Sam and Annie shook hands, smiling at each other.
“I had to convince her to come in here. To my mind, if we can get the measure of people here, we may be able to determine whether this is true or if it’s just a cruel hoax.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “So you don’t believe it, am I right?”
“I’m not sure we believe it. My dat, the deacon in Big Valley, has his doubts. I know our bishop does as well...” Annie told him.
“Do you suspect anyone specific?”
Eli feared this question. He didn’t want to identify anyone prematurely. “Not really. Nee.” But he couldn’t lie well—had never been able to do so.
Sam saw through his denials. “I’ll tell you what, Eli. If you do begin to suspect anyone, would you please come to see me at City Hall? You don’t need to make an appointment, but it would get you into my office faster if you called ahead for one. Here’s my card.” Pulling a business card out of his breast pocket, Sam handed it to Eli.
“I will, thank you.” Seeing their server approaching, he smiled at Sam and again shook his hand. “It was a pleasure speaking with you.”
After placing their orders, Eli and Annie spoke quietly. “We may have an ally. That makes me right happy.” Eli slipped the business card into Annie’s hand so she could hold it for him. “I’ll take the card when I take you home.”
“Why didn’t you want to name Katie?”
“Because we don’t have proof. While she is willing to name someone who may or may not be threatening us, I want to give her the courtesy of showing she’s not the one creating this hoax.”
“If it’s a hoax.” Annie leaned back, sipping at her iced tea. “Don’t be mistaken. I still think Katie’s the one who started this whole mess. But I agree with you. We need to know definitely whether she’s the one. After all, the gut people here are all being accused. We don’t know who the person is, and Katie’s not speaking. The people at City Hall are right to be concerned.”
Their meals arrived. As they ate, they quietly discussed upcoming plans. “I want to talk to my dat and let him know that Sam approached me. I think he was there at that fence when the mayor showed up. She was upset.”
“Ja, she was right to be...” Annie turned, surprised at the feel of a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Ja, how are you?”
The owner of the hand was the young woman in the university polo shirt. “Hi, I’m sorry to disturb you. I couldn’t help but overhear what you and your friend were talking about. I’m a psychology Ph.D. student at New Mexico State University. Can we sit down sometime soon and talk about this issue you’re facing?”
Annie turned to Eli, surprise in her eyes. “Oh! Well...”
“Miss, what’s your name?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Joanne Abbott. I’m working on my doctorate so that I can start my own practice to help those suffering from mental health issues and personality disorders. But I do have experience doing supervised in-patient behavioral therapy, and I’ve also worked in schools providing support for kids with behavioral problems.”
Eli was curious. “How much did you hear of our situation?”
Joanne smiled. “May I join you, please? I’ll explain why I’m here in Big Valley and how I can help.” At Eli’s nodded assent, she went on. “Okay, I’ve earned my master’s in psychology, and now I’m working on my doctorate. My field of study is abnormal psychology. That is, I work with the topics of mental health, personality disorders, and substance abuse. My goal is to work with individuals suffering from drug abuse issues, personality disorders, and some mental illnesses. It sounds to me like this person you’re speaking of has started a rumor that has the potential to hurt several people, right?”
Annie and Eli both nodded.
“Okay, now to why I’m in Big Valley. I’m spending my summer working with an agency here, gaining real-life work experience. My instructor requires all of her seminar students to spend several weeks in rural areas. I chose here because of the Amish and English communities. And I want to learn more. If I can work with your community and the people in the English area here, I might be able to help you figure out if this rumor is true. Can you tell me more?”
Eli considered Joanne’s words. “Well, I can tell you a little. But it would be up to our elders to decide to say anymore.” Eli told her what he felt he could. Once he was done, he issued an invitation to her. “How well do you know Big Valley?”
“I’m still getting used to it here, honestly. But if you give me street names and landmarks, I can get from Point A to Point B.”
