Promise at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  He contemplated her dream to hike with her husband and children. The image was as vivid to him now as when she had first shared her dream of hiking with little ones following her up the very hill they’d just climbed.

  Before hearing her words, Marcus hadn’t thought much about a family of his own. He was just starting a new life, away from the trouble that so tempted his brothers. But now, his heart ached to be the man who hiked with Hannah and the children. To be the man bringing up the rear as Hannah’s family made their way up Pebble Creek. Despite not being Amish, despite feeling he could never be devout enough to marry Hannah, he could clearly see himself with the group. At that very moment, nothing made sense to him. Nothing except the fact that he wanted nothing more in the world than to marry Amish woman Hannah Lapp.

  Chapter Eleven

  Why did Lapp Furniture seem so quiet? July was over. To Hannah, it seemed as though she had just been at this very chair, in this small office, doing the June tallies. For the past several years, Hannah had been the designated bookkeeper.

  She’d spent many afternoons and evenings in this small room, but until this particular evening, she’d never paid attention to the defining silence. Usually, she could hear branches of the large oaks surrounding the store as the wind shoved them against the building.

  Or, other times, she’d caught traffic noises from cars traveling the main road to the side of the shop. Last winter, when she’d done the books in this very room, there had been a stray cat outside the door, purring to get in. Of course, she’d let the furry creature inside and had even allowed it to cuddle up inside her winter coat. She’d even found a home for the creature at Mary Conrad’s house. Hannah fell in love with every animal she met; she’d offered her home to plenty of strays, but when she’d taken that particular feline home, Maemm had told Hannah to find the little guy a different dwelling.

  Hannah smiled a little at the happy memory of the stray inside her coat and let out a sigh as she finished adding the column of July expenses. She stopped for a moment, shoved back her chair on the wooden floor, and stretched her legs.

  Tonight, there was much to think about. Marcus, in particular. How to clear the doubts in people’s minds that he’d been involved in the robbery at King’s Bakery. And what to do about her forbidden feelings for him.

  Since their conversation at the top of the hill, when she’d learned he was truly a protector, he’d been on her mind more than ever. And she was fully aware of the serious feelings she had for him. Love. That’s what she felt. And she was sure it had nothing to do with whether or not he was Amish. If only she could reason with her heart.

  For the short time she’d known Marcus, she’d learned a lot about him. That was how it seemed anyway. The family dinner and washing dishes with the boys had quickly stepped up her awareness of the Englischer.

  For instance, he was fit. She was sure she wouldn’t be able to run back and forth on the long drive, racing the boys on their bicycles. Secondly, he was extremely kind to children. To her nephews in particular.

  Hannah had spent enough time with children to know that instinctively, they knew when they were cared about. And her nephews definitely felt Marcus’s love for them. He’d been interested in them. Talked to them. Played with them.

  Thinking about him prompted her to strum her fingers against the wooden desk where she was working. She let out a frustrated sigh. Unfortunately, thinking about Marcus made it difficult for her to focus on her math.

  She looked around. There wasn’t a window in this particular room; still, for some reason, she’d always enjoyed the time she spent alone here. She looked around at the cluttered shelves and workspace.

  She’d brought The Adventures of Sydney and Carson with her. It was during this time that she allowed her imagination to work overtime. When she read, she was able to put herself in another world. And reading inspired her. Maybe a little too much, because she’d shared with Marcus the idea of catching the thief. While the thought was brief, and she likely wouldn’t have acted on it, it was comforting to know that Marcus cared about her safety enough to dissuade her. So she’d leave trying to catch the King’s Bakery thief to the police.

  As she looked down at the numbers, she thought of how she’d been raised to spend every moment working and serving, because work and worship made you grow as a person. That’s probably why Maemm disapproved of her adventure books.

