Grace nodded despite her sweaty hands and rapidly beating heart.
“I’ll park the buggy and go with you.”
“I think it would be better if I speak with Gary alone. Why don’t you wait for me inside the bakeshop?”
Martha’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t think—”
“I’ll be fine.”
Martha shrugged and stepped down from the buggy.
As her sister headed for the bakeshop, Grace hurried toward Gary, who was almost to his car.
He whirled around to face her. “You following me, Gracie?”
When she opened her mouth to reply, the only thing that came out was a little squeak.
“I wouldn’t think a married woman who’s expecting a baby would be running down the street chasing after other men.”
“I’m not. I mean, I just wanted to ask you a question.”
He leaned on the hood of his car and folded his arms. “About what?”
“I was wondering how long you plan to stay in Holmes County.”
“As long as it takes.”
“For what?”
“For me to write the stories I’m after.” He leveled her a penetrating look that sent shivers up her spine. “Are you feeling the need to check up on me, Gracie?”
She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond.
“I didn’t come back to Holmes County to make your life miserable, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
The urge to ask if he had toilet-papered their buildings and thrown the stink bomb into the barn was strong, but Grace figured he might take satisfaction in knowing she was afraid. “I would think you could find other things to write about than the Holmes County Amish,” she said as a horse and buggy rumbled by and turned into the cheese store parking lot across the street.
Gary leaned away from his car and moved closer to her. “None quite as interesting as you.”
Before she could comment, he snickered and said, “I think your sister who works at the bakeshop is pretty interesting, too.”
Grace’s fingers pressed into her palms until the nails dug into her flesh. “Stay away from Ruth.”
“If I don’t?”
“I’ll tell the sheriff what I think you’re up to.”
Gary snorted and slapped his knee. “It’s a free country, Gracie. I have every right to visit the bakeshop whenever I get the urge for something sweet. Besides, it’s not like the sheriff’s going to arrest me for buying a few doughnuts.”
“The sheriff’s aware of the break-ins and vandalism that went on at our place several months ago. He told my dad that he plans to keep an eye on things.”
“I told you before that I had nothing to do with any of those occurrences.” Gary flung open the car door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
“That man makes me so angry,” Grace fumed as Gary pulled away from the curb. “I’m sure he’s the one responsible for those attacks, and he’s probably trying to make it look like it’s someone else.”
“I can’t believe you let Grace speak to that reporter by herself,” Ruth said after Martha came into the shop and told her what Grace had decided to do.
“I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen.” Martha groaned. “You know how stubborn our big sister can be when she makes up her mind about something.”
“Jah, I know.” Ruth skirted around the front counter and hurried over to the window near the door. She craned her neck to see up the street but saw no sign of Grace or Gary.
“Do you want me to go after her?” Martha asked.
“She probably wouldn’t like it. Besides, I’m sure Gary wouldn’t do anything foolish right here in town.” Ruth moved back to the bakery case, and Martha followed.
When Grace stepped into the bakeshop a few minutes later, her face looked pale, and she shuffled across the room as if she had no strength in her legs.
Ruth rushed into the back room and grabbed a stool. “You’d better sit down.”
Grace nodded and did as she was told. “I held up pretty well while I was talking to Gary, but after he left, my knees felt so shaky I thought I might not make it here.”
“What did the man have to say?” Martha asked.
“I asked how long he plans to stay in Holmes County, and he said as long as it takes to get the stories he wants. Then he mentioned Ruth, and I threatened to notify the sheriff if he doesn’t stay away from her.”
Ruth’s heart slammed into her chest. “I hope Gary doesn’t think I’m interested in him, because I’m surely not.”
Martha looked over at Grace. “Did you ask if he knew about the stink bomb or the toilet-papering?”
Grace shook her head. “I didn’t want him to know what I suspect. I think it gives him pleasure to know I’m scared.”
“You shouldn’t have spoken to him alone.” Martha pursed her lips. “You should have let me go with you.”
Grace stared at her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“The stink bomb and the toilet paper mess could have been pranks like Dad mentioned,” Ruth said. “I’ll bet if we asked some of our neighbors, we’d find out that their places were toilet-papered, too.”
Martha touched Grace’s shoulder. “I think we should go. You look all done in and need to get home, where you can rest.”
Grace nodded and slipped off the stool.
As Ruth’s sisters headed out the door, she offered up a prayer. Lord, please be with my family—especially Grace.
Cleon had just finished staining the legs of a table when Judith and Anna entered the woodworking shop.
“We brought you some lunch,” Judith said, holding out two metal lunch boxes.
Roman moved away from the desk where he’d been doing paperwork and greeted her with a smile. “We appreciate that.”
Cleon straightened and set his staining rag aside. “Where’s Grace? She usually brings my meal if I don’t go home for lunch.”
“Mama went to town,” Anna said.
Cleon’s brows knit together as he looked over at Judith.
“She was upset when she found out about the toilet-papering. So she decided to go to Berlin, hoping she might see Gary Walker there.”
