AFTER HER SHIFT AT YODER’S PANTRY WAS OVER, TILLIE stopped by Freda’s house on the way home. She was tethering her horse when Freda met her in the yard.
“Hi, Tillie.” Freda took a bite of a banana as she glided across the yard barefoot.
Tillie put her hands on her hips. “We have a problem.”
Freda swallowed. “What kind of problem?”
“Our father, that’s what!”
Freda’s expression grew concerned. “Did something happen? Is he sick? What is it, Tillie?”
Tillie turned her head from one side to the other, scanning the area. With no one in sight, she still felt the need to whisper. “Our daed is a wanted man!”
“Tillie, what are you talking about?” Freda folded her hands across her chest, the hint of a smile on her face.
“It’s not funny, Freda. There is a sheriff in town looking for Daed. He must have gotten in trouble while he was away.”
“What kind of trouble?”
Tillie lifted her shoulders, then dropped them. “How should I know? The kind that makes a lawman come lookin’ for ya. A tall man with beady eyes and a big belly came into Yoder’s Pantry. He was asking where to find Daed.” Tillie took a deep breath. “This sheriff man is staying at Beiler’s, and he asked Barbie too.”
“Tillie, are you sure about all this?” Freda thrust her hands onto her hips. “Because you make such a big deal outta every little thing.”
“Well, I reckon a sheriff looking for Daed is a big deal, no?”
“What could he have done?”
Tillie paced the yard for a few moments. “I don’t know, but things are going so gut between him and Mamm. And he’s home. I just don’t want him to have to leave again. For prison! Ach, Freda, what are we going to do?”
“Tillie, that man will find Daed. You can’t stop him. Daed ain’t that hard to find.”
“Hmm . . .” Tillie tapped her finger to her chin. “I wonder how long he’s planning to stay. Maybe he’ll get tired of looking and go back home.”
“Probably depends on how bad a thing Daed did.”
“What do you think it could be?”
Freda shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s hard to imagine Daed in trouble, enough to make a lawman come lookin’ for him.”
“The girls at Yoder’s Pantry are helping me spread the word not to tell that beady-eyed man anything about Daed.”
“Tillie, are you asking folks to lie?”
“Of course not.” Tillie lowered her chin, then raised her eyes to Freda. “Just to avoid the truth. I have to go. But make sure that Jonathan knows. And . . .” Tillie twisted her mouth from side to side as she thought. “Might be best not to mention this to Rosemary or Adam just yet. Adam might haul Daed straight to the man, happy to have Daed spend the rest of his days in a jail cell!”
“Tillie, stop being so dramatic. Besides, Mamm said that Adam and Daed talked yesterday after worship service, and things are on the mend between them.”
“Just the same, I reckon we don’t say anything just yet. Maybe just to Jonathan.”
“Whatever you say, Tillie. But I think maybe you should at least talk to Rosemary. She’ll know what to do.”
Tillie shook her head. “No, no. Rosemary tells Mamm everything. You know that. I’m going to go spread the word to everyone I can think of. Mamm and Daed need time to work on their relationship, alone and with no troubles.” She gave a taut nod of her head.
Freda chuckled. “Tillie, you read too many of those magazines at the doctor’s office.”
“This is not funny, Freda. Not funny at all! Make sure you tell Jake to let everyone know not to tell.”
“Tillie, Daed is not above the law for whatever he did. Just like the Englisch, we’re responsible for our actions. It’s just a matter of time—”
“Don’t say that.” Tillie pointed a finger at her sister, then she turned to leave, still wondering what law their father could have broken.
BY LATE AFTERNOON LARRY KNEW HE WOULD BE STAYING AT least one more day in Lancaster County, since Naaman Lapp was proving to be the most elusive man he’d ever pursued. Every person Larry had come in contact with today had avoided him like he was . . . a sheriff in pursuit of a criminal. Larry shook his head and smiled as he walked into the small breakfast area at the B & B.
“I’m going to need to stay at least one more night,” he told the same Amish girl who’d been there when he arrived.
“Sure. That’s fine. But the rest of the week is already booked up.” She smiled as if this was the best news on the planet. “I’m sorry.”
“What? I thought you said I wouldn’t have to worry about it until the weekend. This is only Monday.”
Still smiling, the woman shrugged. “Big group of ladies called to book four rooms, starting tomorrow.”
“Couldn’t you have checked with me?”
Her smile fell. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dozier. We have to accept those who are a for-sure thing. You didn’t think you’d be staying past today. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
Larry sighed. “So I need to check out tomorrow morning?”
The woman smiled again. “Yes, sir. By noon, please.”
Larry eyed some sticky buns on a plate near the woman. “May I?”
“Sure.” She pushed the platter toward him.
Patsy would have my behind for this. He took a bite as he walked out the door. He hoped he could find Naaman in the morning, then be on his way back home by tomorrow afternoon, instead of having to find another place to stay.
LEVINA WASN’T SURE EXACTLY WHAT HER TWO YOUNGEST daughters were trying to pull, but Rosemary had gotten wind of their antics first thing this sunny Tuesday morning and had come straight to tell Levina about it.
