Riding made her feel like things were back to normal again. This morning, she’d even taken a longer route than usual, enjoying the morning air against her face as she navigated the hills and windy roads around Blooms and Berries.
But now that she was about to leave work, she realized she had a big problem.
It was still in the place where she’d parked it, but both tires were flat as pancakes. How had it managed to accrue not one but two flat tires?
Walking to her side, Mr. Lehmann gazed at the wheels with an expression that would have been funny if Waneta hadn’t been so despondent. He was a man who enjoyed getting around on his feet or by horse. He didn’t hold a lot of appreciation for bicycles.
“Neeta, what do you want to do with this contraption? Wheel it home?”
She understood his tone. It had been a long day. Really long. Customers had come in sporadically and when they did, they all seemed to be upset by something. By eleven o’clock, Waneta had felt like she did not have another ounce of patience left for argumentative, hard-to-please customers.
Thinking she needed her long day to be over, she said, “Mr. Lehmann, could we put my bike inside for tonight?”
“For sure. But how will you get home?”
“I’ll walk.”
“I thought your parents didn’t want you walking no more.”
“They don’t, but it can’t be helped. Besides, before I got my bike, I walked here every day. I’m not about to call a driver to come get me.”
“Of course not. Well, I’ll lock this inside the storeroom and we’ll figure out how to patch up the tires in the morning. Now, you should hurry home and get some rest. Tomorrow is sure to be a better day.”
“I hope so. It couldn’t get much worse.”
He playfully shook a finger at her. “Don’t say such things, girl. You’re liable to jinx yourself.”
Smiling at his joke, she grabbed her tote and cooler and trudged home.
By the end of the first mile, she was getting tired. Maybe she should have gotten a driver after all? It was hot and humid, making each step feel exhausting.
Then there were her nerves. They seemed to be getting the best of her. Though it was still daylight, hardly anyone was around. She kept imagining someone was watching her, which was ridiculous.
Increasing her pace, Waneta kept walking. Sweat ran down her neck, making the fabric of her dress stick to her skin. When she began breathing heavily, she forced herself to stop. The last thing she needed was to get overheated. Releasing her heavy cooler, she pulled at the fabric of her dress.
Attempted to fan herself.
But it didn’t do much good.
She was nervous and hot. Tired and imagining things. Why, even the sound of a twig snapping behind her made her nerves on edge! Just to prove herself wrong, she glanced behind her when she picked up her cooler again.
And saw James Eicher standing right there.
“James?” she sputtered. “What are you doing here? Have you been following me?”
At first, he seemed surprised to hear her address him. But then he glared at her. “Don’t speak.”
He needn’t have worried. Waneta didn’t think she could form another word if she tried. He looked as angry as ever. With a shiver, she wondered if he’d worn the same expression when he’d attacked the other girls.
She needed to do something. Her only option was to run. Tossing her cooler at him, she turned and started running as fast as she could. Dirt kicked up under her flip-flops as the rubber soles slipped and slid against the packed earth.
Before she could pick up her pace, a hand dug into her shoulder. Pulled her back. Hard.
“Don’t turn away from me.”
She twisted her head to meet his gaze as his fingers pressed deeper into the soft area right above her collarbone. “Stop, James. You are hurting me.”
“You need to learn to listen, Waneta.”
Eyeing him closely, she knew she had to act fast. He was strong. She hadn’t been able to outrun him. Her only option was to keep him talking until someone saw them. “Who do I need to listen to, James? You?”
Fire lit his eyes as he visibly struggled for control.
Attempting to pull her shoulder from his grasp, she said, “You need to go home. Leave me be. Accosting women on the street ain’t good. The sheriff has been looking for you, you know.”
Without warning, he slapped her hard.
She reeled back. Just as she was on the verge of losing her balance, he pulled her toward him, his grip on her upper arms now. They dug into her skin, his nails cutting her, stinging. Leaving her no choice but to bend to his wishes.
Looking into his eyes, Waneta realized that though he was angry at her, his eyes looked clear and calm. He knew exactly what he was doing. He’d planned for this.
Still holding her close, he spoke. “You were perfect. You were everything a proper woman should be. But then you ruined yourself. You became tainted.”
She shook her head.
“You’ve accepted men into your life whom you shouldn’t have even looked at. He ruined you.”
“You’re upset with me for being friends with Mark? After everything you’ve done, you are casting stones?” she asked, not even trying to hide the disdain in her voice. “You are being ridiculous.”
“Don’t speak to me like that.”
“I wouldn’t be talking to you at all if I could help it.” Looking pointedly at his hands on her arms, she said, “You are the one who sought me out. Drop your hands, James.”
“Drop my hands?” Jerking her hard, he shook his head. “You don’t understand, do you? This isn’t going to end with me saying I’m sorry and walking away. You are going to have to be punished for the things you’ve done.”
Not going to end.
Punished for the things she’d done.
He was going to hurt her. Just like he’d hurt Lora Weaver. Just like he’d gone after Amy. Just like he’d beaten Bethany Williams two years ago.