“What?” Cleon’s voice echoed in his ears. “She went to town alone—to speak with that man?”
Judith shook her head. “She’s not alone. Martha went with her.”
“As if that’s supposed to make me feel better. Doesn’t my wife ever think things through? Must she always make decisions without asking my opinion or getting my approval?”
Judith glanced down at Anna, whose eyes were huge as saucers; then she looked back at Cleon and shook her head. “I think this discussion can wait, don’t you?”
After seeing the frightened look on Anna’s face, Cleon realized he had let his emotions get the better of him. He knelt on the floor in front of the child. “I’m sorry for yelling. I’m just worried about your mamm.”
“Did Mama do somethin’ wrong?” Anna’s chin quivered as she stared up at Cleon.
“She didn’t do anything wrong. I just wish she’d told me where she was going.”
“Maybe you should go after her,” Roman suggested as he tapped Cleon on the shoulder. “Just to be sure everything’s okay.”
Cleon stood. “You wouldn’t mind? I know you have a lot of work going.”
“Nothing I have to do here is as important as the safety of my girls. I know you won’t get much work done if you stay here stewing over things.”
“Danki. I’ll have Grace and Martha back soon,” Cleon called over his shoulder as he hurried out of the shop.
“I guess we’d better go, too,” Judith said. She steered Anna toward the door.
Judith and Anna had no more than left the shop when Bishop King showed up. “Wie geht’s?” Roman asked.
“I’m doing all right. How about you?”
Roman blew out his breath in a huff that lifted the hair off his forehead. “There have been a couple of
attacks here lately. At first I thought they were just pranks, but now I’m not so sure.”
“What kind of attacks?” the bishop asked as he moved closer to Roman’s desk.
“Someone tossed a stink bomb through one of the barn windows the other day. Then this morning we found toilet paper all over the house, barn, and my shop.”
Bishop King compressed his lips. “Any idea who’s to blame?”
“I can’t be sure, but I found a half-empty pack of cigarettes lying next to the barn, and I’ve got a hunch whose it is.”
“Who would that be?”
“Luke. I told you once before that I thought Luke might be upset with me for firing him. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he’s trying to get even.”
“What makes you think the cigarettes are Luke’s?”
Roman’s eyes narrowed. “I smelled smoke on Luke a time or two when he was working for me.”
The bishop raked his fingers through the ends of his beard. “Now that I think of it, not long ago, my son Toby made mention of smelling smoke on Luke.”
“Remember the time Judith’s clothesline was cut?”
“Jah.”
“She found a pair of sunglasses on the ground not far from the line, and they turned out to be Luke’s.”
“Did he admit to cutting the line?”
“No, but—”
“Would you like me to speak with Luke?”
“Can you do it without letting him know I told you what I suspect?”
Bishop King nodded. “I’ll feel him out—maybe tell him what’s been going on here and see what kind of reaction I get.”
“Sounds good. You’ll let me know what he has to say?”
“Jah, sure.” The bishop shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m a bit concerned about your attitude, though, Roman.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seems to me as if you’re jumping to conclusions—judging Luke with no real evidence. Don’t you think you should give him the benefit of the doubt?”
“I just think he’s the one with the most likely reason to want to get even with me. If that’s the case, it could be why he won’t get baptized and join the church.”
“The fact that Luke hasn’t left the faith and gone English gives me hope that eventually he’ll settle down and do what’s expected of him. More than likely that will happen when he finds the right woman and decides to get married.”
“Maybe so. I’d still appreciate you talking to him, though.”
“No problem.” The bishop glanced around the room. “So do you have that set of dressers I ordered last month ready for me yet?”
“Sure do. We can load them into your buggy right now.”
Cleon had just begun hitching a horse to his rig when another horse trotted up the driveway, pulling a buggy. He realized right away that it was one of Roman’s mares, so he hurried over to the barn and waited by the hitching rail until the horse came to a stop. “Are you okay?” he called to Grace through the open buggy flap.
She nodded, although he noticed that she looked exhausted.
Martha climbed down from the driver’s side, and Cleon helped Grace out of the buggy. “Why’d you run off like that without telling me where you were going?”
“Because I was afraid you would say no.” Grace spoke so softly he could barely hear the words.
“You’re right, I would have. You’re in no condition to go traipsing around after someone you think might be responsible for the things that have been done here these past two days.”
“I needed to speak with Gary and see how long he plans to stay in Holmes County.” She drew in a ragged breath. “It’s not just what’s been done here recently, either. There were other attacks that took place when he was here before.”
“So what did you find out?”
“Gary said he’s come back to the area to write more stories and that he’ll be here until they’re done.”
Cleon took hold of Grace’s arm and looked over at Martha, who stood near the buggy with a concerned look on her face. “Would you let your folks know that you and Grace are home?”
Martha nodded. “Jah, sure.”
“Oh, and would you see if Judith can keep Anna for the rest of the day? My fraa looks exhausted and needs to go to bed.”
