He narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?” He saw her blush. “What have I done?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I guess I’m just worried about Leah.” She eyed him over her cup as she took a sip from her tea. “I appreciate your checking up on me, Daniel, but as you can see, I’m fine.”
“Emma.”
“Go back to the house, Daniel. I’m fine here alone. You belong with your family. You should be with them.”
“And you don’t belong?”
“You said it. I didn’t.”
“Emma—”
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be leaving soon.”
He studied her, noting the sudden change in her brown eyes. She gazed at him blankly, as if she had no feelings for him, and it hurt. Despite her behavior, he caught a glimpse of vulnerability in the quiver of her pink lips and in a quick blink of her eyes. He inhaled a breath and realized that he loved her. He loved her, and she wouldn’t stay.
“Daniel,” she said sharply. “You’re staring.”
It was his turn to be embarrassed.
“Go up to the house. I’ve got this.”
He struggled with disappointment. He wanted to stay and keep her company, but she wanted him to leave. She didn’t need him. She’d only needed a place to hide in plain sight until she turned eighteen. Didn’t she understand that she’d still be vulnerable, even after she came of age? That she could stay, and he could love and protect her?
He left the way he’d come, through the back door, and headed to the house. Because she was right. He should be there waiting with his family. And she didn’t feel a part of that.
He wanted her to feel included. He wanted her to be a part of his family and his life.
* * *
Emma felt dejected after Daniel left the store. She’d told him to go, but still she missed him. She didn’t deserve to have Daniel in her life...or the family who loved him. She’d leave and look back on her time here as something special, a moment when she’d enjoyed what she might have had if her parents hadn’t left their Amish community. Mostly, she’d never forget Daniel Lapp, and she’d always wonder what happened to the man who’d stolen her heart.
In an effort to keep busy, she worked to clean the store. She swept the floor although there was little dirt to warrant the use of a good corn broom. She removed items and dusted shelves before putting the merchandise back. Then she went to the counter again where she found paper and pen, then jotted down the items that needed to be reordered.
The front door jingled. Emma looked up from the paper with a smile on her face with the hope that Daniel had returned despite her efforts to push him away. She gasped in horror as a man approached. He didn’t stop until he reached the counter. She’d recognize his smirk anywhere. The man was Bryce Turner, her foster father.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. She attempted to keep calm as she casually searched for something to use as a weapon in case she needed to defend herself. “What do you want?”
“I’ve come to take you home, Emma dear.” He stared at her, a big brute of a man with an unholy light in his black eyes.
“This is my home now. I have family and friends here.”
Bryce laughed. “You’re living with the Amish?” His gaze ran down the length of her as if noting her plain clothing and prayer kapp for the first time. “I don’t think so. I’ll have a talk with them. I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you go.”
“Bryce, please. Just leave. You don’t need me. Keep the money from the state. I don’t care. The authorities won’t know that I’m no longer living with you. I’ll be eighteen soon anyway and free to live on my own.”
The man’s expression hardened. “It sounds like you don’t want to come home with me. After everything I’ve done for you, that’s not very nice. You shouldn’t talk that way to your foster father.” He snarled, “Show some respect.”
She flinched. He had edged to the end of the counter, boxing her in. She wondered what would happen if she attempted to bolt out the back door. Emma recalled the pain he’d inflicted on her arm and the resulting bruises. Her arms were finally healing, and she refused to allow him to hurt her again.
She sighed, and her shoulders slumped. She didn’t want to cause trouble for her Amish friends. She needed to keep the man as far from them as she could...even if she was forced to go with him. Keep him talking until you can figure a way to escape him.
“How did you find me?”
“I had some help. The police were looking for you when they found someone who thought they’d seen you. The tip didn’t amount to anything concrete, so I came looking for you myself. I knew you had to be close. After all, you once lived in an Amish community when you were a child.”
“How did you know that?”
“We received a file on you. Or should I say, I hired someone to investigate your background. We couldn’t have a criminal living in our house.”
Then his features darkened. “You saw us, didn’t you?” he murmured.
“What?”
“Don’t play innocent now. You saw me and Kent in the alley that night. I figured you had because you ran away soon after.” His mouth tightened into a thin line. “Let’s go,” he ordered.
“I’d rather stay here.”
“I’m not asking. I’m telling you to get moving or suffer the consequences.”
She stiffened her spine. No, she thought, she couldn’t go back. She wouldn’t.
With a suddenness that shocked her, Bryce grabbed her by the arm and dragged her from behind the counter. His fingers squeezed flesh, making her cry out with pain. “Move!” he commanded. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t come after you?” He pulled her the length of the store.
“What are you going to do with me?” she gasped.
“Why, dear Emma, I won’t do anything. You’re my daughter, and I take good care of my children.”
“I’m not your child and I don’t want to go!” she cried, struggling against his hold in an effort to get free.
“Sorry, sweetheart, but you’re going. Get moving or I’ll force you.”
She fought harder, but Bryce only laughed as he dragged her out of the store and toward his car.
