Plain Protector

by Alison Stone

  “Even if it’s not my former boyfriend, someone’s harassing me.”

  The pastor’s wife planted a fist on her hip. “Every time you run into conflict, you’re going to run away?” The older woman shook her head. She pursed her lips, but she had a twinkle in her eye, obviously knowing she was slowly chipping away at Sarah’s resolve.

  Miss Ellinor pointed to the stairway. “We’ll add security features here at the church. We’ll lock the doors and make sure you have an escort back and forth from your home.”

  “But what about the pastor’s open-door policy?”

  Miss Ellinor waved her hand. “Never hurt a person to knock or ring the bell. Your safety is more important than anything.” The older woman patted Sarah’s shoulder.

  Sarah gave her a sad smile. As much as she appreciated everything Miss Ellinor was willing to do to keep her safe, nothing and no one could protect her from Jimmy if he had a mind to hurt her.

  * * *

  Sarah collapsed into an oversize leather chair in her tiny office in the church basement after her only client for the day left. The hum of the AC unit in the window kept her company. She traced the six-inch tear in the black leather, and her mind drifted.

  The client who had just left—she wasn’t Amish—had two young children, and although she wouldn’t admit it, Sarah suspected she was in an abusive relationship. The young woman wanted to get a divorce, but had no means of support. Sarah promised her that if she really wanted to leave, Sarah would find resources for her.

  This was the reason she needed to stay. But could she?

  “Are you okay?”

  Sarah bolted upright in the chair and swung around. She pressed a hand to her beating chest. “You scared about ten years off my life.”

  “Sorry, I thought you heard me come in.” Mary Ruth smiled sheepishly.

  Sarah stood and turned off the AC unit, sending the room into silence, save for Sarah’s still-racing heart. She waved her hand. “It’s okay.”

  Her Amish friend turned around and pointed to the box Sarah had left outside her small office. “Are you going somewhere?”

  “I was thinking about it.”

  A thin line creased the young woman’s forehead. “Because of what happened here last night?” Mary Ruth leaned back and looked at the boarded-up window. “I feel bad that I wasn’t here when it happened.”

  Sarah shrugged. She was growing tired of being the center of attention. The one thing she enjoyed about Apple Creek was the anonymity. Someone wasn’t asking her questions every other minute. Until now.

  “It’s fine.” Then feeling a little embarrassed that she hadn’t thought about how this mess had affected Mary Ruth, she asked, “How’s Ruben? I hope he’s not in too much trouble with his father.”

  Mary Ruth cocked her head and drew a hand down the long string of her bonnet. “I wouldn’t know.”

  Sarah watched the emotions play across her friend’s face. “Aren’t you and Ruben getting along?”

  Mary Ruth tapped her boot nervously on the doorframe. “I called things off with Ruben.”

  Sarah made an effort to hide her surprise. “I didn’t know.” Did last night have something to do with it? Smashing bottles seemed like a minor offense. “Why?”

  “It wonders me if I’m not cut out for married life.”

  Sarah ran her hand over her mouth and gave her next words careful consideration. “Marriage is a huge part of Amish life. If not Ruben, maybe someone else.”

  Mary Ruth simply raised her shoulders and let them fall. “Maybe.”

  Sarah thought back to the past few months. Mary Ruth had been spending more and more time helping her. “I appreciate your help here, but maybe it’s interfering with your plans to live the Amish way. Maybe you shouldn’t have skipped the Sunday singings this past week. You enjoy that time.”

  “It was easier than facing Ruben,” Mary Ruth said, frustration evident in her voice. “He can be very persistent.”

  Alarm bells clamored in Sarah’s head. “He hasn’t hurt you, has he?”

  Mary Ruth lowered her gaze and shook her head adamantly. “Neh, neh...” She slipped into her Pennsylvania Dutch. “He still wants to court me.”

  “He hasn’t accepted the breakup?” Sarah searched the young girl’s face.

