“The national park?” She couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. It was a busy place. Really busy. Thousands of people went there each day, some on buses.
Stephen was nodding like it was the best idea in the world. “Jah. It’s real close. Have you ever been?”
She shook her head. “Gut. I haven’t, either. Will you accompany me? I’m going to hire a driver.”
“Why are you asking?” Not wanting to misconstrue anything, she said, “Is it just because you feel sorry for me?”
“Nee. It’s not that. It’s because I want to be with you. It’s because even though we might want to pretend that we merely tolerated each other, I think there’s something more.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Jean was too smart to have kept us both so close if she thought we had nothing in common but her.”
He did have a point. “All right, then. Yes.”
“Yes? Already?” He chuckled. “And here I thought it was going to take me another hour to convince you.”
She shrugged. “Maybe I’ve gotten tired of treating you like a stranger, Stephen. And you know . . . I’ve always had a soft spot for really good yarn.”
“Danke, Daisy.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for the invitation.” Though she still wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not, she was pleased.
Now she had to hope she hadn’t just made a big mistake.
Chapter 19
July 20
Noah, yesterday I saw that girl you were so taken with,” Reid said. The two EMTs, along with Chad, were walking out of the hospital after dropping off a teenager who’d been in a car accident.
“Who might that be?” Noah asked lightly. No doubt Reid was matchmaking again. Ever since he got engaged, he seemed to think that everyone needed to be paired up into twos.
“That Amish girl with the violet eyes. You know, the one y’all were telling me lived near Cub Run.”
Noah drew to a stop. “Sadie?”
Reid snapped his fingers. “Yeah. Her. Sorry, her name slipped my mind.”
Chad stopped walking, too, focusing on Reid.
“How did you see her? Was someone in her family ill?” asked Noah.
“Not ill, but she had a scare. Her cousins brought her into the clinic to make sure she was doing all right.” Reid was a paramedic but also volunteered at a free clinic once a month.
“Was she all right?”
Reid, careful about keeping patients’ ailments confidential, looked taken aback.
“I know she’s pregnant,” Noah added. “She told me herself.”
“Oh. Well, then I can tell you that she passed out.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yes. I mean, I think so.” Reid shook his head. “I’m used to the Amish not running to the doctor much, but she hadn’t even seen a midwife. She needs some looking after.”
Noah thought about how her family seemed to value secrets more than her health. “I bet she does.”
“Anyway, I gave her some prenatal vitamins and told her to take it easy, especially in the afternoons. This heat can be a killer.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Chad warned. “We’re bringing in at least one person a shift who’s suffering from heat exhaustion.”
“Sorry.” Smiling again at Noah, Reid said, “Anyway, I’m only mentioning Sadie because she asked about you.”
“Really?”
“Yup. She was real interested in your schedule.”
“She was?”
Reid nodded. “I think she was a little disappointed that you weren’t at the clinic. Hey, maybe you should stop by and see her soon. Just to make sure she’s taking care of herself.”
“I’ll do that,” he replied, though he wasn’t real sure how he was going to feel about doing that. “Thanks again for letting me know.”
Turning to Chad, Noah said, “Ready?”
“Yep,” and they started walking.
“Hang in there, Reid,” they both called out as they went their ways.
“You, too. Be safe,” he replied before disappearing through the doors leading to the emergency wing.
Chad turned to Noah as they walked to the ambulance. “I’m beginning to think that there is something more going on with that girl that you aren’t saying.”
“You would be right,” Noah said as they got in. Mitch was in the driver’s seat, talking on the phone.
After letting Mitch know all was taken care of, they headed back to the firehouse. While Mitch was driving, Chad turned back to Noah. “So . . . want to talk about it? You know she’s pregnant . . . I bet you were surprised. It’s really too bad y’all don’t wear wedding rings. Then you would have known that she was taken.”
“She ain’t married.”
“Oh. Wow.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what her story is, but I don’t think it’s good. Now, at least, I understand why she was sent away from her community. If she got pregnant out of wedlock and the man wasn’t stepping up to the plate, her family was no doubt upset with her.”
Chad frowned. “A girl doesn’t get pregnant on her own, Noah.”
“I realize that. But an unmarried woman getting pregnant is still something of a crisis for a lot of people, whether they’re Amish or not.”
“I hear what you’re saying. But still . . . that’s too bad, her being all alone. She seems like a sweet thing.”
“It is too bad.” Noah also thought that Sadie seemed sweet, but decided to keep that thought to himself.
Chad took a deep breath, looking like he was ready to discuss it some more, but Noah wasn’t ready to talk about Amish customs, Sadie’s pregnancy, or why she was occupying his thoughts. “Do you still want me to check tanks when we get back, Mitch?”
“Hmm? Yeah. But that phone call I took while you were in the hospital was Chief Garcia. He wants us to meet with Deputy Beck. The police are still working on those two deaths.”
“Why do they want to speak to us?” Chad asked.
“I don’t know,” Mitch murmured as he maneuvered the vehicle around a horse and buggy. “Probably because we found the first case in the area.”
“There have only been two, though. Right?” Chad asked.
