by CeeCee James
She seemed to understand my heart though and gave me a small smile. “Jacob will be okay. We all will be. But it’s important to remember that life comes and life goes like the weeds thrown into the fire.”
My eyes narrowed. She’d recited the parable as if she’d just heard it.
“Weeds? What do you mean?”
“Elder Yoder just told me it. He is taking care of poor Jacob.”
“How is he taking care of Jacob?” I asked. “I thought you said it was a doctor?”
“I have to go.” Her gaze darted to the left. “I can’t talk with you anymore. I’ve been told to get back to my task. Disobeying an elder risks getting shunned.”
“Okay.” I backed away feeling numb. That was the third time she’d brought up the word “shunned.” I watched Mary travel across the yard and walk into the store, the heels of her boots clacking against the wooden floor as she entered.
Feeling slightly defeated, I walked back to the van. Mary’s puffy eyes contradicted her statement that Jacob was okay. She was lying to me. But why?
I climbed into the van and held my keys. When a good idea didn’t spring to mind, I bit my lip and started the van. There was nothing more that I could do. Hopefully, Frank would soon be here to sort it out.
I texted him one more time. —Have to bring the guests back to the B&B. Look for a girl named Mary. She can take you to Jacob.
Sighing, I hit send.
“You guys ready to go home?” I asked, smiling into the rearview mirror.
Mr. Stevens nodded, one eyebrow raised. “Five hundred dollars,” he said, holding up a corner of the quilt. Mrs. Stevens rolled her eyes. “After a splurge like this, I’m not sure we can afford to be on vacation any longer.”
As I rattled down the Baker Street Bed and Breakfast’s driveway, I could tell from the dark windows that the power was still off.
Mrs. Stevens spouted out, “Well, time to live like the Amish for a day, I guess!” The couple climbed out, chattering away about the card game they were planning for later.
I checked my phone and rolled my eyes. Still no text from Frank.
Oscar, Cecelia’s widowed next door neighbor, was standing on his porch. I glanced around for Peanut, the Pomeranian that Oscar insisted on calling Bear. The old man hated the name, Peanut, but it had been given to the dog by his wife and was the only name the animal answered to. I often heard him holler, “Bear!” before begrudgingly muttering “Peanut,” in a much quieter voice.
Today was no different. Peanut was staring up a tree, barking hysterically at a squirrel. The dog badly needed a trip to the groomers and looked like a giant cotton ball hopping on stubby legs.
“Bear! Get over here! Leave that fluffy-tailed rat alone! Bear!” Oscar let out a few dark words before hissing out, “Confound it. Peanut! Come here you little treat-eating monster.” His last words came out at a much higher pitch as if he were pleased with the dog. But the look in his eyes showed he was about at the end of his patience.
The dog ignored his plea. Oscar started down the stairs when I stopped him. I knew how bad his arthritis was.
“I’ll get her,” I assured him and jogged over to the tree.
The dog’s dark eyes sparkled with excitement when she saw me. She pranced back and forth, happy to share her arch-enemy with me.
“Yes. I see him,” I said, squatting down. “He’s a big, bad squirrel, isn’t he? Come here, Peanut.”
The dog ran over, after giving the squirrel one last defiant bark. The squirrel fluffed its tail and ran along a branch, chittering away.
I scooped up the pup and carried her to the house. A few leaves clung to her fur.
“No wonder she doesn’t come when I call her, with you coddling her like a rag doll,” Oscar said, his brow creasing into a frown. I handed the dog over and he took her with a huff. He turned his back to me to bring her inside, but not before I saw him pick out a leaf with red, arthritic fingers. Softly, he stroked the dog around the ears before setting her inside with a “Scoot!”
“So, how are you doing, today, Oscar?” I asked, leaning against the porch railing. I had to admire the paint. Frank and I had spent a couple of weeks pressure washing and scraping the old paint off, and now it gleamed in a fresh white coat.
