“I’m sorry you were left alone.”
“I found a job as a live-in maid with a family in Canton when I was fifteen. The husband was so nice to me. I just wanted to be loved. He saw how vulnerable I was and took advantage of that. He seduced me.”
“Is he Hannah’s father?”
She nodded. “When I suspected I was pregnant, I told him and I was promptly fired. He was terrified his wife would find out. I went back to my stepfather, but I wasn’t welcome there. I was alone and out on the streets. I turned to my church for help, but the bishop called me terrible names. I was shunned. That’s when I met someone who said he wanted to take care of my baby and me. I was so naive. You’d think I would have been smarter about men at that point, but I wasn’t.”
“We are taught to trust in the goodness of all men. Who was he?”
“A truly evil person. He took me in and took care of me. I thought I loved him. I began to suspect he was dealing drugs on the side, but I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t be that wrong about another person I wanted to love.”
“What happened?”
“I overheard him making arrangements to sell my baby when it was born. He knew someone who would pay a lot of money for a white child. They would pay more for a son, but they would take a girl. I was sick with fear for my baby. I had nowhere to go. He made me believe I couldn’t escape him.”
“But you did.”
“I couldn’t let them have my baby. God was watching over her. I went into labor one night when he was gone and delivered Hannah by myself. I had nothing for her. I stole a quilt off the clothesline of a neighbor and wrapped her in that. I knew I had to hide her. I knew he would be back at any time. There was a convenience store not far from our place. I used to see Amish buggies parked there. There was one in the parking lot that night. I put Hannah in the basket on the backseat and I left a note begging the Amish family to take care of her. I told them to meet me in the same place in a week. I needed time to gather enough money so we could get far away from him. I believed he would find us and take her if I didn’t.”
“That was an incredibly brave and unselfish thing to do. Did the buggy belong to Ada?”
“Nee, it belonged to Levi Beachy. His brothers, Atlee and Moses, had taken it without his knowledge and met up with some girls to see a movie. They didn’t know Hannah was in the backseat until they were almost home. She started crying and they panicked. They couldn’t take her back. They couldn’t take her home with them or their brother would know they had sneaked out without his knowledge. They were passing Ada’s farm and it occurred to them that she didn’t have grandchildren, so they left Hannah on her doorstep. They never saw my note. They never told anyone about her. She was found by Miriam. She saw an Amish buggy leaving and thought some unwed mother didn’t want her baby. Miriam and Ada found the note and waited for me to show up at the farm. I didn’t. I was in the parking lot of a convenience store praying the people I left Hannah with would bring her back. When they didn’t return, I knew I’d lost her forever.”
“What about the man who wanted to sell her?”
“I told him the baby was stillborn. He was furious, but he believed me. He still thought I was in love with him, but I knew I was nothing to him. I was nothing to anyone.”
“That is never true. We are God’s children. He is always with us, even in the dark times.”
“I know that now, but I didn’t believe it then. Nick and Miriam were investigating and trying to discover the identity of Hannah’s family when I was taken to the hospital. I was...sick.”
She wasn’t ready to tell him that she had tried to end her life. She didn’t have the courage. Not yet.
“Eventually, they figured out who I was and they gave Hannah back to me. I couldn’t believe it. I had my baby in my arms and I had people who cared about us. Nick and Miriam were amazing. They gave me a home when they took me to live with Ada. They gave me protection and security by adopting me. God saved more than my life. He gave me a family. How can I expect anything more than that?”
“I think you are selling God short. I think He gets to decide how much joy and how much sorrow comes into our lives. His love is limitless.”
Did she doubt God’s mercy and goodness?
“Does Hannah’s father know he has such a beautiful daughter?”
“He died in a small plane crash when she was eight months old.”
“What happened to the man who wanted to sell her? I can’t believe Nick would let him go unpunished. It is not the Englisch way to forgive.”
“He was arrested for the drugs and then charged with second degree kidnapping, too, because I was a minor. It was then he learned my baby was still alive. I testified against him in court. If I hadn’t, he would have gone free. I know it is not our way, but I believe he would’ve found another girl in trouble and sold her baby. I could not be a party to that. He made many threats against me. After only four years, he’s getting out on parole. Nick and Miriam are worried that he will try to find me. That’s why I was so upset about seeing my face on television.” Emotionally drained and exhausted, Mary closed her eyes.
“Do you believe he will?”
“I do. That’s why I changed my name to Kaufman when Miriam adopted me. It was at Nick’s urging. He knew it would make it harder for Kevin Dunbar to find me. There are a lot of Mary Kaufmans among the Amish.”
“Did you say Kevin Dunbar?”
The strain in Joshua’s voice caused Mary to open her eyes. “Do you know him?”
Joshua rose to his feet and walked a few feet away. He raked a hand through his hair. “No, but I’ve heard my brother mention someone by that name. It might not be the same man. There could be more than one Kevin Dunbar in the world.”
“The Kevin Dunbar I know is in the Beaumont Correctional Facility.”
* * *
Joshua stared at her in shock. This could not be happening. Mary could not be the woman he had been sent to look for. He paced back and forth in front of her.