“That’s what I thought, but the chief sounded pretty concerned,” Mitch replied. “So, who knows? Maybe there’s been another victim.”
Noah swallowed, a bitter taste entering his mouth as he put everything back into perspective. Yes, an unplanned pregnancy was a crisis, but it wasn’t a tragedy. Not like either of those deaths or the majority of the cases they found themselves involved in during each shift. Though he wasn’t looking forward to meeting with the sheriff and not providing the answers they’d wanted, he didn’t regret his choice. Sadie came first.
As if he was reading Noah’s mind, Chad glanced his way. “Never a dull moment, huh?”
“Never.”
“And . . . that’s why we like it,” Mitch said as he pulled into their slot in the firehouse. “It keeps us on our toes.”
Noah wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. But maybe it didn’t matter. People got in accidents, got sick, and even died. If those things didn’t happen, he wouldn’t have a job.
After climbing out of the back, he began wiping down and restocking the ambulance, only half listening while Mitch and Chad veered the conversation toward Mitch’s in-laws and a home repair project they were working on.
The two men continued to chat while filling out paperwork and helping with the cleaning.
Noah allowed his mind to drift.
Allowed himself to come to terms with the fact that almost every conversation of late centered on Sadie. He didn’t know what to make of it, but he decided not to dwell on it. He needed to come to terms with how he felt about her not being the innocent woman he imagined.
He just wasn’t sure why it mattered.
ONE HOUR LATER, Noah, Chad, and Mitch were summoned to the meeting in the chief’s office just moments after
the new crew clocked in. They all took seats and Chief Garcia stood up. “There isn’t any good way to say this, so I’m going to be blunt. Another two people died of similar symptoms to Verba and John Beachy, but over in Bowling Green.”
“In Bowling Green? Were they Amish?”
Deputy Beck shook his head. “Nope. Both were young males in their twenties who, as far as we can determine, have no ties to the Amish at all.” Flipping through the file he’d brought with him, he added, “One of the men was in college at Western Kentucky and here from Arkansas. The city, too. I’d be pretty surprised if he even knew who the Amish were.”
Chief Garcia nodded. “And the other?”
“That one is from Bowling Green. But he was a partier. I guess he’s the one who brought the moonshine to the party.”
“Where did he get it from?”
Beck smiled grimly. “That’s why we’re involved. From what the authorities there can discern, his parents drove up to Mammoth Cave, decided to spend the day touring the country, and brought home a Mason jar of moonshine from an Amish fella on the side of the road.” He closed the folder again. “I’ve been doing this long enough to know that people don’t always tell the whole story, but this sounds like it might actually be the truth.”
Noah frowned. “Which means it came from an Amish fella in the area.”
“Yep. Any ideas, Noah?” Beck asked.
Though he could have mentioned the Stauffers here, he elected to keep silent. “Nope. I’m not the authority on the whole Amish population.”
Beck held up his hands. “Easy, now. You know I mean no disrespect. My wife grew up Amish in Horse Cave.”
“Sorry. I’d forgotten that.”
“All I’m trying to say is, I know better than to make general assumptions.”
“You’re right.” Noah cleared his head and tried to think about everything objectively. “Here’s my guess. Some Amish teens in their rumspringa do some pretty stupid stuff. They might take risks that they wouldn’t if they were older.”
“So they act like any other teenagers.”
“Yep. But depending on the kid, he might be really gullible. Some parents try so hard to keep the outside world away from their children that they have absolutely no idea how to behave around Englishers. And some of those folks count on that.”
Beck nodded. “I see where you’re going with this. So it could be that a couple of naïve kids got hold of some moonshine.”
“But that doesn’t explain how a woman like Verba Stauffer died,” said Noah.
“What about this?” the chief asked. “How about some Amish kids who are real gullible are also real eager to make money. Maybe they buy some tainted moonshine and sell it—”
“But Verba—” Noah cut in.
“Some Amish men and women might have a little bit of alcohol in the house for medicinal purposes,” the chief quickly continued his thought.
“Would that be allowed?” asked Beck.
“I don’t think any bishop is going to start recommending it or anything,” said Noah. “But I can’t imagine someone getting into trouble if they take a couple of sips from some wine—or moonshine, say—if they’re real sick and need help sleeping.”
Deputy Eddie Beck nodded. “I think you’re right. This scenario makes the most sense, too. Let’s all keep our eyes and ears open for word about some Amish boys selling jars of moonshine.”
“Will do,” Chad said.
Mitch frowned. “This still seems awfully neat to me. Are we sure only two men over in Bowling Green tried it? Maybe it comes from someone around those parts.”
Deputy Beck shook his head. “A couple other folks said they tried it, but just small sips.”
“You think they’re telling the truth?”
“Probably, they don’t have any reason to lie.”
“What do you need us to do?”
“I’m going to go talk to some folks in the hospital, too, but I think we need to put the word out to the public to not drink anything because it might be tainted—and, of course, catch whoever is selling it.”
Everyone else nodded, but Noah got the feeling the other men were thinking the same thing that he was. It was going to be like trying to find a needle in the haystack.
If someone was sneaking something into food or drink they shouldn’t, and now they knew people were looking for that person . . . ?
