In the back seat of a neighbor’s SUV, Serenity glanced at Trini as they proceeded east on Route 36 to the Douglas County Jail in Tuscola. She knew the road by heart. Angel had pulled her buggy on this route more times than she could count. But today she barely saw the homes on either side of the road.
Her thoughts were stuck on the men in her barn: Why had they attacked her? Were they really the same men who’d robbed the bank? If they weren’t, what could she do? And would she soon recognize the throaty-sounding voice?
While the engine purred, she considered her two conversations with the nice woman who had helped her to arrange this opportunity to identify one of her attackers. She’d asked Serenity if she was sure she wanted to do this and had suggested that maybe she should give herself a little more time. But Serenity had replied, “This has to be done. And there’s no good time to do it.”
This wasn’t merely an impromptu visit. From what Serenity had been told, it had taken quite a bit of planning. For one thing, visiting hours were limited. Second, she would see a lineup with cops as some of the men, but they would not be able to view her or talk to her. Of course she wouldn’t be able to identify them by their looks because she hadn’t seen them. But they would be asked to state their names, and it was then that she would hear their voices. In Serenity’s mind, there was no doubt that a short time from now, she would be certain that at least one man who’d attacked her was—or wasn’t—in the Douglas County Jail. Third, the lineup would be done in a secure area. It was a small facility where such lineups happened, and who would be involved was decided on a case-by-case basis. Now that Serenity was privy to today’s protocol, everything she’d learned made sense.
She looked down at her hands. They shook. So did her arms. She interlaced her fingers and closed her eyes to pray in silence. Gott, please help me do this. I pray that the men who harmed me are truly behind bars. Please let me recognize the throaty voice so I can be at peace and know that I can’t be harmed again. That my community will be safe from harm.
She opened her eyes and breathed in slowly, straightening on the leather cushion and crossing her legs at the knees. Next to her, as if reading her thoughts, Trini spoke in a soft, reassuring tone and laid a hand gently on Serenity’s arm. “It’s okay. I’m with you. We will get through this.”
“Abby can’t wait to find out what happened. I wish that she wasn’t under the weather today, but I’m also kind of glad she’s not with us.” Serenity lowered her voice. “It’s in her best interest because she’s so emotional.”
Trini nodded. “Agreed.”
When Trini squeezed her hand, Serenity smiled in relief. Trini slowly withdrew her fingers and inched toward her. Today Serenity hoped for answers. At the same time, she was fully aware that she might not get them. She whispered, “I just want closure.” After a slight hesitation, she went on. “But what if I don’t get it?”
For long moments, Trini pressed her lips in a straight line. When she finally spoke, she did so in a motherly tone that Serenity knew all too well. It was the way Trini talked whenever she tried to console or convince. And Serenity was sure that right now Trini was trying to accomplish both.
“There are no guarantees. In life there never are. But we’ll try to get the truth. At least today we’ll know whether or not the men in jail harmed you. That’s our first step. We’ll go from there.” She released a long sigh before smiling.
Serenity nodded.
Trini leaned closer. “Serenity, we’ll do what we can. But realize that so much of this is out of our control. Remember that.”
“Jah. But I can’t help but wonder what closure would feel like. Not only for me.” As the turn signal clicked and the vehicle slowed, she lifted her chin a notch. “But for everyone so that people won’t be fearful.” She sighed before lifting her palms in a helpless gesture. “I never knew how gut we had it in our little town.”
The driver’s voice cut their conversation short. “Ladies, we’re almost there.”
Both Serenity and Trini leaned to look out their windows.
“I’ll drop you off in front, then park. And no hurry. Good luck.”
The car’s engine continued to purr as the vehicle stopped in front of a redbrick building. Two aisles of parking spaces held only three vehicles. As the driver turned the radio dial, Serenity squared her shoulders. I’ll put on a brave front. Maybe if I act confident, I’ll feel it.
She got out and closed her door. Then Trini’s door slammed shut. She walked in front of the vehicle to join Serenity on the other side. Together they proceeded to the entrance. To their left was a memorial dedication to a fallen officer.
