The Crow’s Call: Amish Greenhouse Mystery Book 1

by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Kristin Billerbeck, Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Birdie L. Etchison, Pamela Griffin, Joyce Livingston, Tamela Hancock Murray

  “That would explain why you’re tired, but what I see in your expression and tense posture is more than fatigue.”

  Amy sighed. “Well, we have had a few things go wrong since Mom’s been gone.”

  “Such as?” Lydia leaned forward.

  “Just a little episode with some pots of plants getting tipped over.”

  “Who tipped them over?”

  “We don’t know.” Amy felt relieved when another customer came in. She didn’t want to talk about their problems. And why bother? It wouldn’t change a thing or keep more vandalism from happening.

  “Did you come here to purchase anything?” she asked.

  Lydia shook her head. “I just wanted to see you and find out how things are going because that’s what best friends do.”

  “Danki for thinking of us.” Amy stepped out from behind the counter and gave Lydia a hug. “Wish I could talk with you longer, but I have to see what the woman who just came in needs.”

  “I understand. I’ll see you at church for our next gathering. In the meantime, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you.” Amy glanced toward the door and was glad to see her brother step in as Lydia left. “Will you please stay at the checkout counter until Sylvia comes out?” Amy asked when Henry approached.

  “Okay, since you asked so nice.” Henry moved away before Amy could comment. She didn’t appreciate his sarcastic tone, but at least he hadn’t refused to do as she asked.

  Sylvia had spent more time in the house than she planned to, but after she and Henry had hung up the clocks, the baby needed to be fed. Afterward, even though Allen had been playing happily with his toys, he started crying and clinging to Sylvia. Mary Ruth had quite a time getting him calmed down so Sylvia could slip out the door. It tore at Sylvia’s heartstrings to leave her children so she could work in the greenhouse, but until Mom returned, she had no other choice. She hoped at the end of Mom’s two-week stay at Ezekiel’s that she wouldn’t decide to extend her trip. Sylvia was anxious to resume caring for her children full-time and letting Mom and Amy run the greenhouse with whatever help they could get from Henry. Each day of helping in the greenhouse became a little harder for Sylvia. Some days she wasn’t sure she could force herself to go there at all.

  As she stepped into the yard and headed for the building, a tour bus pulled in. The next thing Sylvia knew, about forty people got out, all talking at once as they headed for the greenhouse.

  Sylvia drew in several quick, shallow breaths. She saw spots in front of her eyes and feared she might faint. No way could she handle being around so many strangers crowded into the greenhouse. She wanted to turn around and run back to the house, but that would leave her sister and brother to deal with the people on their own.

  Sylvia rushed in ahead of the tourists. She found Henry sitting behind the counter doodling on a piece of paper. “What are you doing? Where’s Amy?”

  “I’m doing what she told me while she waits on a customer.” Henry pointed to the nearest aisle. “But since you’re here now, you can take my place. I’ve got some things I need to do outside of the greenhouse.”

  “No, please don’t leave me.” Sylvia looked toward the open door as people from the bus began filing in. “With all these folks here, I might need you.”

  Henry stepped off the stool. “You’ll be fine. As I said, there’s something I need to do.” Before Sylvia could protest, he made a dash for the door.

  “Oh, this is so exciting.” One of the tourists smiled at Sylvia. “It’s my first time in Amish country, and I’m having so much fun.”

  Sylvia forced her lips to form a smile. Amy. Hurry up, Amy. You’re better at talking to people than I am.

  Wiping her damp hands along the front of her black apron, Sylvia went behind the counter and took a seat. Her rigid form relaxed a bit when the noisy group of people dispersed down all five aisles.

  “You look a bit overwhelmed,” the man who had been driving the bus said. “I take it you’re not used to having a bunch of eager tourists roaming around your greenhouse.”

  “There have been a few tour groups stop by but not since I’ve been working here.” Sylvia took in a few more deep breaths.

  “Well, this could be your lucky day.” The man grinned at Sylvia. “This group of people has been buying stuff from every store we’ve stopped at so far. You may make a nice profit today.”

