She realized then that while she physically did feel back to normal, the rest of her felt off. It was her viewpoint. No longer was she looking at her world through her optimistic perspective. She now felt bleak. It was as if the person who had torn apart the room had pulled away all the color also.
“I don’t want to sit down. I need to go back in and start cleaning up now. It’s Saturday and my students will be here on Monday.” And that felt like another punch in the stomach. What was she going to tell her little scholars about the vandal?
“That might not be possible.”
“It has to be. It’s going to be hard enough to talk to my students about the damage that was done. I couldn’t bear them having nowhere to go, too.”
“I understand that, but what you want and what you can do are two different things.” His voice softened to near a whisper. “Alice, I’m sorry but there ain’t much left.”
She knew he was trying to protect her, and maybe being completely honest, too. And maybe she did need some time to plan and make things a whole lot better before she had the children join her here again.
But with a new sense of urgency, she realized that that wasn’t who she was. She was not the type of girl who backed down without a fight. “I’m going to do this.”
He stared at her and nodded. “Then we need a list. You stay here while I find something for us to write with and write on.”
She didn’t argue. And had no desire at that moment to walk into that room. A few minutes’ time would be soon enough, and she sat down on the porch step.
Calvin came out with two fine-tip markers and a piece of pink construction paper. Sitting down next to her, he pulled the cap off the blue pen. “How about this? We write down twenty things that need to get done, then we’ll prioritize them by numbering them with the red pen.”
“Calvin, there are many more than twenty things to do.”
“I know, but we can’t do everything. We can only do some things.”
She liked how that sounded. His words made sense and made her realize that everything wasn’t going to be perfect when her students came on Monday. Not even close.
But she could make it be good enough.
Steeling herself, she said. “All right, then. First, we need to fix the door.”
Calvin smiled. “Good job. I’ll write the next one. We need to sort all the furniture.”
“And throw away what can’t be salvaged.”
“There you go,” he murmured.
And so they continued. Back and forth they went, calling out tasks to do. With Calvin writing them down and encouraging her to limit the jobs, Alice felt like they’d made great strides.
Next, they prioritized the list. That was unexpectedly easy, with Calvin pointing out that the children’s safety needed to be the priority. When they finished numbering, Alice realized that she was actually excited to go back inside and get to work.
“Better?” Calvin asked.
“Jah. Much. Danke, Calvin.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I am simply glad to be here with you.”
“If you weren’t, I think I would have fallen apart.” She smiled sheepishly. “At least for a few minutes, anyway.”
“Let’s go to the hardware store and pick up everything we need, and stop somewhere to get you some food, too.”
“I could stay here while you go. I mean, I could give you some money.”
“No.”
“No to the money?”
“No to leaving you here by yourself.”
“Calvin, I know I lost myself for a minute or two, but I’m better now. I can handle working here on my own.”
“Nope. It ain’t going to happen. We don’t know who did this or where they are now. As far as I’m concerned, you might be in danger.”
She was just about to argue her case when two buggies pulled up, one of which was pulled by a black gelding with four white stockings. She would know that horse anywhere. It was her brother’s horse and buggy. And . . . yes, those were her parents by his side. “Prepare yourself, Calvin. My brother and parents have arrived.”
Watching them, Calvin said, “On the bright side, their being here saved us a trip to their houses.”
“There is that.”
As if on cue, John called out, “Alice, I heard the sheriff was at Edward’s haus! And now there’s yellow tape here. And a broken door. What’s going on?”
“Someone broke into my nursery school, John!” Under her breath, she muttered, “Obviously.”
“When were you going to tell us?” her father asked as he and her mother strode toward the porch.
“I was going to stop by later.”
“Later?” her mother questioned. “Surely, you know better than that.”
“I’ve been a little busy, Mamm.”
All three of them came to a stop and gazed at Calvin. “Alice, who is this?” her mother asked.
“I’m really sorry,” Alice murmured under her breath to him. “They can be a little overwhelming.”
Calvin didn’t answer her. Instead, he stepped forward, going down the steps to meet her parents. “Hello. I’m Calvin Fisher.”
Her father looked him up and down. “I’m Moses Yoder. Who are you?”
“He just told you, Daed,” Alice said, then joined Calvin.
“I’m Mark Fisher’s brother,” Calvin said easily. “He lives across the street from your other son, Edward. Since I’ve been visiting and Alice has been house-sitting, we’ve been getting to know each other. We’ve become friends.”
John looked at Alice, then back at Calvin. “John Yoder. Good to meet you.”
Calvin smiled. “Same, though I’m real sorry about the circumstances.”
“What exactly has happened?” Mamm asked.
“Sheriff Brewer stopped by Edward’s house and told me about the vandalism,” Alice said as patiently and succinctly as she possibly could. “Calvin came over when he saw the sheriff’s truck. When he learned what had happened, he offered to drive me over here.”
“There was no way I was going to let her handle this on her own,” Calvin supplied.
“It would have been better if you had come to us first.”