  Now, their house was filled with grandchildren and her brothers and their wives. Sometimes, she felt a bit guilty about needing her own space. Despite longing for alone time, she dreamed of the day when she’d have her own children running around barefoot. Surely she’d better enjoy her stories now, because once she became a maemm, there wouldn’t be a moment to spare for anything that didn’t contribute to her family.

  As she started to add the last column, she sat very still and wondered if she’d really have a home full of children one day. If she’d be able to keep her family fed. Even though Hannah liked to cook, she was fully aware of the amount of work it took to feed a family.

  She eyed The Adventures of Sydney and Carson, to the right of her papers. Even if she didn’t have time to read, just having the book in front of her drew up the corners of her lips in a smile.

  Her attention shifted to the four corners that encompassed her small workspace, and she automatically compared it to her office in the back of Amish Edibles. Similarly, a large battery clock hung on the wall in front of her there. The long, black, second hand crept continuously around the numbers. Two wooden rocking chairs from Conrad Cabinets sat on each side of the oak work chaise.

  As she breathed in the aroma of wood polish and leather, she acknowledged that she preferred Amish Edibles’ pleasant scents of cinnamon and flowers from the sachets made by Mary Conrad and her mother. In fact, when customers entered Amish Edibles, many immediately commented that the shop smelled like fresh flowers.

  A quick glance at the clock told Hannah it was time to get back to work. While she resumed adding with her hand calculator, the wind suddenly began shoving large branches against the building. The squeaking noise of limbs rubbing against metal siding made chills run up her arms.

  As she focused on the numbers in front of her, the impact of branches hitting the building increased. Letting out a yawn, a new sound made her straighten up. Her heart pounded to a combination of fear and urgency as Hannah looked for the source of the noise.

  To her dismay, the knob on the door jiggled. She parted her lips in surprise. Did I imagine that? She swallowed and carefully eyed the knob, which moved again. Someone’s trying to get in. Just like in the story I’m writing. If it was one of my brothers, they’d knock and holler my name. Hannah stood, immediately recalling the theft at King’s Bakery. And the thief was never caught. Suddenly, the work in front of her lost its sense of urgency. It’s unlikely that Marcus will show up to make a storylike ending. It’s just me. What should I do?

  She recalled her own fiction and realized there wasn’t an extinguisher close by. Hannah’s quick thinking kicked in, though, and she stood. Trying not to make a sound, she reached underneath her work area for the key that locked the door that led out into the main area of the store.

  Quickly, she rushed to the other side of the door, closed it as quietly as she could, inserted the key, and turned it to lock the door. Unlike the back office at Amish Edibles, this one had a lock.

  If the thief or thieves broke in, which she considered a likely possibility, picking another lock to get into the furniture area would buy her more time to get help. As she checked to make sure the bolt was locked, she could hear someone making a more serious effort to pick the lock on the door outside.

  Her heart pumped to an urgent beat. Shoving the key into her apron pocket, she rushed to the only phone in the store. It was to the right of the cash register. Her fingers shook.

  Her entire body trembled as she dialed the police. Her heart pounded so loud, she was sure whoever was trying to break in could hear it. H
er lungs pumped for air as the phone rang.

  Once. Twice. Three times. She pressed her lips together in a tight line and she nervously tapped the toe of her shoe against the wood floor. Hannah’s breath caught in her throat. She tried to stay calm as she waited. Finally, on the fourth ring, a woman answered.

  Speaking as quietly as she could, Hannah quickly spilled out her name, her situation and location. To her relief, the woman’s voice was firm and confident as she told Hannah what needed to be done.

  “Is there anyone else in the store?”

  “No.”

  “Is there a room close by that you can lock yourself into?”

  Hannah’s glance landed on the bathroom that was several feet away.

  In relief, she automatically gave a quick nod of her head. She wasn’t sure why. No one could see her. “Jah. The bathroom is close. I can lock myself inside.”

  Hannah stiffened and turned toward the main entrance at the front of the store. It was tempting to run outside, and she mentioned it.

