“But—”
“No more arguing, child,” Mamm murmured. “You need to stay here and keep warm.”
“Let’s go,” Susanna said. “The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll get this over with.”
Since Neil had just been thinking something along the same lines, he held open the door. “Ladies, after you.”
CHAPTER 17
Tuesday, December 19
Though she tried not to be too obvious, Amanda kept a close eye on the way her sister and Neil Vance interacted. Susanna could sometimes be headstrong and impulsive. Those character traits had led her into trouble more than once. She sometimes charged ahead without weighing all the consequences, just as she tried to take on as much responsibility as she could so their mother wouldn’t worry.
Back at the house, Amanda had been concerned that Susanna had been only pretending to get along with Neil.
But as she followed the couple back through the fields toward town, Amanda began to feel relieved. Their easy camaraderie showed that their relationship had evolved into something warmer. It was obvious that they’d come to some kind of understanding.
Amanda was glad of that. She and Susanna had enjoyed a large circle of friends back in Berlin. Though Susanna was assertive, she was also more socially awkward than herself.
She, on the other hand, excelled at making plans and enjoyed going to frolics and parties with lots of people, especially around Christmas and other holidays. The tension that had been brewing between Susanna and Neil had been weighing on her. She didn’t want Susanna to put herself in a situation she wasn’t sure how to handle.
As they got closer to the bridge, she noticed Dale standing next to it, obviously staring in confusion at the blank spot on the floor of the bridge.
“Looking for this?” Neil called out as they got closer.
“I was,” Dale replied as he walked a little bit to the side, then scampered over the rocks and ice like a nimble deer. “’Course, I didn’t expect to be seeing it under your arm.”
“I’m ready to get rid of it myself,” Neil replied with a grin.
Dale’s eyes lit with amusement. “Hello, Susanna. Hi, Amanda.”
Meeting his gaze, Amanda felt that familiar little pattering in her heart that she was beginning to realize only happened around him. “Hello, Dale.”
After sharing a small smile with her, he turned back to his friend. “So, is there any specific reason you are now carrying part of the bridge with ya?”
“There is. We’re about to go visit with the sheriff about it.”
All traces of amusement faded from Dale’s expression. “What’s going on?”
“Our sister got hurt two nights ago when she was crossing the creek on the bridge.” Pointing to the board, Susanna said, “I think someone deliberately sabotaged it.”
There was no way Amanda was going to let her sister carry the weight of that claim by herself. “Nee. We think someone did. I agree with Sue completely.”
Dale’s eyebrows pulled together. “You certain about this, Neil?”
“As certain as I can be.” Holding out the wood, he said, “Look at that cut there. Nature didn’t make it.”
Dale whistled under his breath. “Neil, you and me practically rebuilt that bridge about a year ago.”
“I know.”
“Now I’ve seen everything. I’m beginning to get pretty irritated. We just got that fencing repaired.”
“After what happened with the fence and Susanna’s buggy accident, we’re pretty worried,” Amanda said. She wasn’t sure what Dale would think about her statement, but she wanted him to have no doubt about her feelings.
Dale shoved his hands into his pockets. “Since the bridge is half on our property, can I tag along?”
Neil looked a little unsure. “I don’t know. Four seems like a lot of people to pop in on the sheriff.”
“Dale and I can always stay off to the side or something,” Amanda agreed.
Smiling at her, Dale said, “Jah. I can do that.”
Neil narrowed his eyes at his friend. “We need to get going now, though. I’ve got to go to work this afternoon.”
“Come on, then.” He smiled and stepped to Amanda’s side as both he and Amanda watched Neil help Susanna over the creek.
Susanna scrambled over it without seeming to even hesitate. Amanda was far more cautious, though.
Even as Susanna and Neil continued on, obviously thinking that they were right on their heels, she stared at the creek in building trepidation.
