wife, and he didn’t think he could stand it if she broke things off.

Ivan leaned closer to Cleon. “Say, you’d better watch out for that hilly dip we’re coming to. Last week my friend Enos hit a deer standing in the road.”

“I’ll be careful.” Cleon guided the horse up the hill and started down the other side. They had just reached the bottom of the hill when he spotted a black pickup in his side mirror coming up behind them at a pretty good clip. The driver, wearing a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap, laid on his horn, and Cleon steered the horse toward the shoulder of the road, glad he had one of their more docile mares today. With no traffic coming in the opposite direction, he figured the truck would have plenty of room to pass. Apparently the driver didn’t think so, because he nearly sideswiped Cleon’s buggy as he whipped around him and raced down the road.

“Whew, that was too close for comfort,” Cleon said, sweat beading on his forehead and rolling onto his cheeks. “I wish people wouldn’t drive so fast on these back country roads.”

“Makes me wonder if that fellow was trying to run us off the road on purpose,” Ivan grumbled.

Cleon gripped the reins a bit tighter and directed the horse back onto the road. “What would make you think that?”

“Last week, Willard and I were heading home from a singing, and a truck nearly sideswiped our open buggy. It was dark out, and we couldn’t see the color or make of the vehicle, but we knew it was a truck.” Ivan’s dark brows drew together in a frown. “Willard was driving, and boy,
waar er awwer bees.
”

“I can imagine just how angry he was, but it’s not likely that it was the same truck. Whoever was driving wasn’t trying to hit you on purpose any more than that fellow was trying to hit us just now. Some Englishers get in too big of a hurry and drive too fast, that’s all.”

“Humph!” Ivan folded his arms and stared straight ahead. “Some English don’t think we have a right to be on the road with our buggies, and they don’t like the road apples our horses leave, either. It’s almost like they’re singling us out because we’re different.”

Cleon thought again about the break-ins that had occurred at the Hostettlers’ and wondered if they’d been isolated incidents or if the family might have been singled out. He needed to have a talk with Roman as he’d promised Grace he would do.

“Mind if we stop by the Hostettlers’ before we go home?” he asked his brother. “I want to speak with Roman about those break-ins.”

Ivan shrugged. “Makes no never mind to me. Maybe the brothers will do our chores if we don’t get home on time.”

Cleon grunted. “Jah, right. That’s about as likely as a heat wave in the middle of January.”

***

“It’s past quitting time,” Roman said when Luke returned to the shop after loading some cabinets for Ray Larson, their nearest English neighbor. “You’re free to go whenever you want.”

“You sure about that? We’ve still got several pieces of furniture that need fixing.”

“They can wait until tomorrow. We’ve both put in a long day, and I’m exhausted.”

Luke nodded. “I’m kind of tired myself.”

“Sure was nice of John Peterson to come by this afternoon and loan us some tools,” Roman said as he put a final coat of stain on a straight-backed chair.

“I hope you don’t mind that I mentioned your break-in to John when I went home for lunch and found him visiting my daed.” Luke nodded toward the shelf where the hammer and saw lay that John had dropped by shortly after lunch.

“Why would I mind?”

“I know you don’t want the incident reported to the sheriff, so I figured you might not want anyone else knowing about it, either.”

Roman shrugged. “We live in a small community, and I’ve told some of my Amish neighbors. I’m sure the news would have gotten out soon enough.”

Luke opened his mouth as if to comment, but the shop door opened, and Martha rushed into the room, interrupting their conversation.

“Dad, you’ll never believe what happened a few minutes ago!”

A look of fear covered his daughter’s face. “What is it, Martha? What’s happened?”

“I was in the kitchen getting supper started, and a brick flew right through the window.”

“What?” Roman dropped the rag he’d been using to stain the chair and hurried to her side. “Are you all right? Did the brick hit you?”

“I’m okay. It just shook me up a bit.”

“Did you see who did it?” Luke asked.

Martha shook her head. “I ran outside right away, but whoever threw the brick must have been a fast runner, because no one was in sight.” She lifted the straw hat in her hand. “I went out to the barn to check on Heidi and her pups and found this lying on the ground outside the barn door.”

Luke grabbed hold of the hat. “That’s mine. I must have dropped it as I was putting my horse in the corral when I got here this morning.”

“Are you sure you weren’t wearing it when you went outside to load those cabinets for Ray? Maybe you dropped it then.”

“I’m sure I didn’t have it on.” Luke plunked the hat on his head. “Want me to take a look around the place before I head home? Maybe whoever threw the brick is still lurkin’ about.”

Roman groaned. “I’m guessing the culprit took off like a shot as soon as that brick hit the window.”

“I believe you’re right, Dad.” Martha touched his arm. “I know you won’t press charges, but don’t you think it’s time to notify the sheriff?”

He shook his head. “Psalm 46:1 says, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’”

“If someone’s out to get us—and it seems like they are—I’m worried that the next attack could be worse.” Martha’s chin trembled. “If this keeps up, someone’s likely to get hurt.”

The truth of her words sliced through Roman like a knife. The thought of someone in his family getting hurt gave him the chills, but he had to keep believing and trusting that God would protect his family. He was about to say so when his shop door opened again and in walked Cleon and his brother Ivan.

“I see you made it back from Montana,” Roman said. “Did you have a good trip?”

Cleon nodded. “We got back last night.” He glanced around the room and grimaced. “Grace stopped by our place on her way to work and told me about the break-ins that happened at your house last week and then here this morning.”

“Make that three acts of vandalism,” Martha said. “Someone tossed a brick through our kitchen window a short time ago.”