“Doing? I’m alive and breathing, so that’s something. But I guess I’d be a whole lot better if I had an apple turnover.” His eyes widened innocently at me but I wasn’t fooled. He’d caught the scent of cinnamon apples coming from Cecelia’s kitchen this morning.
I laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. And maybe I can bring Bear to the groomers later.”
“Groomers!” He stepped back, alarmed. “What in tarnation would you do that for? Dog’s already got a big head. She doesn’t need to get all frou-frou on top of it.”
I tried my best to hide my smile. “Just to get the hair-mats and stickers out. She seems to have a few.”
“Went off her rocker and chased after the squirrel into those darn blackberries. That dog is more bush than animal, now.”
“Well, let me take care of it. Then she won’t be tracking stuff into your house.”
He raised an eyebrow at me as if to remind me of the appearance of his bachelor pad. But the dinging of my phone saved me, and I pulled it out to see a text from Frank. I waved goodbye and headed back to Cecelia’s, with Oscar hollering after me to keep my eye out for any stray turnovers.
Frank’s text read.—I’m here at Sunny Acres. No one knows what you’re talking about. Where are you?
What in the world? Alarmed prickled through me. —Had to leave. Did you talk with Mary?
Frank responded, —It’s an Amish community. Any guesses on many Mary’s there are? Just get down here already.
I frowned. He seemed grumpier than usual. —On my way.
I’d have to get Oscar his turnovers later. I climbed into the van and drove back to Sunny Acres.
The parking lot was even fuller than earlier this afternoon. Exiting my van, I saw a police car parked near the entrance of the establishment. A horse harnessed to its buggy swished his tail and stepped skittishly as I passed by.
Where was Frank? I started toward the grocery building when I saw a figure dressed in blue waving frantically at me from a group of trees about twenty yards away.
“Mary!” I smiled as I approached. She glanced at me shyly, then dipped her head, before hiding behind one of the trees. I followed after her, concern growing.
“Hi,” I said. “How are you doing?”
She drew me into the group of trees. Standing next to her was another young woman also dressed in blue. I hesitated to ask about Jacob in front of the new person, not sure if I’d be getting her into trouble.
“Thank you for coming over here. This is my friend, Naomi.” Naomi had the similar blue eyes and dark hair as her friend.
“Hello. I’m Georgie.”
Naomi nodded, her eyes dipping as often as her friend’s.
Mary continued in a whisper, “The police are here. I’m scared.” Freckles stood out on her pale cheeks.
“I get it. I understand.” I reached to pat her shoulder but she pulled away before I could touch her. Darn it. When would I remember not everyone likes to be touched? “I bet it feels scary having the police here. Don’t worry. They just want to make sure everyone is safe, and figure out what happened to Jacob.”
Mary flinched at the boy’s name.
I pressed forward, “Is he okay?”
She twisted the corner of her apron and licked her bottom lip. Naomi stared at her friend as if waiting for the answer as well. Finally, the young girl whispered, “He is with elder Yoder. They are bringing in a doctor.”
“You told me a doctor was already with him.” I took a step back.
Her eyes widened with fright at my sudden movement. “Elder Yoder told me so. I haven’t really seen him, since…”
“Since I was there?”
She nodded. “Elder Yoder said the drink must wear off and Jacob would be fine.” She
looked uncertain.
“But you don’t think so?”
At this point Naomi interrupted. “He swore he wouldn’t drink again, not after what happened.”
“What happened?” I asked.
Both girls looked at each other, their eyes wide.
”We don’t want to make improper assumptions or think ill of anyone. It isn’t our place to judge.” Mary responded. Naomi nodded, her face pale.
“I understand. But something has you concerned. I know I’m English, and I can understand why you’re having a hard time letting me in. But if you want my help, I need to know more. Why did you come find me? Do you think someone had a reason to hurt Jacob? I remember you said he’d just returned from… what was it called? Rum—”
“From Rumspringa. He came back a few days ago.”
“Did he make any friends while he was out there?”
