A Sister's Hope

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “I need to get to the bottom of these attacks,” Luke muttered under his breath. Maybe when he told Martha about Toby’s missing glove and said he thought Toby might be responsible for the attacks, they’d be able to come up with a way to catch Toby in the act.

  As Rosemary placed her breakfast dishes in the sink, she decided it might be a good time to pay a call on Sheriff Osborn. She’d gone there a few weeks ago, but he hadn’t been in his office. Since then, her brother’s fence had been cut, and she was determined to see the sheriff.

  She glanced out the window and noticed that it had finally quit snowing. Hopefully, the roads had been cleared enough so she could make the trip to town without any problems. Maybe I’ll stop by and see Ruth on my way, she decided. It had been awhile since they’d had a good visit, and she wanted to see how Ruth was getting along with her new family.

  Half an hour later, Rosemary pulled her car into the Wengerds’ driveway and headed for the back door. Ruth answered her knock, red-faced and teary-eyed.

  “Ruth, what’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

  Ruth nodded and hiccupped on a sob. “I’m afraid I’ll never be a good stepmother.”

  Rosemary stepped into the house and shut the door. Then she put her arm around Ruth’s waist and led her to the kitchen. “What’s troubling you?” she asked, guiding Ruth into a chair.

  Ruth took a napkin and wiped her nose. “I. . .I had another run-in with Gideon this morning.”

  “What happened?”

  “I asked him to take out the garbage, and when he didn’t do it right away, I asked him again.” Ruth dabbed at the tears running down her cheeks. “Then he reminded me that I’m not his mudder and said I shouldn’t be telling him what to do.”

  Rosemary’s forehead wrinkled. “What did Abe have to say about his son speaking to you that way?”

  “He’d already gone out to his harness shop, so he didn’t hear Gideon’s belligerent tone.” Ruth drew in a shaky breath. “I’m trying so hard to get through to Gideon, but he just won’t respond to me.”

  Rosemary gave Ruth’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I know this is a difficult situation, but don’t give up. Keep reaching out to the boy.”

  “I’ve been trying to, but he’s not making it easy.”

  “Mammi.” Little Molly toddled into the room.

  “Come here, sweet girl,” Ruth said, holding her arms out to the child.

  “Mammi,” the little girl said again as Ruth lifted her onto her lap. She smiled at Rosemary. “Would you like a cup of coffee or some tea?”

  Rosemary nodded. “I could use something hot to drink before I head out again. It’s pretty nippy this morning.”

  Martha’s nose twitched when she stepped into Heini’s Cheese Store and smelled the tangy aroma of smoked sausage and Swiss cheese. She glanced around the room, and her breath caught in her throat when she spotted Luke standing in front of one of the cheese counters.

  Luke looked up as she approached and offered her a wide smile. “I’m glad to see you made it. With the weather turning snowy, I wasn’t sure you’d be able to come.”

  “I used one of our easygoing horses and took my time coming in, so everything was fine.”

  “Wish I could say the same for my trip to town.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Some goofy driver in a pickup splashed slush all over my front window, and then my horse spooked and nearly ran away with my buggy.” Luke poked another piece of cheese with a toothpick and popped it into his mouth. “My buggy swayed so much I thought it was gonna topple over.” He reached for another toothpick. “Would you like a hunk of cheddar cheese?”

  “No thanks.” She tipped her head and studied him. “You look pretty calm. I take it you got things under control with your horse and buggy?”

  He gave her a smug little grin. “Sure did.”

  She smiled. “There’s a bench out in the entryway. Should we sit there and talk?”

  “Sure.” Luke headed that way, and Martha followed.

  Once they were seated, she told him what had happened with Fritz and how she’d discovered that the dog had been opening his own cage door.

  Luke chuckled. “That dog must have wanted freedom really bad to have figured out a way to escape.”

  She nodded. “Jah, but I solved the problem by wiring the door shut.”

  “That’s good thinking.”

  “Another problem’s been solved this week, too.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Gary Walker isn’t working for the Millersburg newspaper anymore. Dad found out that Gary took a job at a newspaper in California.” Martha smiled. “So that’s one name we can delete from our list of suspects.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Luke’s voice lowered as he leaned closer to Martha. “I’ve got some information I think you should know about, too.”

  “What is it?”

  “You know that work glove you found near the fence?”

  She nodded.

  “I think I know who it belongs to.”

  “Who?”

  “Toby King.”

  Martha’s eyebrows shot up. “What makes you think the glove belongs to Toby?”

  “I ran into him the other day at the hardware store, and he mentioned that he’d lost a pair of gloves.” Luke sucked in his lower lip. “He was buying a new pair.”

  “That doesn’t prove he was anywhere near our place when he lost his glove.”

  “Doesn’t prove he wasn’t, either.”

  “What reason would Toby have for cutting our fence?”

  Luke shrugged. “Maybe to get even with me.”

  “How would cutting our fence get even with you?”

  “I told you before. . .Toby’s got a grudge against me. I think he might be trying to make it look like I’m responsible for the attacks.”

