TUESDAY MORNING LARRY CHECKED OUT OF BEILER’S B & B and into a small hotel at the edge of town after not being able to find a room at any of the other bed-and-breakfasts in the area. The first two Amish-owned establishments told him they were full, but not until after he mentioned his name. He ventured into two more B & Bs in Gordonville, and although the places weren’t Amish-owned, he’d spotted some Amish women outside in the yard. These inns were full, too . . . after they asked for his name.
It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that the community was protecting Naaman Lapp from the big bad sheriff. Larry smiled as he settled onto the bed in the small room, then he picked up the phone.
“Bill, I need you to get an address for an Amish man named Naaman Lapp. He lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the town of Paradise.”
“You mean to tell me that you can’t track down one Amish fellow in that small town?” His partner chuckled.
“Yeah, I know. I think folks around here are hiding him, so to speak. It’s a pretty close-knit community.”
“Let me get you an address, and I’ll call you back.”
Larry hung up, propped the pillows behind him, then flipped on the television. He couldn’t believe he was still here after four days. But there were worse places to be when one was avoiding the in-laws. Besides, Patsy would be thrilled with the quilt and all the trinkets he’d picked up for her. And he was enjoying some mighty good food.
He crossed his ankles and starting switching the channels. It wouldn’t take long for Bill to get him an address, and Larry planned to head to Naaman’s place right after lunch. Maybe lunch at Yoder’s Pantry again. More of those warm pretzels dipped in cheese sauce and peanut butter spread. Just thinking about it made his mouth water.
LEVINA PINNED THE SHEETS TO THE LINE WHILE NAAMAN cleaned the stalls in the barn. Hard as she tried, she couldn’t shake her conversation with Rosemary. She’d prayed hard about it all morning, asking God to guide her to do the right thing, and she knew she needed to confront Naaman about what Rosemary said.
She didn’t want there to be anything between them. They were in a good, honest place, and she’d never been happier. This new information made her uneasy, and she couldn’t stop wondering what it was that Naaman had done to bring a sheriff to town. Her healing heart was still fragile, but she would have to know the truth.
She trembled as fear overtook her like a winter’s wind slapping against her bare skin. Please, God, whatever Naaman did, I pray it wasn’t too bad. Please don’t take him from me again. Naaman was a good man, and even if he’d done something he shouldn’t have, he wasn’t the type of man to run away.
Levina froze as she realized that he was exactly the type to run away. He’d proven that. Then it hit her—hard. Maybe that was the reason her husband had come home—because he was in trouble with the law. Her head began to spin. Would Naaman have ever come home if there hadn’t been trouble in Middlefield? Maybe he didn’t have a choice. Maybe home was the only place he had to go. Did I get him back by default?
She took a deep breath, then blew it out slowly as she pinned the corner of the last sheet.
By the time Naaman came in for lunch, Levina had dreamed up every possible scenario as to why a sheriff would be looking for him. Did he leave Ohio owing someone money? Did he drive a car while he was there and get a violation of some sort? Maybe he’d had an accident? The “maybes” kept going through her head, but logically she couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea of Naaman doing anything illegal, much less not fessing up to it. She was just going to have to ask him.
“Something smells gut in here.” Naaman walked into the kitchen, put his hat on the rack, and wasted no time wrapping his arms around her waist as she stirred the stew. Just the feel of his arms around her sent a shiver of longing through her. They were on their second honeymoon, and Levina wished it could go on like this forever. Maybe she’d wait to ask him about the sheriff.
When they’d finished eating, Naaman kissed her on the cheek while she washed the dishes. Then he did something he’d never done. He began to dry the dishes and put them away.
“Why are you doing that?” She asked the question with a sharper tone than she intended as she turned to face him.
His jaw dropped slightly. “Just trying to help you.”
She forced a smile, but her thoughts returned to a bad place. Maybe you are just trying to solidify your place in our household so that I will stand by you when the lawman comes. Maybe the only reason you came back is because you have nowhere else to go.
“That’s not where that goes.” She dried her hands on her apron, then pulled the large spoon from the drawer where Naaman had put it. She hung it on the rack near the stove.
“Levina, is everything all right?” Hesitantly, Naaman picked up another plate and started to dry it.
“Ya.” She walked back to the sink and resumed washing, but didn’t look at him. “I–I have some errands to run this afternoon.”
“I can finish up in the shop and go with you.” He smiled as he put away a plate in the cabinet.