“Jacob said he kissed a girl.” Mary’s cheeks flushed. “He wanted to see what it was like. He did not know the girl was with someone. She had a boyfriend, he said. He was confused and hurt by it, which is why he told me.”
“I see.” I paused, trying not to question the girls too harshly. They acted like a pair of skittish colts. “Do you think that boyfriend was angry with Jacob?”
“He came to our town, in his truck, and started yelling about someone ‘messing with his girl’ and ‘taking something that belonged to him.’ We think he had been drinking. He was kicking things and throwing things. Brother Jonathan and Brother David walked him to his truck and told him he would need to leave. He tried hitting one of them. Eventually, a few others came out and made him get in his truck and go away.”
“So the boyfriend was mad, then.” I glanced at the wheelhouse, hoping to see Frank so I could flag him over. There was no one.
The girls caught me looking. Mary grabbed my sleeve. Her hand fell away immediately when I turned toward her. “Please. You said you wouldn’t tell anyone.”
I nodded, with a slight smile. Obviously, she was going to have to talk to the police, but I didn’t want her to be scared. I tried to build more of a rapport between us. “What did you think when the man showed up?”
Again the girls glanced at each other. Naomi answered, “I thought he was a buffoon.”
“A… buffoon?” The word made me smile.
“Yes. He couldn’t hardly stand. Drink made him like a child.”
“So you weren’t scared?”
The girls shook their head.
“But then there was the…” Mary started to say, tucking a wisp under her black head covering.
“Mary!” Naomi hissed.
I straightened my shoulders. Maybe tough love was needed after all. “Ladies, something happened here. Something serious. You owe it to your friend to figure out what happened. What if the person isn’t done taking out his revenge?”
That seemed to convince Naomi. Her head bobbed quickly, giving Mary permission to continue.
“Two days ago, one of Jacob’s family’s buggy was set on fire. And other bad things were happening.”
Naomi patted Mary’s shoulder as the girls’ eyes squeezed shut. Tears flowed down her face, but she didn’t make a sound.
I pressed a little harder, “Was the boyfriend the only one? Is it possible Jacob made someone else angry when he was outside?” I didn’t know if outside was the right word, but they seemed to understand what I meant.
Naomi bobbed her head. “There was another man. He’s English and lives in the field with the large red silo. Jacob had been playing in one of the man’s tractors and it began to roll. It’s forbidden to operate such machinery, and Jacob wouldn’t know how. He was being rebellious. He asked God for forgiveness so much afterward. The tractor went into the pond and Jacob had to swim out. The man was furious. He told Jacob’s parents that Jacob would have to buy him a new one. We have no way to get anything like that. They made an agreement, but I don’t know much about it.”
“Is that where the gang of boys attacked him?” I looked at Mary.
She nodded.
I reached into my purse and texted Frank. —You here?
“There’s someone I’d like you to talk with,” I said as I pushed send.
Naomi jerked her head up while Mary stared in horror at my phone.
“You said we could talk with you,” Mary whispered.
“I’ll keep you safe. I promise.” I said with a reassuring smile. “You both did so well. I just need you to share it with….”
At those words, the two girls took off. I watched them as they raced down the field, helpless to make them stop.
Chapter 4
The young girls disappeared into the tree line. I kept a close eye on them, hoping to at least have a direction in which I could point Frank. Then, with a sigh, I walked back toward the wheelhouse.
My phone buzzed as I approached the building’s door.
—I saw your van. Frank was to the point as ever.
My text was a little longer. —Standing outside the well door. Just lost two possible witnesses.
He didn’t text back. His response was a thundering of footsteps through the wheelhouse. A moment later, the door slammed open.
Frank raised an eyebrow as he caught sight of me. The man was nearly inhuman. He didn’t even squint in the bright sunlight.
“Where are they?” he asked.
“Hi, yourself,” I said, cheerfully, to which he ignored. “They are two scared girls, and they ran that way.” I took a step back so I could point toward the forest.
His eyes followed my finger while speaking into his shoulder mic.