  Sylvia wasn’t sure how best to respond, so she forced herself to offer the man another smile.

  “From here we’ll be stopping at the Strasburg Railroad so that those who want to can take the short train ride.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a package of gum. “Then our last stop of the day will be at an Amish farmhouse in Paradise for a homemade sit-down supper. I’m sure everyone on the bus will enjoy that.”

  She nodded. I wish this man would stop talking to me. I need some time by myself before anyone comes up to the counter with a purchase.

  Sylvia craned her neck to see where Amy had gone. Sister, why aren’t you coming to rescue me? She glanced toward the door. Henry, where did you run off to? Mom wouldn’t like it if she knew you weren’t here helping like you’re supposed to be.

  The more Sylvia thought about her situation, the more panicked she became. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her cheeks. Was it the heat and humidity inside the building or just her nerves?

  Sylvia heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Amy heading down aisle 2 with four women following her. Each carried some item—a plant stake, a jar of honey, a candle made of beeswax, and a brass wind chime. Hopefully, once they paid for their purchases, they’d leave the greenhouse and get back on the bus.

  As if she sensed Sylvia’s distress, Amy joined her behind the counter. “I’ll do the talking, and you can take the money and make change if needed,” Amy whispered as she bent close to Sylvia’s ear.

  “Okay.” Sylvia pressed a palm to her chest. Now that her sister was here, she felt a little better.

  “Where’s Henry?” Amy asked after all the customers had left.

  Sylvia shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he had something to do outside.”

  Amy frowned. “Well, he’d better get back in here soon. One of those tourists opened a bag of potting soil, and then someone else came along and knocked it over.” She puffed out her cheeks. “So now there’s a mess to clean up and no Henry.”

  “Should I go outside and look for him?” Sylvia offered.

  “Jah, if you don’t mind.”

  “Don’t mind at all. In fact, I could use a bit of fresh air.”

  When Sylvia left the greenhouse, she headed to the barn, figuring her brother may have gone in there. Although she saw no sign of him, Sylvia detected the unmistakable odor of cigarette smoke. Now who would have been in here smoking? Could one of those tourists have wandered into the barn to look around and lit a cigarette?

  She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Henry! Are you in here, Brother?”

  Except for the gentle nicker of one of their horses, all was quiet within the wooden structure.

  “Henry,” she called again. Still no response.

  Sylvia left the barn and was about to go up to the house to see if Henry had gone there, when he stepped into the yard.

  “Where have you been all this time?” Sylvia slapped both hands against her hips. “Amy needs you, and …”

  “Oh, she always needs me for somethin’. What’s she want this time?”

  “Someone spilled a bag of potting soil, so …”

  “And I’m supposed to clean it up?”

  “Jah.”

  Henry’s eyes narrowed as he clenched his jaw. “I always have to do the dirty work, and I never get to have any fun.” His voice rose. “I’m gettin’ sick and tired of it.”

  “Henry, you’re just as much a part of this family as the rest of us, and we all need to pull together.”

  “Well, I didn’t see you doin’ much to help out till Mom l
eft, but then you didn’t have much choice.”

  Sylvia recoiled. Her brother’s sharp words stung like fire. “You have no right to speak to me like that,” she shot back. “You don’t know what it’s like for me to be faced with two kinner to raise and no husband.”

  Henry glared at her. “Well, you don’t know what it’s like to have your dad and older brother killed and be stuck with all the chores they used to do. And besides that, I miss the fun stuff Dad, Abe, and I used to do.”

  Before Sylvia could think of a response, Henry tromped off to the greenhouse.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. None of us has been the same since the accident that took three precious lives, and I’m not sure we’ll ever be again.

  That evening while Amy and Sylvia prepared supper, they talked about the events of the day.

  Amy went to the refrigerator and took out a package of ground beef. “Thanks to all those tourists who came in, we sold more today than I expected.”

  Sylvia bobbed her head. “I would have been even more nervous than I was if you hadn’t been up at the counter with me.”

