by Dana R. Lynn
“Are we on the paved road now?” he called up to Levi.
“Jah. We will be on the paved road for the next mile until we reach the Hostetlers’ road.”
Paved road. That meant more traffic. Was that good or bad? They were more out in the open, true. Also true was the fact that there was more of a chance that there would be witnesses if anyone came after them. And it would be made even more difficult if the person coming after them was on foot still.
Route 89 twisted like a thick, lazy snake through the outer edges of Spartansburg. Seth could hear the hum of an engine behind them. Even knowing that their hunter was most likely on foot didn’t eliminate the urge to peek through the small window in the back of the buggy. If he stretched upward just an inch or two he could get a look at what was happening behind them. Not that he had any intention of doing that. But the temptation tickled his mind again and again.
The engine revved again, and moved to the side. The buggy swayed. The vehicle was rushing past. Good.
Jess reached across the space dividing them and grabbed his hand. Her face was white.
She couldn’t hear what was happening, although he had no doubt she had felt the buggy move.
“A car is passing,” he signed with his free hand.
She nodded, but her hand remained in his. The warmth of her slim hand seeped into his skin. When was the last time someone had truly touched him so intimately, with so much trust? His protective shell cracked. His gaze was pulled down to their joined hands. They looked right together.
No.
Tightening his resolve, he pulled his hand from hers and used it to scratch his opposite shoulder so as not to hurt her feelings. Dipping his head so he could see her expression, he sighed. Jerk. You hurt her anyway.
Jess folded her hands together in her lap and leaned her head against the side of the buggy, closing her eyes with a sigh. Yeah, he got that message loud and clear. Conversation was done. He’d been shut out as definitely as if she had slammed a door in his face. And locked it.
Fair enough—it was what he deserved.
Discomfort shrouded the remainder of the journey.
Bumps and creaks announced their return to a gravel road. The sharp clop of hooves hitting pavement softened.
Beside him, Jess sat straight up.
“Do I smell sawdust? That means we’re close to the sawmill! We’re almost there!” She reached out and shook Seth’s arm. Then just as quickly pulled her hand back.
Way to go, Travis. She’s really offended.
But she gave no other sign of being offended. Instead, she bounced on the seat like a small child. A chuckle slipped past his lips. He didn’t even try to hold it in, knowing she wouldn’t hear it. Man, there’s that dimple again.
“We are at the Hostetlers’ house now. I’m going to take the buggy back to the garage. Laura’s dat will not approve of you wearing Plain clothes. You can change in the barn.”
With a quick flick of his wrists, Levi steered the horse into the driveway. Seth angled his head so he could view the large white house as they drove past it. The drive veered to the right, and they moved into the barn. The smell of hay and animal waste assaulted his nostrils.
Ugh. He liked horses and enjoyed riding, but could do without the odor that accompanied them. He would never make a good farmer. Not that he had any interest in giving up his job as a paramedic. The sudden image of Jess out cold on the freezer floor filled his mind. A single, sharp shake banished the image.
Levi halted the buggy and jumped down. “I will go find Laura now before the family becomes curious. There is a room in the back you can take turns and change in.”
Without a backward look he hurried from the barn. It was up to Seth to jump down and lend Jess a hand. He grinned at the annoyed frown creasing her brow. She was such an independent woman; it probably galled her to need help from the buggy. Wearing Rebecca’s dress, though, she didn’t have much of a choice. Which was probably why she didn’t complain. As she settled her hand on his shoulder, he found he had no wish to complain, either. What would it be like to be the recipient of such simple intimacies with her on a daily basis?
“What’s going on?” Jess asked. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten to sign what was happening to her. Just one more example of how he was the wrong man for her. A worthy man would have remembered to include her in the conversation.
“Stop that!”
Jess’s voice slashed like a whip, startling him out of his maudlin thoughts. Planting her fists on her slim hips, she faced him. The demure, modest Amish dress and kapp contrasted with the tense, stubborn line of her jaw and the fire flashing from her eyes.
“Huh? Stop what?”
“You’re blaming yourself for something. I didn’t realize at first what that expression on your face meant. But now I recognize it. It’s the same look you wear right before you apologize for some imagined wrong you’ve done.”
Oh, yeah? This was good.
“You can’t seriously be telling me that I haven’t done anything I need to apologize for.”
He got an exaggerated eye roll for his trouble.
“Not since high school. And I forgave that one.”
His mouth went dry, making him need to swallow before he could speak. And then he found that he couldn’t think of anything to say. Because her forgiveness left him feeling...what? Free? Light? Both, he decided.
Remembering her question, and the fact that Levi would be returning soon with Laura, he repeated the plan. Jess nodded, leaning back inside the buggy to grab her rolled up bundle of clothes.
“Catch!” she called out, hefting his own bundle toward him. Winking, she sashayed back to the room to change.
Seth watched her go, suddenly aware that he was grinning like a loon.