Cleon’s mouth dropped open. “Was anyone hurt?”

Martha shook her head. “Sure scared me, though.”

“Any idea who could have done these things?”

Roman shrugged. “I’m guessing it’s some rowdy fellows—maybe the same ones who dumped over those outhouses near Kidron.”

“I heard a couple of cows got tipped over awhile back in Bishop King’s field,” Ivan put in. “One of the bishop’s sons saw some English fellows running through their land, so he’s pretty sure it was them who pushed the cows over.”

“Dumping outhouses and pushing over cows doesn’t compare to breaking into someone’s home or place of business,” Cleon said. “Makes me wonder if someone has a grudge against you. What do you think, Roman?”

Roman contemplated Cleon’s question a few seconds. He guessed there might be a few people who weren’t too happy with him right now: Luke, because Roman had docked his pay; Steven, because his wife’s birthday present had been ruined; and Bill Collins, because Roman refused to sell his land. Even so, he didn’t think any of them would resort to vandalism. Of course, he didn’t know the land developer personally, so he guessed it might be possible that the determined fellow could resort to scare tactics in order to get Roman to agree to his terms.

“What does the sheriff have to say about all this?” Cleon asked, breaking into Roman’s swirling thoughts.

“Haven’t told him,” Roman muttered, staring at the floor where a blob of stain still lingered.

“How come?” The question came from Ivan this time.

“Saw no need. I wouldn’t press charges even if we knew who’d done it. I’m turning the other cheek and relying on God’s protection, like the Bible says we should.”

Cleon leaned against Roman’s desk. “Has anyone else in the community been bothered?”

“Not that I know of.”

“If we hear that anyone has, what will you do?” Martha asked.

“I’ll get with the others, and we’ll have a talk with our church leaders and see how they think it should be handled.” Roman put his arm around his daughter’s trembling shoulders. “In the meantime, we need to be more watchful while we pray for God’s protection over our friends and family.”

Chapter 13

Grace awoke the following morning with another pounding headache. Hearing about Martha’s scare with the flying brick had about done her in, and she’d gone to bed early.

With great effort, she pulled herself out of bed and padded over to the window. It was a sunny day, yet she felt as if a dark rain cloud hung over her head—the whole house, really. She continued to struggle with the need to tell her folks she suspected Gary might be out for revenge. However, her fear of them finding out about her previous life kept her from saying anything.

Grace moved away from the window, frustration bubbling in her chest. Maybe it would be best either to tell Gary what she suspected or to ask him to leave Holmes County. She clenched her fists and held her arms tightly against her sides. Unless Gary had changed, it wasn’t likely that he would be willing to leave the area simply because she asked him to. If he could be cruel enough to break into her home, what else might he be capable of doing?

A knock on the bedroom door brought Grace’s thoughts to a halt. “Mom has breakfast ready, and we’re going to be late for work if we don’t eat soon,” Ruth called from the other side of the door.

“I’ll be down in a minute.” Grace didn’t feel up to going to work, but she didn’t want to leave her employer shorthanded. Besides, the only chance she had of seeing Gary was in town.

She hurried to get washed and dressed, then took two aspirins for her headache and headed downstairs.

“Are you okay, Grace?” Mom asked, turning from her place at the stove and squinting. “You look awful
mied
this morning. Didn’t you sleep well?”

Grace went to the refrigerator and removed a quart of grape juice. “I am a bit tired, and I woke up with a headache, but I’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure about that?” Ruth, who had been setting the table, clicked her tongue. “Your face is paler than a bedsheet, sister.”

“Maybe you’re coming down with that achy-bones flu that was going around,” Mom said with a look of concern. “Might be good if you stayed home and rested today.”

Grace shook her head. “I’ll be fine once I’ve had some breakfast.” She glanced around the room. “Where are Dad and Martha?”

“Your daed’s still out doing his chores, and Martha went to check on Fritz, Heidi, and the hundlin.”

“Those two dogs and the puppies are all our little sister thinks about anymore.” Ruth’s forehead wrinkled. “What she needs is a boyfriend.”

“Martha’s only eighteen.” Mom broke a couple of eggs into the frying pan and glanced over her shoulder. “She has plenty of time to find the right man.”

Ruth placed the last glass on the table and turned to face Grace, who was pouring juice into each of the glasses. “I guess what Mom says is true. Look at how long it took you to find a man and decide to get married.”

Grace winced, even though she was sure Ruth wasn’t trying to be mean.
What would my family say if they knew my secret? How would Cleon deal with things if he knew? Is it time to tell him the truth?

The back door flew open, and Martha rushed into the room. Her lips were compressed, and her eyes looked huge. “The pups are all alone in their box crying for their mamm’s milk, and I couldn’t find Heidi anywhere.” She hurried over to their mother. “What am I going to do? Those puppies are too young to make it on their own.”

Mom pushed the frying pan to the back of the stove. “Calm down and take a deep breath. I’m sure Heidi is somewhere nearby. Probably just needed a break from her pups, or maybe she went outside to do her business.”

“Mom’s right,” Grace put in. “Heidi will return to her puppies soon; you’ll see.”

***

“Are you sure you’re up to going to work today?” Ruth asked again when she noticed how Grace was gripping the buggy reins with clenched fingers and a determined set to her jaw. She didn’t know which sister to be the most concerned about this morning—Grace, who looked like she should be home in bed, or Martha, who had refused to eat breakfast so she could hunt for her missing dog.

“I need to go to work,” Grace said with a nod.

“You could have gone to the phone shed to let your boss know you weren’t feeling well.”