  “He will. He just wants to save face. We hadn’t been officially published, nor had he talked to the bishop about marriage, but—” she shrugged again “—people start getting ideas. People talk.”

  “Do you think it’s just a matter of time and he’ll move on?” Something about Mary Ruth’s hesitation unnerved Sarah. Or maybe she was overly sensitive to boy-girl relationships gone bad.

  “Yes, that’s it. It’s a matter of time.”

  “Please let me know if I can do anything.” Sarah lifted her hands, indicating her small office. “This is my job.”

  It was Mary Ruth’s turn to wave her hand. “It’s nothing as serious as that. Ruben needs to move on. That’s all.”

  Sarah pressed her hands together and studied Mary Ruth. “What are your plans?”

  “I admire the work you do. I’d love to be able to help people.”

  Education beyond the eighth grade was frowned upon in the Amish community. On the farm, there was no need for education beyond the basics. A highly educated Amish person might get ideas. So, it wasn’t like Mary Ruth could go to college to become a social worker.

  Sarah’s pulse beat low and steady in her ears. She swallowed hard. “Are you thinking of leaving the Amish?” Mary Ruth’s parents would be devastated, having already lost a son to the outside world. Sarah also realized if her closest Amish friend left the church, it might make Sarah’s work in helping the Amish more difficult. Already she was considered an interloper, and if Mary Ruth left, the worst fears of the Amish would be realized.

  She was a negative influence.

  Sarah shook away the thought. Besides being selfish, did it really matter? Hadn’t Sarah decided to leave Apple Creek, anyway?

  As if reading her mind, Mary Ruth said, “I have no plans to leave the Amish.” She leaned her hip against the doorframe. “But maybe, somehow, I can find a way to help people.”

  Sarah subconsciously ran a hand across her bandage. “I’m glad you told me. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  Mary Ruth tipped her head toward the box again. “Where are you going?” A frown pulled at the corner of her mouth.

  “There’s a lot going on right now, and I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

  Mary Ruth levered off the doorframe. “I’m here if you need someone to talk to, too.” She smiled.

  “Thank you.”

  “I stopped by to see if you needed help cleaning up the mess, but I see someone already has.” Mary Ruth looked around.

  “I appreciate it.”

  “Well, I better go, then. My mem needs help with my little sisters so she can run some errands. I told her I’d hurry back. Last time I didn’t arrive home on time my dat got mad. I don’t want him to start telling me I can’t come here.” Mary Ruth’s father worked at a nearby business that manufactured outdoor play sets, allowing—much to his dismay—more freedom for his family to do things away from the farm. Like Mary Ruth helping Sarah. Or like his son getting in with the wrong gang.

  “Go then. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Of course.” Mary Ruth spun around, her long dress twirling about her.

  Sarah leaned back in her large chair and listened to Mary Ruth’s footsteps up the stairs. Why didn’t I know Mary Ruth and Ruben were no longer courting? Sarah must have misread Mary Ruth’s hope for the future all wrong. Mary Ruth hadn’t been excited about settling into marriage. She had been excited by other possibilities.

  Sarah smiled to herself.

  Perhaps it
was Sarah’s turn to learn something from the young Amish girl.

  Excited by the possibilities.

  Then another thought struck her like a freight train. Mary Ruth’s boyfriend suddenly had motive to make Sarah’s life miserable.

  No, Ruben was a good guy. He had always been pleasant around her. Helpful, even. Well, until his aloofness this morning. But that’s to be expected. He was probably still angry about having to go down to the sheriff’s station after smashing the bottles.

  All indications showed Ruben was a solid young man, intent on living in the Amish way.

  Mary Ruth’s family might not be too happy with Sarah, either. Her stomach pitched.

  Sarah was grasping at straws. It was Jimmy who was harassing her. It had to be. Right? Sarah winced at the headache forming behind her eyes.

  How could she ever trust herself again to be a good judge of character?

  * * *

  Outside the church, the late afternoon sun beat down on Nick. He drew in a deep breath. After serving overseas in times of war, he’d never again take for granted the clean scent of country air, even with its manure undertones. But fortunately this afternoon, he only caught a whiff of bundled hay and fresh-cut grass.