But as she closed the door, the smile slipped from his face. He hadn’t yet told her that they would have to remain here overnight. Nor had he convinced Levi yet. But if they returned back to the Millers’ house, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they would be putting the Miller family in danger. It was hard to believe that anyone could have followed them to the Hostetler house.
In spite of that, a chill swept up his spine. He wished more than anything that he could take this danger away from her, make himself the target instead. He’d be happy to stand in the killer’s sights if it meant that Jess was safe.
“Your turn.”
Pivoting to face Jess, he filled his lungs with barn air, stunned as the truth slapped him in the face. This woman, this brave, fierce woman, challenged and inspired him. And he was falling in love with her.
But that didn’t mean he was free to pursue her. He couldn’t take the chance. He had too many memories of his father failing his family. Memories of the tears his mother had tried to hide from him. Of the forced smiles she would hold on her face for him.
Of his mother fighting for her life while his father wined and dined some woman across town.
All his adult life he had struggled to be different from his father. And he believed he had succeeded. But Jess was too precious to take the chance.
He would protect her. He would risk his life for her, wouldn’t even hesitate. And then, he would walk away.
Even if it killed him.
ELEVEN
Seth paced back and forth in front of the barn door, his hands knotted together behind his back. How long did it take to run up to the house and back? He and Jess had been waiting for Levi’s return for nearly an hour.
“What if something happened to him?”
Jess’s question echoed his own fears.
“He’s fine,” he asserted.
A slapping noise alerted him to people approaching. Levi? Maybe...or maybe not. Waving Jess to get back into the shadows, he grabbed a shovel and slunk low against the barn wall. Wincing as a splin
ter wedged itself into his arm, he concentrated on the door. If anyone other than Levi or his friends entered, he wanted to be ready. His stomach clenched. Even if it was his aunt. Willa might look like a harmless flake, but he knew that she was a dead shot. He had accompanied the Taylors to the shooting range twice a month for the last five years. The question wasn’t whether or not Willa had the skill. She did. No, the question was whether she was cold blooded enough to pull the trigger on a human being.
And if she’d pulled the trigger on Vic Horn.
The barn door shuddered. Someone on the other side had grasped the handle and was sliding it open. Light sliced through the crevice in a narrow beam, increasing as the opening widened. It pierced the shadows, leaving Jess and Seth vulnerable.
He gripped the shovel, hefting it to his shoulder.
Then let it drop as Levi sauntered through the opening. The Amish gentleman reared back, mouth dropping open. After a startled second, he flashed a grin at Seth. A petite woman stepped through the door after him. Seeing Seth, she dropped her eyes.
Feeling foolish, Seth leaned the offending tool against the wall before shoving his hands in his pockets.
“This is my Laura,” Levi introduced his girlfriend, pride ringing in his voice.
A sharp twinge of envy pricked Seth. How he wished he could say, “This is my Jess!”
Don’t go there. It didn’t do any good to dwell on what he could never have.
“Levi wanted me to talk to you about my work,” Laura murmured.
But she didn’t want to. That was clear. The Amish were deeply committed to not interfering in the affairs of others, particularly those outside of their community. Sharing information about her employers—information that might lead to them facing criminal charges—must be incredibly difficult for her. Seth wondered how long Levi had needed to talk to her, to persuade her to come out and talk with a couple of strange Englischers. His gratitude to the man increased. That must have been awkward, especially considering how he felt about Laura.
Seth repeated her comment in sign to Jess.
“Hi, Laura,” Jess greeted the woman, her voice low and calm. Almost as if she were approaching a skittish animal. So he wasn’t the only one who sensed her concern. “We’re very grateful that you consented to help us. It means a lot.”
Laura flicked her narrowed gaze between them. Suspicion poured off her, but she nodded her head cautiously. “Levi says you are in danger. And that you are his sister’s oldest friend. Also, I know that the people I work for are Englisch, so they are still under your law.”
“That’s right.” Seth responded, making sure to use his voice and sign simultaneously.
He was unsure how to begin the discussion. Turned out, he didn’t need to. Jess took the bull by the horns and dove in.
“Okay, here’s the situation. We were stranded at Ted and Willa Taylor’s house Friday night. Someone there was trying to harm us, and we believe whoever it was has followed us. This is all connected to my brother, who died in suspicious circumstances after being accused of stealing money.”
She stopped and drew in a deep breath.
Laura tilted her head, pursing her mouth into a tight little bow.
“I am sorry that your brother died. I am confused, though. I do not understand how my employers are connected with your problems.”
Seth broke in. “The Harveys were at my uncle’s house, and they were seen talking with someone who ended up dead.” He went on to explain about the run-ins they’d had since arriving at the Taylors’ house.
“I’m not sure how they are connected with Cody’s organization. What was the name of it, Jess?”
“Racing to the Rescue,” Jess replied.
“Oh!” Laura’s hand flashed up to cover her mouth. “I know of this organization!”
He had never actually seen anyone do a double take, but Levi sure did one now. His normally calm face was comical as his mouth dropped open and his eyes bugged in his face.
“You have heard of it? I know of it because I am familiar with Jessica and her brother. How did you hear of it?”