Serenity opened one of the glass doors and motioned for Trini to step inside first. Serenity followed her. They stopped as the door closed behind them and looked around. To the right were two restrooms. Between them was an ATM. In front, two workers behind separate glass partitions busied themselves.
Serenity glimpsed the woman who appeared to do paperwork on the other side of the first window. Trini lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “We’re doing the right thing,” she said.
Serenity was quick to catch the hopeful lift in her voice.
She nodded. “Jah.”
Before either stepped forward, Trini’s tone took on a more assured and relaxed pitch. “It’s kind of a relief to finally be here.”
Serenity breathed in and squeezed Trini’s hand. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After they glanced at each other with what seemed to be a mutual hope for answers, Serenity approached the nearest window. On the opposite side, a woman stepped forward and opened the small partition. “Can I help you?”
Serenity explained the reason for her visit.
The woman nodded. “Of course. Officer Dunn is expecting you.” After checking Serenity’s identification, the woman motioned to the row of seats between her and the entrance. “Please. Have a seat, and he’ll be with you in a moment.”
“Thank you.”
Serenity sat down. Beside her, Trini made herself comfortable. The door on their left opened, and a fit-looking uniformed male introduced himself.
His gaze was sympathetic as he looked down at Trini, then Serenity. “I’m real sorry for what happened to you, Ms. Miller.”
“Thank you,” Serenity replied. Then she lifted her chin with newfound confidence. “I hope I’ll recognize the voice of one of my attackers.”
“We hope so too. Here’s what will happen. First, I’ll take you into a secured area to what we call the deputy room. Over there, all you have to do is sit. I’ll be with you as they bring in the first lineup.”
“The first?” Serenity interrupted. “Oh. You mean there are two?”
He nodded. “Yes. We’re keeping the two men apart. In fact, they’re in different wings of the jail.”
“So each of them will be in a separate lineup?”
He nodded. “The other men are officers dressed in street clothes.”
Serenity bit her lip nervously. She’d had to summon all her courage to do this even once. She was dismayed to find out she’d have to do it twice.
Seeming to sense her discomfort, the officer briefly laid a hand on Serenity’s shoulder and said, “Rest assured, your safety is our highest priority. The men won’t be able to see you. You’ll watch and listen to them on a video screen.”
Serenity nodded. That didn’t sound so bad. She glanced at Trini. “Would you mind if my friend comes back with me?”
“We think it’s best if you do this alone. It won’t take long.” He motioned to Trini. “Please. If you don’t mind waiting …”
Trini shook her head. “Of course not.”
He looked directly at Serenity. “Both men have agreed to do this without a public defender present. And in Illinois, there’s no bail, so they’ll have to wait for a judge before we’ll know what will happen next. Probably today or tomorrow. At that time, the judge will determine whether the guys will be held or if they’ll be released from custody with a notice to appear in court.”
Serenity’s breath stuck in her throat. “I didn’t realize that they could be released so soon.”
The officer lifted his palms to the ceiling and smiled a little. “It’s all in the judge’s hands.”
He proceeded to the entrance, where he stopped to press in a code. After a click, he opened the door and held it for Serenity. As she followed him, her pulse sprinted. She breathed in to compose herself. To stay calm.
Inside the room, she tried to slow the rapid rising and falling of her chest as the officer motioned to a simple wooden chair. She sat down and rested her hands on her lap. He looked at her and nodded. She took in the video screen in the front of the room and watched as four men appeared and stood in a line.
She listened as a different officer spoke. “Number one. Please step forward.” The man was asked to state his name. He did so. Serenity didn’t recognize the voice. The officer went on in the same fashion. “Number two. Please step forward.” He stated his name. So did number three. And number four.
Serenity’s heart pumped harder when the men walked off the screen in single file. A short time lapsed before a second lineup appeared. She clenched her palms in her lap. She sat still and very straight. Her lungs tried to pump air while the same procedure took place. She didn’t recognize the voices of number one, number two, or number three. She breathed in and listened to the officer’s low voice. “Will number four please step forward?”
She pressed her lips together. And listened. The man spoke. And Serenity had her answer.
