by Mary Alford
Noah stood in the doorway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to spook you.” His husky voice dispelled her worries for the moment.
“Is something wrong?” he asked when he saw her expression.
Rachel pulled the slip of paper from her pocket. “I’m not sure. I found this amongst Eva’s things.” She handed it to him.
“A. Miller.” His curious gaze shot to hers. “Do you have any idea who this is?”
She shook her head. “There are no Millers living in the community as far as I know. Eva never mentioned anyone by that name.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We need to figure out who this person is. I’ll call Walker and have him speak with the Stoltzfuses. Perhaps they remember Eva meeting with this man.”
“But when? There’s no date on the note. Stoltzfuses’s Bakery isn’t open on Sunday. It could have been last week or longer. Maybe she chose not even to meet this person.” She tried not to let the hopelessness inside take control. “You think this is who took her?”
“There’s no way of knowing until we talk to this person, but it’s something of a lead.” He tapped the paper. “I’m going to speak with Sheriff Collins and let him know about this.”
Rachel followed him back to the living room. All she could think about was her sister. Why hadn’t Eva spoken of meeting this person? She’d believed her sister shared all aspects of her life with her, but now she realized that wasn’t the case. What other secrets did Eva keep? All sorts of possibilities sped through her mind, none of them welcome. Had Eva been deceived into a relationship with someone who might end up taking her life?
* * *
Noah called Walker and filled him in on the note. “Rachel doesn’t recognize the name. As far as she knows there are no Millers living in the community.”
“If this guy isn’t from around here and he has Eva, who knows where he might have taken her.” Walker paused for a breath. “Nothing about this makes sense. If this is all about the younger sister, why come after Rachel unless she saw something and the perps are afraid she can identify them?”
“That could be it,” Noah said in a low voice. “The only problem is Rachel doesn’t know anything.”
Walker’s silence didn’t sit well. “There is another possibility that we have to consider. Maybe this is connected to the human trafficking ring that’s been operating throughout the state. Dozens of young women have disappeared over the years.”
Noah didn’t want to think about the sweet young girl he’d known going through something so horrific, but the possibility was real enough. Eagle’s Nest was but a stone’s throw from the Canadian border. If the men managed to get Eva across it...
“Doesn’t explain why they’d come after Rachel. They’d want easy targets. She’s not an easy target anymore,” Noah said and ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Did you get anything from the man I shot?”
Walker’s sigh spoke volumes. “Nothing. We printed him. Believe it or not, his prints aren’t on file. He claims his name is George Mason and he’s a drifter. He’s being charged with two counts of attempted murder. The judge denied bail. Maybe sitting in a cell will start him talking.”
Noah sure hoped he was right. “That’d be nice. We need some answers.”
“Agreed. I don’t think he’s the mastermind behind all this. He’s not that smart. I’m guessing he was sent there to search for something and got caught. Does Rachel have any idea what they might be looking for?”
“None. The Bible that was taken isn’t the one used for devotionals.”
“We need to figure out what these men want and soon.” Walker was silent for a moment. “I’ll speak with the Stoltzfuses right away. I know the couple pretty well.”
Most of the deputies were familiar with the Amish bakery in Eagle’s Nest. The Stoltzfuses were good people. From time to time, Martha dropped off pastries at the station for the officers and just about every deputy on the force stopped by for Martha’s apple fry pies.
Noah didn’t want to think about what might be happening to Eva. With a heavy heart, he glanced over his shoulder to where Rachel rocked, her attention on the fire. She appeared miles away and deep in thought.
His gaze went to the window. In the distance, the mountains proved a constant reminder that they’d been there long before he arrived and they’d be there long after he was gone.
“As soon as I’ve spoken with the Stoltzfuses, I’ll give you a call.” Walker’s voice interrupted his musings.
Noah drug his thoughts back to the conversation. “Thanks, Walker.” Ending the call, Noah shoved the phone into his pocket.
Doing his best to shake off his concerns, he slipped into the rocker next to Rachel’s. “Walker’s speaking to the Stoltzfuses,” he told her.
She turned in her seat and touched his arm. “Denki, Noah. I am grateful you are here with me. I cannot imagine going through this alone.”
The sincerity on her face tugged at his heart. “Don’t you know I would do anything for you?” he said softly and meant it.
She swallowed visibly. Without answering, she pulled her hand away. “I need to care for the animals. They must be starving by now.”
After what had just taken place, Noah wasn’t so sure it was safe to leave the house. “First, let me check in with the deputies, then I’ll help out.”
Aden answered on the first ring. “We’re in pursuit of the vehicle now. I followed them through the woods past the barn. They circled back around to the road. Megan picked me up and we’re giving chase. There’s no license plate. The car’s probably stolen. Hang on a second.” The noise of tires screeching resounded through the phone.
“That was close. We almost went off the road. It’s pretty icy through here.”
“Where are you now?” Noah asked.
“Close to the Lake Koocanusa Bridge.”
