Plain Refuge

by Janice Kay Johnson

  * * *

  AMISH RARELY TURNED to the police, but now he’d received his second call in a matter of days from Samuel. Troubled, Daniel set his phone on his desk. Rebecca’s uncle had told Daniel that Noah Yoder, the next-door neighbor, had seen a man with binoculars tramping through the woods behind his place.

  “He could be only a bird-watcher, but after the break-in, we are all worried.” He paused. “Other people I know say that cars they didn’t recognize slowed down to pass their buggies. Might be only tourists, curious, but the men in the cars stared, wanting to see every face.”

  “I hope you’ll spread the word to have the Leit call if they spot someone who seems to be spying,” Daniel had said. “If a car slows so men can stare, a license number would allow us to find out whether these are tourists or something more dangerous.”

  Hesitant, Samuel had nonetheless agreed he would tell others.

  In the meantime, about all Daniel could do was make cruising the back roads in the heavily Amish areas of the county a higher priority. How much good that would do was another question. Visitors frequently came to the area to crane their necks at the Amish in their buggies.

  He was still at the office trying to decide where to position the even-skimpier evening shift of deputies when his desk phone rang. Melissa Sue, one of the dispatchers and general assistants, said, “There’s a gentleman here to see you, Sheriff. His name is Robert Gregory.”

  Now wasn’t that interesting. Did that mean the senior Gregory knew everything his son was up to? Or did he believe Tim was searching only for Matthew?

  “Thank you. Let him know I’ll be out in a moment,” Daniel said, hanging up the phone.

  Robert Gregory hadn’t bothered to take a seat in the small waiting room. When he heard the heavy door opening, he swung to face Daniel, raking him with an assessing look. Easily recognizable from the pictures Daniel had seen online, the man fairly crackled with impatience and intensity.

  “Mr. Gregory?” Daniel held out his hand. “I’m Sheriff Byler.”

  “Sheriff.” They shook. “I’d like to sit down with you in private.”

  Daniel let his eyebrows climb, but said, “Certainly.” He nodded at Melissa Sue, who buzzed him back through the always-locked door. He waved Gregory ahead and into a small conference room just inside.

  As soon as they had taken seats, he said, “Now, what is it you think I can do for you, Mr. Gregory?”

  “I know you’re aware my daughter-in-law is here illegally with my grandson,” the man said tightly. “I’m asking you, as head of law enforcement in this county, to hand over the boy to me.”

  Daniel leaned back in his chair as if taken aback. “You might want to tell me what makes you think this woman is here.”

  The man failed to hide his contempt. “I know that my son and Rebecca—” he said the name with distaste “—had an encounter.”

  “An encounter. Interesting way to describe it.”

  “I’m aware my son may have behaved somewhat...impetuously. I’m not defending him.”

  Daniel let his voice harden. “Good, because I saw your son slam his ex-wife into the door frame of his rental car. She could easily have suffered brain damage or lost an eye. Impetuous isn’t the word I’d have used.”

  Robert made a sharp gesture and snapped, “That’s beside the point.”

  “No, I don’t think it is. I would have arrested him for assault had my first concern not been Ms. Holt’s injuries and her terrified little boy. Unfortunately, your son escaped while I was assisting her.”

  His eyes glittered. “So you do know where they are.”

  “If I did, Mr. Gregory, I wouldn’t tell you. In fact—” he leaned forward, wishing his size advantage would intimidate the creep “—I need you to tell me where Tim is. He has to answer to the charges laid against him in this county before we can have any further discussion.”

  Robert snorted. “I neither know nor care where he is. I want my grandson, Sheriff. Ms. Holt did not have the legal right to take Matthew out of the state without informing the boy’s father. She has not made my grandson available for court-ordered visitation. Tim has himself in a mess I want nothing to do with.” His lip curled. “My concern is removing Matthew from a mother who has shown herself to be unable to care adequately for him.” His eyes narrowed. “And I do expect cooperation from you.”