“Joshua, what’s wrong?”
How much information about her had he shared? He racked his brain trying to recall all the times he had mentioned her in his letters and spoken of her when he was with Luke. Had Luke shared that information with Dunbar? Was it enough for Dunbar to figure out it was the same Mary? Maybe.
Luke was waiting for Joshua to contact him with more information. His brother needed to know Dunbar wasn’t being honest with him. Joshua needed to find out exactly how much the man knew about Mary Kaufman, if anything. What if he had put her in danger?
“I know it’s a lot for you to take in, Joshua. I understand that. I wouldn’t blame you if you packed up and went home. I’m not exactly the kind of girl you want your parents to meet.” She rose to her feet.
He stopped pacing and reached for her. “Mary, you’re the only woman I’d like my parents to meet. I am going to pack up and go home, but I’ll be back. I want you to believe that. I love you. I want us to be together, but I have to take care of something else first.”
“Does it have to do with your parole?”
Joshua’s jaw clenched. He had a meeting this evening with Officer Merlin at the inn. He would have to miss it. The man would be furious, but Mary was more important. Joshua had to make sure her identity was still safe.
“It’s family business. It could take a couple of days. After your party, I’ll catch a ride home with the man that’s picking up Oscar.” From there, he could get a ride with a local man to see Luke.
“But you will be back. I believe that. I love you.”
He saw the soft glow in her eyes as she spoke. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. “I love you, too. God willing, we will have many years to whisper those words to each other.”
* * *
Joshua was shocked at the change in h
is brother when he visited him the following morning. Luke was hollow-eyed and shaking. “You look terrible.”
“So do you. So what? What do you want?”
“I found the woman you asked me to look for. I found Mary Shetler, but you can’t tell Dunbar anything about her.”
Luke laughed but there wasn’t any humor in it. “I didn’t have to.”
“What are you saying?”
“All I did was tell him my brother was courting the Englisch sheriff’s adopted Amish daughter. I thought it was a goot joke considering you’re on parole. Does she know that? It turns out Dunbar knows Sheriff Bradley rather well.”
“Oh, Luke. You have no idea what you’ve done.”
“I helped a friend find his daughter. Not that he turned out to be much of a friend.”
“You’re using again, aren’t you?”
“I’m going cold turkey this time, thanks to my goot buddy.”
“Dunbar was supplying you drugs in here? That’s the kind of man you helped find an innocent woman and child?”
“Hey, keep your voice down. Do you want the guards to hear? I’m not a rat.”
“Dunbar isn’t Hannah’s father. He tried to sell her on the black market when she was born. Mary was fifteen and homeless when he found her and took her in. Not because he cared about her, but because she was pregnant. Apparently, some people will pay large sums of money for a white baby.”
Luke lost his smug look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kevin said he was her father.”
“He lied to you. Hannah’s father died in an accident months after she was born. Kevin is looking for Mary because she testified against him. She’s the reason he’s in here.”
“I didn’t know any of this.”
“You know what kind of man he is. You know he is dealing drugs and you would do anything for them. Did he see my letters? Does he know where she lives?”
“I’m sorry, Joshua. You have to believe that I’m sorry. He saw your letters. He was paroled two days ago.”
* * *
“What is Bella barking at?” Ada looked up from her needlework.
Mary laid down the book she was reading. “I’ll go see. Did Hannah come in?”
“I don’t think so.”
Rising from her chair, Mary went to the window to look out. There was a black car parked on their lane. Was it a driver bringing Joshua back? “I see a car at the end of the drive.”
“Are they coming to the house?” Ada rose to join Mary at the window.
“Nee, it’s just sitting there.”
“Perhaps someone is lost.”
“Maybe Joshua has come back.” She was so eager to see him. Eager to explore the future with him.
Ada remained at the window. “I thought he said it would be several days. Now they are coming this way. You might be right.”
“I’ll go see.” Mary hurried through the house to the kitchen door. She paused before opening the screen to still her racing heart. It might not be him. But it might be.
Bella’s barking intensified, then she yelped once and was silent. Hannah screamed. Mary pushed open the screen door and rushed out. Her heart dropped to her feet when she saw Kevin standing beside the car. He had Hannah in his arms. She was struggling to get free and crying. There were two men with Kevin. Bella lay sprawled on the ground at the feet of one of them.
Mary ran toward Kevin. “Don’t hurt her. I’m begging you, don’t hurt my baby.”
“You should have kept your mouth shut. None of this would’ve happened if you had just kept your mouth shut.”
Mary reached Kevin’s side but one of the men stopped her when he wrapped his arms around her. She tasted the salty tears that streamed down her face. Clutching her hands together, she pleaded with Kevin, “Please, if you ever had any feelings for me at all, don’t do this.”
“That’s just it, Mary. I never did have feelings for you. The baby was all I wanted and now I’ve got her. She’s still worth money, although not to the same people. Tell your boyfriend I appreciate him finding you for me.” He looked at his men. “Let’s go.”