Emma saw a little English girl playing across the street and quickly looked away. Bryce must have sensed the direction of her gaze, because he hollered across the street to the child. “Hi, honey,” he said. “My friend and I are going for a ride.”
“No!” Emma screamed.
The girl jumped up and backed away.
Bryce cursed. “You tell anyone what you’ve seen, little girl, and I’ll come back to get you,” he warned.
The child crouched on the lawn to play with her dolls, as if he hadn’t spoken. Bryce stared at the child a long moment, then, assured of the little girl’s silence, he opened his car door and pushed Emma inside. “Get in! Now!” he ordered when she tried to resist him.
Emma was terrified. She’d never get to see Daniel again...or any of the others here she regarded as family. She could only imagine what would happen to her if she didn’t find a way to escape. Bruising would be the least of her worries. There were other things that Bryce could do to ensure her silence.
* * *
Daniel was upset. He stood in the great room in the house, waiting for Leah to give birth while Emma was working alone in the store. He frowned. Why didn’t she want him there? They’d been friends, and he felt sure she had feelings for him. What made her behave that way? Why wouldn’t she tell him what was bothering her?
Leah was in labor. The men were chatting like they were at a picnic outside. Except for Henry. Leah’s husband looked ill with worry. No doubt, he wanted to be upstairs with his wife.
Emma. He wanted to see her. He needed to be with Emma, because he loved and needed her. Now if only he could convince her of that.
He
decided to head back to the store to see her. He loved her. He would convince her to talk to him. If she cared for him even a little, he’d work to convince her that he was the right man for her. That the Amish community was the right home for her.
This time he entered through the front entrance. “Emma?” There was no sign of her.
Calling her name repeatedly, he checked in the back rooms but couldn’t find her anywhere.
Would she leave without a word? Nay, she wouldn’t! She’d promised to stay. And Leah had yet to give birth. Besides, Emma was still only seventeen. Those were two good reasons for her to stay.
She’d left the store unlocked. That wasn’t like her. He grew more concerned. Where was she? If she had left of her own free will, she would have locked up the store and put the key where Henry could find it.
What if the police had found her? Or worse yet, her foster father?
Daniel burst out of the store toward the street. He looked both ways but saw no sign of her anywhere. A little girl played in the yard across the street. Had she seen Emma? He approached her.
“Hallo,” he said gently. “Did you see a woman leave the store?” He smiled. “An Amish woman?”
Fear entered her green eyes as the child looked up at him. She nodded but didn’t speak.
Encouraged, Daniel crouched beside her. “Was anyone with her?”
The girl nodded vigorously.
“Can you tell me what you saw?” He frowned when she shook her head. “But you saw something?”
She bobbed her head.
“Was she with a man?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Please,” he begged, “she may be in danger. I need to know what you saw.”
The child looked thoughtful. “A bad man took her,” she finally said.
“A bad man?” His stomach roiled with dread and fear.
“Yes, they came out of that store together, and he shoved her into his car.” She clutched her doll tightly to her chest. “She didn’t want to go. The lady didn’t want to leave with him, but he made her.”
“What color was the car?”
“Blue.” She looked up at him with rounded eyes. “She didn’t want to go,” she repeated, clearly frightened. “She tried to get away, but he wouldn’t let her. Then he saw me and said he’d come back to get me if I told.” She trembled. “You won’t let him get me, will you?”
“No one will hurt you,” he soothed. “Where is your mother?”
“She’s at work. My babysitter is inside.”
“I’m going to get help from the police. Why don’t you go inside where it is safe? When I bring a policeman, will you let us in? Tell your babysitter—what’s her name?”
“Patty.”
Daniel nodded “Tell Patty that we’ll be coming to talk with you. Will you do that?”
“Yes.”
“Get your dolls and take them safely inside with you.”
He rose to his feet. “Thank you for telling what you saw. The lady—she’s special to me.”
“You’re going to get her back?”
“Yes. I’ll do everything I can to get her back.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Now go inside.” Daniel watched as she ran to her house, then he sprinted across the street and up to the house. He burst in the room where the men waited. “Henry, do you have your cell phone? I need to use it.”
“Ja.” Henry frowned at him. “Something wrong?”
“Emma has been kidnapped.”
Chapter Seventeen
Emma sat in the back of Bryce Turner’s sedan, amazed that he hadn’t tied her up, that he believed she wouldn’t attempt to escape. But he was wrong. Yes, she was scared, even terrified, but the first chance she got, she’d escape and return to Happiness, to those she cared about.
She pressed her face against the rear passenger window. She studied her surroundings. They hadn’t gone far, so they were still in Lancaster County. She heard the ding that accompanied the low-fuel light in Bryce’s car. It was only a matter of time before he’d have to pull into a gas station and refuel. As the man drove down the road, Emma recognized the restaurant across the street. Thank the Lord that they were still on the main road.
She longed to go back. Home, she thought. Happiness was the first place to feel like home since she’d left Indiana.