  What a prick. Daniel felt no guilt over thinking the word. No wonder Rebecca wanted to keep her kid out of his grandfather’s hands.

  “Tell me, Mr. Gregory, do you have a court order indicating your custody rights to this boy?”

  Gregory glared at him. “I will certainly demand full custody once I have the boy home in San Francisco.”

  Daniel quirked an eyebrow. “I take it that’s a no?”

  “Matthew’s only family is in California. You cannot possibly be taking the side of a woman who has attempted to disappear with him.”

  “Strange you should say that.” Daniel let himself smile. “As it happens, besides his mother, young Matthew has maternal great-grandparents here in Missouri, as well as any number of aunts and uncles and cousins. It’s my understanding he has been warmly received by his family.”

  “Amish,” Robert spit.

  “I find them to be good folks,” Daniel said. “Law-abiding and generous.”

  “It might as well be a cult,” the man sneered. “I will not lose my grandson to those people.”

  “I don’t mean to be unhelpful, but it seems to me that right now you don’t have a leg to stand on, Mr. Gregory. You might be smart to go on back to California and try to figure out what your son has gotten himself mixed up in.”

  Robert shoved back his chair. “What would you know about it?”

  Did he believe the sheriff of this small county was an ignorant hayseed? Very possibly, Daniel realized.

  “I do know that your former daughter-in-law barely escaped from two attempts on her life back in your fine city. I’ve spoken to a Detective Estevez there. Those incidents had something to do with the troubles at G, G & S. Or with someone’s desire to remove Ms. Holt from the equation so that his father—or grandfather—might have custody.”

  Robert shot to his feet, his face dark with fury. “You’re accusing me...?”

  “No, no, not at all.” Daniel took pleasure in appearing placid. “Only letting you know any discussion of the best placement for Matthew is unlikely until some questions are answered. As I said, unless you’re interested in helping us locate your son, I recommend you go on home.” He, too, stood, smiling. “Although I feel sure Detective Estevez would be glad to talk to you. I have his number if—”

  Robert stalked out of the conference room. Daniel ambled after him, pleased to see that Melissa Sue had waited for his nod to electronically unlock the heavy door.

  Only a few feet into the waiting room, Robert turned a burning look on Daniel. “You’ll be hearing from me again.”

  “I’ll look forward to that, Mr. Gregory.”

  “Pissed him off, did you?” the dispatcher said cheerfully after he left.

  “I did.”

  “Course, he was pissed when he walked in the door,” she mused.

  Daniel hoped that wasn’t the language she used when speaking to the fine citizens of Henness County, but he let it go. The truth was, he had enjoyed pissing off Robert Gregory.

  * * *

  THE STURDY YOUNG boy perched beside his grossdaadi on the driver’s seat of the black buggy stared at Matthew, who stared back. Like Matthew and Amos, Caleb wore black trousers, a long-sleeved blue shirt and suspenders, all in more diminutive sizes. Unlike Matthew, he also wore a straw hat identical to his grossdaadi’s.

  When the staring contest failed to end, Barbara intervened, chuckling with delight and sweeping her grandson down while chatteri
ng away to him in Deitsch. Rebecca couldn’t help thinking that Caleb Lapp was a very brave boy. From what she’d gathered, he hadn’t seen his grandparents since Christmas, which was a very long time ago in the life of a five-year-old. And now he was confronted with a strange boy whom he had undoubtedly been told didn’t speak his language.

  But Caleb finally eyed Matthew and said, “Hi.” Had he rehearsed it?

  Matthew’s face brightened. “Hi. Do you want to play catch? I even have a bat, if you want to hit the ball.” Barbara had driven to town this morning to grocery shop, returning with a bright blue plastic bat and ball, as well as bags full of food.

  Caleb transferred his gaze to his grandmother, who translated. Then he grinned at Matthew, showing a gap in his front teeth. “Ja!”

  The two boys ran for the porch, the three adults looking after them in amazement.