“You’re going to think I’m silly, but I’m a bit afraid to cross it,” Amanda admitted. When she was a little girl, she’d fallen into a creek one spring. The ice wasn’t thick and her foot broke through. Next thing she knew, she was caught up in the current and was screaming for help.
Her father had pulled her right out. Actually, she probably wasn’t in the creek more than two or three minutes at the most. But still, that memory clung to her like a sharp piece of glass. Deeply embedded and difficult to get out.
Looking at the frozen creek, she shivered a little bit. “I know I don’t have anything to be afraid of. I know it’s not deep.” But the difference between the reality and the images her brain was inventing was staggering.
To her amazement, Dale didn’t tease her. Instead he said, “I’ve got an idea. Let’s cross this way. I’ll go first, then you can follow.”
Following did not sound easy! Glancing up, she noticed that Neil and her sister were watching impatiently from about twenty or thirty feet in the distance. “Actually, maybe I shouldn’t—”
Before she could protest any more, he went out halfway and, balancing himself on two of the rocks, held out a hand. “Grab my hand and I’ll help you.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to yank you down or something.”
“If you do, it doesn’t matter. My feet will simply get wet.”
Put that way, she nodded. Gingerly placing her hand in his, she stepped on the first rock. And . . . of course her boot slipped. “Oh!”
Dale slid his hand from her palm to her forearm, securing her better. “One step at a time. Jah?”
Releasing a ragged sigh, she nodded. “Jah.”
Feeling like each foot was made of lead, she lifted her left foot and stepped onto the next rock. By the time she was halfway across, Dale had both feet on the opposite bank and was holding her opposite hand in his. Making her feel doubly secure.
She looked down. Was it her imagination, or was the creek running?
“Don’t look down. Just look at me.”
She could do that. Staring into his eyes, she stepped again. And again. Finally she had one, then both feet on solid ground.
She had done it! Feeling pleased, she smiled at Dale. “Danke. I’m so embarrassed that something so simple could have made my heart race like this. But thank you.”
“No thanks are needed. I’m glad I was here to help.”
She was, too.
“Dale? Amanda? Is everything all right?” Neil yelled.
“We’re fine,” Dale called out. “You go on ahead. We’ll catch up in a minute.”
Susanna and Neil turned around and started walking. They followed. After a moment, she and Dale seemed to both realize he was still gripping her elbow.
“Sorry!” Dale released her arm like it was on fire. “I think I was holding on to you so tight, you’re going to have a bruise.”
“I doubt that.” She blew out some air. “I guess it’s obvious that I fell in a creek years ago. I don’t know why I’m not over it yet.”
“Amanda, did you notice me complaining?”
Feeling herself blush, she shook her head. “I know you didn’t.”
“Then remember that, wouldja? I didn’t mind helping you. I won’t mind helping you when we head back, either.” Winking, he said, “As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it.”
“Oh?” She hoped she sounded composed, but she had a feeling she sounded as giddy and awkward as she felt.
“Oh, to be
sure. A man needs to feel like he’s useful every now and then, you know. It’s good for one’s ego.”
She giggled before she could stop herself. Laughing while they walked to the sheriff’s office probably wasn’t the best way to behave.
But, she decided as she continued to walk by Dale’s side through the snowy pasture, maybe it wasn’t the worst way to act, either.
CHAPTER 18
Tuesday, December 19
The sheriff’s office wasn’t large. It was in an older-looking, single-story building made of limestone bricks. It was located next to a busy strip mall. There was a pharmacy, dry cleaners, convenience store, and haircut place.
Next to the modern signs, the sheriff’s office looked stately. Susanna figured it might have been a house at one point. Inside, the first thing she noticed was a comfortable-looking gray-haired lady working at her computer at a small, serviceable desk. Beside her was a large glass of water, about a half-dozen file folders and spiral notebooks, and two cell phones. There was also a soup bowl filled with jelly beans.
When she, Neil, Amanda, and Dale walked in, the receptionist was on the office phone. She gave them a little smile as she gestured for them to be quiet.