This wasn’t over. Stephen considered his recent conversation with Jacob and smiled a little. Despite the uncertainties, he was sure of one thing: he wanted Serenity as his wife. Although he agreed with Jake that there was too much on her plate right now to broach the subject of marriage or anything close, Stephen was certain that something he’d said had changed her demeanor. It was up to him to make things right.
His focus was on Serenity’s visit to the jail and what she’d found out. He breathed in and finished his coffee. He recalled what she’d told him about the calla lily and smiled. Then his thoughts returned to the dilemma. Word had traveled fast that the town florist and the area’s famous quilter had headed to the Douglas County Jail in Tuscola. But what had happened? There was only one way to learn about yesterday. And that was to ask Serenity.
He stepped outside his late aendi’s home. Today he would take the shortcut to Serenity’s house. He made his way to the front yard and proceeded to the blacktop. As he glanced at the rising sun, he believed that many surprises would be revealed before the sun reached its noon position and that they would change the course of numerous lives.
It’s funny, but the sun is like the kitchen timer Mamm used when baking. In a sense, the sun schedules everything a person does in a single morning. Really, in a single day.
As he glanced at the mixture of light orange and blue sky, an appreciative breath escaped him. He pressed his hands on his hips and continued taking in Gott’s wonder. From a very young age, Stephen’s belief in Gott’s existence had been reinforced by the miraculous beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Each time he’d taken in these miracles, something inside him expelled a certain energy that he was sure could come only from his Creator.
In the far distance, he glimpsed an SUV passing a green tractor on the narrow blacktop. He also viewed a horse being hitched to a black buggy at a neighbor’s place. At another home, an Amazon Prime delivery truck made a stop, and the driver walked to the door with a box.
Quick steps took him toward Serenity’s home, where he made his way to the side door and knocked. As he waited, fear reared its ugly head as he recalled the day she hadn’t answered.
The door opened. When he saw her, he sighed with relief.
“Stephen, gut mariye.” She motioned him to her table. “Would you care for a cup of herbal tea?”
He breathed in the interesting scent and shook his head. “No. But thanks for the offer.”
As always, there was a joyful lift in her voice. But he sensed that something was wrong. He sat down on an oak chair at the table. “Please. Don’t let me interrupt you.”
“You never interrupt me, Stephen.”
Her voice lacked its usual enthusiasm. I thought she’d jump right in and tell me about her visit to the Tuscola jail. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk about it. I need to ask her. I have to know if she’s still in danger.
He cleared his throat. “Serenity, I thought about you all day yesterday,” he said softly, trying to keep his tone casual. “I hope you were able to identify the voice that belonged to one of the men.”
She didn’t respond. For some reason, she obviously didn’t want to discuss the jail visit.
Finally, he firmed his voice. “I’ve prayed that the men who attacked you are behind bars.”
She breathed in and sat opposite him. After setting her mug on a coaster, she lifted her chin and looked directly into his eyes. “Stephen, the men in jail didn’t tie me up.”
Stephen’s heart sank. His words stumbled out of his mouth. “They didn’t?”
She gave a quick shake of her head. “No. Yesterday I listened to everyone in two different lineups. During the drive to Tuscola, I prayed hard for confirmation. Something to put me at peace once and for all. More than anything, I longed for this thing to be behind me.”
She threw up her hands. “Not just for me but for the entire community.” She stopped. And the corners of her lips dropped.
As they looked at each other in silence, he noted the desperation in her eyes. She was afraid, but she was attempting to present a brave facade.
She took a drink and returned her mug to the coaster. When she met his curious gaze, he glimpsed defeat in her expression. “Stephen, I would have recognized that throaty voice.” She pressed her lips together doubtfully before offering a small shrug of her shoulders. “The men in the lineups didn’t attack me.”
Stephen stiffened, absorbing the significance of her explanation. His shoulders froze in place. So did his jaw. And he wasn’t sure what to say. I need to be careful with my words. I can’t tell her everything will be okay, because it might not. At the same time, I can’t stress how serious the situation is. I can’t induce more worry than she already has.
To his relief, she began to tell him everything that had happened from the ride to jail to the moment the last man in the second lineup had said his name.