“No.” She shook her head. “You would be bored. I have to go by Rebecca Deinner’s house to pick up some cookbooks to take to Yoder’s Pantry, and I have to stop by Barbie Beiler’s Bed-and-Breakfast.” She quickly looked at Naaman to see if the mention of Beiler’s B & B generated any kind of reaction. Nothing.
“Well, okay. I’ll take the spring buggy to pick up some parts I need to fix one of the generators.” He kissed her on the cheek again. “But I hope to meet back here before too long.” He winked at her as he put the last dish up. Then he pulled his hat from the rack and headed out the door.
Levina dried her hands and took a deep breath. She couldn’t take this anymore. She’d just go find the sheriff at Barbie’s B & B and find out exactly what he wanted. Waiting around for him to just show up was going to make her crazy.
LARRY SCRIBBLED DOWN NAAMAN’S ADDRESS ON A PIECE OF hotel stationery, thanked Bill, and hung up the phone. No time like the present, he figured. Once he found Naaman Lapp, he could head back home to Patsy. He was missing her more than ever by now, and she’d said during their phone conversation earlier that morning that her parents were leaving. Patsy’s parents were good people, but they rode him even more than Patsy about his diet, the occasional beer, and his lack of exercise. And it wasn’t just that. Patsy’s mother had a high-pitched voice that sounded sweet the first few minutes you were around her, but after about an hour it turned into an annoying, almost yappy little squeak. Fortunately Patsy hadn’t inherited that trait.
An hour later he was pulling into the driveway off Black Horse Road. He was impressed by the way folks around here kept their property. Nothing out of place, and yards that would make any homeowners’ association proud. Naaman’s homestead consisted of a freshly painted white clapboard house surrounded by a white picket fence, and a large barn on either side. He didn’t see any buggies, though.
He waited an ample amount of time at the door, but when no one answered, he headed back to the car, stopping to pet an Irish setter on the way out. “Where’s your owner, buddy?”
No problem. He’d catch some overdue lunch, then try again later. No shortage of good food in these parts, that was for sure.
LEVINA WHISKED INTO THE BREAKFAST AREA OF BEILER’S Bed-and-Breakfast. Empty. She knocked on the kitchen door, then she pushed it open a few inches. All dark. Her friend was probably cleaning one of the guest rooms. She went around the corner just in time to see Irma walking out of a first-floor guest room, toting a cleaning bucket filled with supplies.
“Levina, what brings you here?” Irma smiled as she approached her.
“I–I know you’re probably not supposed to do this, Irma, but I’m looking for a lawman that I think was staying here. I need to talk to him.” Levina scrunched her face up and bit her lip, not sure if Irma would help her or not.
“You mean the big man who is looking for Naaman?” Irma looked like she was holding her breath.
So much for the embarrassment of this whole thing.
“Ya. I really need to talk with him. Can you tell me what room he’s in?”
“He checked out. I mean, he wanted to stay, but he only had the room until Tuesday noon, and we had a last-minute group of ladies call for the only four rooms we had left.” Irma leaned closer and whispered, “Is Naaman in trouble?”
Levina grinned and waved her hand at Irma. “No, no. It’s nothing. Do you know where he went?”
Irma shook her head. “No. But Tillie and Freda made it a point to tell everyone around here not to tell the lawman where Naaman lived. So I reckon some folks might not rent to him either.”
My girls should know better than this. “Irma, I’m sure that Naaman didn’t do anything, but we can’t have the community trying to hide him. It isn’t right. Do you know if this policeman is from Ohio?”
“I reckon I don’t know. He didn’t say. He’s a sheriff, though. He had on a sheriff’s uniform when he checked in.”
“Hmm . . . All right. Danki.” Levina waved as she turned to leave.
“Hope everything is all right, Levina!”
So do I. Levina nodded.
PARADISO WAS RIGHT DOWN THE BLOCK, AN ITALIAN REStaurant Larry hadn’t tried since he arrived. Another place probably filled with forbidden foods. He smiled as he walked in.
The smell of garlic and oregano filled his nostrils, and a hostess seated him right away. He scanned the menu, not even allowing his eyes to peruse the healthy section. Patsy always wanted to eat heart healthy. Gotta love her.
“Would you like to try our special?” The waitress pointed to a large chalkboard on her right. Larry squinted to have a look.
Baked lasagna, salad, and garlic bread.
“That looks good.” He handed the woman his menu. “I’ll have the special. Ranch dressing, please, ma’am.”
After his salad, Larry savored the rich taste of the lasagna and cleaned his plate. Truly some of the best Italian food he’d ever had.
Then he got the strangest pain in his chest.