  Martha drew in a quick breath. “I can’t believe our bishop’s son would be involved in anything so mean or destructive.” She shook her head. “Nee, I can’t conceive of it at all.”

  “Well, someone’s been doing those things.”

  “Seems like our list of suspects keeps growing,” she said.

  He nodded. “Now all we have to do is figure out who it is.”

  As Rosemary entered Sheriff Osborn’s office, a whiff of smoke filled her nostrils. She was allergic to cigarette smoke; it gave her a headache. She would state her business and get out of the sheriff’s stuffy office as quickly as possible.

  The sheriff plunked his elbows on his desk and leaned slightly forward. “I heard you’d come back to the area. What can I do for you, Mrs. Cole?”

  Rosemary took a seat. “I’m here about the attacks that are still being made against my brother and his family.”

  Sheriff Osborn’s eyebrows shot up. “There has been another attack?”

  She nodded slowly. “It was over a week ago.”

  “What happened this time, and why wasn’t I informed?”

  “The fence on Roman’s back pasture was cut, and the reason you weren’t informed is probably because Roman felt it wasn’t serious.” Rosemary grimaced. “At least not compared to some of the other things that have happened.”

  The sheriff grabbed a tablet and pen. “You’d better give me the details.”

  Rosemary spent the next few minutes telling the sheriff what had happened and that something needed to be done to protect her family before another attack occurred.

  “I can hardly prevent things from happening when I’m usually the last one to know.” He grunted. “I’m doing the best I can, but I don’t have enough manpower to patrol the Hostettlers’ place every minute of the day.”

  “I realize that, but—”

  “If you want my opinion, the best thing Roman could do to protect his family is to move somewhere else.”

  Rosemary’s skin prickled. When she’d first come to Holmes County to see Roman and his family, Judith had mentioned something about a land developer wanting to buy their land. She�
��d also heard one of Roman’s neighbors had offered to buy his property.

  “I don’t think my brother has any plans to move,” she said. “And I don’t believe anyone should be allowed to get away with attacking him and his family in order to make him knuckle under and sell out.”

  The sheriff leveled her with a piercing gaze. “What makes you think the person doing the attacks is after Roman’s land?”

  “Isn’t that what you were insinuating when you suggested he move?”

  The sheriff shrugged.

  “So there’s nothing more you can do to stop these attacks?”

  He shook his head. “I’m doing the best I can with whatever information I’ve been given.”

  Rosemary stood. She’d obviously made a mistake in coming here. It didn’t appear as if Sheriff Osborn cared that much about the things that had been done to her brother and his family.

  “Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to speak with me, Sheriff.” She turned and marched out of the room, her snow boots clomping against the wooden floor.

  Once outside, Rosemary drew a couple of deep breaths, relieved to be breathing fresh air again. I think I’ll stop over at Heini’s Cheese Store for a little snack, and then I’m going over to Roman’s place and have a talk with him.

  As Luke continued to talk with Martha about Toby, her thoughts swirled like a windmill going at full speed. “I know Toby has something against you,” she said. “That’s obvious by the way he acts whenever the two of you are together.”

  Luke nodded.

  She pursed her lips. “I don’t see how he could have done all the attacks, though—especially when he was someplace else when most of them happened.”

  “Huh?”

  “Take that day when our house was egged and we found a headless scarecrow in our yard. We’d been at Toby and Sadie’s wedding, and the attack had to have occurred while we were there.”

  “So?”

  “So, if Toby was at the wedding, which he obviously was, then he couldn’t have been at our house throwing eggs or cutting off that old scarecrow’s head.”

  Luke tapped his finger against his clean-shaven chin. “Maybe he had someone else do it for him.”

  “Who?”

  “Beats me. All I know is Toby’s no longer my friend, and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw a mule.”

  “Some of the attacks might have been done by pranksters—maybe those English fellows you’ve been hanging around with.”

  He gave a quick nod. “Which is why—”

  “Well, hello there, Martha. I didn’t expect to see you here today.”

  Martha’s head snapped around. “Aunt Rosemary! I didn’t think I’d be seeing you here, either.”

  Aunt Rosemary smiled, first at Martha and then at Luke. “Hello, Luke. I’m surprised to see you here, as well.”

  His face colored, and he reached up to swipe at the sweat on his forehead. “I was just. . .uh. . .tasting some cheese, and Martha showed up, so—”

  “So we came out here to talk awhile,” Martha said, finishing Luke’s sentence.

  “I see.” Aunt Rosemary took a seat beside Martha and patted her arm. “It’s always good to see you.”

  “Same here.”

  Luke cleared his throat a couple of times. Martha could tell he was uncomfortable about having been seen with her. Truth was she felt a little apprehensive about it, too. At least it was Aunt Rosemary and not Dad who’d seen her sitting beside Luke.

  “I’d better go,” Luke said, rising to his feet. “I’ve got some errands to run, and then my daed needs my help this afternoon.” He glanced over at Martha and gave her a half smile. “I’ll be seeing you around.”

  She smiled and nodded in return.

  Luke cast a quick smile in Aunt Rosemary’s direction then hurried away.