“Why did you do this?” she whispered. “Why have you been terrorizing women? What possessed you to bring so much pain to all of us?”
“I haven’t terrorized anyone. I’ve only been delivering consequences that the preachers or the deacons should have handed out all along. But they didn’t. Preacher Eli only talked about forgiveness! Forgiveness don’t mean anything, not really. Vengeance is what counts.” He dropped his hands, giving her some relief . . . until he stepped closer, crowding her space.
Hardly allowing her to see anything but him.
“Someone had to do it. Ain’t so? What’s been going on isn’t right. Women are forgetting their place. Tainting our way of life. Disrespecting our traditions.”
She shook her head. She knew right then and there that she needed to speak from her heart. To voice how she felt. He wasn’t going to let her go. He wasn’t going to let her walk away from him.
He was going to hurt her the same way he did Lora. The same way he did the other women. He was taller. He was stronger.
She had no one nearby to help her.
She could only hope to survive. Finally, at long last, she realized that she wasn’t alone, though. In fact, she never had been. God was always with her. He had directed this moment and He was the one who would help her get through it.
That knowledge gave her the strength she needed to continue. Even though she felt uncertain, she was strong. Strong enough to handle anything that came her way.
Feeling more assured, Waneta knew it was time to fight back. “Only God can deliver vengeance. You know that.”
“He needed my help.”
“Nee. He needed you to follow His word. But you have ignored him. Instead of helping others, you’ve been hurting. You’ve been doing terrible things. Shameful things.”
The skin around his lips pinched and turned white. The expression in his eyes pained. It was obvious that she had struck a nerve.
Gathering her courage, Waneta said, “What does Katie think of y
ou? She can’t be proud. No wife would be proud of a husband who harms other women.” Before he could answer, she said sarcastically, “Or, does she merely fear you? Did you break your vows to her, James?”
For the first time, he looked flustered. “I am keeping my vows,” he said, taking hold of her arms. “I am preserving our family’s honor.”
She didn’t even try to hide the disdain she felt for him and his convoluted reasoning. “You are doing a great many things, but you are surely not doing that.”
Without warning, he tightened his grip on her arms. Shook her hard. “You will say no more!” he yelled. Eyes darting left and right, he added, “Stay silent.”
Then, just as abruptly, he released her with a push.
Struggling to keep her balance, Waneta scanned the area. Though it was rarely crowded, in the past she’d always seen at least one or two other people in the vicinity. There had to be someone in the distance who she could call out to.
But the fields surrounding them were empty. And all she could see were freshly shorn fields of grass, the distinctive Kentucky-blue tinge, reminding her that she was close to home but alone.
Though she knew the Lord was with her, she yearned for someone to help her. “God, please,” she begged silently. “I’m so scared.” She looked around, half hoping the Lord would have made someone strong and fierce appear like a Viking of old.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
But she did feel His presence and His belief in her. She wasn’t alone.
Standing a foot away, James was glaring into the distance, breathing hard. He seemed just as off balance as she felt. Though he was physically stronger, he wasn’t without weaknesses.
It was time to help herself. Even if she failed, even if she died at his hands, at least she’d go down fighting.
She needed to take advantage of his weak moment. Kicking off her flip-flops, she turned and started to run.
She’d barely made it five steps before he grabbed her again, jerking her backward. Crying out, she pulled away and kicked his shin.
He grunted. One of his hands slipped. When she kicked him again, he shoved her shoulder while the fingers of his other hand dug in deeper.
She cried out and pushed at him as hard as she could.
James retaliated by slamming her to the ground. She fell back. Her right hand tried to temper her fall, but it was useless against the force of his shove. A bone snapped in her hand as her head hit the pavement. Bells rang in her ears as warm liquid coated the back of her head.
Pain reverberated through her body as she opened her eyes and tried to focus. Then realized he was on the ground next to her. His hand was on the collar of her dress.
The sound of ripping fabric rang in her ears.
Whether it was for her own good or because she simply had no more to give, her eyes slipped to half-mast. Her vision became blurry.
She was only aware of the heat of the dirt against her back, the smell of the earth and the grasses. The pounding in her head, the pain in her arm, and the knowledge that James Eicher was finally going to be triumphant.
He was at last going to be able to succeed with her where with everyone else he had failed. He was going to rape her. Violate her.
She was not going to be able to fight him anymore. He was too heavy. She was not strong enough. The knowledge didn’t give her any peace, but the clarity did allow her to look ahead. She was simply going to have to survive it. Somehow, some way, with God’s help, she was going to have to overcome this moment.
Surviving was better than dying. It had to be.
Just as her vision clouded again, a voice rang out.
“James!”
She knew that voice. She’d come to trust it—and the man it belonged to—with her entire being. “Mark?” she whispered. Though the pain was making her vision blur, she tried to focus on what was going on. Mark was running toward them, his brother just steps behind. James cursed and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her toward him.
She gasped.
“Move away from her!” Calvin called out.
Immediately, James released her. He scrambled to get to his feet, but he was too slow. Mark and his brother grabbed hold of him and dragged him to the side. James grunted and swung his fist as Mark and Calvin systematically worked to subdue him. Curse words flew. It happened within seconds, time seeming to stand still.