A long silence followed as the sound of the battery-powered wall clock ticked to an even beat. She looked at him with the most innocent, hopeful, yet desperate expression he’d ever seen. “Stephen, I’ve never been in such a dire situation. There’s so much at stake here. For one, I don’t want the whole town to worry. Secondly, I don’t want you to feel you have to watch over me every second of the day.”
She shook her head. “This isn’t over. I’ve got to find them and make sure they’re in a place where they can’t hurt me—or anyone else—again.” After a lengthy, thoughtful pause, she lowered the pitch of her voice. “But I’ve been wracking my brain for how to start looking for them. And I have no idea where to begin.”
I’ve got to protect her. But she asks a legitimate question. How do we find the men if the only identifiable trait is the voice? Stephen prayed that the fingerprints would render a match.
Then he had an answer. He tried a calm tone to help her relax a little. “You can’t find these men on your own, Serenity.”
When she glanced at him and opened her mouth, he stopped her by raising his hand. “We need to talk to the police. This time at least we know that the men who harmed you are on the loose.
Thank goodness for the authorities. They’re the professionals, and they have access to leads that we don’t. There must be a backup plan to find them.”
“I have no idea what they were doing in my barn. And there’s nothing of great monetary value inside my house or in my barn. So … If they weren’t hiding after the robbery, why did they come here? And will they come back?”
Stephen wondered the same thing. “I don’t know,” he said simply. “But they might.”
Serenity laid her palms flat on the table and leaned forward. “You’re right. We need to have a more serious talk with the police.”
It was bonding time with her two besties. That evening as Trini and Abby chitchatted, Serenity’s thoughts floated back to the morning’s conversation with Stephen and the meeting afterward with the authorities.
In Serenity’s kitchen, the aroma of fresh garden vegetables filled the small area where the three cooked and canned. Constant, light clicking sounds made a soft, uneven beat as they broke off the green beans’ blossom ends and snapped them in half.
Serenity’s heart felt lighter than it had since her attack. Two things could cheer her despite any problem—her besties and fresh veggies. But her relationship with Stephen kept breaking into her thoughts. Not because she didn’t like him but because she liked him too much.
As she scooped a pile of bean ends and emptied them into her garbage, she tried to tell herself that everything was and would be okay.
Stephen is very concerned about me. His interest in my safety reminds me of when Daed worries about Mamm. The corners of Serenity’s lips tugged upward. Daed is always checking to make sure she’s okay. And it’s really sweet. But Stephen’s interest in me makes me uncomfortable. I like him—I do. Very much. But he’s not privy to everything about me, and he never will be. Still, I need him.
She pulled another bag of green beans from her porch and transported the vegetables to the countertop. Her friends were in deep conversation about Gabriel, of course, while Serenity filled a bowl with tap water.
Soon the loud, uneven popping of lids sealing on the tomato jars began to override the light snapping sound of the beans. The faster the pops and snaps came, the more Abby talked about her frustration with Gabriel. Serenity listened with interest as Trini tried to explain to Abby that men in their church didn’t seem to go for overzealous women. Abby was unique and special, and part of her uniqueness was her determined personality. But sometimes in life, you had to read others, and Gabriel seemingly preferred more low-key people.
Serenity silently agreed. Now if only Trini could make Abby understand. The lively conversation prompted Serenity’s lips to curve into an amused grin. It was a welcome diversion. It’s nice to have something on my mind other than men attacking me and not having a clue how to find them.
Serenity continued washing the beans in front of her before transferring them to dry paper towels. She’d get back to them after she started another pot of tomatoes. She placed a paper towel over the green veggies to absorb the excess water. Then she moved to another area of her countertop to fill a large bowl with tomatoes.
She stepped back to the sink to clean them. Then she placed them on a wooden cutting board before dumping the clean tomatoes into a pot of hot water on the stove. From experience, she knew they needed to boil only a few minutes. While she waited, she readied a bowl of ice water. The cubes popped as they broke free from the tray.
Abby told them how Gabriel Lantz had approached her after church and had initiated a conversation about the welcome quilt she’d gifted the brothers. “He said that it looked gut on one of the living-room walls,” she gushed with enthusiasm.
