by Debby Giusti
“I don’t need a doctor, but I do need to talk to the sheriff.”
“Start your car, Julie. I’ll push from the rear. Give it a little gas when I signal you, but not too much.”
She did as he asked and watched for his signal through the rearview mirror.
He stepped behind the car, placed his hands on the trunk and nodded. “Okay...now.”
Julie pushed on the accelerator. The wheels spun.
Stepping to the side, William nodded again. “Put it in Reverse and ease it back, then forward.”
Again, she followed his instructions. The car rolled back and she moved the gear to Drive. William pushed from the rear as she eased down on the accelerator. The wheels grabbed and the car broke free.
“Keep going,” he called after her. “I’ll meet you at the top of the hill.”
Near the edge of the road, she pulled to a stop and waited for him there. Before meeting with the sheriff, she wanted to check her house to ensure the hateful man hadn’t caused any damage last night. No one had known she was coming back to Mountain Loft, yet he’d been hiding in the bushes. What was he doing there, and why had he attacked her?
* * *
William hurried to the top of the hill to catch up to Julianne. She was spattered with mud, and fatigue lined her oval face, but he was drawn again to her beauty, just as he had been at the lake so long ago. Long auburn hair, jade-green eyes, arched eyebrows and an open expression that nearly took his breath away.
She leaned out the window as he approached her car. “Climb in. I want to stop at my house.”
He glanced down at his boots. “If you don’t mind a little mud.”
“My shoes are caked. We can clean up at the pump.”
He slid into the passenger seat. She exited onto the main road, drove the short distance to her farm and parked near the barn. They washed at the pump and wiped dry with a towel she had in her car.
After hanging the towel to dry, she stamped the mud from her shoes and then pointed to the shrubbery growing near the side of her house.
“The man was hiding there in the bushes last night. I—I didn’t think I’d survive.”
William searched the area she had indicated. “I don’t see that he left anything behind.”
“Except a few bruises that’ll appear in a day or two.” She rubbed her side and then turned her gaze to the farmhouse and stared at the structure for a long moment.
“I—I haven’t been back since—”
He remained silent, giving her time to control the whirlwind of confusion evidenced by the arch of her neck and her furrowed brow.
She glanced around at the farm that had been her world for the first seventeen years of life. The house, the barn and outbuildings, the pastures in the distance and the fields were all dormant.
“It looks better than I expected,” she admitted.
“I worked construction in Knoxville, and after I returned home last year, I shored up the fencing and completed some minor repairs around the place when I had free time,” he explained.
Fresh tears filled her eyes. Evidently, she hadn’t expected his help.
“Danki, William.”
The Amish thank-you seemed to surprise her as much as the tears. She had left Mountain Loft before baptism and had undoubtedly worked hard to leave her Amish roots behind.
He touched her arm and she drew back ever so slightly, then pulled herself upright. “I didn’t think coming home would be so hard.”
“Don’t go inside, Julie.” His tone was firm, even to his own ears. “It’s not necessary.”
“I can’t control the memories—” She steeled her jaw. “But facing the past in the light of day will help me heal even more.”
He shook his head. “You need more time.”
“It’s been five years.”
“A few more days won’t hurt.”
“Except I have a new life that’s waiting for me.” She stared at him, then turned to the porch and climbed the stairs.
A crow cawed and he glanced up as it soared overhead. Clouds blocked the sun and a cold wind whipped across the barnyard, tugging at Julianne’s hair. With trembling hands, she slipped the key into the lock. The door creaked open. Straightening her shoulders, she entered the cold interior.
William wiped the mud from his boots and followed her inside, noting the simple furnishings, the woodstove, the oil lamps and kitchen cupboards. The curtains blocked the light and cast the house in shadows.
With decided steps, she approached the closest window, pushed back the curtain and peered through the dusty pane. She touched the glass, then turned and swept her gaze over the main room. “A good cleaning will help. Plus, I’ll need supplies if I stay here.”
“That’s not wise after what happened last night. I have two spare guest rooms on the second floor. Both would provide for your privacy.”
“And what would the town gossips say, William? Tongues would wag. I won’t dishonor your name.”
He smiled ruefully. “It would not be the first time people talked behind my back.”
“Perhaps, but the bishop would take issue with your father and insist he control his wayward son.”
Evidently, she didn’t know. “My father died five months ago.”
“Oh, William.” She clasped her hands over her heart. “I’m so sorry.”
“I am, as well, but it is the way of life.”
And death, which he failed to mention. Julianne knew enough about death.
“Now both of us are orphans, yah?” he said.
“I feel more like a teenager looking for what I left behind.” She peered into the empty pantry.
His heart went out to her and he stepped closer. “Your aunt asked some of the ladies to clean the kitchen of anything perishable before she closed up the house.”
“A wise decision.” Julie tugged a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t remember much about those first few weeks.”
