Lemon Tart Mystery

by Naomi Miller

  Anna Miller was one of the freinden who stopped Katie to ask about it. When she discovered Katie did not know about the latest news, she pulled Katie aside.

  “Katie, kumme outside with me for a moment?”

  Katie followed, smiling to herself. That was one of the things she liked most about Anna. Even though she lived just on the edge of town—and caught sight of the goings on that no one else knew about, she was not a gossip.

  Anna waited until they had moved through the side door of the barn before she turned to face Katie.

  “Katie, I am worried over this thing at the cafe that everyone is talking about. I do not know how, but I believe Mr. O'Neal's nephew must be involved somehow, and perhaps—,” she looked over both shoulders quickly before leaning closer to Katie, “... he has done something illegal.”

  Katie covered her mouth to smother the gasp that escaped her lips.

  “Something... illegal?” Katie breathed the words, shocked at the very idea.

  “Jah, that is what has me worried.” Anna answered, obviously concerned.

  Katie watched as she twisted a paper napkin between her hands, pulling it tighter with each motion.

  “What makes you think so?” Katie tried to tell herself there was no evidence of such a thing... merely what Mrs. Mueller had been telling people in town.

  “There were police at the cafe when I left to kumme to the singing.”

  That got Katie's attention. Police most certainly could mean something illegal had taken place.

  “What makes you think Mr. O'Neal's nephew is involved?”

  “That part I heard from Mrs. Mueller. She stopped by to talk to Mamm this afternoon. We were in the front hallway cleaning when Mrs. Mueller knocked at the door.” Her fingers gripped the napkin even tighter and Katie watched as several tiny bits fell off the tattered paper.

  “I did not mean to listen, but you know how she talks so loudly when she is excited about something. It is difficult not to hear her.”

  Katie nodded. “Jah, you are right about that.”

  “What can we possibly do to help Mr. O'Neal? He is such a nice man—and his cafe is just wunderbaar. We eat there several times a week, you know.”

  Katie nodded again. “I eat there often, too. His food is wunderbaar gut.” Most everyone in town did the same... and for the very same reason. “I think all we can do is pray and leave the rest up to Gott, Anna.”

  “Jah, I know you are right, Katie. That is why I wanted to talk to you about this.”

  “And perhaps we should keep this to ourselves.” Katie kept her voice low.

  “Jah, for sure and for certain. Everyone else seems to have plenty of gossip to spread already.”

  At that, Katie giggled. “Jah, sure enough.”

  Laughing, the two girls linked arms and made their way back to the barn.

  Barely had Katie walked in the door when Freida appeared out of nowhere, pulling Katie away from Anna. Katie began to object, but Anna appeared relieved to remove herself from the goings on so Katie followed Freida willingly.

  “Katie, where have you been?”

  Katie started to answer, but Freida rushed on.

  “I have been looking for you all over. I am sorry to be so late, but David took forever with his chores this afternoon. I thought he would never be ready to go.”

  Again, Katie started to speak, but Freida interrupted. “How long have you been here? Did you bring the cookies?

  “Jah, I—” She began, but did not get to finish her answer.

  “Gut. I am starving. Let's go get some.” And then Freida was pulling Katie over to the refreshment tables.

  Singing Night Lemonade

  Ingredients:

  1½ cups fresh lemon juice (7 large lemons)

  6 cups water

  ¾ cup sugar (or to taste)

  2 tbsp honey (raw works best)

  Instructions:

  Squeeze lemons or use a juicer until you have 1½ cups of juice.

  Dissolve sugar in water, stir well.

  Add honey and stir.

  Add lemon juice to the mixture.

  Stir together until well-mixed.

  Serve chilled or over ice.

  Sing the night away.

  Refrigerate leftovers (if there are any).

  * * *

  Important note: this recipe has been adapted for a 2 quart yield. The amount of lemonade needed for the typical Amish youth singing would be at least ten times the amounts listed above.

  — NINE —

  Travis watched Katie from across the barn for a long time. While he watched, he thought about what Jake had said earlier about family.

  Why, when I look at Katie Chupp, does the idea of having a family of my own sound really appealing?

  After what Amber said, he had decided to swear off romance—and he had not given serious thought to any certain girl in the two years since—at least not until Jake had mentioned family... and Katie had come to mind.

  And why am I thinking of her that way? I can't date her. I can't marry her. I'm certainly not keen on the idea of becoming Amish for her.

  And, as uninterested as he was in changing his whole life for a girl, he would never consider asking her to give up her own beliefs for him.

  So what am I doing? Why am I still even thinking about this?

  He purposely took his attention off Katie and looked around the large, open room, spotting several girls he recognized from town.

  It was nearly another minute before he moved over to the refreshment table and picked up two large cups of lemonade. Glancing around, he slowly made his way to the small group of girls.

  He had not taken more than three steps before one of the girls looked right at him, blushed to the tips of her ears, then turned and rushed away.

