Covert Amish Investigation

by Dana R. Lynn

  When they heard further about the buggy, they were appalled to hear how close she’d come to dying. When she told them that Abram had performed CPR, they turned wide eyes to their son.

  “You saved her.”

  Abram squirmed. She smiled at how shy he was about accepting praise. “Levi taught me last month. I never understood why he had insisted that I learn it.”

  “Ja.” David nodded his head sagely. “Gott inspired your brother. He knew that you would need to use that. It’s amazing how He works things out for our gut.”

  “Not always.” She hadn’t meant to blurt that out. Her mind had spun onto her experience as a teen and she’d been unable to react to it. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude.”

  Fanny heaved her slight frame out of her chair and walked with a crooked, hobbling gait to where Kate sat, ignoring David’s and Abram’s exclamations. Waving their concern away, she settled into the chair next to Kate, sitting close enough to loop an arm behind the younger woman’s back. Kate’s instincts told her to lean in closer to the comfort offered, but she resisted.

  “Katie. Gott never abandoned you. He never took His eyes off you. You may never know why those horrible things happened. What we do know is that Gott kept you in the palm of His hand and brought you out of it.”

  Abram murmured, “You’re one of the strongest people I know, Katie.”

  She struggled with this new way of thinking.

  David leaned in. “Remember the prophet Jeremiah? He endured much. In chapter twenty-nine, we read, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

  Slowly nodding, she voiced the thoughts brewing in your mind. “So, you’re saying that God allows things to happen, but He still works it out so it’s best for us?”

  “Well,” Abram said, scratching his head, “I know that we have to suffer in life. And think about it. If we didn’t suffer, would we even understand how much we needed Gott?”

  They were no longer talking only about the incident at the lake. Abram was telling her God still loved her, and had cared for her, even during the darkest moments of her life. Did she believe that? Could she allow herself to trust Him again?

  “I’m scared,” she admitted to Abram. “You say I’m strong, but I don’t think I’m capable of handling too much more.”

  “You’ve heard that verse from Philippians that says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?”

  She laughed. It emerged like a short bark. “Ugh. I haven’t opened a Bible in ten years. I’ll have to find that one.”

  She’d shocked her hosts. Still, they were gracious about it. David brought the Bible and opened it to the fourth chapter of Philippians and placed his finger beside verse thirteen. She read that verse, then she read the next one. And the next. It was beautiful and spoke to her like no book ever had. Turning to the beginning of the chapter, she read the title and author’s name.

  “I don’t recall ever reading any of this,” she exclaimed. “I’ve heard of the Apostle Paul, of course. But this is all new to me.”

  Abram blessed her with a beatific smile. Her breath caught. “The Bible is a wondrous thing, ja?”

  Her mind was going to explode if she sat for very much longer. She needed to move around.

  Abram stood. “Cumme. You look like you could use a break.”

  How did he do that? He knew exactly what she needed. Was she that transparent, or was their connection still there? She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Her feelings were getting all scrambled up inside her. Before she would have tried to reject the connection. Now, it was something that helped her keep going.

  Excusing themselves, Abram and Kate stood. Impulsively, Kate leaned down and hugged Fanny, hard. Abram’s mother squeezed back. Whew. The older woman had more strength left in her pain-ridden body than her family knew.

  Abram held the door open for her and they walked out into the dusk. Soon, the day would be gone. Kate wouldn’t be sorry to put this day behind her. It had been terrifying and unsettling in too many ways.

  Breathing deep, she smiled at the scents in the air. She loved the smell of the earth after a rainfall. The sky was still cloudy. She knew more rain was to come. It was hurricane season, after all. While they wouldn’t get much in the way of destructive wind or rains, they’d have a few days of harsher than normal weather.

  It had also brought her a small measure of peace, though. Awareness of Abram strolling quietly at her side sang through her. She’d never let another man get this close to her before. The idea of doing so made her grimace. No, Abram Burkholder was a special man. She’d liked him as a young girl. But as a woman, she appreciated the sense of security and restfulness he exuded. He was not a man who postured or bragged to bring attention to himself.

  He was Abram, plain and simple. That was enough.

  Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be enough to save his life. She’d have to double her efforts to keep her distance. She couldn’t allow a mistake on her part to cost him everything.

  TEN

  Abram kept his hands clasped behind his back to resist the urge to reach for her hand. Katie was still with him, and that was wondrously gut, but she wasn’t his. Not like he wanted her to be. The way things were now, she never would be.

  He’d seen her sidewise glances at him, despite her attempt to be discreet. Katie was resisting the same temptations. He was sure of it.

  But they were both hindered by the lives they’d chosen. Having her with him, for a few days or a few hours, it had to be sufficient. For while he could easily fall in love with the lovely and courageous woman his Katie had grown into, he could never leave his world for her.

  Not because she wasn’t worthy of his devotion. She absolutely was. But he had made a promise to Gott. His faith was more to him than being with his family and living a simple life. Nee, his faith was about service to his Gott with his whole heart. That had to come before work, before family. Before love.

  They were at a stalemate.