Looking at each other, the four of them stood silently as a whole minute passed. Susanna looked around some more and noticed pretty garlands lining a couple of bookshelves on the other end of the room. A wreath made out of pinecones and red ribbon hung over one of the doors.
After another minute, the receptionist finished her call, punched a couple of buttons on her computer, then carefully picked out two jelly beans from the bowl. Only after popping them into her mouth did she finally speak to them. “Now, how may I help y’all?” Her voice was surprisingly melodic, tinged with that husky Kentucky accent Susanna was beginning to be familiar with.
Susanna gulped when she realized that everyone was waiting for her to answer. It felt both empowering and a little scary. “We’d like to speak to Deputy Beck,” she said at last, taking care to make sure her voice sounded firm.
Boy, was she glad that she wasn’t there alone. Of course, if Neil hadn’t been so pushy, worming his way into her business, she might have wandered around her property wondering what she should do.
She knew now that if she was standing here alone, she would have been shaking like a leaf.
The woman looked from her to Neil, who was standing about one foot behind her, holding the board. Then, popping another jelly bean into her mouth, she glanced at Amanda and Dale. “Deputy Beck is at lunch right now. He usually goes to see Lora over at Bill’s Diner.” Smiling slightly, she lowered her voice, like she was sharing something confidential. “Lora is his wife. They’re newlyweds.”
“I know Lora,” Neil said. “When do you expect him back?”
The lady looked at the clock. “I’d say within the half hour, but it might be a little more.” She shrugged. “Or a little less.”
Behind her, Susanna could hear Amanda chuckle.
The receptionist pulled out a pad of paper. “You know what? I’m thinking it might be best if y’all went ahead and left a message. I can relay it the minute Deputy Beck returns.”
But then what? It wasn’t like the deputy could call any of them.
Making up her mind, Susanna said, “If you don’t mind, we’d rather stay and wait for him. This is pretty important.” She was also afraid if she left, she might not return until another incident happened to someone in their family. That wouldn’t do.
The receptionist’s expression turned wary. “Are you in trouble, hon?”
“Nee.” Then, she rethought that. If someone sabotaging her bridge wasn’t trouble, then what was? “Well, maybe I am.” Glancing behind her at Amanda, she said, “I mean, we are.”
“I see.” Eyeing the group of them with a far sharper expression, the lady murmured, “Any particular reason you brought in that piece of wood, Mr. . . . ?”
“Vance. I’m Neil Vance. And this is evidence.”
She lumbered to her feet. “You know what? Let me see if Sheriff Brewer is available. Y’all have a seat now. Well, two of you can.” She kind of aimlessly waved a hand at her bowl of jelly beans. “Help yourself, if you’d like.”
As the receptionist disappeared down the hall, Susanna looked at the others. “Anybody want a jelly bean?”
Neil’s lips twitched. “Nee.”
“You would have thought she’d have gotten the sheriff right away,” Amanda said.
“Maybe she’s used to screening visitors,” Dale surmised. “You girls take the chairs.”
“Danke.” Susanna smiled to herself as she sat down next to Amanda. In spite of the gravity of the situation, she couldn’t help but feel comforted by the fact that the four of them were all getting along. Here they were, in a sheriff’s office, no less, and the four of them were able to be amused by the brash receptionist.
As the minutes passed, Amanda leaned closer. “Are you starting to wish that we hadn’t come here?”
“Nee. I’m glad we did. What’s been happening is scary and needs to stop.”
“I feel the same way. I’m glad I came along.”
“Me, too.”
“Are you nervous about speaking to the sheriff?”
Susanna shook her head. “I would probably be more comfortable with the deputy, but it isn’t like I actually know him or anything.” She turned to the men, who were leaning against the wall talking softly. “Any chance either of you already know the sheriff?”
Dale shook his head. “Nee. I’ve seen him around town, but I never had the occasion to speak to him.”