“Gut. Because I would like for you to meet with Annie’s dat. He’s the deacon, Eppie Yoder. The bishop is John Lapp. That’s L-a-p-p.”
Joanne was quickly jotting down notes. Looking up, she glanced at her friends at their table. “Go on ahead,” She told them. “I’ll find my way back to the hotel in a while. Here’s my part of the bill.” Pulling enough for her meal and part of the tip, she handed it to another student. “When would it be convenient for me to visit with you?”
Eli considered. “I’m busy until just after lunchtime tomorrow. If you have a phone number I can have, I’ll speak with my dat tonight and see if he’s willing to speak with you. Either way, I can call you so you can either come out or wait until I’ve convinced him and the other elders to meet with you. For sure, we don’t have the expertise to work with something like this.”
“Because you stop going to school after the eighth grade, right? Are you allowed to continue learning from books if you visit the library?”
“Oh, ja, we are. But we usually don’t have that much time, with work and families. Once we speak with you—and I hope Dat will agree—this will give me more direction to start looking up books.”
“That’s a good idea. So, what is this rumor or whatever it is?”
Annie explained it. “We learned that someone in the English community has been saying they want us to be gone, to move away from Big Valley. Lately, someone, maybe that person, painted a large sign on a fence that told us to move away.”
“What makes you doubt that it’s real?”
“The woman I suspect moved here from Indiana a few years ago, with her parents. We all noticed that her parents wouldn’t allow her to go out by herself, even before these threats started. She went everywhere with them, to the store and such. She also wasn’t allowed to go to community events where other Amish youth would be, like running-around activities or the weekly Singings. It’s only in the past few months that her parents have started allowing her to go. But we suspect that’s because the elders have told all families here to get home early at night and not allow their children or youth to run around freely anymore.”
“Wow! So, what do you do now? You just don’t go out at night? What about you two?” Joanne was confused.
“We get together in the early evening, but we all have to be home by nine at night, at the latest. Eli will have me home before nine so he can be home by that time. That’s about when it gets dark, so we feel safer then.”
“Oh, wow. Now I see what you’re facing. You don’t know if the rumor is true or not. Even if it’s not, you’re living with fear, and it’s changing how you do things. That’s wrong. You should be able to do what you need to do and what you want to do, fear-free. And if the young lady you suspect is responsible, she needs help. Eli, Annie, I hope your elders will allow me to work with you. By the way, who was that guy talking to you a while ago?”
Eli had to think for a few seconds. “Oh, that was Sam. He works for City Hall, doing publicity. He wanted to let us know that the city officers are doing everything they can to make sure we are safe.”
Joanne smiled. “That’s wonderful! Well, I’ll tell you what. You talk to your dad and see what he says. Give me a call tomorrow and let me know if it’s good for me to come out. I really want to help you.” Rising, she waved to the couple and left.
Annie and Eli looked at each other, stunned. “Eli, she’s willing to help us just out
of the goodness of her heart! All because she heard us talking about that rumor...wait, there’s Katie. She’s with your brother.”
The couple turned their conversation to other topics. “Your mam was talking about the two of you expanding your quilting business, right?”
“Ja, she has! We’re excited. I was in the fabric store here with her, and we were talking about buying more fabric from them so we can start making more quilts...wait, I’m going about this backward. We need to reach out to new customers, and then start making more quilts!”
“Do you think there’s enough demand for you and other quilters in Big Valley?”
“Ja, there is. I’m always busy. I rarely have downtime between customers. If I do, it’s a break I use to clean my shop and restock. And I’m sure other quilters have similar schedules to mine. I know Mam is always busy. But she is such a talented quilter, and she’s starting to make her own designs now.”
Eli was fascinated by their discussion. “It sounds like the two of you could, oh, I don’t know...open your own quilting store? Giving lessons?”
Annie gasped and pointed at Eli. “Eli, denki! Give lessons!”
Eli grinned, happy he’d been able to give his love another idea.
“And? How is it going with your carpentry?”