“I don’t think so,” Alice said. “Calvin has been really helpful.”
Before her parents could argue that point, John walked up the steps and peered inside the classroom. He whistled low. “Whoever did this spent a lot of time inside.”
“I thought the same thing,” Calvin said.
Afraid that her mother was going to start asking her a bunch of questions about the building, the sheriff, and Calvin, Alice said, “We were just about to go get some lunch and go to the hardware store.”
John stared at her intently. “Do you plan to have your students back anytime soon?”
“Monday.”
Her mother shook her head. “Alice, I’m sure that isn’t possible. It’s too much work for you.”
Knowing that if she didn’t take a stand right that minute, her mother would be holding out her hand to take and moving her back home within the hour. So Alice crossed her arms over her chest.
“Mamm, it’s important to me. I need to do this.”
To her surprise, it was her father who came to her rescue. “You know what? I agree. How about John stays here with you, I go with Calvin to the hardware store, and your mother goes home, makes us some lunch, and brings it back.”
“That sounds gut. Danke,” John said quickly.
Alice thought it sounded good, too, as long as they hadn’t scared Calvin away. Turning to him, she studied him closely. “Will that be all right with you?”
“It’s absolutely fine.”
Now that they were all armed with plans, they split up. Right before Calvin turned away, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you feeling better?” he murmured. “If not, I can raise a stink and get them all to leave.”
She giggled. “That’s mighty kind of you, but I’m good now. Actually, I think I’m
going to be just fine.”
After giving her a gentle squeeze, he nodded and walked to her father’s side.
After her mother left, John said, “Do you want to talk to me about Calvin?”
“Nee.”
He laughed. “I figured you were going to say that. But sooner or later, you are going to have to talk to me about him.”
“Since we have a school to clean, I would say that we have far more important things to do first.”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, John pressed a kiss to her temple. “Can’t argue with you there, Al. Let’s go get started.”
And so they walked in. At last, she felt ready for anything.
Chapter 22
Saturday, February 24
By the time Alice caught a glimpse of her father and Calvin returning from the hardware store, three parents of her students had arrived to help with the cleanup. News of the damage to her little school had spread like wildfire through Horse Cave.
Just like Alice, they’d first been stunned by the destruction that had taken place. However, in no time at all, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Alice never asked who had told them about the damage or how they’d known that she was at the school on a Saturday morning. Years ago, Alice had given up trying to understand how rumors happened. All she did know was that she was grateful for the helping hands.
Thanks to Calvin’s guidance, she’d been able to show the new volunteers her list and started assigning tasks while she and John cleaned and sorted toys and materials.
When Calvin came inside the school with her daed, he introduced himself to the volunteers, then walked to her side. “You doing all right?”
Alice instinctively knew that if she said she wasn’t, Calvin would do whatever it took to make things better. It was humbling to realize that he always wanted to put her needs first.
She was relieved to be able to look at him and smile. “I’m doing a lot better.” Leaning a little closer so no one else would hear, she asked, “How was the trip with my father?”
He grinned. “Gut.”
Obviously, there was a story there. “Did he ask you a hundred questions?”
“Not a hundred. Only a couple of dozen or so.”
“I’m sorry.” She could just imagine how the car ride had been. No doubt Calvin had been answering question after question while her father fired off one after another.
Calvin reached out his hand as if to touch her, then dropped it to his side abruptly. “There’s no need to apologize. He cares about you.”
“He can also be overbearing.”
“I can take care of myself, Alice.”
It was becoming apparent that he could. “Are you going to work on the door now?”
“Yep. And then I’m going to do the next chore on our list.”
As much as she appreciated that, she knew his brother was home and might need him. “If you need to leave—”
“I’m not leaving. I aim to stay here as long as you’ll let me.”
“All right. Danke.”
When Alice turned away, she noticed two of her students’ mothers looking at them with interest. She stiffened, half-ready to be questioned. But instead of doing that, they only smiled and continued on their projects.
She relaxed and continued sorting through a pile of books that had been torn and ripped.
Eventually, her mother arrived and they all stopped to eat—she had made enough for half the town. A while after that, the children’s parents left. Eventually her parents did, too, with her father taking the damaged wooden calendar with him.
By this time, it was after four o’clock and everything was in much better shape. Just as John was taking his leave and saying good-bye to Alice and Calvin, a black SUV pulled into the parking lot.
Alice tensed. That was the same vehicle that had passed her on the road three weeks ago. And the one that had driven slowly on her street and scared her half to death.
“What is that car doing here?” she murmured.
Beside her, Calvin tensed. “I’ll deal with it,” he said.
Both his voice and his body language had changed. He suddenly seemed bigger, harsher, more formidable, and less approachable. If Alice hadn’t come to trust him, she knew she would have been afraid.
When a man got out, all muscle, brawn, salt-and-pepper hair, and sunglasses, John glanced at Calvin. “Is that man a friend of yours?”
“Yeah,” Calvin said. Just before he was about to walk away from John and Alice, the man walked around the front of the truck, then opened the passenger door and let out Irene.