  Miss Ellinor had called him at the station, encouraging him to check on Sarah when he got out of work. The pastor’s wife had insisted it wasn’t an emergency, but that the “sweet thing” looked like she could use a friend. Miss Ellinor’s phone call had been serendipitous because Sarah had been reluctant to agree to meet him at the diner to discuss the next course of action. Now he had an excuse to see her. He had made a few phone calls today to a friend in Buffalo, and Sarah’s story didn’t seem to add up.

  Nick didn’t like secrets.

  He slammed his truck door shut and spun around at the sound of gravel crunching under footsteps. He wasn’t partial to surprises, either.

  Miss Ellinor lifted a picnic basket by the handle and smiled, by way of explanation. “I had some leftovers, and I thought you and Sarah might like a nice picnic. Down by the lake maybe?”

  Nick shook his head and smiled. “You’re incorrigible. I’m guessing Sarah didn’t really look like she could use a friend.”

  “Oh, no, she looks like she could use a friend, especially a handsome young friend like yourself.” She smiled coyly and without a hint of apology.

  “I’m not as young as you might think.” He ran a hand across his scratchy beard.

  “All the more reason to get you settled down.”

  Nick slowly shook his head but couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. He wasn’t interested in getting involved with someone. Especially not with someone who seemed to be harboring as many secrets as the last woman he had gotten involved with. He had seen firsthand the destruction secrets had on a solid relationship. Never mind trying to build a relationship on the shaky foundation of skeletons in a closet.

  The side door of the church swung open and Sarah stepped out clutching her large bag. She seemed to startle a minute when her gaze landed on Nick. She composed herself and made her way over to where he and Miss Ellinor stood.

  “Um...” Her gaze drifted from Nick to the picnic basket in Miss Ellinor’s hand and back to Nick. “Did we have plans?”

  “I’ll leave this picnic basket here,” Miss Ellinor said as she placed it in the bed of Nick’s truck. “I went through a lot of effort, I wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”

  “Thank you.” Nick didn’t take his eyes off Sarah, who narrowed her gaze.

  “What’s this about?”

  “Miss Ellinor called me and told me to come check on you.”

  Sarah raised a skeptical eyebrow.

  “But apparently it was a ruse to send us off on a picnic.” Nick walked around to the back of his pickup truck and lifted one side of the picnic basket. The items were neatly secured, but he could smell the fresh bread and a hint of egg and onion. “Oh, man, I think she made us her famous potato salad.” Nick wasn’t the kind to attend church, but as a deputy sheriff, he had the occasion to sample Miss Ellinor’s cooking at the annual church outing. Most of the town attended, even the Amish, so he never felt out of place despite his lack of Sunday church attendance.

  “Potato salad?” Sarah shook her head, smiling. “I suppose it would be a shame to let it go to waste.”

  “We need to eat, right?”

  “We do.” Sarah surprisingly seemed downright agreeable. Or maybe she was hungry.

  Once they were settled in his truck, Nick turned to her. “Should we have a picnic by the lake?”

  Sarah shoved her oversize bag down next to her legs. “That’s fine.”

  He turned out onto the road and decided he needed to get a few things off his chest before they reached the lake. Maybe then they could relax and enjoy their meal.

  “I made a few phone calls this morning.”

  “Phone calls?” He could hear the trepidation in her tone. “In regards to me?”

  “I have a friend who’s a private investigator in Buffalo.”

  “What did you do?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it held tremendous restraint. “I’ve been hiding in Apple Creek for six months, keeping all my communication with my mother carefully orchestrated, and then I meet you. Now, you up and call a friend? An investigator whose questions will likely raise more questions. About me!” Her voice grew high-pitched. “Take me home.”

  “Please, we need to talk.” A muscle worked in his jaw.

  Sarah shifted in her seat and said what was really on her mind, “What if the two incidents weren’t Jimmy? Now you’ve drawn him a map to my front door. He’ll find me for sure.”

