Roman was about to close up for the day when a customer entered his shop. At least he thought it was a customer until he looked up from his desk and saw Cleon standing inside the door.
“Cleon! It’s good to see you. How long have you been back?”
“Got home this morning.”
Roman’s forehead wrinkled. “This morning? You’ve been here that long?”
Cleon nodded. “Went over to see the damage that had been done to my beehives; then I stopped in to see my folks.”
“What damage was done to your hives?”
“Somebody set fire to ‘em. Every last one is gone.”
“I’m real sorry to hear that. Do you have any idea who might have done it?”
Cleon shook his head. “Ivan figures it was probably some rowdy fellows out for a good time. Could even be the same ones who dumped over those outhouses near Kidron and were involved in the cow tipping.” He moved closer to Roman’s desk. “Since I have no bees, hives, or equipment, I’m out of a job.”
“But spring is here, and you’ll be farming with your daed again, right?”
Cleon’s fingers curled through the ends of his beard. “I’ve never enjoyed farming, and I’d rather do something else.” He took a step forward. “I know I’m not an expert carpenter, but I can handle a hammer and a saw fairly well. So I was wondering if you might be able to use an extra pair of hands here in your woodworking shop.”
“As a matter of fact, I could use some help. I had to fire Luke for being late to work so many times, and now he’s working for John Peterson.” Roman nodded at Cleon. “Judging from the work you did on your new house, I’d say I’d be getting more than an apprentice if I hired you.”
Cleon shook his head. “I can’t take credit for all the work done on my house. You and my brothers helped in the beginning, and from what Grace told me, you finished it up in my absence. I appreciate all your hard work.”
“I figured you and Grace would want to get settled into your own place before the boppli is born.”
Cleon’s eyebrows drew together. “Boppli? What boppli are you talking about?”
“Surely Grace must have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“About her being in a family way.”
Cleon’s face turned red as a cherry, and a vein on the side of his neck bulged. “I just came from talking to Grace, and she never said a word about any baby.”
Roman reached up to swipe the trickle of sweat rolling down his forehead. Apparently Grace hadn’t learned her lesson about keeping secrets. “I’m sorry you had to hear it from me. Should have been my daughter doing the telling.”
“You’re right about that.” Cleon grunted. “Of course, she seems to be real good at keeping secrets, so I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s kept this one from me, as well.”
“Maybe she was waiting for the right time.”
“The right time? And when would that be?” Cleon crossed his arms.
Roman shrugged. He wanted to defend his daughter, but the truth was, he hadn’t quite forgiven Grace for not telling them about her English husband and the little girl she’d allowed her in-laws to take. He couldn’t blame Cleon for being angry that Grace hadn’t told him about the baby she carried. That should have been the first thing out of her mouth when she’d seen him today.
Cleon’s lips parted as if he might have more to say, but the shop door opened. Luke stepped into the room.
“I hope you’re not here about getting your job back,” Roman said, irritation edging his voice. He motioned to Cleon. “You’ve been replaced.”
Luke’s face flushed as he shook his head. “Came to see if I left my sunglasses here. I think I had ‘em with me that day you fired me, and—”
“Well, it’s about time. What took you so long?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” Roman pointed to the shelf across the room where the fancy pair of sunglasses lay. “They’re right over there. My wife found ‘em on the ground, not far from where her clothesline had been cut.” He squinted at Luke. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would ya, boy?”
The color in Luke’s cheeks deepened. “Are you accusing me of cutting your wife’s clothesline?”
Roman shrugged. “Not accusing, just asking, is all.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Now why would I do something like that?”
“I don’t know. Why would somebody burn Cleon’s beehives, vandalize our house, or steal tools from my shop?”
Cleon’s face blanched. “Surely you don’t think one of our own had anything to do with those things?”
“I don’t know what I believe anymore, and those aren’t the only things that have been done to us, either.”
“What do you mean? What else has been done?”
Roman looked at his son-in-law, then over at Luke. “Maybe you should ask him.”
Luke’s eyes flashed angrily. “Ask me what—whether I know what attacks have been done, or if I had anything to do with them?”
“Both.”
“I only knew about the break-ins here at the shop and the house. Oh, and also the brick that was thrown through your kitchen window. I don’t know who’s responsible for any of those acts, but—”
Jack Osborn, the middle-aged sheriff in their county, entered the shop.
Roman pushed his chair away from the desk and stood. “Sorry, but that rocking chair you asked me to make for your wife isn’t ready yet, Jack.”
“I’m not here about the chair.” Jack glanced around the room as if he was looking for something. “Got a phone call from one of your English neighbors the other day. They said you folks had been having a few problems. I should have come by sooner, but two of my deputies have been out sick, so I’ve only had time to respond to urgent calls.”
Before Roman could formulate a response, Luke dashed across the room and grabbed his sunglasses off the shelf. “I’ve got an errand to run, so I’d better go.” He rushed out the door like a fox being chased by a pack of hounds.
Jack opened his jacket and pulled a notebook and pen from his shirt pocket. “Now why don’t you tell me what’s been going on here, Roman?”
“Jah, okay.” Roman returned to his seat, and Cleon grabbed one of the wooden stools near the workbench.
For several minutes, Roman related the details of the attacks, and Sheriff Osborn took notes. Roman ended his speech by saying, “My son-in-law here recently had his beehives burned, so I’m thinking that whoever’s been bothering us might have ruined the hives, as well.”
Jack leaned over and placed both hands on Roman’s desk. “You think someone’s singled out your family?”
Roman gave his left earlobe a couple of pulls. “Thought at first it might be a bunch of rowdy English fellows, but now I’m not so sure.”