  Amy joined her sister by the cupboard, where she was busy slicing fresh tomatoes to go on the burgers they’d soon be grilling. “You haven’t always been uncomfortable around people. Is there any specific reason they bother you so now?”

  Sylvia’s features tensed up. “My nerves have been on edge ever since Toby, Dad, and Abe died. And now, with the vandalism that has occurred here, I wake up every morning wondering if something else unpleasant has happened.”

  “We can’t live in fear, and worrying doesn’t add even one more minute to our lives.” Amy set the ground beef on the counter and placed her hand on Sylvia’s shoulder. “Besides, the vandalism that’s been done is minor. No one’s been hurt or even threatened.”

  Sylvia lowered her head. “But they could be, and I can’t help but be afraid. The fact that some stranger is trespassing on our property, doing damage to things, is creeping me out.”

  “It’s best not to worry—especially about things that are beyond our control. We need to pray every day and put our faith in God. And it wouldn’t hurt to ask Him to put a hedge of protection around us.”

  When Sylvia gave no response, Amy added, “I’m praying for you too, dear sister.”

  Sylvia’s chin lowered, almost to her chest. “You can pray all you want, but I doubt it’ll do any good.”

  Amy felt helpless at that moment. All she could do was lean on her heavenly Father. She closed her eyes. Lord, we need Your strength to get through this time of trial. Please help me to be a reflection of You to my family.

  Amy wouldn’t say anything more to Sylvia right now. If her sister’s faith was going to be restored, it would come through loving words and lots of prayer.

  “I can’t believe Mom will finally be coming home tomorrow.” Sylvia wiped her hands on a paper towel after she finished clearing their messy supper dishes. They’d had baked spareribs with barbecue sauce, and as good as the meal had been, their plates showed the telltale sign of sticky sauce.

  Amy smiled as she took out the dishtowel in readiness to dry the dishes her sister would soon wash. “I wonder if she’s as excited to see us as we are to see her.”

  “No doubt she is, but it will be hard for her to leave Ezekiel and his family. I’m sure Mom enjoyed getting to know her new grandson and spending time with sweet little Angela Mary.” Sylvia rinsed off their dishes and put them in the warm, soapy water that awaited them.

  “Jah, but she’ll be equally happy to be here with us and your adorable kinner.”

  “You’re right, I’m sure.” Sylvia sloshed the sudsy dishrag over a plate, rinsed it well, and placed it in the dish drainer. “If Ezekiel and his family moved back here, it wouldn’t be a problem for Mom at all. We’d all be together in the same town and could be there for each other when there was a need.”

  Amy nodded. “I agree, but Mom’s dead set against them leaving Clymer. They’re settled there, and our brother’s happy with his business and new role as minister. Mom thinks it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to give that all up.”

  “Nothing’s fair. Not in this life anyway.” Sylvia slapped the dishrag against the next plate so hard, some water splashed up, almost hitting her in the face.

  Amy didn’t respond. It was difficult to see her sister in this state. Although Sylvia needed to come to terms with her bitterness and anger toward God in her own way and time, Amy hung to the hope that things would eventually get better.

  She heard a knock on the front door and voices in the living room. It sounded like Henry was talking to someone. Amy tried to listen while drying another dish, hoping to hear who the other person might be. I hope it’s not Monroe. He’s been wanting to see our mamm. Is he interested in her the way he was when they were young adults? Something about the man still didn’t set well with Amy.

  A few minutes later, Henry entered the room. “My friend Seth is here. He wants me to sleep over at his place tonight and then go fishin’ with him tomorrow morning.”

  Amy felt relieved that at least it wasn’t Monroe. “Tomorrow’s Saturday, Henry, and as you know, that’s always a big day at the greenhouse. Sorry, but you’ll need to be here to help out.”

  “Not only that,” Sylvia spoke up, “but Mom’s coming home tomorrow, and she’d be disappointed if you weren’t here.”

  “Great! You’re both ganging up on me now.” Henry’s brows drew together. “If Mom leaves there in the morning, she won’t be here till late afternoon. I’ll be home by then.”

  “Sorry, Brother, but the answer is no.” Amy spoke with authority.