“Your wife will be just fine once she’s had something to eat and has rested awhile, so there’s no need for Mom to keep Anna,” Grace argued.
Cleon slipped his arm around her waist. “I can’t go back to work in your daed’s shop unless I know you’re resting.”
Grace finally nodded, and Cleon felt relief. He might not be able to do anything about the vandalism that had been done at his in-laws’ place, but he could take care of his wife.
When Martha directed her buggy up Abe Wengerd’s driveway, she spotted Martin walking toward the harness shop. She needed to be at Irene’s by three o’clock but had decided to stop on her way and see how Esta was getting along with Winkie.
Martha halted the horse near Abe’s barn and climbed out of the buggy. She was greeted by Esta, who had been in the yard playing with the puppy.
“Wie geht’s?” Martha asked.
“I’m doin’ good,” Esta replied. “Just givin’ Winkie some exercise.”
Martha smiled. “Winkie’s a cute name.”
Esta nodded. “Anna chose it ’cause the pup likes to wink one eye.”
“Jah, she told me.”
“How come Anna didn’t come with you? I like it when she comes over to play.”
“I didn’t invite her because I can’t stay very long.”
“Why not?”
“I’m on my way to work, and I’ll need to leave soon.” Martha bent down and stroked the puppy’s ears. “I’m glad Winkie has a good home.”
Esta nodded and scooped the little sheltie into her arms. “I’m takin’ good care of him.”
“I’m sure you are.” Martha squeezed Esta’s shoulder. “I’ll try to bring Anna along the next time I come over.”
“Okay.”
As Martha started for her buggy, she spotted Luke coming out of Abe’s harness shop, and her heart missed a beat. She wished she didn’t feel so giddy every time she saw Luke. She was sure he had no interest in her. If Dad knew she had a crush on Luke, he wouldn’t approve.
“Hello, Luke,” she said as he approached. “How are you?”
“Fair to middlin’,” he replied with a shrug. “And you?”
“Doing okay.” She was tempted to mention the acts of vandalism earlier in the week but thought better of it, in case Luke was the one responsible. She hoped he wasn’t. Even if Luke was angry because Dad had fired him, Martha couldn’t imagine Luke being behind any of the things that had been done to her family. Dad had asked around the day after they’d discovered all of the toilet paper on their buildings, but none of their neighbors had been bothered. That made Martha wonder if more attacks would be forthcoming.
“How’s the dog business going?” Luke asked, pulling her thoughts aside.
“Not so well. The female beagle I bought still isn’t pregnant, but I’ll be breeding Heidi and Fritz again when the time is right.”
“Maybe you should sell off the beagles and buy some other breed of dog.”
“I’ve thought of that, and I might put an ad in The Budget soon.”
“Or you could try the Bargain Hunter,” he suggested. “Might have better luck there.”
“That’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll run an ad in both papers.”
Luke moved away from the building. “Guess I’d better go. Just came by to check on a bridle Abe’s making for my daed. Now I’ve got a delivery to make for John.”
“How are things going with you working for him?” she asked.
“Compared to your daed, John’s real easy to work for.” He averted his gaze. “Guess I shouldn’t be saying this, but working for your daed every day was like going to the dentist to get a root canal.”
Martha bristled. As much as s
he liked Luke, she didn’t care for him saying things against her dad. “From what I hear, you weren’t so easy to work with, either.”
Luke shook his head. “Your daed didn’t like that I had my own ideas about how things should be done. He blamed me for Steven Bates’s cabinets falling off the wagon, and it wasn’t even my fault.” “It doesn’t matter who did what or who said what. My daed let you go and you should accept that.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who says I’m not?”
“You wouldn’t try to get even with Dad, would you?”
“No way. I’d never do that, no matter how much he might irritate me.”
A sense of relief flooded Martha’s soul. “I didn’t think you would try to get even, but we’ve had a few more incidents at our place this week, so—”
“What’s been done?”
“A stink bomb was thrown into our barn, and then our house, barn, and Dad’s shop got toilet-papered.”
Luke frowned. “Sounds like some pranksters to me. I heard there was some toilet-papering done at one of the schoolhouses near Berlin the other day.”
“Dad thought it might be pranksters at first, but then he mentioned that he thought it could have been—”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“Puh! I’ve got better things to do than make stink bombs and spread TP all over the place.” Luke started walking toward his buggy.
Martha was more certain than ever that Luke wasn’t the one responsible for any of the attacks. The only question unanswered—who was responsible?
As Martin headed down the road in his buggy, his stomach twisted as though it were tied in knots. He’d come to a decision about his relation-ship with Ruth, and this evening he planned to talk to her about it.
When he arrived at the Hostettlers’, he spotted Ruth sitting in the glider under the maple tree in the backyard, reading a book. He halted the buggy, secured his horse to the hitching rail, and sprinted across the lawn.
“I’m surprised to see you,” Ruth said as he approached her. “I didn’t know you’d be coming by this evening.”
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