“I heard it from Rebecca, who heard from Sarah, that Daed is on the run from the law. Sarah heard from her husband, who heard it at the market in Bird-in-Hand. And Paul Dienner said that Big John at the hardware store said Daed is going to prison for a very long time. And Tillie and Freda are running around town telling everyone not to tell where you and Daed live. Evidently the sheriff man went into Yoder’s Pantry looking for him.”
Levina turned off the water in the sink, dried her hands on her apron, then spun to face her daughter. “What for? What did he supposedly do?” She wasn’t sure what was more upsetting— Naaman’s crime or the fact that the entire community was talking about it and bordering on breaking the law themselves by hiding Naaman. Just when she thought they could put embarrassment behind them, this happens.
“I don’t know, Mamm.” Rosemary sat down at the table.
“Where are my grandchildren?”
“Glenn is with them.” Rosemary reached for a leftover biscuit. “He thought I should come right over here and tell you.”
“Did he, now?” Levina opened the refrigerator and pulled out a jar of rhubarb jam. She pulled a spoon from the drawer and placed the spoon and jam in front of Rosemary.
Rosemary piled the jam on one half of the biscuit, then she began talking with her mouth still full. “What are you going to do?”
Levina sat down. “What do you mean?”
Rosemary swallowed. “Are you going to ask Daed?”
“I am not going to disrespect your father by asking him about petty rumors.” Levina’s stomach churned, though she was doing her best not to let Rosemary know.
“But, Mamm . . . there is a lawman lookin’ for Daed. He did something.”
Levina put her head in her hands, then looked back up at Rosemary. “The good Lord will provide the answers when He’s ready. And so will your father.”
Rosemary stuffed the other half of the biscuit into her mouth. “I can’t believe you’re not gonna ask him about this.”
I can’t believe it either.
Things were better between her and Naaman than they’d ever been. Levina recalled the past couple of days. Sunday night after worship at Adam’s, they cuddled together on the couch, holding hands and reading the Bible. Monday they’d each worked hard all day, but after supper they’d taken a walk, then gone to bed early. Levina smiled. Things were perfect. If her world was getting ready to fall apart again, she wanted to enjoy these special moments while they lasted.
NAAMAN PUT THE LAST COAT OF VARNISH ON THE OAK dresser, then he stood back to inspect his work. It was small, perfect for a baby’s room—for whichever of his youngest daughters needed it first.
“Very nice,” Levina said as she strolled in holding two glasses. “I brought you some sweet tea.”
“Danki.” He accepted the tea, took a large gulp, then set it down on his workbench. “I reckon this will be for either Tillie’s or Freda’s kinner.”
“It seems to be a race between those two.” Levina grinned. “What are you going to do if they both get pregnant at the same time?”
Naaman pointed to his right, to a stack of wood he planned to use for his next project. “I’m prepared.”
It was only midmorning, so Naaman pushed back thoughts of a nap with Levina. All he could think about these days was holding her in his arms. He was like a teenager in love, and he wanted to spend every waking minute with her.
She edged closer and smiled, the type of expression that made Naaman think perhaps a nap was in order after all. “What’s your plan for the day?”
Naaman smiled and lifted his eyebrows up and down. “Depends. What are your plans?”
“Stop that, Naaman.” Levina waved him to shush, but with a grin on her face. “With the kinner gone, I reckon our days aren’t as full, but there is still much to be done around here. I’m planning to finish the wash this morning before lunch and get it out to dry.”
“When did wash day change from Monday to Tuesday?”
Levina crossed her arms across her chest. “When you returned and we started taking naps all the time.” She lifted her chin, still grinning.
“Ach, I see.” He took a swig of his tea. “What did Rosemary want this morning?”
“Just to chat.” Levina shrugged.
“That reminds me. Tillie acted mighty strange yesterday when I went to drop off the things you sent. It was like she couldn’t get me out of Yoder’s Pantry fast enough.” He scratched his chin. “That girl was hiding something, but I reckon I haven’t a clue what. You know anything?”
Levina shrugged again. “You know Tillie. She always has something going on, and if she doesn’t she creates something to keep herself entertained.”
“Hmm . . .” Naaman eyed Levina and tried to figure out if she was being completely truthful. His wife always knew what the kinner were up to.
“Hannah stopped by while you were tending to the cows in the pasture yesterday afternoon. She was glad that you and Adam talked. Whatever you said to him, she said he seems like a much happier person. I was so glad to hear that.”
Naaman nodded. “They are young, but I think they will be fine.”
“What about you and Adam?”
Naaman pulled his straw hat from his head and wiped his forehead. “I think things will be all right. Just gonna take Adam a little time to understand why . . .” Naaman trailed off, not wanting to bring up the past.
“I’m going to get the wringer going and start on those clothes. I’ve got some beef stew simmering on the stove.”
“Sounds gut. I’m going to put the knobs on this dresser, and then it will be ready for whichever dochder needs it first.”
“It’s a beautiful piece of furniture, Naaman.”
He smiled, not sure if life could be any more perfect.