  “It’s safer for you to be locked up inside a room. There might be an accomplice outside. If you ran outside, you might be in more danger than you already are.”

  “Okay.”

  She was quick to catch the decisive tone in the woman’s voice. “Go lock yourself in the bathroom. And take your cell phone with you so we can stay in touch.”

  Hannah frowned. “I can’t. I’m on a landline.”

  “It’s okay. Just get yourself locked in there. The police are on their way. Don’t leave the room until they come to get you. Now, go.”

  Hannah returned the phone to its cradle, rushed to the small bathroom not far away, and opened the door . . . As she did so, she spotted an extinguisher attached to a bracket on the wall. Automatically, she released it from its metal holder, grabbed the red bottle, stepped inside the bathroom, and locked the door.

  After doing so, she expelled a sigh of relief. But really, what was there to be relieved about? Nothing. Other than that she was locked in a small room, which meant she was safe for the moment.

  How long will it take the police to get here? Does the thief know I’m in here? What would Sydney do that I’m not doing? And what would this extinguisher do to a thief? It must have some strong chemical in it to put out an electrical fire.

  She contemplated the office and mentally sorted through the facts. I left the light on. My books were opened. And my horse is tied outside next to my buggy. But they’re in a general area, which won’t give away that I’m in here.

  When I was in the office, I wasn’t making any noise, so it’s very possible the intruder doesn’t know I’m here. The books could have been left open at any time. But the light is on. Of course, it could have been left on overnight. What else can I do to protect myself? What would Sydney do?

  Immediately, Hannah acknowledged what was most important, something she’d forgotten. Quickly, she squeezed her eyes closed, pressed her palms together, and whispered, “Dear Lord, please protect me and please keep the police safe. I pray that whoever’s trying to rob our store will be safe, too, and that You will come into that person’s heart and fill it with Your love. Amen.”

  Finally, true relief swept up Hannah’s back. She’d spoken to her Lord and Savior. He watched out for her. He would protect her and everyone involved.

  She didn’t have a watch and had no idea how much time had passed since she’d called for help. Now, all I can do is wait this out and continue to pray.

  She got up from the toilet lid, knelt, pressed her palms tightly together, squeezed her eyes closed, and prayed over and over for her safety and the protection of the police. Again, she prayed for Gott to come into the heart of the person who was trying to steal from the store. Of course, this thief might not be the same one who robbed King’s Bakery, but logic tells me that the intruder is the same.

  She breathed in a deep breath and expelled it before opening her lids and resuming her place on the toilet lid. Her Heavenly Father was with her. That was the best she could do in the situation she was in. And He’d always been there for her. Still, she gripped the Halon extinguisher until her knuckles turned white.

  She couldn’t hear anything. Using common sense, she attempted to figure out what was happening in the office. Maybe the thief has already left. The safe is empty because the money has been taken to the bank. There’s probably not much cash in the register out front because most customers use credit cards.

  The thief will surely get out of the building as quickly as possible. But I hope he sticks around long enough for the police to catch him, so our town doesn’t have to worry about another robbery. And so everyone will know that Marcus is innocent.

  On the closed toilet lid, she leaned forward and tapped the toe of her sturdy black shoe against the wood floor. She clenched her hands in front of her and bit her lip. Suddenly, the story she’d started to write about her and Marcus swept into her thoughts.

  As she considered playing sleuth, an amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips. When she’d written the words, she’d never dreamed she ever would be in real danger.

  Suddenly, a commotion made her stand up. Her heart pounded against her chest as loud voices could be heard. Hollering, back and forth. And then a gunshot.

  * * *

  Marcus, Ben, and their crew were working overtime at Cabot to finish a big job. The ringing of the phone in the chemical shop wasn’t unusual. However, Ben’s tone as he spoke lent a reason for concern.

