A Sister's Secret (14 page)

“My headache’s eased some, and I saw no need to stay home. Besides, it would have left them shorthanded at the restaurant, and I know from experience how hard that can be on the other waitresses.”

Grace stared straight ahead, gripping the reins so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands stood out.

“You’ve been acting awful strange for the past couple of weeks. Is it the trouble we’ve had at our place that has you so
engschderich?
” Ruth questioned.

“I’m not anxious, just concerned.”

“We all are.”

“First the break-in at the house, followed by Dad’s shop being vandalized. Then a brick thrown that could have hit Martha, and now her dog is missing.”

“I’m sure Heidi’s not really missing. I’ll bet by the time we get home from work Martha will be all smiles because Heidi’s back in her box with the puppies again.”

“Maybe so, but that won’t undo what’s already been done.” Grace’s voice cracked as she guided the horse to the side of the road.

“Why are we stopping? Aren’t you worried we’ll be late for work?”

“I need to tell you something, but you must promise not to repeat to anyone what I’m about to say.” Grace’s blue eyes flickered, and her chin quivered slightly. “Do I have your word on this?”

Ruth gave a quick nod as she reached over to squeeze her sister’s hand. She couldn’t imagine what Grace might tell her that she didn’t want to have repeated.

Grace leaned forward and massaged her forehead. “You know that reporter in town?”

“The one who says he’s doing stories on the Amish here and has been asking all kinds of questions?”

“Jah.”

“What about him?”

“His name is Gary Walker, and I went out with him for a while when I first moved away. It was during a time when I lived in Cincinnati.”

“You ... you did?”

“Jah. I thought he was cute and fun at first, but then he started acting like he owned me.” Grace lifted her head, and when she looked over at Ruth, tears filled her eyes. “Gary had a temper, and when I refused to go out with him anymore, he said I would be sorry and that he’d make me pay for breaking up with him.”

Ruth let her sister’s words sink in. If the reporter had been angry because Grace broke up with him, was it possible that he’d come here to make good on his threat? “Oh, Grace, do you think he might be the one responsible for the damage that has been done at our place?”

Grace nodded. “If I see him in town today, I’m going to ask if he’s the one.”

“Maybe it would be best if I’m with you when you speak to him.” Grace picked up the reins and gave them a snap. “I appreciate your concern, but this is something I must do alone.”

***

Throughout Grace’s workday, she kept an eye out for Gary, but he never came into the restaurant, and she didn’t notice him outside whenever she looked out the window. Maybe he’d gone to one of the nearby towns to do his research. Or maybe he’d left the area altogether. She hoped that was so, but a niggling feeling told her otherwise. If Gary had come to Holmes County to make her pay for running off with Wade, then he probably wasn’t done with her yet.

By the time Grace got off work, her headache had returned. She was glad she’d told Ruth that she would walk over to the bakeshop after work. It would give her time to think. She hoped the fresh fall air would help clear the throbbing in her head, as well.

She’d only made it halfway there when someone called her name. She whirled around and spotted Gary leaning against an Amish buggy parked next to the curb.

Grace’s heart pounded so hard she felt it pulsate in her head as she made her way over to where he stood.
I’ve got to do this. I need to confront him now.

“Hey, Gracie,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Haven’t seen you around in a while. Have you changed your mind about going out with me?”

Grace shook her head vigorously. “I’m surprised to see that you’re still in Holmes County. I figured you would have enough information to write ten stories about the Amish by now.”

He chuckled. “You’re right. I do. But I’ve decided to stick around the area awhile longer and do a couple of stories about some of the events that will be taking place here, as well as in Wayne and Tuscarawas counties, during the next few months.”

“The next few months? How can you afford to stay here that long?”

“My granddaddy died six months ago and left me a bundle.” He winked at her. “So I’ve got enough money to stay here as long as I want.”

“If he left you so much, then why do you have to work at all?”

“Let’s just say I enjoy the work that I’ve chosen to do. It makes me feel in the know.”

She tipped her head. “Are you really a freelance reporter?”

“Of course.” He lifted the camera hanging from the strap around his shoulder. “Is it so hard to believe I’m gainfully employed?”

Grace shrugged. When they had been teenagers, Gary had been kind of lazy. While the other kids they’d hung around with all had jobs, he’d been content to take money from his dad, who seemed to have more than he needed. It was hard to imagine Gary holding down any kind of job—much less working on his own as a photographer and reporter. Of course, some people changed when they matured. Grace was living proof of that.

“So, how about the two of us going somewhere for a cup of coffee?” Gary asked.

“I told you before that I’m—”

“I know. I know. You’re soon to be married.”

“Jah.”

“Jah? What’s this jah stuff, Gracie? I’m English, remember? So I’d appreciate it if when we’re together you would speak English.”

“Sorry,” Grace mumbled. She was losing her nerve, and if she didn’t say what was on her mind soon, she might never say it. “Some ... uh ... unusual things have been going on at our place lately. I’m wondering what you know about it.”

His forehead creased. “If you’re trying to say something, Gracie, then spit it out and quit croaking like a frog.”

She glanced around to be sure no one was listening. “The thing is ... we’ve had a problem with—”

“With what? What kind of problem are you having?”

She felt his hot breath blowing against her face and took a step back. “Someone broke into our house a week ago, and then yesterday morning my dad discovered that his woodworking shop had been ransacked.” She paused to gauge his reaction, but he simply stared at her with a stoic expression. “As if that wasn’t enough, someone threw a brick through our kitchen window while my youngest sister was fixing supper last night, and this morning, one of her dogs went missing.”

A muscle in the side of Gary’s face quivered slightly, but he said nothing.