  Henry looked back toward the other room, where Seth obviously waited. “I think I’ve been more than helpful since Mom left for Clymer. I’ve put up with bein’ told what to do the whole time, and I’m sick and tired of it. You two ain’t my mamm,” Henry mumbled as he tromped out of the room.

  A moment later, Amy heard the front door open and slam shut.

  Sylvia looked at Amy. “That didn’t go too well, did it?”

  “It never does unless Henry gets his way. One minute he promises to cooperate, and the next minute he gets belligerent and shows us his temper.” Amy sighed. “I’ll be glad when Mom is here so she can deal with our brother, and I won’t have to be the voice of authority.”

  Once the dishes were done, and the little ones had been put to bed, Amy and Sylvia retired to the living room to do some mending and enjoy a glass of cold root beer Mary Ruth had brought them this morning. She said Lenore’s husband had made it with a recipe that had been handed down in his family.

  “This root beer is sure good, isn’t it?” Amy licked off some of the cool liquid that had stuck to her upper lip.

  Sylvia nodded. “Are you sure you don’t want some, Henry?”

  Henry looked up from the newspaper he’d been reading. “No thanks. In fact, I’m headin’ upstairs to bed.”

  “So early?” Amy glanced at the clock on the far wall that played music on the hour. “It’s not like you to be tired at eight o’clock in the evening.”

  “Who says I’m tired? I just wanna be alone.” Henry tossed the paper on the coffee table and stood. Without telling them good night, he ambled out of the room and clomped up the stairs.

  “Maybe he’s punishing himself for his harsh words earlier by not having any root beer and going to bed before he normally would,” Sylvia commented.

  Amy set her empty glass on the side table by her chair. “I think it’s just his way of trying to show us that he can make some decisions for himself.”

  “Well, whatever the case, I’m kind of glad Henry went to bed early. He’s beginning to get on my nerves.” Sylvia leaned back in her chair. “Truth be told, nearly everything bothers me these days, and I’ll be glad when I don’t have to work in the greenhouse anymore.”

  Amy’s chin tilted down as she frowned. “I was rather hoping you’d continue to work there with me and Mom. It would be like old times, bef
ore you got married.”

  Sylvia’s mouth twisted grimly. “Being around so many people is too stressful for me, Amy. My place is with the kinner. They need their mamm not a babysitter who isn’t part of our family.”

  “Hasn’t Mary Ruth done a good job taking care of Rachel and Allen?”

  Sylvia nodded. “But she’s not family, and even if she was, I don’t want to work in the greenhouse once Mom returns home. It’s just that simple.” Sylvia rose from her chair. “I am going to check on the kinner, and then I think I’ll also go to bed.”

  “Oh, okay. I’m going to stay up for a while and do a bit more mending.”

  “All right then. Good night, Amy.”

  “Night. I hope you sleep well.”

  Sylvia mumbled something Amy couldn’t quite understand and quickly left the room.

  Amy set her mending aside and picked up her Bible to read a few verses from Psalms. She couldn’t let her discouragement tear down her faith. The best remedy was reading God’s Holy Word.

  “Giddyap, Dandy. Don’t be such a slowpoke.” Jared snapped the reins. He’d left Lydia’s house a short time ago and was eager to get home. He’d gone there to give them a bid on a new roof for their house, and Lydia’s mother had invited him to stay for supper. Jared didn’t want to be impolite, so he had accepted the invitation. He’d hoped it would give him a chance to talk more to Lydia about Amy, but that never happened. Lydia’s mother had monopolized the conversation. Jared wondered if she’d been trying to impress him. Darlene kept trying to get Jared to eat more and then almost insisted that he have seconds on dessert. When it was time for him to leave, she seemed intent on keeping him there by bringing up even more topics. Lydia’s poor dad barely got a word in during supper because his wife monopolized the conversation.

  Maybe it’s just as well that I left when I did, Jared thought. Lydia’s mamm is a bit of a gossip, and I wouldn’t want her listening to or commenting on anything either Lydia or I might have said concerning my broken relationship with Amy.