  “He is not a shy boy,” Amos finally commented, his tone odd. “A blabbermaul, more like. Don’t know why he hasn’t lost his voice.” Then he clicked his tongue, and the horse started toward the barn.

  Barbara laughed. “Poor Amos, hours stuck with a kind who talks all the time.”

  Rebecca had to laugh, too. “And look at Caleb and Matthew!” They had taken the bat and ball and started around the side of the house, where the ground was flat and uninterrupted enough for baseball.

  “Brederlich already,” Barbara agreed, sounding just a little smug. Rebecca couldn’t blame her. Her idea to bring Caleb for a visit had been splendid, even if Rebecca still worried about Caleb’s safety.

  Amos deserved a good deal of the credit. Until Rebecca had seen him spending time with Matthew, she wouldn’t have been able to imagine him entertaining a five-year-old boy for several hours.

  Then she laughed again. It was entirely possible he hadn’t had to do a thing but nod and grunt from time to time.

  Hiding her hand in her skirts, Rebecca crossed her fingers. Please let them become best friends.

  * * *

  IN PREPARATION FOR DINNER, Barbara put both boys to work snapping green beans, fetching a jar of applesauce from the cellar and setting the table. Along with bible stories after dinner, Rebecca played games with them, translating for them to their merriment since her own Pennsylvania Dutch still wasn’t fluent. Even so, the games were more fun with three.

  Nonetheless, all she could think about was seeing Daniel again. The last thing he’d said yesterday evening was, “Eight thirty?” She had promised to try.

  After tucking the boys into the same twin bed, she went downstairs and paused in the living room doorway. “I’m going outside for a while.”

  Barbara and Amos smiled in understanding. Perhaps she should have told them she was meeting Daniel, but as an adult she wasn’t about to bow to Amish restrictions on women, even if she had agreed to live plain to blend into their lives.

  What she couldn’t understand was her excitement whenever she thought about meetingDaniel.

  Had she let go of her anger so easily?

  She had felt betrayed most to think he had fostered the sense of intimacy between them only to extract confidences. But last night, he had turned to her in his grief. She hadn’t been a witness or a suspect to him, only a woman he needed.

  Outside, she strolled briefly toward the deserted country road, although not so close a passing driver would see her, before turning back and continuing toward the barn.

  Just as she reached it, a dark figure stepped around the corner. “It’s me,” Daniel said quietly.

  Relief and that same excitement filled her.

  He took her arm even though her eyes had adjusted to the moonlit darkness. They sat on the bench, really only a board laid across a couple of upended stumps. She pictured Amos taking breaks out here, enjoying the quiet and solitude.

  They had to stay quiet. If she was caught sneaking out to meet a man, she and Matthew might lose their current refuge.

  “I haven’t told your aunt and uncle I’m meeting you. They probably think I’m just enjoying some peace and quiet.”

  He grimaced. “Maybe tomorrow you should tell Amos that I asked you to meet me outside so nobody watching would see me near the place.”

  Something in her relaxed, both at the suggestion and at the knowledge that she would see Daniel again. “I’ll do that.”

  She sat, Daniel beside her. He’d laid a flashlight down but did not turned it on.

  “I do have news.”

  She held her breath.

  “Your father-in-law marched into the station today.” He told her about Robert’s demands, and how he had routed him, if only for now.

  “Here. He’s in town, so close.”

  “No, I followed up. He caught a flight to San Francisco out of St. Louis earlier in the evening.”

  “Where he’ll file for custody.”

  “Relax.” A large hand lifted hers from her lap.

  After letting him lace their fingers together, she looked down, seeing their clasped hands in moonlight, her skin paler than his even after the hours she’d spent working in Aenti Emma’s garden and hanging out laundry. His hand engulfed hers. The bones in his wrist were so much bigger than hers, his forearm strong with muscle.

  “How can I relax?”