  “Luke seems like a nice enough fellow,” Aunt Rosemary said, “but he acted kind of nervous, don’t you think?”

  Martha shrugged then leaned closer to her aunt and whispered, “I hope you won’t say anything to my folks about seeing me and Luke together. Dad wouldn’t like it.”

  “Why not?”

  “He thinks Luke might be responsible for the attacks against us.”

  “Is that what you think, Martha?”

  “I don’t believe he is. In fact—” Martha halted her words. Should she tell Aunt Martha that she and Luke were trying to find out who was responsible for the attacks, or should she just say she’d been trying to find out on her own?

  “Is there something troubling you, Martha? Something more than me seeing you with Luke?”

  Martha nodded. “I’m concerned about the terrible things that have been done to my family, and I’ve decided to try and find out who’s behind the attacks.”

  “You, too?”

  Alarm rose in Martha’s chest. Did Aunt Rosemary already know Luke was doing some investigating of his own? “What do you mean?”

  Aunt Rosemary glanced around as though she was worried someone might hear their conversation, but no one was within earshot, as far as Martha could tell.

  “I’ve just come from Sheriff Osborn’s office,” Aunt Rosemary whispered. “I went there to see if he’s come up with any leads and to let him know about your dad’s fence being cut.”

  “Did the sheriff have anything helpful to say?”

  “I’m afraid not. He thinks he could help more if he was told right away whenever something happens.” Aunt Rosemary released a lingering sigh. “To tell you the truth, I don’t think the sheriff cares all that much what happens to your family, and I. . .” Her voice trailed off.

  “You what?” Martha prompted.

  Aunt Rosemary glanced around once more. “I’d rather not discuss this with you here. Is there a time you can come by my house so we can visit privately?”

  “I work for Irene all next week, but I’m free on Monday of the following week.”

  “Why don’t you come over around eleven thirty? We can talk while we have lunch together.” Aunt Rosemary gave Martha’s arm a gentle pat. “You’ll be the first lunch guest in my new house.”

  “You’ve had others over to eat in that house.”

  “That’s true, but I was only renting the place then. Now that the home is mine, I’m starting fresh with my entertainment list.”

  Martha chuckled. She always felt relaxed when she was with Aunt Rosemary.

  Aunt Rosemary stood. “I think I’ll buy a couple packages of cheese and some trail bologna, and then I’ll be on my way.”

  Martha smiled. “I’ll see you next Monday for lunch.”

  “I’m done with those cabinets you wanted me to stain,” Cleon said.

  “Did you want me to make those deliveries for you now?”

  “Jah, sure,” Roman answered with a nod.

  “While I’m in Berlin, I’d like to stop by a couple of the shops that sell my honey and see if their supply’s running low.”

  “No problem. Take your time.”

  Cleon smiled. “I appreciate you letting me continue with my honey business while working for you. I enjoy working with my bees, and it would be hard to give it up.”

  “Everyone in the family enjoys the honey your bees provide.”

  Cleon nodded. “I’d best get those chairs loaded up and head out. I should be back shortly after noon.”

  “No problem. Take your time.”

  The barn door clicked shut behind Cleon, and Roman resumed his work on some rusty hinges.

  Some time later, the door opened, and Rosemary stepped into the barn.

  “This is a surprise,” Roman said, moving over to the door to greet his sister. “What brings you out on this cold winter day?”

  “I came to see you, of course.” Rosemary gave him a hug.

  “I’m glad you did. How are things going? Are you all settled in?”

  She nodded. “Now that all the unpacking is done, I need something else to keep me busy.”

  He chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll f
ind something to do. Even when you were a maedel, you always had to be busy.”

  “That’s true,” she admitted. “Most of the girls I knew were happy playing with their dolls, but not me. I felt I should be doing something more constructive.”

  “Are you thinking of finding a job?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Between the money from my husband’s insurance policy and the sale of our home, I should be fine.”

  “But if you need to keep busy, a part-time job might be what you need.”

  “Maybe later. Right now, I’ve got something else I want to do.”

  He nodded toward the metal desk he’d set up in his temporary shop. “Why don’t you have a seat and tell me about it?”

  “Are you sure you have the time?”

  “Jah, sure. I can take a little break.”

  Rosemary sat down, and he pulled a wooden stool over and joined her.

  “So what’s this ‘something else’ you’re wanting to do?” he asked.

  “I’d like to investigate the attacks that have been made against you.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “It’s not your place to do any investigating; that’s the sheriff’s job.”

  “It should be,” she said with a nod. “However, I don’t think he’s doing a very good job, or else we would know who’s behind the attacks by now, and the culprit would be behind bars.”

  Roman grunted. “The sheriff blames me for that. He thinks I should call him right away whenever we’ve had an attack.”

  “Why haven’t you called him every time, Roman?”

  “I feel that it shows a lack of faith on my part if I go running to the law every time someone pulls a prank on us.”

  “I’ll admit, some of the things that have been done to you have seemed like simple pranks, but other things, like Martin’s death, were obviously not.”