“Gut! More customers and my dat and I have to schedule about five months out now. Even Amos is getting more orders, and he’s scheduling jobs further out.” Eli’s voice dropped. “Where are Amos and Katie sitting? I don’t want to turn around.”
“Gut, because Katie saw us and she frowned. They are sitting close to the other end of the dining area, behind you and to your left. Don’t look. I’ll let you know what they do.”
“Denki.” Eli’s voice went back to its normal pitch. “How’s your food?”
“It’s gut, just not quite like what Mam makes. But that’s just the recipes they use in the kitchen.” Annie speared food and put it into her mouth.
Eli’s attention was caught by the bright orange sunset pouring through a nearby window. Watching the fiery colors, he relaxed. Even knowing that Amos and his girlfriend were also in the restaurant didn’t faze him. He was out to show Annie a gut time tonight.
Annie, seeing the direction of Eli’s gaze, was transfixed by the view. “Eli, it’s so beautiful!”
Eli grinned at his girlfriend. This is why I love her so much. She appreciates what’s important. He thought of the question he would be asking her after they left the restaurant. His sense of anticipation was intruded upon as Katie called his name.
“Ja, Katie, what is it?” Looking at his little brother’s girlfriend, Eli made sure to wipe all expression but polite curiosity from his face.
“Did you know we were coming here tonight?” Katie’s arms were crossed, seeming to hold her separate from Eli and Annie.
Chapter 4
Eli was confused. “Nee. Why? I didn’t even know you and Amos had plans tonight.”
Annie found Katie’s question odd and her confusion showed on her face.
Katie, looking at both young people, gasped, stepped back a pace and collected her composure back around her. Oh, that was stupid of me to say! She lowered her gaze, her fingertips drifting to her earlobe. “Okay, I was just checking. I hope you enjoy your meal!”
Cheeks flaming, Katie turned and hurried back to her and Amos’s table.
Annie looked at Katie as she retreated. “Amos must have gone to the men’s room. That’s why she came up to our table.”
“Never mind. If it is her, then her guilty conscience is doing its work. Would you like dessert?”
Annie considered, looking through the small brochure that showed the restaurant’s dessert offerings. “Oooh, that brownie with ice cream looks gut! I’ll have that.”
Eli raised his hand, calling their server to the table. “Ja, we’d like the brownie a la mode, and I’ll have the ice cream sundae, please.”
“Certainly, I’ll add them to your order and bring them out.” The server grinned at her customers and hurried off.
AS ELI AND ANNIE DROVE slowly back to their community, Eli was comfortably silent. He was anticipating the question he’d be asking Annie in just a few minutes. Turning down a familiar country road, he stopped just inside a covered bridge. “Annie, you and I have been courting for a couple years now. I’ve come to treasure your friendship and our relationship, and I want to be with you for the rest of our lives. I want to marry you in front of Gott and our families. Will you be my wife?”
Annie had expected the tender proposal for some weeks now, but she was still struck with strong emotion. Covering her lower face with both hands, she nodded at Eli as tears began sliding down her cheeks. “Ja! I will. I love you too, and I want to be your wife.” She also wanted to be the mother of his bopplis, but she figured she’d let him bring that topic up.
Not caring that anyone could come riding by, Eli swept Annie into his arms. His happiness fizzled through his veins, just as though he’d drunk an entire can of soda in one gulp. Raising her face tenderly with one hand, he pressed his lips to hers. Instead of raising his mouth from hers, he enjoyed the sensation of her soft lips against his. After a few minutes, he pulled his mouth from hers. Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes as he tried to get control of his thundering heart and strong elation. “Annie, I’ve been waiting to kiss you like that for...well, months!”
Annie inhaled, and then pushed the breath out through pursed lips. Waving her hand in front of her face and neck, she blushed. “Nee, it’s okay! I just hope nobody saw us.”
Eli looked around. Seeing nobody and hearing no horse’s hooves clopping on the road, he grinned at Annie. Releasing her from his arms, he picked up the reins to his patient horses. “Nobody. But I expect Amos and Katie will be along before too long, so we’d better go.”