  A combination of curiosity and uncertainty stopped Marcus from what he was doing. Immediately, he put down his torch, removed his hood, and quickly stepped to the area near the entrance where Ben talked into the desk phone.

  Marcus knew not to interrupt. And he also was fully aware that it was wrong to eavesdrop. This time, however, he did so anyway. Because Ben had mentioned Hannah. And she was definitely his business.

  As Marcus stood near Hannah’s brother, he took in Ben’s tone, and that his brows came together in deep concern. It wasn’t hard to figure it out: Hannah was in trouble.

  As Ben continued his conversation, Marcus regarded him with concern. The longer the conversation went on, the stronger and faster Marcus’s heart pumped with fear. Finally, Ben returned the phone to its cradle. His low voice cracked with emotion and concern. “Marcus, the family furniture store is being robbed. Hannah’s inside, doing the books.”

  Trying to maintain his composure, Marcus contemplated the words that had come out of Hannah’s brother’s mouth. Before he could respond, Ben swallowed and motioned toward the wall on the side of the parking lot.

  “Would you give me a lift to the shop?”

  Swallowing, Marcus offered a quick, firm nod as he dug in his pocket for his car key. “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Inside his Chevy, Marcus’s breath caught in his throat. Absorbing Ben’s words, he gripped the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles ached. As he pulled out of the parking lot, loose gravel crunched under his tires. White dust clouded the air behind the vehicle as they left the shop.

  Looking straight ahead, Marcus didn’t bother to return the waves of two other welders who had listened in on the phone conversation. As he tried to stay calm, Marcus contemplated Hannah’s situation. As he bit his bottom lip, he regretted his inability to make sure she was safe. Helplessness filled his chest.

  What would I do without her? Is Hannah too brave for the thief? Will she try to outsmart him? Marcus pressed his lips together in a straight line, recalling her keen interest in adventures. And his brows narrowed in a worry slant. Lord, please protect her.

  Automatically, he recalled Jesus and how He’d been crucified, suffered, and had risen from the dead, despite the cruel people who’d given all they had to get rid of Him. A sudden relief swept through his body, and he turned to the man next to him. As he took in Ben, the seriousness of the situation prompted Marcus to step on the accelerator.

  “Whoa, friend. We want to get there in one piece.”


  Marcus let his foot up and allowed the car to slow. “Sorry about that. I just don’t know what I’d do if something happened to your sister.”

  From his side vision, Marcus was quick to note the lines of surprise that deepened around Ben’s eyes. Perhaps Marcus had better kept that remark to himself. At any rate, it was too late to recall it. Besides, compared to the danger Hannah was in, what did it really matter?

  “Ben?”

  “Yeah?”

  “God hears our prayers wherever we are. And right now, your sister needs Him to protect her. I’d feel a whole lot better if we sent an urgent request for help to our Heavenly Father. Would you pray for both of us while I get us to Lapp Furniture?”

  Without giving a yes or no, Ben lowered the pitch of his voice so that his tone was barely more than a serious whisper. As he immediately began to speak to God with his head bowed, Marcus glanced at him and expelled a sigh that was a combination of relief and urgency.

  “Dear Gott, please keep Hannah safe.” A deep intake of breath followed before he continued in an emotional voice. “Only You know the danger she’s in and how to get her out of it. I know You have control over everything that happens here on earth. So please let her be all right.”

  After a slight pause, his voice cracked with emotion. “Lord, please keep our Hannah safe.” After a slight hesitation, he followed with what seemed to be a second realization. “And please be with the police as they rescue her. Amen.”

  After the prayer, he expelled a deep breath. But he didn’t relax in his seat. To his astonishment, Marcus could sense even more tension than before as Ben pressed his palms against his thighs and leaned forward, as if doing so would get them there faster.

  To Marcus’s surprise, his tight grip on the steering column only became tighter. Prayers work. Have faith. He gripped the wheel harder as the startling circumstances began to sink in.