The man holding Mary threw her to the ground. Before she could get up, they were all in the car. She grabbed the door handle, trying to reach Hannah. Her baby was screaming. Her baby needed her, but she couldn’t hold on as the car drove away.
She fell to a heap in the driveway screaming Hannah’s name.
Chapter Fourteen
Joshua jumped out of the van before it pulled to a stop in Ada’s yard. Bella lay on the porch with her head on her paws. There was blood on the left side of her face. As soon as he saw Mary walk out of the house, his heart leaped. She was safe. He ran toward her. “Mary, I have to talk to you.”
She didn’t speak. She didn’t move. His steps slowed as he approached her. Her face was streaked with tears. It twisted with agony. “Why did you do it? Where is she, Joshua? I can forgive anything else. Just tell me where she is.”
“What are you saying? Oh, please, God, don’t let it be Hannah.” He caught Mary by the arms. The raw pain in her eyes was unbearable.
“He took my baby. I couldn’t do anything to stop him. Why did you tell Kevin where we were?”
“I didn’t, Mary. You have to believe me. I never told him anything.”
Nick Bradley came out of the house. “Mary, get inside.”
She ducked her head and turned away. Joshua reached for her, but Nick grabbed his arm, twisting it behind him and forcing Joshua up against the side of the house. “Joshua Bowman, you are under arrest for violating your parole and for conspiracy to commit kidnapping. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Joshua knew his rights. He ignored Nick as he continued to recite them and focused on Mary where she stood only a few feet away. “Mary, let me explain.”
Nick jerked Joshua around. “You were in on this with Dunbar from the beginning. Where is she? Where did he take Hannah?”
“I’m not working with Kevin Dunbar. I don’t expect you to believe me, but Mary, you have to believe me. I would never hurt you. I would never hurt Hannah.”
“Then tell us where he took her,” Nick bellowed, anger blazing in his eyes.
Joshua recoiled from the sheriff’s rage. What would Nick do if he learned of Luke’s part in this? Joshua didn’t believe Luke had known Kevin would harm Hannah or Mary, but he had given away their location in exchange for drugs. That alone would add years to Luke’s sentence. Joshua struggled with his need to protect his brother and to find Hannah.
“I don’t know where he took her.” He bowed his head. He didn’t expect Nick to believe him.
“Wrong answer.” Nick yanked Joshua toward his SUV.
“Wait.” Mary touched Nick’s arm.
He stopped. “I’m not Amish. I don’t get to forgive and forget. I have to uphold the law.”
“I need to hear what he has to say.”
Nick shook his head, but took a few steps away.
* * *
Mary placed her hand on Joshua’s chest. Her heart was being torn to pieces by her frantic grief, but she knew—she knew in her soul that he was telling the truth. He loved her and he loved Hannah. She had to trust that love. If she couldn’t, then she truly was a broken human being. Joshua had kept things from her, but she had kept things from him, too.
“I believe you when you say you didn’t have a part in this, Joshua. I trust you. I’m sorry I accused you.”
When she looked at him, his eyes were filled with tears. She loved him so much. “God sent you to save us once before. Can’t you help save her now?”
Nick came to Mary’s side. A tense muscle twitched in his cheek, but he had his anger under control
. “Tell us what you know. I don’t want to make this harder for you. I just want our little girl back.”
* * *
Joshua had no choice. Hannah and Mary needed him. He had to put aside his distrust and fear of the Englisch law and believe that God was in charge of his fate and of Luke’s. He faced Nick knowing his words might condemn his brother to more years in prison.
“I wrote home about Mary and about Hannah and their lives here. I wanted my family to know what an amazing woman she is. My mother forwarded all my letters to my brother Luke the way the Amish do with their circle letters.”
Nick crossed his arms. “How did he know you were seeing Mary Shetler?”
“He didn’t. Kevin saw Mary in one of the news reports about the tornado. He knew she was in Hope Springs. Luke knew I was here, too. He wrote that he needed to see me. When I went there, he told me about his friend, a guy who had been in love with an Amish girl before he went to jail. He said she was pregnant and went back to her Amish family. He saw Mary on the news. He knew she was in Hope Springs. He wanted to make sure she and his child were okay. I said I would ask around. Something about Luke’s behavior bothered me. I thought he might be using drugs again, but I had no idea how he could be getting them.”
Mary wiped at the tears on her face. “You never asked me about Mary Shetler.”
“The only person I asked was Wooly Joe. He said what I was already thinking—that it was better to let Mary Shetler’s child grow up without knowing he or she had a drug dealer for a father.”
Nick pushed his hat up with one finger. “Do you think Dunbar was supplying your brother with drugs in exchange for information?”
“I can’t be sure, but I think he was. I told Luke that Mary had been adopted by you. Luke thought it was hilarious—I was fresh out on parole and dating the sheriff’s daughter. He shared the story with Dunbar. The man figured out that Mary Kaufman and Mary Shetler were one and the same. When Mary told me about her relationship with Dunbar, I was sick with worry that my letters would lead him here. I went to see Luke. That’s why I missed my meeting with Officer Merlin. As soon as Luke told me Dunbar had been released, I came to warn you.”
Amish Redemption Page 17