She heard Bryce curse and watched with satisfaction as he pulled the car into a gas station. Emma hid a smile as he got out to fill up the car with gas.
He leaned in and glared at her. “Stay where you are,” he ordered. “Or there’ll be consequences.”
She waited with patience as Bryce pumped gas. When he was done, he growled with anger when he wasn’t given a printed receipt at the pump. She sat back and closed her eyes and pretended to have fallen asleep. She waited a few moments until Bryce entered the building to get his receipt.
It’s now or never! Emma threw open the door and bolted down the street back the way they’d come. When she heard Bryce’s outraged yell, she raced across a farm field toward a large house set off from the road. She prayed for help as she ran, begged God to find her help.
She banged hard on the farmhouse door. When no one came to open it, she hammered her fist against the wood. “Answer the door. Please!” But no one came.
She looked back. Bryce was near the edge of the road, searching for her. She knew the exact moment he spotted her and headed her way. She changed direction, skirted the house and raced back to the road. She heard him bellow at her to stop, but she kept on going.
Daniel. Thoughts of him comforted her until Emma felt a strong, punishing grip on her arm. Bryce’s furious face loomed above her. His fingers tightened painfully above her forearm. “Let me go!”
“Shut up! Stop or I’ll punch you out so you can’t yell for help!”
She slumped as if defeated. She wanted him to think that she was biddable, for if he decided to tie her up, she’d never ever be free of him.
Emma prayed as he dragged her toward his car. Please, Lord, help me. I’ll do better, I promise. I’ll apologize. I’ll do whatever You want. Please.
“No sense praying, girl. He won’t listen to the likes of you.”
She ignored him and closed her eyes as she continued to pray. She ignored the pain of his hold and put her trust in the Lord.
Suddenly, she heard police sirens. Bryce seemed surprised, and Emma took the opportunity to be free of him again and run. Bryce chased after her, catching her before she got more than a few yards. Two police cars roared up to surround her and Bryce. She froze. Would he convince them that she was his misbehaving daughter? Would they insist she go home with him? She wouldn’t be forced this time! She’d hold her ground and demand they listen to the truth about Bryce.
Officers encircled them with drawn guns. Bryce smiled. “I’m glad you came, officers. I’ve been searching everywhere for my daughter. I’m grateful I found her. Thanks to you, I have her back.”
“Step away from the girl, Mr. Turner,” an officer ordered.
“Why are you aiming your gun at me?” Bryce said with outrage. “I haven’t done anything wrong. She’s the one who ran away. I only came to bring her home.”
“I don’t know, Doug,” one officer said to another. “The girl sure looks Amish to me. Doesn’t look like she’s this man’s daughter.”
“I’m not,” Emma said, then cried when Bryce dug his fingers into her arm. The pain made her waver dizzily.
“Release her and put up your hands, Turner,” a third officer said.
When Bryce didn’t move, he stepped closer, gun aimed directly at Bryce.
Bryce released her and held up his hands. “You’re making a mistake,” he warned.
Out of breath, Emma leaned over and gulped for air. Tears ran down her face, and she couldn’t stop them.
Someone knelt at her sid
e, gently touching her shoulder. “Emma,” said a familiar voice.
She turned her head. “Daniel,” she breathed.
“Ja, dear heart.” He was careful as he helped her to straighten. He put his arm around her, and Emma felt safe and protected...and loved. Overwhelmed with emotion, she sobbed, and Daniel pulled her into his arms.
“Emma, ’tis oll recht. I’m here now. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
Daniel held her close as she answered the police officers’ questions truthfully about her life with the family, about what crimes she’d witnessed involving the man and his son. Once she’d finished answering questions, the officers took Bryce into custody and loaded him, handcuffed, into the back of a police cruiser.
Daniel was silent as he drove her back to Leah and Henry’s. She wondered what he was thinking.
“You came for me,” she whispered. “Why?”
Daniel shot her a concerned look. “You were gone. The store was open, and I knew you wouldn’t leave it unlocked. Then I saw the little girl across the street. She told me what she’d seen. So I called the police and then I followed them.” She felt his shudder. “Fortunately, you hadn’t been taken far.”
Emma sighed. “Thank you. I was shocked to see Bryce.” She shuddered and hugged herself. “I... I don’t think I would have gotten away from him alive.”
“You never told the police what you saw until today.”
“Because the police never believed me. When I ran away the first time, I tried to tell them how bad things were for me at the Turners’, but they wouldn’t listen. Bryce convinced them I was a troubled teen who needed love.” She paused as she fought tears. “I was just a runaway foster kid, and Bryce was a law-abiding citizen. The physical abuse wasn’t obvious back then...”
Daniel remained silent as he steered the horse into the driveway and up the hill toward Leah and Henry’s house. As she followed Daniel into Leah and Henry’s house, Emma saw pleased smiles on everyone in the great room. Charlie rushed over and reached for her hand. “Are you oll recht?”
Emma smiled, sensing her genuine concern. “I’m fine.”
Finding Her Amish Love Page 17