  “Why didn’t you ever marry?” The question floated softly on the fall air. So soft, he might have imagined it.

  It wasn’t a question he was enthusiastic to answer. Especially in light of their growing attraction. She had told him about Gary, though. Could he really deny her this?

  He cleared his throat. The one positive about the dimming light was it would hide his crimson ears. “Well, I just never did. I walked out once. With Edith’s cousin, Linda.”

  She gasped softly. “I remember Linda. She was always kind. Kind of shy, but nice. I didn’t know her well.”

  He smiled. He’d heard the trace of jealousy that she hadn’t been able to disguise. His smile faltered. It wasn’t good to encourage jealousy, or any other emotions dealing with affection.

  “Ja, she was sweet and kind. She was also unwilling to settle. I asked her to marry me. My family had already decided we’d make a gut couple.” He shrugged, then he amended his answer. “Not all of my family. Levi, he didn’t think we’d suit. He told me not to be too hasty. I didn’t listen, of course. Levi’s a great guy, but this was my decision.”

  She stopped and turned toward him. “What happened? It obviously didn’t work out.”

  He gazed up out at the horizon before pivoting to meet her gaze. “She turned me down because I didn’t love her. She thought I had someone else. I didn’t. I’d just never moved on from you and hadn’t realized it until that moment.”

  She gasped and backed away, shaking her head. Her blue eyes glistened in the twilight. “Abram!”

  Even her voice was broken.

  “Shhh.” He closed the distance between them. “It’s not your fault. You can’t take the blame for what happened in my life.”

  “But I am to blame! Abram, I shut you out. I was so scared of your reaction, so ashamed, that I t
urned away from you, from God. I never even tried to connect with my sisters. I just ran. Like a coward.”

  He wasn’t having that. Fisting his hands so they wouldn’t reach out to hold her close, he kept his voice low, trying to soothe her with his gentleness.

  “You are not, and have never been, a coward. I wish I’d known how things were with you, but you were always the one who was the first to volunteer for a new venture, or the one who dreamed of becoming a missionary. I never really wanted more than to stay here and work in my daed’s painting business.”

  “That was a good dream. I guess we never know how life will end up.” She paused. “When I told you Beth had been attacked, you were shocked. I thought that meant that you might not react well.”

  Startled, he jerked back. “Nee! That wasn’t it at all!”

  Shooting a quick glance at his haus to be sure his parents weren’t listening, he told her about his cousin. “She’s gut now and has two sweet kinder with her husband.”

  “It’s possible to move on, then.” The wistful edge in her voice was nearly his undoing.

  “Remember. With Gott, all things are possible.”

  Rather than replying, she changed the subject to more mundane topics. He let it go, not wanting to force his faith on her. He’d planted a seed and seen some interest sprout. He’d step back and let Gott do the rest.

  They made plans to go back to Beth’s haus the next day so she could look around. Then she wanted to go to the bed-and-breakfast to see if she could find out anything from those working with Beth.

  “Besides, I have a room there. It would look odd if I never used it.”

  He didn’t know about that. He’d try to persuade her to check out when they went.

  Before he went to bed, he said a quick prayer for her healing and for Gott to teach her to give herself grace. The peace that flowed through him as he closed his eyes soothed his soul. Ja, Gott would take care of his Katie.

  * * *

  The next morning, Katie greeted him with a groan. Concerned, he pulled out a chair for her at the breakfast table. She didn’t look well.

  “Katie? What’s wrong? You’re very pale this morning.”

  She grimaced. “Sorry. I’m just feeling very bruised today. It’s still a little painful to breathe, although not as bad as it was yesterday in the hospital.”

  “Why don’t you rest this morning? I’ll be home this afternoon, and we can go then.”

  “I don’t like waiting, but I think you might have a good plan,” she admitted.

  Satisfied, Abram kissed his mamm on the cheek; he headed out the back door and to the barn before he gave in to the temptation to kiss Katie’s cheek, too. Daed and Sam had already left for their jobsite, catching a ride with a neighbor. Despite Abram’s protests, his father had insisted he take the buggy since he needed to help Katie after work.

  “Just don’t let this one end up in Lake Sutter,” Sam had joked.

  Abram rolled his eyes in response.

  He hitched up his mare to the buggy, keeping an eye on the weather. He didn’t like the look of the sky. During the night, the rain had started again. At first, it was a light sprinkle, but as the night had continued on, the wind kicked up. The earth had a little extra give to it when he stepped on the grass. By the time the mare was hitched up, his boots were muddy from the soggy ground. As he drove toward town, he saw the evidence of the storm. Every now and then, he’d see a haus with a shingle or two missing. Branches littered the road, kicked aside by the mare’s hooves. He tried to steer her around the worst, but there were so many of them.

  The rain had slowed, but the sky was heavy with the promise of more. Dark clouds moved rapidly across the sky, spinning and swirling like an angry swarm of honeybees guarding the queen.

  At the jobsite, he joined the other employee on the project. Briefly, they discussed what needed to be done and prepped the area. It was good that they were working on an indoor project. If it had been outside, they would have needed to cancel it due to the weather. Hurricane season often brought more rain and high winds. Maybe even a flash flood or two.