“Call me as soon as you have them,” Noah said and prayed that would happen. “Rachel needs to care for the animals. We’ll make it quick.”
He ended the call and explained what happened. “We should be okay to do the chores.”
Rising, Rachel took her cloak from the peg by the door and slipped into it, then tied her black, deep-set traveling bonnet in place. The dark color of her dress a constant reminder of the man she’d loved and lost.
Noah couldn’t picture her with anyone other than him, but what did he expect? That she would wait around for him forever? Besides, he’d married another.
Her sweet voice filtered through his thoughts. He realized she’d been trying to get his attention.
“I’m sorry... What did you say?”
A frown formed between her brows. “Are you okay?”
He nodded and opened the door, relocking it once they were on the porch. Following Rachel to the barn, Noah unlatched the door and stepped inside. Mid-afternoon shadows clung to the corners of the cavernous room.
Taking down the lantern that hung near the door, he struck a match to it. Soft light made the darkness flee.
“I’ll muck out the stall and feed the mare for you,” he told her, recalling all the times he’d helped with the chores.
She smiled in response and carried the milking stool over to the cow while Noah cleared up the mare’s stall. In the past, he’d enjoyed the hard work, and each minute he’d spent with her had been a blessing.
With the stall clean, he brought over oats and water to the mare, who neighed her appreciation.
Rachel lifted the heavy pail filled with fresh milk and struggled to carry it to the door.
“Here, let me.” He took it from her.
“Denki. I’ll feed the chickens and collect the eggs before we go inside.”
Sitting the pail next to the door, Noah glanced around the barn. Not much had changed over the years. A buggy was parked at the far side of the barn away from the animals—the family’s means of
transportation. Something on the ground next to it seemed out of place, and he went to investigate. Beside one of the wheels, a half-dozen cigarette butts were scattered on the ground. Fire sparked from one of the glowing tips to the hay scattered around on the ground. It caught fire and spread quickly. Noah took off his jacket and began beating out the flames. Rachel rushed over with a bucket of water and tossed it on the flames. The water put out the remaining sparks. With the fire out, smoke billowed from the charred hay.
Noah stomped the remaining butts to make sure they wouldn’t ignite. As he surveyed the mess, a chilling thought occurred. What if the butts had been strewn strategically to set a fire and draw one or both of them out of the house in an attempt to separate them and allow the men chasing Rachel to get to her? The shots earlier might be a decoy to get Megan and Aden out of the way.
They’d been gone for almost an hour now. The cigarettes could not have been left by the men they were pursuing. Which meant...someone had been here recently.
SIX
The expression on Noah’s face scared her.
“They were just here.” Rachel’s words slipped out in a whisper.
“There’s a chance they could be out there still waiting to ambush us. Go to the back of the barn and get out of sight. Let me check it out.”
Before he could move away, she grabbed his arm, keeping him there. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to Noah because of her. She couldn’t answer the questions in his eyes.
“Please be careful,” she murmured.
A breath escaped before he nodded and headed to the door, drawing his weapon in the process. The sight of it brought home the danger facing them.
Noah slipped out of the barn. Rachel moved deeper into its depths, the beat of her heart drowning out all other sounds. Minutes strung together and felt like a lifetime.
A noise near the door had her stepping toward it. Noah. Relief slipped down her limbs. She stopped midstride when a man in a ski mask came inside.
“No.” She backed away as he advanced on her. “Noah!” Rachel screamed as loud as she could. Her panicked voice resounded through the barn.
She turned to run. The man grabbed her before she could get away. Rachel screamed and clawed at the hand restraining her, but her efforts were futile. With his arm snaked around her waist, he dragged her along with him while Rachel kicked and screamed again. If he took her, she’d be dead.
The man shoved the door open. Her eyes darted around the area. Where was Noah? Would he reach her in time? As they rounded the corner of the barn, Rachel had to try a last-ditch effort to save her life. She grabbed hold of the side of the barn. The man’s hand jerked free. Before he had time to react, she grabbed a shovel leaning against the wall and slugged him hard. He shrieked and staggered backward.
“Rachel! Where are you?” When the man heard Noah’s voice, he bolted.
“I’m over here.” With her knees threatening to buckle beneath her, she had to keep going. What if the man came back?
Noah appeared in front of her. She all but collapsed into his arms.
“What happened?” he asked.
She couldn’t stop shaking as she told him about the man’s attempt at kidnapping her.
“Let’s get back to the house. There could be others.”
With Rachel tucked close to his side, Noah grabbed the pail of milk. She picked up the basket of eggs and they rushed inside and he locked the door.
Noah hit the radio on his shoulder. “Dispatch, I need immediate backup.” He told Janine about what happened.
“Megan and Aden are on their way back there now. The car they were chasing got away.”
“Unbelievable,” Noah murmured.
“I’ll dispatch crime scene to your location. Maybe they can get some DNA off the cigarette butts. Walker’s en route, as well.”
“Thanks, Janine.”
With her heart still in her throat, Rachel put away the eggs and milk while trying not to spill either.
