“I know that you came to me, and you asked me if I would sell the farm to you, whenever I happened to inherit it. Sure, I agreed, but I had no idea that you were going to kill my father! You killed him! You killed my father, and we both know it.”
“To say such a thing, to me, in my own home,” Henry Moore said. “I’m shocked, appalled, and saddened.”
Even from where she stood, Kate could hear no tone of sadness in the man’s voice. Instead, he sounded smug, as if he had gotten away with something.
“Your father and I knew each other for a long time,” the man continued. “Indeed, I’ve had quite an upstanding reputation amongst your former people, in this community. And now this? If your father could see you, what do you suppose he would think? If he could speak to you, what do you think he would say?”
“He can speak to me, and he will again,” the young voice claimed. “I’ll see him again someday, when I too am called home, and he’ll tell me everything.”
There was silence for a moment, and Kate made to move away, thinking they could be moving her way, but then the older voice spoke again. “Are you still going to sell the farm to me? I thought, with the money I offered you, that you wouldn’t mind what I did.”
“Well, I didn’t think you’d kill my father,” the younger voice snapped.
“Oh come on, Moses; stop pretending. There was no love lost between you and your father. I did you a favor by killing him, and you know it. But instead of thanking me, you come here and you’re rude to my face. After that huge sum I offered for the farm, too.”
Kate heard a gasp, followed by footsteps, so she hurried back outside as fast as she could. Unfortunately, she was unused to the long skirt, and so tripped and landed hard.
The man hurried out the door, hesitated when he drew level with Kate, and then hurried to the red pickup. Kate memorized the plates as the young man took off with a squeal of tires, and then struggled to her feet. She stood up and dusted herself off, just as Henry Moore appeared at the front door. He saw her there, and his eyes went wide.
“Who are you?” he asked, walking down the porch steps. “Why are you here?”
A wave of fear suddenly washed over Kate. “Oh,” she stammered, facing him. “I’ve lost my little dog. I’m so worried about him. I’m going to all the farms in the area asking if anyone’s seen him.”
“A lost dog?” Henry Moore asked after a long pause.
Kate nodded, and forced herself to smile.
The man looked at her with a furrowed brow, and then his face relaxed, and he smiled. “Sorry, I haven’t seen any dogs around here. A little dog, you say?”
Kate nodded again.
“Well, sorry, I guess I can’t help you there,” Henry Moore said. “I hope you find him.”
“Thanks,” Kate said, and she breathed a long sigh of relief as she turned and almost ran to her buggy. She climbed into the seat, got the buggy turned around without too much trouble, and headed back down the bumpy dirt path.
Sweat was forming on her brow as she drove, and she didn’t dare look back to see if Henry Moore was still there, standing on the bottom step, watching her. She felt as if he was, in that strange way a person could feel someone’s eyes burning into their back when they were being watched. But still, she didn’t turn around, and she kept the horse going at a steady clip, until she found the road again, and took a left, carefully crossing the right lane and getting onto the shoulder. Finally she turned to look at the house, but it was so far away she couldn’t tell if the man was still there or not.
Kate was shaking. The man gave no sign that he recognized her, but Kate had met enough clever criminals to know that they were good at keeping their reactions hidden. If he came after her in a car, what could she do? She couldn’t outrun him in a buggy, even if she did know how to drive properly and even if the horse had been younger and faster.
Kate did the only thing that came to her mind; she prayed for help.
Hebrews 11: 1 - 31.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
Chapter 18.
Kate was relieved when she arrived back at the Kauffman haus without incident, and sent up a silent prayer of thanks to God. Beth was outside weeding the vegetable garden when she drove up, and at once hurried to unharness the horse for her.
Kate took Beth by the arm. “Beth, while I was out driving, I saw the man who attacked me in Mr. Byler’s barn.”
Beth gasped.
“May I use the phone in the barn to call for the police?”
Beth frowned. “Jah, certainly.”