“I knew it!” Trini squealed in response. “I noticed a spark in Gabriel’s eyes while you and Gabe were talking. In my opinion, you shouldn’t give up.”
As they went back and forth on why or why not the oldest Lantz brother would eventually court and then marry Abby, Serenity pulled a small strainer from a hook on the wall and began to retrieve each tomato, one by one, and transfer them to her bowl of ice water, where they would cool before she removed their skins.
The more she considered Stephen’s role as her vigilant protector, the more an odd combination of deep appreciation and fear fought inside her. He’d already confessed his feelings to her and his vision of a future together.
As she began removing the skins from the tomatoes and transferring the peeled vegetables to another bowl, she frowned. It’s not Stephen’s fault. Nor is it mine. What happened in my barn last week has greatly impacted his need to take care of me and protect me. Of course I’m grateful. After all, the man rescued me. If not for Stephen finding me, I could have been tied up in my barn for a long, long time.
Stephen seems much more sensitive than other single men in our church. Maybe that’s because his daed left him and his family when Stephen was a mere toddler. I’m sure that awful incident plays a huge role in what he does and how he perceives things. He has a sensitive side. A nurturing side. It’s probably why he was once a volunteer fireman. He yearns to protect everyone because he wasn’t able to protect his mother and his brothers when his daed left his family. There seems to be afire within him to nurture and rescue.
She smiled a little. Because he was wonderful. And his attributes were exceptional traits, really. It’s just that there was no way she could ever marry. She frowned.
“Caught you!” Abby’s excited voice startled her before sparking laughter between the three. Serenity wasn’t sure why she laughed too.
She turned toward Abby, put a firm hand on her hip, and lifted her chin defensively. “And just what did you catch me doing?”
Abby’s tone lowered a notch and became more serious. “You were thinking about Stephen and how he saved your life.” Abby lifted a challenging brow. “Am I right?”
Trini chimed in while she snapped two green beans at once. “Serenity, it’s okay. In fact, it’s like those stories the Englisch read to their kids about the handsome prince who rides through town on his horse and saves a damsel in distress.”
Serenity couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping. “It is?”
Two sets of curious eyes landed on Serenity until she finally shrugged and joined in the laughter. A long silence followed while the three women continued their tasks. In the background, the soft, light whirring of the large battery-powered fan made for a peaceful ambiance. Serenity wasn’t sure why she was so happy and at ease.
As a cricket chirped, Serenity continued with the tomatoes to the right of the sink. Trini broke the silence. “Serenity, I’m surprised that you’re not talking more about Stephen. Word has it that you two are practically courting.”
“Has he asked to court you?” Abby’s voice was edged with curiosity.
Serenity wiped her hands with a dry towel and pressed her palms against her apron while she responded with a long, drawn-out no.
Trini’s expression conveyed doubt while Abby’s face wore pure disappointment. Abby spoke in a low, firm tone. “Serenity, Stephen’s a wonderful man. Any parent in our church would be happy to have him as a son-in-law.” She paused to scoop a handful of stemmed beans and transfer them to a large bowl of water.
“Earth to Serenity!” Abby’s voice pulled Serenity back to reality. “You haven’t heard a word we’ve said, have you?”
Serenity sighed and met Abby’s gaze before her eyes drifted to Trini’s concerned expression.
“I’m sorry.”
Trini used a sympathetic combination of compassion and concern while she stepped to Serenity and extended a hand to her arm. “Here. Please sit down. You’ve been through a lot, and I think the three of us need to have another serious conversation.
There’s a lot on my mind—that’s for sure. Only it’s not what they think it is. But maybe a conversation with her two besties would help her.
Trini pulled out a chair, motioned to the seat, and waited for Serenity to sit. On the other side of the table, Trini and Abby made themselves comfortable. As an uncertain silence loomed between them, Serenity forced herself to regain the positivity she routinely practiced. She sat up a little straighter, squared her shoulders, and forced a smile.
Abby played with a faux daisy in the table arrangement. After she placed her hands in her lap, she offered her attention. “Serenity, I feel your pain. Really, I do. Trini told me all about the jail visit, and I’m disappointed that you couldn’t identify the voice.” She lowered her voice to a more confidential tone. Serenity wasn’t sure why. No one was in the room except the three of them. Abby lifted her palms in a helpless gesture and shook her head. “I wish I knew what to do.”