“The shock undoubtedly blocked your memory.”
She touched the dusty counter and then glanced up at him. “Aunt Mary said you tried to say goodbye.”
“Yah.” He pulled in a breath, seeing the question in her gaze. “I left Mountain Loft for a few years to find myself. My first stop was at your aunt’s house in Willkommen. She said you were not ready to receive visitors.”
“My aunt was protective.” Julie sighed. “Perhaps overly so.”
“She was thinking of your well-being.”
“For which I am grateful. When I left Willkommen—”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re no longer staying with Mary?”
“I live in Dahlonega now.”
“The old gold mining town?”
She nodded. “The site of the first major US gold rush in 1828.”
He smiled. “You have become a history buff.”
“Hardly, but the tourists have questions. They visit the mines and pan for gold and then buy gifts in the shop where I work.”
Glancing at the Englischer clothing she wore and the car parked in the drive, he voiced the question that begged to be asked. “Am I right to believe you are no longer Amish?”
“I decided to make a fresh start in Dahlonega. That included embracing Englisch ways.” She angled her head and gazed at him with her jade-green eyes. “What about you? That night at the lake, you talked about leaving Mountain Loft. I presumed that meant leaving the faith as well.”
“Living Englisch was my plan. Then my father became ill...” He shrugged. “Someone needed to care for him.”
“Yet you struggled under his control when you were young.”
“Young and foolish. We reconciled. His lungs were bad, and his well-being was more important than hanging on to past misunderstandings.”
“You’re a good man, William Lavy.”
&
nbsp; Her remark touched a chord. He didn’t think of himself as gut, but he couldn’t let his father languish alone. Julianne would have done the same if she’d been given the chance.
“The sheriff’s never been one of my favorite people.” She glanced around the kitchen and into the main room. “Especially the way he handled the investigation five years ago, but I need to report what happened last night, and I could use some support.”
“I’ll come with you. After we talk to the sheriff, we can stop at the Country Kitchen for waffles and coffee.”
A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “You remembered.”
He remembered a lot of things about Julie that he needed to forget. Instead, he needed to focus on her safety. Someone had attacked her last night. William wanted to ensure the man in the red bandana didn’t try to harm her again.
TWO
The last time Julie had seen Sheriff Paul Taylor had been following Bennie’s and her dad’s deaths. She hadn’t liked him before then, and she’d liked him even less when he’d claimed the hateful crime was a murder-suicide.
Over the past five years, the sheriff had aged. His hair had grayed, his jaw hung slack and his eyes looked dull, as if he was less than enthusiastic about his job. Or maybe it was seeing Julianne again that troubled him.
“Have a seat, Ms. Graber.” He motioned her toward one of the two chairs across from his desk and then glanced at William. “You, as well, Will.”
Without mincing words or wasting time, Julie got right to the point and explained what had happened.
“Did you recognize the assailant?” the sheriff asked.
She shook her head. “I saw his pant legs at one point. He was dressed in black trousers and a black jacket. A red bandana covered his face.”
“Like a mask? Or a gaiter?”
No doubt seeing her confusion, he explained. “A gaiter is a tube scarf worn around the neck that can be pulled up to cover the nose and mouth and secured with elastic straps over the ears.”
“I’m not sure about the elastic straps. All I saw was the bandana.”
The sheriff eyed William for a long moment. “Was he dressed Amish?”
“I don’t think so, yet the night was dark,” she admitted.
“There was a moon last night,” the sheriff countered.
“Which went behind a heavy blanket of clouds.” She stood her ground. “I didn’t get a sense that he was Amish. Plus, he was driving a car and not a buggy.”
“Yet we know Amish kids drive their Englisch friends’ cars.” The sheriff glanced at William again and then back at her. “What can you tell me about the vehicle?”
“It was white. That’s all I know. I was hiding behind a bush when he approached William’s house. I didn’t want to make any noise, so I stood still and never got a good view of him or his car.”
“Any reason someone would want to do you harm, Ms. Graber?”
“That’s what I need you to find out, Sheriff. I came home to sell my farm and don’t plan to be here long. The last thing I expected was a welcoming committee of one.”
He chuckled.
She bristled. “Did I miss the joke?”
“No, ma’am.”
The sheriff grabbed a pen from his desk drawer and jotted something on a notepad. “Where are you staying in case I need to get in touch with you?”
“At my father’s house.”
He pursed his lips. “There’s a motel on the road to Amish Mountain.”
“I’m aware of the motel.” Why squander money renting a room when she had a house that would provide for her needs? “I’ll stay at the farm in case a buyer wants to see the property.”
“We’ve had an influx of vagrants around these parts.” He tapped his pen against the notepad. “They bed down in abandoned houses and steal anything they can sell for money or drugs. This guy seems more focused. You need to be careful. He might return.”
Julie had known coming home would be unsettling, but she hadn’t expected to be attacked. “So you think it’s someone passing through town?”