Well, there was every possibility in the world that no one would hear about it ever again.
Or at least until another person died.
Chapter 20
Saturday afternoon, July 28
The day was glorious. The sky was a robin’s-egg blue and there was hardly any humidity in the air, two things that Sadie was learning hardly ever happened in the middle of summer in central Kentucky.
Unfortunately, they’d spent most of the morning canning several quarts of tomatoes in the hot kitchen. But that was okay; she and Esther had a lot to smile and chat about.
To everyone’s surprise, Stephen had taken the day off to visit Mammoth Cave with a woman.
He announced that bit of information right in the middle of breakfast, like it was a common occurrence. Monroe, who hardly ever lost his composure, gaped at his father in wonder. Esther giggled. Willis, on the other hand, looked so irritated that Sadie worried he was going to throw the saltshaker in his hand at the wall.
As for Sadie? She was shocked. Stephen was so contained and solemn. She couldn’t imagine that he could either take the day off or go courting. She was also surprised that her cousins weren’t more bothered by it.
Hours later, as she sat next to Esther on the steps right outside the kitchen door, Sadie wondered how the outing might be going. “Do you know this Daisy?”
Esther nodded. “Oh, jah. Daisy was my mother’s best friend. She was at our house a lot when me and Monroe were small.”
“I don’t want to be mean, but I’m kind of surprised that you and Monroe are not more disturbed than you seemed at breakfast.”
“Oh, I do think both of us are in shock,” Esther confided with a laugh, “but mainly because Daed has never acted like he considered Daisy to be one of his friends. Sometimes, I was certain that they didn’t even like each other. Why, whenever we saw Daisy at church, she and my father never said more than two words to each other.”
“Do you mind that your father is courting her?”
Surprise lit Esther’s features before she replied. “I don’t know if Daed is or isn’t courting Daisy. Maybe he’s just taking her out and getting a break from all of us. If that’s the case, I don’t blame him.”
“Your grandfather seemed to think he was going courting.”
“He did, didn’t he?” she mused. “If Daed is, then I’m happy for him. We have a hard life here, you know. And Daed has to bear the brunt of a lot of it because my grandfather can be real hard and difficult.”
“That makes sense.”
“It’s just a day off. I think Monroe is the happiest about the news—now he won’t feel so bad when he takes the day off to see his friends.”
Sadie smiled. “I’m glad he takes off from time to time. He should.”
“I think so, too.”
They worked on the projects they’d brought outside for a few moments. Sadie was crocheting a baby blanket and Esther was sorting out some yarn and fabric she’d bought at a rummage sale two days previously.
“Are you ever going to open the letter that arrived this morning?” Esther asked.
And just like that, her light mood evaporated. Monroe had passed on another letter when they were canning. Sadie stuffed it in her pocket and promptly forgot about it.
Well, pretended it wasn’t there.
But now, with Esther eyeing her carefully, Sadie pulled it back out. “I’ve been putting it off,” she said.
“Why?”
“The last one my mother sent . . . well, it was an order to come home.” Feeling her cheeks heat, she shared the embarrassing truth. “Actually, I d
id something pretty bad. They sent me forty dollars for the bus fare home. I pocketed the money and tore up the letter.”
Esther’s eyes widened. “Sadie!”
“I know. It’s sinful. Ain’t so?”
Esther gazed at her longer, but then shook her head. “I don’t know if it was that terrible or not. Actually, I think I would have probably done the same thing. They really were awful to you.”
Looking at the neat handwriting on the front, Sadie said, “I guess I need to read this one. Stay with me while I do?”
“Of course.”
Feeling like she was about to enter an angry horse’s stall and get kicked for the effort, she carefully tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.
When it was spread open across her lap, Esther leaned close.
“Dear Sadie,” she began. “After waiting for your return, then finally contacting Stephen, we now realize that you ignored our wishes and are staying in Kentucky.”
Esther looked up. “Did my daed talk to you about that?”
“Nee.”
Esther looked down at the page and started reading again.
“We are disappointed in you and now realize that you have become even more willful. If you don’t return by the twenty-eighth, we’ll be forced to take matters into our own hands.”
“Today is the twenty-eighth, isn’t it?”
“Jah.” Looking at the letter again, Esther said, “Your mother doesn’t say much else. Only that she hopes you have come to your senses.”
“I guess I didn’t.” Sadie felt her hands tremble. She pushed them under her thighs so Esther wouldn’t see. But even her trembling couldn’t hold back her anger. “My parents knew this letter wouldn’t arrive before the twenty-eighth. They love to manipulate me.”
“What do you think they’re going to do?”
“Come retrieve me and force me to go back with them.”
“But that’s not fair.”
“You’re right. It ain’t. But it’s what they’ve always done. They’ve probably been telling my brothers and sisters how terrible I am. They’ll no doubt tell them that I’m most likely hungry and sick and alone, all so they’ll be afraid to defy them.” Grabbing the letter, she crumpled it in her hands. “The sad thing is that they don’t even need to make stuff up. What they’ve done is bad enough. My parents not only called me a liar, they kicked me out of the house. I had five dollars. That’s it.”
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