“I’ve never met him, either, but that’s likely a good thing,” Neil said. “I only know Deputy Beck on account of Lora. She used to be Amish. Now she works at Bill’s Diner.”
“We should go over there one day, Sue,” Amanda murmured.
“Jah.”
More minutes passed. The woman’s computer beeped . . . or maybe she was hearing things and it was nerves; maybe she was uncomfortable with the silence. But she spoke again.
“I . . . well, I just want to say that I’m glad we’re all together here,” announced Susanna.
“Me, too,” Neil said.
Amanda cleared her throat. “Does anyone have any idea who could have weakened the boards on purpose?”
“We probably don’t need to talk about that now,” Dale murmured.
“Nee, I think we probably should,” Amanda countered. “After all, I know I didn’t do it. No one in my family would have.”
Dale frowned. “Well, I didn’t do it, either. And my family uses that bridge a lot. We helped build it.”
“What do you think, Neil?” Susanna said tentatively. “Can you think of anyone who would want us to get hurt?”
“Of course not.” His voice was gruff.
She wondered if he was thinking that she suspected him. She hoped not. Because she didn’t suspect him. But if it wasn’t anyone in their three families, who would have done it?
It seemed like everyone else was thinking the same thing, too, because all four of them were staring into space when the receptionist at last reappeared, Sheriff Brewer by her side.
Sheriff Brewer looked to be in his early forties, had a cleanly shaven bald head and attractive gray eyes. He looked tall and strong. Capable of taking care of anything.
Susanna relaxed a little bit. If she was going to reach out to an outsider, she wanted it to be someone she could trust.
“Here they are, Sheriff,” the receptionist said, slightly out of breath. “Right where I left them. Y’all help yourself to some jelly beans?”
“No, ma’am,” Dale said. “But thank you.”
“Anytime—” She cut herself off, obviously distracted. “You know what? I’ve already forgotten your names.”
“I’m Neil Vance,” Neil said, then gestured to the others. “This is Susanna Schwartz. That’s her sister Amanda, and this here is Dale Kaufmann.”
“I’m Sheriff Pat Brewer.”
The receptionist smiled, looking pleased. “Now that we know who everyone is, do you want me to take some notes or something?”
Sheriff Brewer looked slightly exasperated but resigned. “No. I’ll take it from here, Hazel.” Stepping forward, he held out a hand. “It’s good to meet you all.” After they shook hands, he pointed to the piece of wood that was now leaning against the wall. “I heard that y’all brought a piece of wood in here for us to talk about?”
“Yes. We’d like to tell you about what we found,” Neil said.
“All of you?”
“Well, it was me and Neil,” Susanna said.
“I came along to offer my sister support,” Amanda said.
“And I came along because I helped build that bridge,” Dale added. “And half of it is on our property.”
“Our farms are next to each other,” Amanda said. “Though, um, our farm used to be his,” she added as she pointed to Neil.
“My office is kind of small.” Looking at Neil, he said, “How about I speak with you and Susanna alone first? Then, if we need you, we’ll come get you.”
“That sounds fine,” Amanda said.
Sheriff Brewer looked relieved. “Good. Susanna and Neil, y’all come on down to my office and fill me in.”
Susanna looked warily at Amanda before following the sheriff and Neil. She really hoped he would have some answers for her. For them.
It turned out that there was a pretty good reason that Hazel was out of breath when she’d come back to them. The office was like a rabbit warren. “This building is a hundred years old,” the sheriff said. “It was built when cave exploration was all the rage. I guess some of the early partners in the Horse Cave mine made a killing when they opened it up.” As he turned right and then right again, he laughed. “The problem was that they built this place too well.”
“How can that be a problem?” Neil asked.
“It’s built too solid and looks too pretty to tear down, so people just kept adding onto it over the years.”
“It’s a lot bigger than I thought,” Susanna said.
“It’s a lot bigger than anyone ever believes it is,” he said drily. Holding up a rubber band on his wrist, he grinned. “It’s good for counting steps, though.”
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