  He watched as she went, wondering what her quick exit was all about... and trying to figure out why she looked so familiar, yet he couldn't quite place her.

  Before he reached the group of girls, someone pulled at his arm a little and he turned to see who it was.

  “You should catch her before she goes too far. The Yoder farm is large and she could get lost easily.”

  The young woman looked familiar to him as well, but he couldn't think of her name or where he'd seen her—and before he could ask she was gone.

  He turned to search the crowd for her and spotted the other girl rushing off toward the dark fields.

  Muttering under his breath, he set down the two cups of lemonade and rushed off after her. She would certainly get lost in the dark fields.

  They were halfway across the nearest field when he caught up to her, calling out as he reached for her shoulder.

  “Hey, come back to the singing. I didn't mean to startle you.”

  She stopped, but didn't turn so he tried again.

  “Is there something wrong? Are you okay?”

  The only response he saw was a shake of her head—which told him nothing really. Was she saying she was not okay or was she saying there was nothing wrong?

  What do I do? He waited for nearly a minute before speaking again.

  “If there's something going on, you can tell me. Maybe I can help.”

  She turned then—and something about her face caught his attention.

  “I can explain...” Her voice clicked something into place and he was shocked when he recognized her.

  “What are you doing here? And dressed like...” He waved a hand at the outfit he was certain must belong to one of the older girls she had been standing with. “... like that!”

  Even though he had seen much trashier clothing in the city, there was no doubt in his mind that she was trying to look like a young woman of eighteen or older. Her clothing was just demure enough that she would not offend the Amish teens, while still loudly proclaiming her an adult.

  “There is nothing wrong with what I am wearing.”

  “Except that it makes you look about five years older.”

  “And that's a bad thing, why?�
��

  “Because you're fourteen, that's why.”

  With that, she wilted. The defiance melted from her features. Her shoulders dropped in a slump. And he was certain he saw tears shining at the corners of her eyes.

  Travis pulled his sister close, hugging her tightly, ashamed at the vehemence of his outburst as she sobbed hopelessly against his chest.

  “I just wanted to... to...”

  She never finished, but Travis felt certain he knew what she was getting at. She might only be fourteen, but she was obviously not a little girl anymore.

  “Listen, why don't I take you home?”

  She looked up then with such panic in her eyes that Travis felt his heart plummet. All he had been trying to do was the right thing—while getting his baby sister away from the much older guys—but somehow it felt like he had done the wrong thing.

  “Do we have to tell mom about this?”

  He exhaled deeply in relief. He hadn't been so wrong after all.

  “No, we don't have to tell mom about this.”

  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he worried he should maybe take them back. Shouldn't their mother know what her fourteen year-old daughter was up to—coming out here late at night... and dressed this way?

  Looking at Gwen's worried, tear-stained eyes, he could see that while their mom should certainly know what her daughter was up to, perhaps now was not the time to rat out his baby sister.

  “Are you sure you're not going to tell her? You look like you're rethinking what you just said.”

  “I am, but that doesn't mean I'm a rat. I don't have to tell mom as long as you promise this is the last time you do something like this.”

  She didn't say anything... just watched him with those big eyes.

  “Deal?”

  Finally, when he was certain he would have to throw her over his shoulder to get her out of here, she answered, shoulders slumping again.

  “Deal.”

  “Good. okay then, let's get you home.”

  He took her hand as they moved through the field, wanting to be certain he didn't lose her in the dark.

  As they moved back toward the brightly lit barn, his thoughts strayed again to Katie. She was in there somewhere.

  Stop that.

  He was determined to get his mind off the young woman whom he had no right thinking of in that way... or any way other than as a friend, for that matter.

  The thoughts and emotions that were struggling for attention within him were confusing at best, and terrifying at worst.

  Why did Jake have to get started on family today? Nothing of the kind had crossed his mind in more than a year.

  I don't have time for this nonsense right now. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the unwelcome thoughts.

  Mom is finally getting better. That alone was a great comfort to him right now. Not to mention, he was finally getting his family back on their feet.

  And the boys are behaving. That thought reminded him of his young sister whom he was still holding tight to—who seemed determined to grow up too fast.

  Just like Jake and his brothers.

  It was too ridiculous for words. Who on earth started thinking about getting married and having a family at fourteen?

  One look at his baby sister was all it took to tell him she had certainly been thinking about it. It was obvious in everything from the make-up on her face to the set of her jaw.

  It was also clear she had been doing more than just thinking—the outfit proved that. She had not just found those clothes lying around in her room.

  She's planned for this. The thought made Travis wonder if this was the first time she had been to one of these singings—or even if she had snuck off to the city with her older friends.

  Rubbing a hand over the sudden pain across his brow, he didn't notice Katie walking up to them.

  — TEN —

  Katie watched as Travis pulled his sister through the field and across the large, open area where buggies and a few cars were parked.

  Neither of them looked particularly happy. It wasn't too difficult to figure out why. For sure and for certain, she would not be happy to find one of her own schweschders in such attire.

