The Chill of an Early Fall

by Mary Alford

  The Chill of an Early Fall

  Amish Mountain Secrets Series

  By Mary Alford

  Copyright © 2019 by Mary Alford

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CONTENTS:

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  AMISH MOUNTAIN SECRETS SERIES

  COURAGE UNDER FIRE SERIES

  ALSO BY MARY ALFORD

  ABOUT MARY ALFORD

  Chapter One

  Courage is faith singing in the rain. ~An Amish Proverb

  Outside the window of her mamm’s Amish home in St. Ignatius, Montana, nothing but an impenetrable blackness was reflected in the lantern’s light.

  At one time, Sadie Eicher found the dark comforting. But that was before . . .

  Her breath fogged the chilly window pane. The dread that followed her here from Billings, creeping into every corner of her troubled mind.

  As she listened to the familiar silence of her former home, she caught the sound of something else. Movement. Coming from nearby. Real, or part of her frazzled imagination? At this point, it was hard to say. Her nerves were shot, and she’d jumped at shadows just about every mile of the trip back home.

  Something shifted in the inky darkness outside. She bit back a scream and jumped away from the window. Footsteps moved up the stairs to the porch followed by a loud knock that jarred along her frazzled nerves.

  The doorknob rattled. “Irene, its Elam. The door is locked. Are you oke?”

  Relief poured through her body at the realization it was her neighbor, Elam Beiler, standing outside the door.

  Sadie hurried to unlock it before the noise woke her mother. “Elam, hi,” she said in a rushed tone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.” She faced the man who had been her friend for as long as she could remember. Since she was a little girl, Elam was as much a part of her life as the community surrounding her. When she came home to visit her mamm, he was always there. Never changing. Always strong. Forever dependable. Elam.

  His eyes widened at the sight of her. “Sadie? What are you doing here?” After a second’s hesitation, he came inside and closed the door while Sadie released the breath she’d held inside. “Irene didn’t mention you were coming.”

  “That’s because she didn’t know. I wanted to surprise her.” Her words sounded brittle. She quickly leaned past him and relocked the door. A gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Elam, she felt sure. No one in this peaceful St. Ignatius Amish community locked their doors.

  “It is gut to see you again, Elam,” she said when he continued to stare at her, probably sensing her nervous tension.

  Every time they were together again, she returned to that day ten years earlier when he’d driven her to the bus station. Her seventeen-year-old heart had been broken over Samuel’s rejection, and all she could think about was leaving. Elam had tried to talk her out of giving up the life she loved, but she’d been too humiliated to stay after Samuel Albrecht told her he wished to marry someone else.

  Elam removed his coat and hat and hung them on the peg by the door before brushing a lock of blond hair from his forehead with a well-tanned hand. Those blue eyes searched her face for an explanation she wasn’t ready to give. Then, he slowly smiled and some of the burden she carried slipped away. She was home. Safe here in St. Ignatius with Elam. Everything would be oke as long as he was close.

  The last time they’d spoken was at the wedding of his younger brother, Jonah, a little more than a year earlier. Before that, at her daed’s funeral two years ago. Things had been so different then. Before he came into her life.

  She straightened her back and forced a smile, hoping he wouldn’t press her for answers.

  Despite not living Amish since she left the community all those years ago, when she came home, Sadie chose to speak the language of the Plain People out of respect for her mother. At least, that’s what she told herself. Truth was, she missed the way of life terribly.

  “You never were good at keeping a secret.” With those simple words, Elam let the matter rest for the moment and moved to the kitchen.

  His brows shot up as he looked around the room. “Where’s Irene?”

  “Sleeping. We were up late last night talking.” Sleep had been nothing but an elusive desire for Sadie, she’d risen early, lit the cook stove in the kitchen, and made coffee.

  With a curt nod, Elam grabbed the coffee pot and filled two cups, handing her one. “And she left you to prepare the morning meal?” A glint of humor appeared in his eye.

  He was teasing her again. Like old times. This was the Elam she remembered from the past. The one she’d missed so much.

  “As I recall, you loved my buckwheat pancakes, Elam Beiler.” Somehow, she managed to keep her amusement to herself and placed her mother’s heavy cast-iron skillet on the burner.

  “Maybe because that was the only thing you could fix without burning.” Never shy, Elam went to the refrigerator and took out milk and eggs to help with the morning meal.

  “It is gut to see some things never change.” She shook her head. But she was happy to spend this time with him and grateful to Elam for helping her mamm farm the land. Her mother had written to her about how Elam kept up with the chores around the place as well. Mamm deserved to have someone there for her. Her only daughter certainly hadn’t been.

  “How’s the planting going?” she asked when guilt reared its ugly head.

  A frown marred Elam’s handsome face. “Not so gut, I’m afraid. Even though it is still fall, winter weather is moving in quickly. The first frost of the year has come early this year. It will be a race to get the fields ready for planting before the snow makes the task impossible.”