  The weather report warned that they might get an unprecedented amount of precipitation this week. He frowned at that.

  Katie was fine at his haus. He wished she would stay there, but she wasn’t planning on it. At least he’d convinced her to let him go with her. He glanced at the sky again. Although, they might be wiser to wait a few days.

  That probably wasn’t an option. Not with Beth out there somewhere.

  He pulled his thoughts away from her. Katie knew how to take care of herself. Mamm was with her, so she wasn’t alone. And now that Marshal Delacure was aware of their concerns, Katie would be watched over. He could stop worrying and focus on his job.

  The sky looked worse when he left. He frowned. His daed had asked him to get lumber. If he waited too long, it might not come in time. Abram decided to stop by the lumberyard on his way home to place an important order.

  “Hey ya, Abram.” Isaiah, the owner, was standing by the door, wiping his hands on a less-than-clean rag while he surveyed the sky. “I’m thinking this storm might be a doozy.”

  Abram nodded. “Ja. Daed was talking to some Englischers we’re doing an indoor job for. They were talking about visiting their kinder in Indiana until the system passed. Overkill, do you suppose? We don’t usually get much here.”

  Isaiah frowned. “I don’t know. We’re going to be getting more rain than usual. I know the farmers are concerned.”

  Abram glared up at the dark sky. “Have you been selling more lumber than usual?”

  “Ja, business has been gut. What can I get for you?”

  Abram made his order and paid Isaiah. By the time he left, he was more than an hour late for meeting Katie. He shrugged. It couldn’t be helped. As soon as he got home, they’d head out.

  * * *

  Kate watched the darkening sky out the window with concern. Where was Abram? He was supposed to be home an hour ago. She sighed. The windows shivered as a blast of wind hit them. The water was beginning to come down in waves.

  Turning back to the house, she tried to think what she could do.

  Abram wouldn’t like it if she left without him. Not that she could do that, anyway. He was her only way to get anywhere. If only she had a car...

  But she didn’t. Nor did she have a phone anymore to call for a driver. She thought about that. Some Amish families had phones in their garages for business purposes. She had no idea if David had such a phone. If he did, and she called a driver, would that settle Abram’s concerns regarding her being alone?

  She looked across the room at Abram’s mother. Fanny was sitting down, calmly sewing a garment as if the wind and the rain didn’t disturb her at all. It probably didn’t; her faith was such an integral part of her life. What would it be like to have such confidence that God would make everything work out? That even when bad things happened, good could come from it?

  She used to have faith. She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. It did no good to repine. She couldn’t undo the past.

  Kate returned to the window in time to see a vehicle pull in. Recognizing Marshal Delacure’s car, her spirits lightened. Maybe she could ask the marshal to accompany her. Then Abram couldn’t complain that she was alone. Nor would she have to sit beside him, longing for more than she could ever have.

  If only...

  That was useless. She couldn’t change the past. She could only move forward. Although, she hadn’t done that very well so far. Instinctively, she reached out to God mentally, asking for His guidance.

  Had He listened? She never doubted that He could hear her. She just hadn’t been sure He’d bother with her small concerns. A sense of peace, just a tiny nugget, unfurled inside her.

  A knock at the door interrupted her musings. “I’ll get it, Fanny. It’s th
e marshal I’m working with.”

  Quickly moving through the kitchen, she got to the door and opened it.

  “Hey, Kate. I’m glad I caught you in.”

  Kate stepped back and invited the marshal in. Fanny walked slowly into the room to welcome the visitor. When the marshal glanced at Kate, she nodded. “It’s okay. Abram’s parents know I’m a cop and that I’m here to help you with something, with the bishop’s permission.”

  Spitting out the awkward sentence, she waited. The marshal nodded with approval, her eyes crinkling as she smiled at Fanny. Kate had managed to give her most of the major details she and Abram had shared. The marshal was now aware that they knew she was a cop, but unaware of Beth and her real purpose in coming.

  “I did need to talk with you for a few minutes, Kate.”

  “Sure.” She bit her lip. How did she ask Marshal Delacure to give her a ride to Beth’s and the B&B?

  Widening her eyes, she looked out at the car. The marshal got the hint.

  “Would you be able to come with me for a drive?”

  “Of course!”

  The marshal grinned, her eyebrows shooting up.

  Maybe her response was a little too enthusiastic. She flushed.

  “I’ll let Abram know you’re with a friend,” Fanny offered.

  “Thanks, Fanny. Hopefully, I’ll be back by dinnertime.”

  Marshal Delacure glanced at her watch. “It’s only two. I’m sure we can manage that. I have a five o’clock appointment.”

  Kate nodded. Three hours should be enough time. The police had already gone through Beth’s house. She didn’t know what else she expected to find there, but there was an off chance that maybe something had been missed.

  Or maybe Beth had returned at some point. She knew that wasn’t likely, but every avenue had to be checked out. Gathering the cloak the bishop had given her, Kate said her goodbye to Fanny and trailed after Marshal Delacure.