Thursday, December 21
I didn’t realize Dale Kaufmann and Amanda Schwartz had gotten so close,” Deputy Eddie Beck said about a half hour later.
After Neil had enfolded Susanna in his arms and let her cry, she’d gone back to check on her mother and father. Neil had intended to return to Dale, but he saw that he was speaking quietly with Amanda. Minutes later, Dale wrapped his arms around her and was whispering in her ear.
And Amanda? Well, she looked like only Dale could ease her worries.
Looking over at the couple, Neil murmured, “I didn’t realize it, either. I mean, I knew there was something between them . . . but not that.”
Inwardly, he was wincing. Did he sound as tongue-tied as he felt? He was happy for Dale, he really was. But there was also a little bit of jealousy going on, he realized.
He was jealous of how easy and smooth Dale and Amanda’s relationship was progressing. It was so different than he and Susanna. Though they were growing closer, the farm and their uneasy first conversations felt like obstacles they needed to overcome.
Eddie was boldly gazing at the couple and shrugged. “Maybe it’s a sudden thing. That happens, you know.”
“I heard it does,” Neil teased. Actually, he figured just about everyone in Hart County knew at least some of how Eddie Beck and his new bride, Lora, got together. It all started when Eddie had moved to the area and started eating at Bill’s Diner. Lora worked there but hardly ever waited on him. He’d watched her from a distance for weeks.
Then, just a few months ago, he’d been called to Lora’s house for a disturbance. He interviewed her. Something must have happened during their conversation because then Lora started waiting on him at the restaurant.
During this time, a man had been attacking women in Munfordville. Lora had been one of those women. Rumor had it that Eddie had sat by her side for hours while she recuperated in the hospital.
Later, she’d been coherent enough to identify her attacker, so she had helped solve the case.
And Eddie? Well, he’d been so smitten, he’d wasted no time in making her his wife.
Their roller-coaster love story did nothing to ease the tension inside of Neil. He was afraid for Susanna and her family. Whoever was targeting them was getting bolder and bolder. “What is going to happen now? This all needs to stop.”
Looking back at Neil, the deputy’s gaze was intent. “I completely agree. I’ll be conferring with Sheriff Brewer, but I would guess we’ll be paying a call on the Schwartzes to see if they have any idea of why someone might want to target them.”
“Let me know if I can help.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows. “Susanna mentioned that they’d felt like a lot of people were mad at them for moving here and buying the property. Do you think there is any truth to that statement?”
Knowing how angry he and his parents had been, Neil couldn’t help but nod. “I’m afraid so.” Because no doubt everyone already knew this, he said, “My family was pretty upset about the transaction. That’s no secret.”
“Maybe we should talk about that. You resented them for buying your farm?”
“I did.” Wearily, he continued. “And you don’t have to tell me that we had it for sale. I think we all had a lot of hurt feelings. The sale felt rushed. We had hoped for more money for the property.”
“Do you think anyone in your family was so mad that they sought vengeance?”
“And started breaking bridges and setting fire to sheds? Nee.”
“But you agree that there might be someone in your family who feels that you had every right to wreak havoc on the Schwartz family.”
“Perhaps.” He was thinking of Roy, who acted so easygoing and happy to be working for the Costa family . . . but he was good at hiding his feelings; and his father, whose fault it was that they were in this situation in the first place, and who so resented that he was now at his younger brother’s beck and call.
Then there was his Uncle Joseph. He had given thousands of dollars to Neil’s father with the expectation that the farm would be given to him so it would remain in the family. But instead of doing that, Neil’s father had insisted on selling the farm to strangers.
Uncle Joseph had to feel betrayed and used. But would he take it out on the Schwartz family?
Finally, Neil knew that even he and his mother had entertained some dark moments. More than once Neil had fallen asleep wishing that the Schwartzes would feel some kind of pain for how they handled the sale.
When the deputy continued to say nothing, only watched him intently, Neil was uncomfortably aware that he’d indicated that every member of his family was a prime suspect.
“Hey, now, just because we were upset, that doesn’t mean that we did anything,” he blurted. “It’s a long way between missing one’s farm and setting fire to it.”
“Of course. I didn’t say I thought you did anything.”
“My family doesn’t have anything to do with this.” At least, he hoped and prayed that was the case.
Deputy Beck adjusted his jacket. “All right, then.” He kind of huffed as he pulled out his smartphone. “I’d best get on my way. Brewer doesn’t pay me to stand around and chat, you know. It’s been good to talk to you. I’m sure we’ll chat again real soon.” He smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes.
“Jah. Sure,” Neil said awkwardly.
Watching him walk away, Neil realized that Eddie hadn’t actually accused him of anything. But he hadn’t said that he didn’t suspect him, either. And what did that mean, when he said that they’d be talking soon? Was that a hint?
He hoped not. When he got home, he was going to have to have a real close conversation with his parents and Roy. Actually, they should probably get together and do some thinking about who could be a suspect besides them. Maybe he should talk to Junior at work about that, too. Junior was a good manager and seemed to trust him.
Yeah. They definitely needed to do some thinking about who didn’t seem happy that the Schwartz family had moved to town . . .
As he stood on the land that he always thought he’d inherit, Neil realized that something had just happened. This place didn’t feel like home anymore.
Instead, when he thought of home, he thought of that cramped house that they’d all imagined was too small but seemed to still hold everything that they really needed. Home was where his family was. It was where the people he cared about were.
And when he thought of his job, he didn’t think about this farm, he thought about his many responsibilities at Horse Cave Salvage. His perception had changed before he was even aware of it. Maybe before he was even ready for it.
But still, it had happened.
Why was that?