Laura cast her gaze down, then flicked it up again. “About six months ago, I was cleaning the Harveys’ house. I was in the living room, dusting. Mr. Harvey arrived home, unexpectedly.” She licked her lips and shifted her weight. “I was surprised. I leave before suppertime, so he never comes home while I am there. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey went into another room, the den, and I could hear them arguing. I can’t recall the whole conversation, but I do remember that it had something to do with a racehorse they owned. Someone had accused them of abusing the horse. Mr. Harvey was afraid they would lose the horse and the money it had cost them. Or that they would go to prison. Mrs. Harvey was crying and carrying on something awful. She was afraid they would lose everything. I had never heard a grown woman take on so. I remember them talking about someone from Racing to the Rescue. They were scared. Real scared.”
“Did you hear anything more? See anything?” Seth leaned toward her.
She backed up.
Whoa. Hold on man. Coming on a little too intense.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. Jess and I need something we can take to the police.”
Moving closer to Laura, Levi glared at Seth.
“She will tell you what she knows. Give her time.”
Time. The one thing they were running out of. Because even if they got back to LaMar Pond tomorrow, which he desperately hoped they would, there was still the small matter of some psychopath gunning for his girl. How was he supposed to keep her safe if they couldn’t narrow down the field of suspects?
He had spent enough time with Dan and with Jace—Melanie’s husband, who was also on the police force—to know that they needed solid evidence to go on if they were going to reopen the case of Cody’s death. And if they reopened the case, who was to say that the killer wouldn’t take her attacks on Jess up a notch? Just to get Jess out of the way.
Laura and Levi were holding a private conversation. Jess quirked one eyebrow at him, asking a question. He shrugged back. “They’re talking Amish,” he signed to her.
That sweet mouth curved in amusement, drawing his eyes to it. He wrenched them away, slipping two fingers beneath his suddenly too-tight collar to loosen it.
“It’s called Pennsylvania Dutch,” she signed, obviously unaware of the level of attraction he was fighting.
Another clue that they weren’t meant for each other. Sometimes he was so sure she felt something for him, but other times, she didn’t seem affected by his presence at all.
“There was something more,” Laura stated.
Seth whipped his head around, even as his hands signed her response.
He waited. Tapped his foot.
Laura pressed her lips together and twisted her hands. Still Seth waited. Something brushed his arm. Jess moved forward, leaning in as her eyes bore into Laura’s face. Probably trying to read Laura’s lips instead of relying on Seth to relay the information. Poor Laura squirmed. He understood. Jess could be quite intense when she wanted something.
“A few minutes after they argued, Mr. Harvey left the den and ran into the living room with his arms full of papers. He threw them into the fireplace. When he looked around and saw me, he got real red and yelled at me to go work in another room. Mrs. Harvey apologized after he left. But I noticed something...he had dropped a couple of papers. Mrs. Harvey picked them up, and I saw her shove them into the top drawer of the china cabinet.”
“Tell them the rest,” Levi urged her.
“Mrs. Harvey has been taking shooting lessons this past year.” The Amish girl raised her head and aimed a level glance at them. “She has shown me awards she has won at shooting contests.”
“Seth,” Jess breathed, her hand clutching at his arm.
“This mig
ht be what we need, Jess.” Throwing his arm around her shoulders, he squeezed tightly, laughing softly when she squealed. The laughter died in his throat when he caught her eyes. The air between them hummed with electricity. He was sure that if he looked down at his arms, he would see the hairs standing on end. He removed his arm from her shoulders, but it didn’t help. It took all his effort to pull his gaze from her. Facing Levi and Laura, he found them watching with curiosity. Levi’s expression was sympathetic.
He knows, Seth thought. He knows how I feel about her.
So much for stopping himself from falling for her.
Too late.
He had fallen too deeply to extricate himself without pain. The most he could hope for was leaving without hurting her, as well.
* * *
She was breathless, light-headed. But wasn’t sure why. Was it because they finally had something real to bring to the police? Or was it because of the tension flowing between her and Seth like a wave, connecting them?
A little of both, most likely.
She could tell that Seth didn’t want to feel the connection. His face was tight, drawn. He had removed his arm so fast, it was as if lightning had struck it. Now he was clenching and unclenching his fists. Fine. Just fine. She should have learned her lesson by the way he reacted to a simple touch in the back of the buggy.
How long had Levi been gone? At their insistence, he had gone inside the house to visit with Laura. Leaving Jess and Seth alone.
Shifting back a step, she put distance between them, mentally and physically. By sheer force of will she kept her face blank. It was a true challenge. Inside, she fumed. Give it to God, she reminded herself, hating the way bitterness churned her emotions and thoughts. Give Seth to God. Only He can help him. Dragging in a deep breath, she sent a prayer up to God. Only then was she able to let go of the angst gnawing away at her mind.
It was time to get back to figuring out what had happened to Cody. Time to stop whoever was out to get her. And time to go back to her life. Alone.
When it was time for Levi to return home a couple of hours later, Seth stopped him.