The sheriff shrugged. “Hard to say. We’ll keep our eyes open. I’ll let you know if we come up with a suspect. You’ll press charges, right?”
“If you find him. It doesn’t sound like you have any leads.”
“I feel certain someone will turn up. Could be a newcomer who likes true crime.”
“I don’t understand.”
“A murder-suicide in an abandoned house might attract a certain type of person.”
She didn’t like his reference. “You mean a criminal who likes to attack women?”
“I’m just saying, the lure of the old Graber farmhouse could have drawn him.”
“For the record, the house is no longer standing vacant. I’m living there, and I’ll protect my property in whatever way I can.”
He chuckled again. “I hear ya.”
She wanted the sheriff to do more than hear her. She wanted him to find the man who had done her harm. “I’ll stop by your office the next time I’m in town. Hopefully, you’ll have information about the vagrant or true-crime enthusiast. Either way, he needs to be apprehended before he strikes again.”
* * *
William understood Julianne’s frustration as they left the sheriff’s office.
“Sheriff Taylor’s attitude hasn’t improved,” she said with a huff. “Maybe I’m biased, but he seems even less enthusiastic about his job.”
“He’s ready to retire, although you lit a fire under his feet. Stopping back in a couple days will be a good idea. He might have something by then.”
“I hope so.”
“Let’s get breakfast.” William pointed to the diner farther down the street.
The inviting smell of fried eggs, sausages and coffee wafted past them as they stepped into the busy restaurant. The majority of the customers were townspeople enjoying a hearty meal, with a smattering of Amish folks sprinkled into the mix.
“There’s a table in the corner.” William ushered her through the crowd and held her chair as she sat with her back to the wall.
An Amish girl approached them carrying a coffeepot in hand. “What can I get you folks?”
“Two orders of waffles and coffee for us.” He looked at Julianne. “How ’bout some eggs and hash browns, too?”
“Just waffles and coffee for me,” she said as the waitress filled their mugs.
William’s stomach growled. He’d been up since dawn and hadn’t eaten. “Hash browns on the side for me and eggs over easy.”
“I’ll get that order in right away.” The waitress hurried back to the kitchen.
Julianne blew into the mug and took a sip of the hot brew. “Thanks for suggesting breakfast. You knew what I needed.”
He chuckled. “Selfishly, I was thinking of my own hunger. I know my way around a kitchen, but I take advantage of any opportunity to eat someone else’s cooking.”
“You live alone, right?”
He nodded. Her question seemed to have a deeper meaning. He took a long pull from his mug to give her time to explore what she really wanted to ask.
“I—I thought you would be married by now.” She offered him a crooked smile that caused his chest to tighten. Her green eyes held his gaze. “You always were a ladies’ man, Will.”
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“Sorry.” She placed her mug on the table. “I didn’t mean anything negative. It’s just that many of the local girls had their eyes on you.”
“Looking back, I regret that my focus was somewhat skewed in my youth.”
Her smile warmed his heart.
“We—” The smile faded. She blinked back the tears that filled her eyes. “We all made mistakes.”
Almost five years had passed, yet her pain still seemed so raw. “Bennie was a gut pe
rson, Julie. No matter what the sheriff’s investigation ruled.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m to blame.”
He reached for her hand to offer support. “How can you say that?”
“Did Bennie not tell you what I did?” She pulled back her hand.
“Only that your father forbade either of you from seeing me.”
Nodding ever so slightly, she added, “Datt said you were a bad influence.”
He tried to smile. “You didn’t seem to think that when we were at the lake.”
“Foolishly, I told Datt that you and Bennie planned to meet later that night.” She took a deep breath. “He must have been waiting for Bennie when he came home. They argued...”
She bit her lip, and her hands trembled as she raised the mug.
He needed to set her straight. “But Bennie and I didn’t meet that night, Julianne.”
“Exactly.” She pointed a finger at her chest. “Because you were with me, William. That was my ploy to keep you from him.”
A weight settled on his shoulders. “You flirted with me at the lake to keep me from meeting your brother? So Bennie would not disobey your father’s orders?”
“It sounds foolish, doesn’t it?” She almost laughed. No doubt seeing his confusion, she tilted her head. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” His tone was sharper than he’d intended. “Besides, it happened long ago.”
He straightened, unwilling for her to see his upset. “Bennie and I didn’t plan to meet that night,” he repeated to ensure she heard him correctly. “He was with Emma. I was...”
William refused to say that he’d been interested in spending time with Julie. She’d seemed interested as well, but she’d used him that night to protect her brother. He also didn’t say that in the last five years he hadn’t thought of courting or taking a wife because other women paled in comparison to Julianne.
“William, I...” She hesitated as if wanting to apologize for her comment.
When she failed to continue, he realized she could not backtrack from the truth even if she wanted to make him feel better.