  When Travis stopped and rubbed a hand over his forehead, concern filled Katie and she found herself moving toward them.

  “Katie.” Gwen was the first to notice her. A deep, red stain spread across her cheeks and up to the tips of her uncovered ears as she spoke.

  Travis looked up sharply at his sister's words. His expression darkened when he spotted Katie walking toward them.

  Conflicting emotions rushed through her. There was hurt. There was confusion. There was even curiosity—at what she could possibly have done to warrant such anger...

  She tried to tell herself that she was being silly. There was no reason to believe that his expression had anything to do with her appearance.

  Perhaps he is angry that I have seen Gwen dressed up in such a manner.

  Calm flowed over the confusion and hurt.

  Of course! That has to be it. He is upset over me seeing his baby schweschder looking this way.

  Thinking of it that way, now Katie was unsure whether she should stay—or go. Clearly they were not in need of any help and neither seemed very happy to see her.

  But as she turned to go, Gwen spoke up.

  “Katie, are you leaving? We could give you a ride home.”

  She started to answer, but Travis jumped in, beating her to it.

  “Nonsense, Gwen. Katie just got here. She wouldn't want to leave so soon.”

  Something about his answer made Katie want to argue—just to catch him off guard. She might have pushed the urge away if it was not for the expression on his face.

  He looks like he is just so certain of himself... that, of course, he is right.

  “Actually, it would be wunderbaar if you could give me a ride home. Freida will not want to leave for some time and I am tired. It is so gut of you to offer me a ride.”

  She hid a grin when Travis snapped his mouth shut.

  “Great.” Gwen answered, sounding considerably more cheerful than she had a moment before. “You can even sit up front.”

  Travis turned and walked in the direction of his car, muttering something under his breath as he went. Katie nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.

  Something is bothering him—something other than his schweschder. I wonder what it could be.

  * * *

  Katie slid into the older vehicle. She was familiar with the car by now, having ridden in it on many occasions. After pulling the door shut, she turned in her seat, looking back at Gwen.

  “Are you certain you don't want to sit here?”

  The young girl shook her head, a hesitant, wide-eyed half-smile on her pretty face.

  Travis said nothing as he opened his door, dropped into the seat behind the steering wheel and turned the key to start the car. Ignoring his passengers, he pulled away from the black courting buggies and the few cars in the field.

  Certain now that his behavior had more to do with his schweschder than with her, Katie sat back against the soft seat and looked out the window as the countryside sped by them, while she waited for whatever mood he was in to pass.

  After several minutes, Gwen leaned forward a bit and spoke quietly. Katie strained to hear her soft voice in the dark vehicle.

  “I'm sorry, Gwen. I didn't catch what you said. Could you repeat it, please?”

  “I asked you if you sell the lemon cookies you brought tonight at The Sweet Shop.”

  The question took her by surprise, especially given what she had witnessed earlier between Gwen and her bruder.

  “Jah, we do... or at least I am hoping that we soon will. Lately, I have been working on some new recipes, using lemons as the predominant flavor. Did you try the lemon cookies tonight? And if you had some, what did you think of them?”

  “They were awesome! I loved the lemon flavor. Plus the tiny bit of lemon icing wa
s tangy and—well, it was perfect.”

  “I hope our customers like them as much as you do. I plan to make a batch in the morning for our customers to try.”

  “What about orange?”

  “Orange?”

  “Yeah, orange-flavored cookies. Or some other kind of orange-flavored dessert.”

  Travis made a sound in his throat, but said nothing. After another moment, Katie answered, still curious where Gwen was going with her vague questions.

  “The only thing we sell at the bakery with orange flavoring is a danish.”

  “Ooh, orange danish sounds wonderful.”

  Travis let out a little hum of sound, but Gwen went on before he said anything.

  “I bet those are good for breakfast; a great way to start the day. I bet you would enjoy starting your day with a visit to the bakery for an orange danish, wouldn't you, Travis?”

  Katie was surprised when Travis ignored his schweschder's question. Her comment—and her bruder's reaction—told Katie there was something more to Gwen's questions than simple curiosity, especially since that was the very danish Travis usually enjoyed for breakfast when he came in to pick up the morning deliveries.

  Why, she is trying to match up me with her bruder. Does she know that Travis likes me? Has he said anything to his family to give them the idea that he wants to pursue a courtship... a relationship... with me?

  The feelings Katie had been wondering about and worrying over for some time made the questions so much more important now.

  Could his feelings for her be more serious than she had imagined?

  Would he ask me to leave the plain faith? For sure and for certain, he would not wish to join the church... not for me.

  Would I? Could I... leave everything behind?

  Travis sat quietly beside her, no sound coming from him as he drove along the gravel lane to her house. There was no hint of his thoughts anywhere in his expression—and Katie dared not ask, though secretly she could not help but wonder what had happened to bring about the questions.

  What had Travis said... or done... to give his schweschder such an idea?