  “He won’t be filing for anything, not yet. He isn’t that stupid. His son is in deep trouble. You’re hiding out of fear of Tim—and don’t say it’s not Tim, because he’s part of it. I pointed out that Matthew has lots of relatives here.”

  “They’re Amish,” she said tightly. “I’m betting judges are leery of them.”

  “In your part of the country, probably. But Robert has a big problem right now—his son. Until that’s resolved and you and Matthew are safe, there won’t be any hearings.”

  It was a long moment before she could let herself believe he was right, before the rigidity gradually seeped out of her body.

  “Hey.” Daniel bumped his shoulder against hers. “Caleb make it?”

  She smiled despite everything and repeated what Amos had said about his grandson being a blabbermaul. “Although your uncle has surprised me.”

  “How so?”

  “Yesterday afternoon after you left, I was about to go nuts when he took Matthew for an hour to ‘help’ in his workshop.”

  “Amos?”

  She couldn’t help laughing at his amazement. “Matthew came back feeling really proud of himself.”

  “Huh.” Daniel shook his head. “How are Matthew and Caleb getting along?”

  “Amazing, considering they can barely talk to each other. I had no idea how much I’d miss Abram. And Mose and Esther. They treated him like one of their own.”

  “What’s one more in that household?”

  “And I doubt they’re done.”

  “No, I think the kinder will just keep coming for those two,” he agreed.

  “Caleb is your cousin,” she realized, then corrected herself. “First cousin, once-removed.”

  “I guess he is.” The words came slowly. “I’ve never met him.”

  “I suppose you have a lot of cousins.”

  “Nieces and nephews, too.” He sounded sad. “Some I’ve never even met.”

  “Why not?” she asked, indignant. “You’re not under the bann.”

  “No, but I’m not quite part of the family, either. Two of my three sisters have married out of the area. Both were visiting in Iowa when they met their husbands. My next younger brother is still angry at me. We were close growing up.”

  “He thinks you rejected him.”

  Daniel sighed. “Yes. He had no trouble convincing himself that he’s really mad because I broke with the faith, and in such a conspicuous way.” His shoulders moved. “I do see Mamm and Daad and most of the family who live locally on occasion.”

&nbs
p; “Is it awkward?”

  “Not as much when it’s just my parents and my one sister, Rachel. Otherwise...yes.”

  “I’m sorry.” She gave his hand a little squeeze.

  “My choice,” he said curtly.

  “But it can still hurt.”

  There was a moment of silence before he nodded. “You’re right.”

  “Do you ever wish you hadn’t come back?”

  He gave a short laugh lacking any humor. “You have a way of getting right down to it, don’t you?”

  Shrinking, she said, “I shouldn’t have—”

  But Daniel tugged on her hand and said, “Come here.”

  She barely hesitated before scooting close enough for him to put an arm around her. His willingness to tell her about his life, to share the things that hurt him, had restored her trust in him. He’d known too much about her, while remaining the cop. Now, they were achieving the give and take that put them on the same footing.

  “The answer to your question is, sometimes, even if I usually think I’m right where I should be.”

  Reassured by what felt like honesty, she said, “They may all be conflicted about you, but it’s obvious they respect you, too. Onkel Samuel told me you’re a good man.”

  A smile in his voice, Daniel said, “I think he is, too. And Amos, or I wouldn’t have brought you to stay here.”

  She sat quietly for a minute, feeling the need to remind them both of the real reason for this meeting. “You didn’t magically find Tim today, did you?”

  “Far as I can tell, he’s vanished into thin air.”

  Rebecca didn’t know how she could smile, but suddenly she did. “Maybe a doorway into another dimension opened.”

  “If so, I hope some truly hideous monsters were waiting for him, and I don’t care if he is Matthew’s father.” He pressed a kiss to her head. “Read a little sci-fi, do you?”

  “And fantasy. You?”

  “Same. Otherwise, mostly mysteries and nonfiction.” He chuckled, then turned serious. “My best guess is that he’s still around, and I doubt he’s here alone.”