Dust and dirt flew up, coated her skin, stung her eyes. She needed to move. To get out of the way. Though she felt as if her body weighed a thousand pounds, she struggled to sit up.
Just as a third person, a woman, came to her side.
Lora Weaver.
“No, no, just stay still,” she whispered. “You’re badly injured.”
She was also still alive.
Overcome, Waneta started crying.
Lora wrapped an arm around her. “You are safe, Waneta Cain,” she whispered before pulling back to give her space. “He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
Waneta was so grateful, she tried to form words. However, it was a challenge. Her mouth felt dry, her throat was bruised and felt swollen.
Brushing stray strands of hair from her face, Lora shook her head. “Nee, don’t talk. There’s no need. Everything is going to be all right now. Help is on the way.”
But she had to speak. She had to say what was on her mind. She had to at least try. “Lora,” she whispered. Pleased that she had been able to get that word out.
Lora leaned closer. “Jah? What is it, honey? What do you need?”
“To thank you for being here,” she whispered before sinking into oblivion.
CHAPTER 29
Thursday, September 8
Mark had always thought that no moment in his life could be worse than the time he’d been forced into the back of a sheriff’s cruiser and brought into his office for questioning.
He’d been wrong.
Though that had been a terrible experience, it had been about himself. He’d known that he was innocent. He’d also known that he was tough enough to be able to survive whatever happened in that interrogation room. After all, he’d survived worse things at home.
Those feelings were nothing compared to how helpless and lost he felt as he stood to one side while Deputy Beck applied pressure to Waneta’s head wound and barked orders into his police radio. Lora Weaver was kneeling beside him, holding Waneta’s hand and whispering to her.
Mark had no idea if Waneta could hear anything. Her eyes were still closed and her body looked limp. He was tempted to kneel next to her as well. He ached to be the one to promise her that she was safe. He wanted to be the person who could ease her fears by holding her close and reassuring her that she was no longer fighting James by herself.
But he was just as afraid that his touch wouldn’t comfort her at all. She could very well flinch at it. James Eicher might have caused Waneta as much damage emotionally as he did physically. It was better to wait.
Glancing down the road, Mark watched Sheriff Brewer cuff James and lead him to his vehicle. As he watched James’s smug expression, Mark let other, darker thoughts consume him. Maybe he should stand at the ready, just in case the sheriff needed some help. Mark would be only too happy to subdue him again.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he decided to do none of those things. The sheriff didn’t need his help, and Waneta was being soothed and taken care of by Deputy Beck and Lora until the ambulance arrived.
What Mark needed to do was calm down.
If that was even possible.
As if she sensed his attention, Lora glanced at him and exhaled. He nodded, letting her know that he understood. She needed to be near Waneta for as much her sake as Waneta’s. They had both been through too much to be apart.
Turning away, he saw his brother. Calvin was bent over, his hands braced on his knees. He looked just as torn up by what had just occurred. He was still breathing hard and looked pale. Even though he’d acted so world-weary and tough, his brother looked l
ike he was just as stunned by the latest developments as Mark was.
After checking again to make sure that Waneta didn’t need anything that he could provide, Mark walked toward his brother.
“What?” Calvin asked when he got close.
“Nothing. I was only making sure you were okay.”
“I’m a grown man who has been living on my own for years, Mark. Of course I’m okay.”
“I know that.” He was embarrassed now. “I know you probably don’t care how I’m feeling, but I’m pretty shaken up. I thought we hadn’t gotten here in time.”
Calvin’s belligerent expression cleared. “I’m pretty shaken up, too.”
“It’s amazing that we got here. What if we hadn’t gone to the diner? What if Henry hadn’t worried about Waneta walking home by herself? What if we hadn’t run as fast as we did?” Mark knew he was on the verge of tears, but he didn’t care. The images that were coming to mind were too upsetting.
But then Calvin reached out and gripped his arm. “Don’t go there, Mark. What matters is that all those things did happen.” He laughed softly. “You know what? My faith has been wavering for years, but us finding her had to have been the Lord’s doing. There’s no other explanation.”
Mark couldn’t disagree. He’d spent his day off working on the house and mowing the Cains’ lawn. Then, when Calvin had shown up, they’d gone to Bill’s Diner to eat. They’d been placed in Lora’s section, one booth down from Deputy Beck.
The deputy’s appearance had spooked Calvin. At first, he hadn’t wanted to stay, but Mark held his ground. Only when he pointed out how the deputy only seemed to have eyes for Lora did Calvin settle down.
But just as they finished their meals, Lora walked toward them, a worried expression on her face. “I’m worried,” she said. “Mr. Lehmann just called and said Waneta was walking home by herself because someone had slashed the tires on her bicycle.”
Mark had shaken his head. “Nee. She wouldn’t walk home by herself. She promised me she wouldn’t.”
“But she did.”
Exchanging a look with Calvin, Mark threw a twenty on the table and ran outside.
His Guilt Page 20