Trini leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. Her expression was a fierce combination of doubt and determination as she fidgeted with her fingers. “Serenity, since we went to Tuscola, I’ve given this situation quite a bit of thought, and the only way to be at ease again is if your attackers are caught.” After a slight hesitation, she repeated the gesture Abby had made with her hands. “How do we find out who they are?”
Abby scooted her chair closer to the table. The legs moving across the wood floor made a light squeaking noise. “We’ve got to do something. Right away. But what?”
While Serenity agreed with everything both friends had said, she didn’t know how to respond. She’d thought plenty about the dire situation. And despite her efforts, she’d come up with nothing to solve it. “Maybe if we put our heads together, we can figure out how to find these men. At the very least, I wish I knew what they were up to in my barn. I mean, the police’s theory about them hiding on my property after robbing the bank doesn’t hold water now.”
Trini’s words came out quickly. “There has to be a way to find them. They’re a threat to all of us, and there’s no way to predict if or when they’ll strike again.”
Serenity smiled a little. “I love both of you.” She pointed to her chest and then to each of them. “And my heart breaks because I know how much you want to help. But”—she lifted her palms in a helpless gesture before releasing a defeated breath—“I’ve lost plenty of sleep over what happened. And to be honest, I’m no longer worried.”
Trini and Abby turned toward each other to share a surprised glance before they faced Serenity. She took in their expressions of shock and distress.
Trini rested her arms on the oak tabletop. “Serenity, one of the reasons I’ve always looked up to you is because of your calmness. You’re the most at-ease person I’ve ever met.”
She wasn’t sure what to say. Trini was partially correct. Serenity was at peace with most everything. Still, the secret that weighed so heavily on her shoulders would remain just that, even though she longed to share it with these two women.
Frustration filled Abby’s voice as she asked, “Don’t the police have any leads?”
Trini snapped her fingers before chiming in. “What about fingerprints?”
The corners of Serenity’s lips dropped a notch in disappointment. “Unfortunately, the barn guys covered their tracks.” She sighed. “The only full prints were mine and Stephen’s. Some partial prints couldn’t be identified.”
Abby’s tone turned defensive. “They must have left fingerprints.”
Serenity shook her head. “Not if they wore gloves. Or if the prints were wiped down.”
Trini parted her lips in awe. “Seriously?”
Serenity nodded. “I know. Stephen and I just found that out today.” She added, “We went to the police again.”
Trini frowned. “That’s bad news if we don’t have a plan of action.” After looking down at the table, she lifted her chin and glanced at Abby before locking gazes with Serenity. “Because it means that our attackers were apparently smart enough to get away with what they did.”
Serenity tried to keep the subject upbeat. It was the only way to move on. “The good news is that I can recognize his voice.” She added softly, “If I hear it again.”
“Did he ever say your name?” Trini pressed.
Serenity paused to consider the question. “I’m not sure … Remember, my mind was focused on escaping.” After a slight pause, she shrugged. “Now that I’ve talked with the police again, I know they don’t have anything to go on. They still have no idea why I was attacked or why the men were in my barn.”
Trini narrowed her brows. “It’s weird. Because your home wasn’t broken into. At least it didn’t appear to have been.”
“And there’s definitely nothing of value to steal in my barn.” Smiling, she added in an affectionate voice, “Unless you want Angel.”
Abby’s lips curved in amusement. “And I doubt anyone wants a horse that bites.”
All three laughed. Trini looked at Abby before she turned to Serenity.
“You know what I think?” Serenity asked as two pairs of eyes stared at her. “I believe some things only Gott knows. Maybe the police will get a viable lead, but until then, we’ve got to move on with our lives. Right now, there’s absolutely no way to find out the identity of the guys. That is, unless someone knows and they aren’t talking.”
Abby grinned. “Serenity, thank goodness that you have an angel looking after you.”
Trini was quick to agree. Her gaze met Serenity’s while Abby whispered, “And I’m not talking about your horse. I’m talking about Stephen Lantz.”