“Do you know anything about this?”

He shook his head. “What kind of crazy question is that? How would I know anything about some break-ins at your place?”

A sense of frustration welled in Grace’s soul. Had she really expected he would admit what he’d done?

“Look, Gracie,” he said in his most charming voice. “I don’t know anything about any break-ins, but I do appreciate the information.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You ... you appreciate it?”

He nodded.

“Why is that?”

Gary pulled a notebook from his shirt pocket. “Because this will make one great story.”

Chapter 14

“Are they accepting the little bottle with the formula we made up?” Judith asked as she stepped into the barn and found Martha bent over a box, trying to feed Heidi’s puppies.

Martha looked up and offered a weak smile. “They’re eating some, but not as well as they would if their mamm was here feeding them.”

Judith gave her daughter’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Even if Heidi doesn’t come home, I’m confident that the pups will live; you’ll see to it.”

“I spent the whole day searching for Heidi. Luke and Dad even helped me look during their lunch hour, but it was a waste of their time.” Martha frowned. “If Dad would only let the sheriff know about the things that have been happening to us lately, maybe he could find out who’s doing this and why.”

“Your daed believes the things that have happened were merely pranks, and he sees no need to notify the sheriff.” Judith reached into the box and stroked one of the whimpering pups with the tip of her finger. “Just pray, dear one. That’s the best we can do.”

***

When Martha left the barn sometime later, she noticed a gray SUV pulling into their yard. John Peterson opened his door and stepped down, and to her surprise, Toby King climbed out of the passenger’s side, holding a cute little sheltie in his arms.

“Heidi!” Martha raced down the driveway and scooped the dog out of Toby’s arms. “Where have you been, girl? I was worried about you.”

“I found her wandering along the side of the road near my house,” Toby said. “I knew you had a couple of shelties, and I decided to bring her over and see if she was yours.”

“I was heading to town and saw Toby walking alongside the road, so I gave him a ride,” John put in.

“I appreciate that.” Martha stroked the top of the dog’s head. “Heidi gave birth to a batch of pups not long ago, and she’s still nursing. When she went missing this morning, I was afraid she’d been stolen.”

John’s eyebrows furrowed as he pulled his fingers through the sides of his dark, curly hair. “She probably just went for a run and lost her bearings.”

“But she knows where she lives, and she’s always come straight home before.”

“Maybe she forgot.” John tipped his head, making his slightly crooked nose look more bent than usual. Martha figured he’d probably broken it sometime—maybe when he was a boy. She didn’t think it would be polite to ask, so she averted her gaze and focused on the trembling dog in her arms.

John pointed down the driveway toward her father’s shop. “When I brought some of my tools for your dad to borrow, he said he thought the incidents that had happened to your family were probably done by some rowdy English kids. Does he still think that?”

Martha nodded soberly.

“Luke’s been hanging around with some English fellows. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t in on some of those pranks.” Toby gave one quick nod.

Martha pursed her lips. “I doubt Luke would take part in anything like that, but if I could prevent more pranks from happening to us or anyone else, I surely would.”

John shook his head. “You’d best not do anything foolish, girl. I told your dad I would keep my eyes and ears open, and if I hear or see anything suspicious, I’ll be sure to let him know.”

Martha almost laughed at John referring to her as a girl. He wasn’t much more than a boy himself—maybe in his mid-twenties.

“I’ll keep a lookout for things, too,” Toby said. “And if I find out Luke had anything to do with it, I’ll inform my daed.”

Martha was on the verge of telling Toby there would be no need for him to tell his bishop father anything, but she figured the less said about Luke, the better.

“I should get Heidi back in the box with her brood.” She smiled at the young men. “Thanks for returning her to me.”

“Glad we could help,” they said in unison.

***

Grace leaned against the buggy seat and closed her eyes. She was glad Ruth had been willing to drive home, because after the encounter she’d had with Gary awhile ago, she probably couldn’t have kept her mind on the road if she’d been the one in the driver’s seat.

Ruth reached over and touched Grace’s arm. “Does your head still hurt?”

“Jah.”

“Sorry about that. Was the restaurant real busy today?”

“No more than usual.”

“Things were sure hectic at the bakeshop. Seemed like everyone wanted a dozen donuts, all at the same time. At one point, there must have been twenty customers milling around the store, and even with Sadie’s help this afternoon, I could barely keep up.”

Grace nodded. She didn’t feel like talking right now. All she wanted to do was go home, take a couple of aspirin, and lie down.

“I’ve been mulling over what you told me on the way to work this morning,” Ruth said. “I think you should tell the folks about that reporter fellow.”

Grace opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times. “No.” The word was nearly a whisper. “I don’t want them to know. At least, not yet.”

“Why not? It isn’t as if you’re running around with the Englisher now. You were only a teenager when you dated him, and it was during your rumschpringe, so Mom and Dad should understand.”

Grace inwardly cringed. There was a lot more to the story than she’d told Ruth, and if her folks found out everything, she was sure they wouldn’t understand. She knew she should have told them that she’d married Wade and that a year later he’d been killed in a car accident. But if she’d told them that much, she might have had to reveal other details she’d rather not talk about.

Grace’s thoughts went to Cleon, the way they always did whenever she reflected on her past. If she had only known him when she was a teenager, she might not have run off with her friends to try out the English world. Too bad his folks hadn’t moved from Pennsylvania to Holmes County a few years sooner than they did. The love she felt for Cleon was strong—not based solely on physical attraction or having fun, the way it had been with Wade. With Cleon, she felt an assurance that he would always be there for her, through good times and bad.
If that’s so, then why haven’t I found the courage to tell him the truth?