“So, you found him,” I said, crossing my arms.
His face was expressionless as he turned toward me. He stood nearly a foot taller than my measly five-foot-two, making me look up. I sidestepped so his head could be blocking the sun.
“Well?” I prompted. “Is an ambulance coming?”
“No one’s coming. That’s because we didn’t see anybody.” His nostrils flared. “I told you, no one’s confessing to knowing what you’re talking about.”
My mouth dropped in shock. “You were serious with that message. I thought you were kidding.” I stopped. Of course Frank wasn’t kidding. The guy wasn’t known for his sense of humor. As kids, we used to call him stick-in-the-mud, because of his permanent dourness.
“Nope. No hurt young man, boy, whatever. And that Elder guy seems to think you’re a trouble-maker. But, oddly the whole area smells like a chemical. Maybe lye? This whole thing stinks to high heaven.”
“Did you show them the pictures?” I asked.
He wrinkled his nose as he looked at me. “What pictures?”
“What do you mean? Did I forget to send them?” I scrambled for my phone and quickly dialed them up.
Then I groaned.
The pictures were dark. I tried to blow them up but you couldn’t make out much other than the shape of a person. Even the ones on the stairs were too dark to make out any identifying details.
Frank took my phone from my hand and stared.
“It’s not like there was a light I could turn on,” I said defensively. “Maybe I can play around with them to make them lighter.”
He clenched his jaw. “Sure, you can play around with them. But, once you start messing with them, they won’t be admissible in any court of law. Tampering with evidence.”
“But you can see it, right?”
His eyes softened, and he reached for my shoulder. “Of course, Georgie. I don’t doubt you at all. But you can imagine how our hands are tied. We can’t go traipsing around here, not without probable cause. The Amish deal with things on their own, out here.”
Some more footfalls pounded up the stairs. Soon Jefferson joined Frank and me. Elder Yoder was there too, his eyebrows appearing like wild briar bushes that had just attached themselves to his face. He glowered at me and licked his bottom lip. The same hand was still jammed into his pocket.
“This is my friend who talked with the girl,�
� Frank indicated me with a jerk of his chin. “The girl’s name is Mary, and she ran that way. You know who she is?”
“Mary?” Elder Yoder huffed. His eyes locked on my mine. “In a community this wide, there are many young girls christened Mary. Surely you have some more information. I’m sorry but I canna’ guess who she’s talking about.”
My blood ran cold at his denial. “The one who was at these very steps.” I pointed, my finger trembling with anger. “With you.”
He looked over his shoulder at the staircase and then back at me. His mouth twisted into a sneer. “Well, ye can see for yourself there’s no one there.”
I bit my tongue, hating this nasty man. I didn’t want to give him more information, afraid it would go badly for her.
I turned to Frank. “There was a girl inside the store who knows her. Maybe we can go see if she’ll be more cooperative.”
“Nay, you have no reason to be harassing my patrons and people,” Elder Yoder said.
“Listen up.” Frank took a step toward him. “Like it or not, we’re here. And we do have photographic evidence. If you don’t cooperate, it would only take a judge two seconds to issue a warrant and the whole squad of us would descend here. And we’d pick this place apart, let me tell you. Who knows how many secrets we’d find.”
Elder Yoder lifted his chest. His expression hardened as his hands rose. One was bandaged but that didn’t seem to stop him from clenching it into a powerful fist. “You English always butt in where ye don’t belong.” Then with a sarcastic smile. “As you wish.” He gestured toward the store with a sweaty palm.
I led Frank and Jefferson to the cash register where I’d earlier bought my cheesecake at. The knitter was still there. As soon as she saw us, the young woman got up to walk away.
“Ester,” Elder Yoder called. “Ye have no reason to fear. I’m here. Just answer the questions for the English lady.” His smile sent chills down my spine.
“Hi, there. Remember me?” I gave her my most disarming smile.
She shook her head, her eyes wide like an owl’s.
I frowned. “I was just in here an hour ago. I bought some cheesecake?”