Kate hurried to the barn while Beth tended to the horse. Kate reached for the phone, and then hesitated for a moment, dreading the lecture she was about to receive.
An officer at the front desk answered. Kate gave her name, and asked to speak to Officer Ryan Weaver, adding that it was an emergency.
“Ms. Lambright, what’s wrong?” the cop asked, his voice filled with obvious concern.
“I just saw the man who attacked me in Mr. Byler’s barn, and I’ve positively identified him as Henry Moore,” Kate blurted out all at once.
“Where did you see him? Are you safe now?”
“Look, I have to tell you this first,” Kate said, wanting to tell him before he could ask any more questions. “I’ll explain everything, but you might want to find Mr. Byler’s son, Moses. I just overheard Henry Moore confess to Moses Byler that he killed his father. Moses drives a red pickup.” She paused to catch her breath, and then gave Ryan the plates. “And I’m sure, if you speak to him, he’ll tell you the whole conversation, how Henry Moore admitted to killing his father,” she added.
“Just a moment, Katie.”
Ryan disappeared, and Kate had a long, anxious wait. She knew she was in for a lecture from the handsome Officer Ryan Weaver, and she was dreading it.
Kate jumped when Ryan finally spoke again. “Okay, an officer has gone to find Moses Byler. Now, Katie, tell me exactly what you’ve been up to.”
Kate let out a long sigh. “Well, I was in the library googling for images of Henry Moore-”
“You were what?”
Katie cast a furtive glance around the barn, but she was alone. She ignored the question and continued. “And the images looked exactly like Henry Moore, so I just went to visit him, pretending I was looking for a lost dog.”
“You did what?” This time, Ryan was all but yelling.
Kate winced, and continued. “I was walking to his front door, when I heard voices, so I waited, and listened. Moses Byler was in the house; he was angry with Henry Moore for killing his father. Henry Moore didn’t admit it at first, but then he finally did. Then they stopped talking; I went back outside. They both came out; Moses drove away, and I told Henry Moore that I was looking for a lost dog.”
“Did he believe you? Did he recognize you?”
“I don’t know,” Kate said, “but I’ve only just arrived back at the Kauffman house.”
“Katie, that was a dangerous thing to do. Don’t you have any thought for your own safety? These are not Amish people you’re dealing with, you know. There’s a world outside yours, and it’s not always a safe one. As soon as we speak to Moses Byler, if his story corroborates yours, we’ll bring in Henry Moore. Until then, you could be in danger.”
“I know,” Kate said in a small voice, “but all Amish look the same to you Englischers. I figured if he had recognized me, he would’ve asked me m
y name and where to find me, you know, in case he found the pretend dog.”
Ryan let out a long sigh. “If you weren’t Amish, I’d say you’d been watching too much TV.”
If only you knew, Kate thought.
“Just one thing,” Kate said. When Ryan didn’t respond, she pressed on. “I don’t want to get into trouble from, err, my community, so would you mind not mentioning that I went to Henry Moore’s house? And if I don’t have to go to court and be a witness, that would be good too. You know that going to court is against our ways.” Kate held her breath, waiting for his response.
“I’ll see what I can do. Katie, stay put; I’ll send an officer around to the Kauffman farm now.”
Yet it was Ryan himself who turned up at the Kauffmann farm, speeding to a rapid stop in their driveway. He jumped out of the police vehicle, his face full of concern, followed by Officer Stan Andrews.
Meanwhile, Kate was still explaining the situation to Isaac, Beth, and Rose. Samuel Esch had only just arrived a few minutes earlier, under what Kate figured was the pretext of delivering some apple pies from his mother.
After giving his gun to his partner, Officer Andrews, Ryan wasted no time in ushering them all into the house. Kate was pleased to see that Samuel was acting protectively toward Rose.
“I’d like everyone to stay inside with me, until I hear from the officers who are going to find and interview Moses Byler,” Ryan said to Isaac Kauffman.
“Certainly,” Isaac said.