  Work in the shadow of the Mission Mountains of Montana could be backbreaking at times. Unrelenting. Mamm needed her family close instead of having to rely on neighbors to help provide her income.

  Sadie had foolishly let pride keep her away and wouldn’t be home now if she weren’t convinced it was the only way to remain alive. She shuddered every time she recalled the dozen red roses left in her apartment. The frightening note. You’ll always belong to me.

  Elam’s brows slanted into a frown as he watched the fear on her face she couldn’t hide.

  Unable to look at him and not tell him everything, she turned away and dumped eggs along with milk into the dry ingredients.

  “How long will you be staying this time?” Elam asked when she grew silent.

  While she poured batter into the skillet, she could feel his gaze boring into her. “I’m not sure.” Truth be told, she had nowhere else to go. She’d quit her job. Left her apartment without giving a forwarding address. If this didn’t work, she had no idea what her next move might be.

  An awkward silence fell between them. Even though they hadn’t seen each other much through the years, Elam knew her well. He’d already figured out her visit wasn’t as innocent as she claimed.

  “What on earth do we have here?” Sadie jerked toward the sound of her mother’s voice while panic flooded her body with adrenaline.

  “You should have woken me up,” Mamm chided as she ste
pped into the kitchen without commenting on her daughter’s startled reaction.

  When she’d arrived the previous day, her car’s backseat and trunk were loaded with all her possessions. Though her mother noticed, she’d chosen not to ask what troubled her only child. Mamm knew Sadie would tell her when she was ready.

  “You were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you,” Sadie told her with a smile.

  Mamm kissed her cheek. “That’s sweet of you, child. Here, let me.” She took the spatula from her daughter. “Elam, I have thick bacon to go with your pancakes.” Irene glanced back at him.

  A satisfied grin lifted the corners of Elam’s full mouth. “You spoil me, Irene.”

  Her mother waved a dismissive hand, but Sadie noticed she was pleased by the compliment. “Nonsense. You have been a blessing since Daniel passed.” Her voice caught. Tears gathered in the corners of Mamm’s eyes as she remembered. Even though two years had slipped by since her father’s death, the loss still felt fresh in her mother’s heart. Sadie’s too.

  Elam was no stranger to death either. Both his parents passed away within a few years of each other, leaving Elam with his younger brother to raise. He’d done an amazing job with Jonah, but the sacrifice was great. He’d given up having a personal life to keep the family farm afloat.

  “Where’s your car?” Elam asked as if the thought just occurred. “I didn’t see it parked outside.”

  “It’s behind the house,” she said without offering more. She could sense him analyzing her reactions. Comparing them to what she said.

  “Will you set the table for me?” Mamm asked and Sadie drug her attention from Elam, only too happy to have something to do with her hands. As it was, she was barely keeping it together. Each second that passed between Billings and St. Ignatius had been saturated with apprehension. She wanted to feel safe again. Would she find that luxury here?

  ◆◆◆

  Elam stuck his arms into the sleeves of his jacket and snatched up the lantern he’d left near the door.

  Seeing Sadie again had him rattled. But then, she always had a way of making him feel this way.

  “You still remember how to milk a cow?” He turned from the door and asked while sending her a challenging look. Elam hoped to convince her to come with him to the barn. Maybe he’d find out what had her so troubled once they were alone.

  She swallowed visibly without answering while color stained her cheeks.

  “Go. I will finish the dishes. You and Elam need time to catch up,” Irene encouraged.

  Elam suppressed a smile when he realized Sadie was doing her best to avoid having a serious discussion with him. From the moment he put eyes on her, he knew she was in trouble. And all he wanted to do was have her trust him enough to help fix the problem. Whatever it might be.

  “Are you sure?” she asked her mamm.

  “Jah, I am sure. Go.” Irene shooed her away from the sink.

  “Okay, then, I’ll grab my coat,” she said and disappeared down the hall to her bedroom.

  With Sadie out of sight, Irene sped to his side and clutched his arm, confirming his worst fears. “She’s in trouble. I know she is.”

  “Why do you think that?” he asked and tried to control his racing pulse.

  Irene glanced over her shoulder. “Because she’s afraid of something or someone. She won’t tell me what, but I think it’s bad.”

  When a door closed, Irene moved back to the kitchen before he could form a response.

  His eyes locked on Sadie as she came down the hall bundled in a heavy down coat, with a knit cap covering her hair. She’d lost weight since last he’d seen her. Shadows beneath each green eye spoke of many sleepless nights.

  “I’m ready,” she said once she reached his side.

  No matter what she was going through, Sadie was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. And he’d been crazy about her since before she fell for that creep, Samuel Albrecht, and saw Elam only as a friend.

  Foolish. When had he become so foolish?

  He clamped his black felt hat low on his head and stepped out into the chilly morning with Sadie close.

  Holding the lantern high, her head swiveled from side to side. She glanced into the dark shadows surrounding them as if she expected something bad to jump out and grab her.