Jack’s bushy eyebrows rose as he leveled Roman with a questioning look. “I know you Amish don’t prosecute, but you could have at least let me know what was going on here so I could have investigated and hopefully brought the criminal to justice.”
“God is the only judge we need. He knows who did those things, and if it’s His will for them to be brought to justice, then He’ll do it in His time, His way.”
Jack looked over at Cleon as though he hoped he might say something, but Cleon said nothing. Finally, Jack straightened and slipped the notebook and pen back into his pocket. “Have it your way, but I want you to know that I’ll be keeping an eye on things for a while.”
“Suit yourself.”
“If there are any more attacks made on you or your family, I’d appreciate hearing about it. Some who’ve committed crimes like this against the Amish have done it simply because you’re different, and that doesn’t set well with me.”
“Nor me, but it will be up to our church leaders and the nature of the crime whether it’s reported or not.”
Jack shrugged and headed for the door. “Let me know when that rocking chair’s done,” he called over his shoulder.
“Jah, I surely will.”
The door clicked shut, and Roman let his head fall forward into his hands as he released a groan. “I wonder which one of our English neighbors phoned the sheriff, and more importantly, who told ‘em about the attacks?”
Cleon shook his head. “Could someone in your family have mentioned it?”
“Maybe so, but I need you to do me a favor.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t say anything about the sheriff showing up here today, or that he plans to keep an eye on things.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want the family to get the idea that they’re being watched, and I don’t want ‘em thinking I called the sheriff.”
“I won’t say a word unless you speak about it first.”
“I appreciate that.” Roman slid his chair away from the desk. “Now let’s go on up to the house and see if supper’s ready. Grace and Anna have been taking most of their meals with us since you left, so I’m sure everyone will eat together at our place tonight.”
Cleon nodded.
“If you’d like to meet me here at the shop tomorrow morning, I’ll give you some woodworking tools and show you what I need to have done.”
“I’ll be here, bright and early.”
Tension had filled the air between Grace and Cleon all during supper, and Grace had even noticed something going on between Dad and Cleon. It was as if they knew something and had decided not to share it with the rest of the family. She’d been tempted to ask about it but figured it might be best to question Cleon later on—if she got the chance.
By the time Grace took Anna home to their house and was getting her ready for bed, she felt ready to go to bed herself. But she knew she couldn’t. Not until she’d told Cleon she was carrying his baby.
She slipped Anna’s nightgown over the child’s head and pulled back the bed covers. “Hop into bed now.”
“Aunt Martha says I can have a puppy of my own,” Anna said as she nestled against her pillow.
“Are you sure about that?” Grace knew her sister was trying to build up her business, and giving dogs away wouldn’t bring in any money.
Anna nodded, her blue eyes looking ever so serious. “She says I can have Rose if it’s all right with you, Mama.”
Grace stroked her daughter’s arm, relishing the warmth and softness of the child’s skin. It felt good to hear Anna call her Mama. They’d been drawing closer every day, and Grace wouldn’t do anything to spoil things between them. She nodded and smiled. “You may have the puppy on one condition.”
“What’s a ‘condition’?”
“It means you must agree to help take care of the dog.”
Anna’s eyes brightened. “I will. I’ve been helpin’ Aunt Martha with the puppies ever since I came to live here.”
Grace bent over and kissed Anna’s forehead. “All right, then. You can call Rose your own.”
Anna snuggled beneath the covers with a satisfied smile, and Grace slipped quietly out of the room. The last she’d seen Cleon, he had been downstairs in the living room reading the latest issue of The Budget.
Knowing he needed to speak with Grace before she went to bed, Cleon left the living room and started up the steps. He’d just reached the top when he bumped into Grace.
She covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. “Oh! You startled me. I—I was heading downstairs so we could talk.”
He nodded. “You’re right. We do need to talk. Let’s go to the living room so our voices won’t be heard.”
Once they reached the living room, Cleon took a seat on the sofa, and Grace sat in the rocking chair across from him. No furniture had been in the house when he’d left Holmes County, so Grace’s father must have provided it in his absence.
“I know you’re pregnant.”
“I’m pregnant.”
They spoke at the same time, and Cleon repeated himself to be sure she had heard him.
Grace’s mouth dropped open. “You know?”
He nodded.
“Who told you?”
“Does it matter? The point is you didn’t tell me, and I’m wondering why.”
“I—I was afraid you might think I had gotten pregnant on purpose so I could trap you into staying with me.”
Cleon slowly shook his head. “That’s lecherich. How could you have gotten pregnant on purpose? It’s not like we were using any birth control methods.”
She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I know, but I’ve heard of some women who try to time things around their monthly cycle, and—”
He held up his hand to silence her. “I know you didn’t get pregnant on purpose, and under normal circumstances, I’d be looking forward to becoming a daed.”
“But not now? Is that what you’re saying?” Grace’s chin trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. He made no move to comfort her.
“Things are so verhuddelt right now I’m not sure how I feel about much of anything.”
“I’m sorry for my part in your confusion.”
“You want me to forgive you for keeping Anna a secret, yet you keep another secret from me. That makes no sense.”
“I—I was scared you would leave and scared you would stay for the wrong reasons.”
He grimaced. “I told you earlier today that I would take care of you and Anna.”
“I know, but—”
“Until you can learn to be honest with me, I don’t see how we’ll ever be able to have a real marriage, Grace.”
“Are you saying that you don’t love me enough to try to make our marriage work? It takes two, you know.”
Cleon flinched. Was that what he was saying? “I’ll be starting work for your daed tomorrow morning, so I’d better get to bed.” He stood and rushed out of the room, knowing if he didn’t get away from Grace, he might say something he would be sorry for come morning.