Beth at once hurried out of the room in the direction of the kitchen, and Kate knew by now that Beth was going to fetch food and make everyone a hot meadow tea. Rose made to follow her, but Kate waved her back to her seat. Samuel was gazing at Rose and sitting next to her on the sofa, and Kate didn’t want to take Rose away. Surely she’ll realize that he likes her, she thought.
It took Beth and Kate no time at all to prepare hot meadow tea and slices of shoo-fly pie. As Kate handed Ryan his mug of steaming tea, their fingers brushed lightly. Kate felt a jolt of electricity run through her, and quickly looked at Ryan, who just as quickly averted his eyes.
Did he feel it too? she wondered. Of all the bad timing, me meeting the man of my dreams right when I have to pretend to be Amish.
Just as Ryan lifted the mug to his mouth, his phone rang. He looked at it, said, “Excuse me,” and then hurried out the door.
Samuel turned to Rose and asked if she was all right. Rose blushed furiously, and Beth and Kate exchanged an amused glance.
Ryan soon returned. “Good news,” he announced, as soon as he was through the door. “Moses Byler himself just turned up at the police station. He’s been interviewed, and officers are already on their way to arrest Henry Moore.”
That evening, Rose and Kate were preparing dinner, while Beth was outside in the barn. Rose turned to Kate. “I’m sure that police officer likes you,” she said. “If you were an Englischer, he’d ask you on a date.”
“I’m not an Englischer though,” Kate said, trying to keep her tone light.
“Nee,” Rose said, “and I’m sure you’ll find a nice mann in our community. You haven’t even been to church yet and met all the menner. There wasn’t much time at the funeral. I think you’d like Daniel, or perhaps Joseph. You leave it to me.” Rose winked at her.
Kate winced inwardly.
Psalm 37:3.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Chapter 19.
That night, after dinner, Kate went back to her own cabin, or her grossmammi haus, as even she was beginning to call it. She was pleased that she had solved the case, and had managed to do so while being undercover. Still, she figured the police would have solved it eventually, but she was nevertheless pleased for her own involvement.
Kate was about to change into her nightgown, when, to her surprise, her dress vibrated. Kate reached for the burner cell phone hidden away in the fold of the dress, and her heart sank. Her boss would only call if she was in trouble – or, if he had discovered the mole, and Kate had only just realized that she had reasons of her own for wanting to stay in town for a little while longer.
“David, what’s wrong?”
“Kate, are you alone?”
Kate frowned. “Yes, or I wouldn’t have answered.”
“There was a hit for your name on the National Database by a cop by the name of Officer Ryan Weaver. Do you know him?”
Kate bit her lip. “Yes, he was the one who, um, just solved the murder case. I told you that I was a witness. Anyway, they’ve arrested the man, and apparently he confessed to the victim’s son.”
“Then they won’t need you to testify?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Kate said, making a mental note to check whether that was actually the case.
“So why did the cop check up on you?” David asked. His tone was most displeased.
“Because I was the witness?” Kate asked.
There was a long hesitation before David spoke again. “Cops usually have only three reasons why they look for someone on the National Database. One, because you were a witness. Two, because he thought you were acting non Amish and you had done something to arouse his suspicions. Three -” His voice broke off.
“Three?” Kate prompted.
“Well, if he was interested in you romantically. Cops aren’t supposed to use the national database for those reasons, but they often do. I admit, I’ve even done it myself.”
Kate hurried to change the subject. “Did he find out anything about me?”
“No,” David said. “I’d already seen to that, to be on the safe side. But look, Kate, you really have to keep a low profile from now on.”
Why does everyone keep saying that to me? Kate thought.
“Oh well,” David said, “it’s not as if anything else will happen in that sleepy, little town.”
They said their goodbyes, and David hung up. Kate looked at the phone for a while. Was there any possibility of a future with the gorgeous Ryan Weaver? She didn’t think so, much to her dismay. If anything happened, David would have Kate out of the state in flash. And when the mole was found, she would also leave town without warning.