“Oh! I almost forgot!” Annie pulled the two pages of notes she’d jotted down at home out of her apron pocket. Giving them to Eli, she spoke. “See that turn-off up there? Pull into it so you can read what I’ve done so far.”
Obeying her, Eli pulled his buggy off the road, so it was virtually undetectable. Opening the two pages, he began to read. He gasped. “Annie! This is dangerous! Has she seen you?”
“Nee. But I suspect she knows she’s being followed. Just not who’s following her.”
“How?” Eli’s voice had deepened as his concern for his fiancée spread fear through his body.
Annie sighed. “It’s okay, Eli. I’ve made sure to stay well-hidden when I’m following her. A couple times, I’ve seen her talking to one or another of her friends. Last week, I tailed her to that Mennonite fabric and quilting shop on the other side of the community. She bought a bunch of quilting things. She was alone, and the only other person in the store was the owner.”
“How do you know?”
“Because there were no cars or buggies parked outside. Katie realized she was being followed and she got scared. Just jammed her bags into her buggy and took off like she was being followed by a wildfire. I stayed behind and went into the shop. I bought a few things from the owner myself.”
“She’s Mennonite? Gut. Just in case that threat is a for-real thing. But try not to socialize too much with her. Your parents wouldn’t be happy.”
“Nee. I did tell Mam so she would know that I’m not hiding anything. She just sighed and told me not to get too close to the woman.”
“Well, we are hiding something. We’re hiding the fact that you’re following Katie Miller.” He broke off, hearing the clop-clop of horse’s hooves. Raising his finger to his lips, Eli signaled that they should be quiet. He looked quickly behind them to make sure that his buggy wouldn’t be visible from the road.
AS AMOS AND KATIE PASSED, Katie struggled with her own turbulent feelings. Stories squirmed in her guts like snakes. She wanted to stay as close to Amos as she possibly could. Being with him, I feel more complete than I ever have before. We laugh and tell jokes. I love his smile. But now, he’s preoccupied. He
seems worried. And I see him looking at me with confusion sometimes. And now, he’s begun to hold himself away from me.
Forcing her unhappy thoughts out of her mind, Katie rested her head against Amos’s shoulder. But Amos remained stiff. Her smile faded. Amos wasn’t responding at all. “Amos? What’s wrong?”
Amos looked around them. Seeing the rapid purpling of the dusk, he tried to allow the beauty around them to calm his spirit. But it wasn’t working. “Katie, I’m sorry. But, when I get you to your parent’s house, I’m going to have to take a break from our relationship. There’s just so much going on with this person supposedly making threats against us. And, even though I don’t want it to be true, everything leads back to you. I don’t think there is such a person. I think you made him—or her—up.” Not having anything else to say, he lapsed into a glum silence.
Katie swallowed. This was it. Everything was falling apart. She lifted her head from Amos’s shoulder, she scooted back as far away from him as she could. Desperate, she tried to save herself. To save them. “Amos! How could you think that I started such a nasty rumor?” Covering her face with both hands, she began to cry. It wasn’t hard. She had been trying so hard, and she was doing better at letting the rumor die. Katie said, “You’re listening to people who don’t know me. They don’t like me much either.”
“Ja? Like who?” Amos’s voice was raw with hurt and frustration.
“Like your brother’s girlfriend. She hates me. She always has.” Katie said. She was frantic now. There had to be someone else to pin the blame on.
Amos swiveled his head around quickly. “What? Annie’s barely known you since you came here!”
Katie opened her mouth to speak. But no rejoinder came to mind. All she could think of was that Amos wanted to break up with her and that people in Big Valley didn’t like her. “Ja, but she has never liked me since we moved here. I might as well move back to Goshen. I had gut friends there. I even had a boyfriend.” That was a lie and one that came easily to her tongue.
Amish Trust and Betrayal Page 3