Just untying her bonnet proved a near impossible task with hands that shook. Noah saw her distress and helped her out of her cloak. “When was the last time you ate anything?” he asked, the concern on his face clear.
She couldn’t remember. Probably at the after-church meal the day before.
“You have to keep up your strength.”
The thought of food held no pleasure, but it gave her something to do to keep from going crazy.
In a daze, she went to the kitchen. The clock on the kitchen counter reflected the time. Almost four. Closer to the evening meal than midday. Before what happened last night, her plans for today had been simple.
Yesterday, she’d prepared her sister’s favorite meal, scrapple. Taking finely cut pieces of spareribs, she’d boiled them in broth, then added cornmeal until the mixture had a mushy consistency. When it was ready, she’d placed it in the refrigerator to chill overnight. Now she pulled it out and began to heat it in a pan on the stove.
Tears filled her eyes. All she could think about was her sister. Where are you, Eva?
Noah came up behind her and gently turned her to face him, spotting her tears.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he tried to reassure her. “We’ll find her.” She leaned against him, needing to believe this with all her heart.
Noah enveloped her in his strong arms and held her close. The steady beat of his heart was so familiar. Through the years, Noah had always been her protector. She guessed he still was.
A knock on the door broke them apart. She searched his face. As a young maede, she’d imagined having a family with him, foolishly refusing to see the truth. Their differences in faith were as impossible to summit as the mountains in the distance. There would never be anything between her and Noah. She was not fit to be anyone’s wife.
“That’s probably Aden and Megan,” he assured her and headed to answer the door while she turned back to the stove. Flipping the scrapple before it burned, she tried to calm her frayed nerves.
Both deputies came inside.
“He must have got away on foot before we arrived,” Megan said. “Was he alone?”
Noah shook his head, a grim expression on his face. “I don’t know. I didn’t see any signs there was someone else out there. Crime scene’s on the way. Hopefully, they can retrieve some DNA off the cigarettes, but they were pretty badly damaged in the fire.”
“Let’s hope.” Aden didn’t sound positive. “We sure could use a break.” The deputy’s answer did little to settle her fears. Time was ticking away. How much longer did her sweet sister have before it was too late?
* * *
Noah recalled the many times he’d shared meals at this same table with Rachel’s family, never imagining this day would come.
Several times, he’d noticed Aden watching his and Rachel’s interactions curiously. No doubt, witnessing things Noah preferred to keep to himself. He and Aden had been friends since Noah joined the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. Though Aden knew some of his past—his marriage to Olivia and her death—there was plenty he didn’t know. Mostly because talking about Rachel hurt too much.
Once they were all seated at the table, Rachel bowed her head for the silent prayer—a time to quiet one’s mind and open the heart up to God. More and more lately, Noah found himself seeking out these moments.
He lowered his head and opened up his heart. We need Your help, Lord. To find Eva and protect Rachel. To bring these men to justice.
When he opened his eyes, he found Rachel watching him, a tiny smile on her lips. He wondered if she, too, remembered all the meals they’d shared together.
He hadn’t had scrapple since he’d moved away, but hers was just as good as her mother’s, though prepared with different hands.
Silence lingered throughout the simple meal. Conversation was hard to come by with so much at stake. Rachel b
arely touched her food. She scraped back her chair and carried her plate to the sink, her shoulders slumped. Noah couldn’t even begin to imagine the fear pressing in on her. Outdoors, red-and-blue lights flashed. The crime scene unit had arrived.
Aden and Megan finished their last bites of food and headed out to assist.
Rachel faced Noah. The despair on her face broke his heart. “You should go,” she told him. “They need you. I can take care of the cleanup.”
He would give anything to be able to offer her some words of comfort, but he couldn’t because he was worried, too. So far, they had nothing.
“It is oke,” she said with a sad little smile. “I know you are doing everything you can for Eva and me.”
He was, but so far it wasn’t enough. Though he hated leaving her alone, half the sheriff’s department was outside. He doubted the men would try anything. “Make sure you lock both doors behind me.”
“I will,” she promised without looking at him.
Noah slipped on his jacket and headed out into the cold day. Intermittent snow continued to fall. So far, the accumulation wasn’t enough to render the roads hazardous, but it would eventually.
When he entered the barn, Noah noticed Walker by the door talking to Aden.
“Anything?” he asked, stopping next to them.
Walker shook his head. “Nope. The cigarettes are too destroyed for DNA testing. They’ll dust the barn for any viable prints.
“How’s Rachel holding up?” Walker asked while he watched the crime scene techs work.
“Barely hanging on.” Noah wasn’t sure how much more she could handle.
“I can imagine. I haven’t seen anything like this before.”
“Is George Mason talking yet?” Noah asked.
Walker shook his head. “Not a word. I don’t think we’ll get anything useful out of him. I’d like to speak with Rachel as soon as possible. Maybe now that a little time has passed she’ll remember something she didn’t think important before.”
“Let’s hope. She’s been through a lot, but she’s strong.”