After a sleepless night, in which Kate tossed and turned for hours trying to find the answers to the problem of Ryan, she was up before the sun, and making strong coffee.
By midmorning, after the usual chores were done, Kate was weeding in the vegetable garden. She heard a car, and had been with the Amish long enough to find the sound unusual.
She looked up and saw Ryan getting out of the car and walking toward her. Her stomach churned as soon as he smiled at her. In her old life, Kate would have been concerned that there was dirt on her face and under her fingernails, but now, she really didn’t care so much about her appearance any more.
“I’ve come to tell you that you won’t have to go to court,” he said. “I won’t bore you with all the legalities, but Henry Moore has confessed.”
“That’s wunderbaar,” Kate said, pleased that she was remembering more Pennsylvania Dutch words.
Ryan smiled at her again, causing her heart to do flip flops. “Hey, you solved the murder, you know. I have to thank you for that.”
Kate shrugged. “Denki, but you would’ve solved it yourself soon enough.”
“You don’t seem like a typical Amish girl,” Ryan said, frowning.
“Maybe I’m not,” Kate said, and smiled at him. “And you’ve said that before.”
“Well, it’s good to know that you’re safe again. This is again a safe house.”
“Yes, it is a safe house,” Kate said, smiling at the double meaning that only she knew applied to her in this situation.
* * * The End* * *
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Next in this #1 Best-selling series, Amish Safe House.
In Plain View (Amish Safe House, Book 2)
U.S. Marshal, Kate Briggs, is beginning to adjust to the Amish ways. Yet when a murder occurs in the nearby town, how will she solve it without arousing the suspicions of the handsome detective, Ryan Weaver, and blowing her cover?
What does Kate do that causes her WITSEC boss to want to extract her from the peaceful Amish community? Will Kate leave the Amish, or will she stay?
Other Books by Ruth Hartzler.
#1 Best-selling series, The Amish Buggy Horse, by Ruth Hartzler.
Faith (Book ONE)
For years, Nettie looked after her aged mother Elma, a demanding woman who did not want any involvement with the community.
Now that her mother has died, Nettie is alone. She is regarded with suspicion by the local townspeople, and has had no visitors from her community for some years.
Nettie's buggy horse has gone lame and has had to be retired, but Nettie cannot afford a new horse. Just as Nettie is despairing about not having any means of transport, a lost horse appears in her driveway, bringing with him far-reaching consequences.
Daniel Glick is drawn to the lonely figure of Nettie, but Nettie wants to be left alone.
However, when Jebediah Sprinkler tries to force Nettie to hand over her house, Daniel springs to the rescue.
As Nettie's struggles mount, she has to decide whether to take the law into her own hands.
And what will Daniel do when he discovers the secret that Nettie is hiding from him?
About Ruth Hartzler.
Ruth Hartzler's father was from generations of what people refer to as "Closed Open" or "Gospel Hall" Brethren. Ruth's mother, a Southern Baptist, had years of struggle adapting to the cultural differences, and always cut her hair, which was a continual concern to Ruth's father's family. Ruth was raised strictly Brethren and from birth attended three meetings every Sunday at the Gospel Hall, the Wednesday night meeting, and the yearly "Conference," until she left the Brethren at the age of twenty one. Ruth still has close friends in the Brethren, as well as the Amish, both groups descending from Anabaptists. Ruth's family had electricity, but not television, radio, or magazines, and they had plain cars. Make up, bright or fashionable clothes, and hair cutting were not permitted for women. Women had to wear hats in meetings (what others would call church meetings) but not elsewhere. The word "church" was never used and there were no bishops or ministers. All baptized men were able to speak (preach, or give out a hymn) spontaneously at meetings. Musical instruments were forbidden, with the exception of the traditional pump organ which was allowed only if played in the home for hymn music. Even so, singing of hymns in accompaniment was forbidden.
Off the Grid (Amish Safe House, Book 1) Page 9