  Elam moved toward the small chicken barn first. He unlatched the door and bent before entering. Sadie stepped inside with him and shut the door, leaving Elam with the impression she didn’t like being left alone. He kept his questions to himself for now as they gathered eggs and placed them into a basket.

  One of the chickens jumped from its roost, flapping its wings and squawking. Sadie visibly stifled a scream.

  “It’s just a chicken,” Elam said and scanned her face. He could almost feel her trembling.

  She gulped in several breaths. “Sorry, I guess I’m not used to being back on the farm just yet.” She did everything to avoid eye contact, which convinced him she wasn’t telling the truth.

  He tossed out feed, then said, “Come on. Let’s get the rest of the animals fed. It’s a cold morning.”

  Elam stayed close as they entered the main barn where the rest of the animals were stabled. “Why don’t you feed Butterscotch while I milk the cow?” he told her and grabbed the milking stool and started toward Molasses the cow.

  Sadie grabbed his arm before he got too far. Elam whirled to face her with questions in his eyes.

  “Let me. I’m pretty sure I still remember the proper way to milk.”

  It took him a minute to realize she was teasing. He couldn’t remember the last time she appeared so carefree. Their time together at Jonah’s wedding had been brief. Barely enough to say hello and catch up before she was gone again.

  With an answering smile, he handed her the stool without a word and gathered a bucket of oats for the mare. Once he’d fed and finished mucking out Butterscotch’s stall and replaced it with fresh straw, he wiped his brow and watched Sadie from afar.

  The old Sadie had been fearless. She’d tag along behind him and his friends no matter what they were doing. This woman standing before him now was nothing like that girl.

  He knew so little about her life since she’d left the community. Irene mentioned Sadie worked as a nurse at a hospital in Billings. Every time the subject of Sadie came up in their conversations, Elam could tell how deeply Irene missed her daughter. He didn’t understand why Sadie would let what happened all those years ago keep her from her mamm still.

  “I got it!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as they met his. “I told you I remembered how to milk a cow.” He stared at her pretty face with his pulse thundering in his ears. He’d been crazy about Sadie forever. But for her, he was a friend. It was all he’d ever be. Hard to accept at times.

  As they continued to watch each other, something unnamed flared in her eyes before she ducked her head and focused on milking the cow, her cheeks turning pink.

  Elam cleared his throat, grabbed a rake, and swept away the soiled straw from the cow’s space without looking at her again. Once he finished, he tossed out fresh straw, then grabbed the water bucket to refill.

  With the task completed, he noticed Sadie struggling to carry the pail of fresh milk.

  “Here, let me.” He took it from her, their fingers touching. Shockwaves splintered up from the contact point creating a jolt to his system. He stepped back a little too quickly.

  Sadie picked up the lantern and hurried out the door without looking at him. Elam followed more slowly and eventually caught up, falling into step beside her. He sensed her apprehension had returned. More than anything he wanted to ask what was troubling her, but they weren’t there yet.

  “Danki for helping Mamm around the place,” she said, without looking at him. “It’s been hard for her since Daed passed.”

  Elam had made it a point to help Irene out in any way he could and was happy to do it because he genuinely loved Irene as family.

  He studied Sad
ie’s profile highlighted by the lantern’s glow. She’d grown up a lot through the years. Sadie wasn’t that heartbroken girl who’d run away from her troubles at seventeen.

  She started for the steps, then stopped so suddenly he almost slammed into her. Right away, Elam could tell something was wrong.

  “Did you see something?” he asked and glanced around.

  She held the lantern in front of her. Its beam lit the path. He noticed it too. The morning dew reflected another set of footprints leading to the shed where the plow was kept. Elam let go of the breath he’d held.

  “Those are probably Jonah’s. He’s helping me with the fields. I asked him to meet me here.”

  When she shifted toward him, her face had lost all color.

  “Sadie, what’s got you so afraid?” he asked. This wasn’t the same girl he’d known growing up. This Sadie jumped at shadows that didn’t exist.

  She sucked in a breath and gathered herself. “Nothing. It was a long drive, I guess. I must be overly tired.”

  Not the truth. His heart sank at the lie standing between them. They’d been gut friends growing up. As far as he knew, she’d never lied to him before.

  “Let’s go inside so you can warm up. Perhaps you should take it easy today.”

  She shot him a look, and he immediately regretted what he’d said.

  He carried the pail up the steps, opened the door and waited for her to go ahead of him. Then he took the milk to the kitchen. When he came back to the living room, Sadie hadn’t moved. She stood as still as a fencepost. As he approached, she snapped out of her daze and took off her coat and hat.

  Elam still couldn’t get used to seeing her golden hair loose around her shoulders. Her slender body dressed in jeans and a heavy sweatshirt was a constant reminder the things he’d once dreamed of would never come to fruition. She was no longer Plain and hadn’t been for ten years. With nothing to say, he shifted toward the door. “I should probably go help Jonah hitch up the horses.”