Alice gasped. “Why is Irene with him?”
“I’d like to know that, too,” Calvin said. “Wait here, Alice.”
“Oh, no. I’m coming with you,” she said as she watched Irene and the man stare back. When the man leaned down to say something to Irene and another man got out of the vehicle, then moved to one side, Alice became even more worried. She started walking, too.
Calvin reached out one hand. “Hold on, Alice—”
She sidestepped his touch. “Calvin, I’m not gonna just stand here and watch,” she said before he could start treating her like a child. “Irene is my best friend. If she’s here, she’s here to talk to me, not you.”
Leaving John behind, she and Calvin had only gone a few feet when he stopped and spoke. “I know you want to be in charge, but now ain’t the time. Trust me on this, okay?”
His voice was firm and quiet, but there was a new tension underlying it. This man was important to him. “Okay,” she replied easily as they both walked on.
Calvin was staring straight at the man as he increased his pace, definitely concerned. On edge. Was it because Irene was with him? Did Calvin think that this man had something to do with her school?
Or could something have happened that was even worse?
CALVIN HADN’T THOUGHT it was possible to feel both relieved and scared at the same time. Seeing both West and Smith on the grounds of Alice’s preschool proved him wrong. He didn’t know whether to guard Alice with his body or act as if she didn’t matter so West wouldn’t notice her.
Of course, the realization that he could never pretend she didn’t matter hit him hard. Alice did matter to him. A lot. Maybe even too much.
No matter what West had to say, Calvin knew he would look after her safety and comfort first.
“Everything all right?” he asked after Alice and Irene greeted each other with hugs.
West tilted his head to one side, almost as if he needed to think about his answer. “I’m kind of thinking that I should be asking that of you.” Pointing toward the schoolhouse, he said, “It’s obvious that everything isn’t all right. What happened?”
“Someone broke into this little school and did quite a bit of damage.”
Calvin could practically feel Alice wiggle restlessly next to him. She reminded him of a puppy that had recently been taught to sit still. She was following his directions, but it was obvious to all of them that she wasn’t comfortable with the idea.
He figured he needed to let Alice speak before she ignored his request completely. Gesturing to Alice, he said, “This is actually her school. Alice, this is West. He’s my boss. West, this is Alice. She’s a friend of mine.”
Alice smiled at him shyly. “Hello.”
West nodded his head. “Good to meet you. Shame about the circumstances, though,” he said in a soft and gentle tone that Calvin hadn’t known he was capable of. “I’m real sorry.”
“Jah. Me, too.”
Irene spoke up. “Alice, what happened?”
“Someone broke into my schoolhouse and caused a lot of damage. Lots of damage,” she said quickly, like she was afraid Calvin was going to stop her before she could get out all her words. “First the sheriff came to my house and told me. Then Calvin drove me here to look at it. After that my parents and brother John, and a couple of my scholars’ parents, came over to help me clean it up.”
&n
bsp; “We can help, too,” Irene said with a soft smile in West’s direction. “That’s why we came over.”
Calvin stiffened. “How did you hear about the vandalism?”
“Does it matter?” West asked.
Wondering if West had had someone tracking him, he nodded. “Yeah, I think it does.”
A muscle in West’s jaw jumped. Calvin could practically feel him stiffen.
“We heard at the diner,” Irene said, easing the tension between them. “I worked the morning shift. West came in to have breakfast.”
“He came for breakfast?”
“That’s what I just said, Calvin,” Irene emphasized. “West and Smith. Anyway, everyone at the diner was talking about it. He offered to take me.”
Alice curved a hand around Irene’s arm. “Come with me and I’ll show you the inside.” And without looking in West’s direction, they walked to the schoolhouse, leaving Calvin alone with West.
Maybe now he could hear the real story.
“Didn’t know you started driving so far for breakfast,” Calvin blurted before he remembered who he was talking to. No one used that tone with the head of the Kings.
West, to Calvin’s amazement, looked chagrined. “Yeah, well, don’t tell anyone.”
“Has anything happened? Do you need me back in Louisville?”
West shook his head. “I told the truth. I came here to see Irene.” Glaring at him, he said, “And don’t go asking me why I’m visiting her. I don’t know.”
No way was Calvin going to risk challenging him again. “Yes, sir.”
West rolled his eyes. “Anyway, Irene was worried about Alice, so we came over.” Looking Calvin up and down, West’s expression sharpened. “Want to tell me why you’re looking at me like that?”
“Sorry, boss. I, uh, guess I’m just surprised. I didn’t know you knew Irene well.”
“You have a problem with that?”
“You’re my boss and the president of the Kings. I don’t have a problem with anything you do.”
“Oh, yeah? You’ve got me curious now. What would you tell me if I wasn’t your president?”
Calvin felt like he was barefoot crossing a rickety bridge covered with broken glass. One false move was going to cause him a lot of harm and pain. “If you weren’t, then I’d probably ask you to take care with her. She’s a sheltered girl who doesn’t know a lot about the outside world.”
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