  “My friend can be trusted.”

  “I need to know everything you said. I need to know who he talked to.” Sarah turned to face him, and he gave her a sideways glance. The distrust in her eyes cut him to the core.

  * * *

  Sarah watched the cornfields roll by as Nick drove along the country road. She clamped her jaw shut, seething at his audacity at calling a private investigator about her situation.

  “I asked him to quietly look into Jimmy Braeden,” Nick said, his voice holding a hint of an apology. “Check out his work schedule. See if he could find out what the man was up to without drawing any attention to himself...or more importantly, you.”

  “You shouldn’t have.” Sarah closed her eyes and sank into the seat. Nick had no right to contact anyone in Buffalo on her behalf. She could only imagine what Nick had said about her. Her ears grew hot at the thought of people talking about her, discussing her situation.

  “By all accounts, Officer Braeden is a good guy.” Nick’s comment was like a knife to the heart.

  “Do you think I’m lying?”

  “I’m trying to uncover the truth.”

  “I don’t lie.” Sarah fisted her hands in her lap as he slowed the truck and turned into a gravel lot. “Why would I make up a story about an abusive boyfriend?”

  Nick cut her a sideways glance. “You have no reason to.”

  Sarah wasn’t sure if he meant it or if he was saying it to appease her. Why had she agreed to come on a picnic with him?

  “Can we please enjoy this meal Miss Ellinor made for us? Call a truce for the next hour?” Nick sounded so sincere.

  Sarah turned and looked out over the water. The afternoon sun was glittering on the lake. It was beautiful. She found some of the anxiety ebbing away. Not all of it, but some. She figured just enough to allow her to hold a civil conversation and maybe enjoy the picnic Miss Ellinor had taken the time to prepare.

  Without waiting for an answer, Nick hopped out of the vehicle and went around and opened the door for her. Jimmy had long ago stopped making her feel special by performing simple courtesies. Like opening a car door.

 
Nick smiled at her, one that seemed to be asking for forgiveness. She wished it was as easy as that and this was simply a nice first date between two single people in Apple Creek, but her life had taken too many twists and turns over the years to let her guard down.

  Besides, she wasn’t staying in Apple Creek. Not long term anyway.

  And she wasn’t interested in dating. Not a cop. Not Nick.

  He grabbed the picnic basket and headed toward the water’s edge. She was surprised no one else was out enjoying the park.

  He set the basket down and opened one side and pulled out a red-and-white-checkered blanket.

  “Looks like Miss Ellinor thought of everything,” Nick said as he spread the blanket on the grass. He plopped down on it and seemed unconcerned that Sarah was standing there watching him.

  “She’s a wonderful cook.”

  Nick laughed. “And apparently a matchmaker.” He shrugged. “I suppose it’s not that unusual. As a pastor’s wife, she must meet a lot of people who have things in common.”

  “Do we?” Sarah asked, unable to keep the sarcasm from her tone.

  He pulled out a cold bottle of water and handed it to her. “I’d like to think so.” He squinted up at her and smiled, a smile that reached his warm brown eyes. She accepted the bottle and dropped to her knees on the blanket.

  Nick pulled out potato salad in two plastic containers, a bag of chips and individually wrapped sandwiches.

  Sarah’s stomach growled. “I’ve been so busy all day, I didn’t realize how hungry I was.” She pulled back the plastic wrap covering hers and took a bite of the chicken-salad sandwich. “Wow, this is really good.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes until Nick spoke. “Now about those phone calls I made...”

  Sarah’s adrenaline spiked, and she lowered her sandwich. “Has it already been an hour? Remember our truce?”

  Nick lifted an eyebrow as if to say, “You didn’t actually think we could avoid the elephant in the room?”

  Sarah maneuvered her legs from a kneeling position to a more comfortable sitting position. Her feet tingled from lack of circulation. “You know how to ruin a girl’s appetite.” She held her breath, waiting, anxious to know if his phone calls had uncovered anything.