Psalm 125: 1 - 2.
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.

Chapter 9.

 

Everyone was in a celebratory mood as they milled around the room. The table was overloaded with pot pies, shoo fly pies, apple pies, and sandwiches. There were more snacks and desserts than they could possibly eat. There was more food than Kate had ever seen at one time.

Maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, Kate thought, as she examined the overflowing table. She had thought her whoopie pies would be good offering, but they were barely a speck in all the bounty.

The knitting circle ladies definitely had a lot to celebrate, and luckily for her, they were focusing today on Jeremiah's release and a new quilting project, rather than on her pathetic attempts to knit.

“Kate, what do you think of this color?” Lillian shoved some squares of cloth under her nose. Kate leaned back to get a better look.

Before Kate could answer, the elderly Maria leaned over to her. “You've done so much for this little group. I can't thank you enough.”

Kate felt her face redden as Maria beamed at her as if she had just performed an amazing feat. “Maria, I didn't do anything. The police did all the work.”

“Jah, but who got the police to keep looking into the case?” Abigail raised a brow and smiled knowingly. “Our secret sources revealed that they saw you go into the police station.”

“You mean your friend at the deli?” Kate asked, which caused half of the other ladies to burst out into giggles. Seeing Abigail’s sheepish smile, she guessed herself right. The deli was right across from the station, so in hindsight Kate should have been more careful. A woman in Amish clothes walking into a police station would certainly stand out.

“It is a shame your memories aren't as sharp as your mind, Kate,” Miriam said cheerfully. “You must have a lot of interesting stories locked away in there.”

“Oh Miriam, shush.” Maria scolded the woman with a light swat to her arm. Even so, she her eyes smiled while she was giving her stern frown of discipline. Everyone was relieved to have Jeremiah home. “Such manners.”

“Sorry, Kate.” Miriam gave a joyous smile, and looked at the doorway impatiently. “But goodness, where is Beckie? She's making a habit of being late.”

“Be patient with her,” Maria admonished gently as she started to go through the scraps of cloth. “Jeremiah only made it home last night. Now behave yourself and help sort these squares. This quilt isn't going to make itself.”

Kate smiled as Maria pulled the ladies into order, assigning tasks. It was a relief to be working on a new project today. While she couldn't promise perfection, even she could stitch two pieces of cloth together with reasonable success. It made a lot more sense to her brain than the series of curling and counting. She wasn't exactly sure what the exact reason was for quilting today, but as long as she didn't have to look at a defenseless blob of tangled yarn, she had no reason to question it.

“Miriam told me that more witnesses spoke up about seeing someone run from the cafe before Jeremiah got there,” Lillian chimed in as she squinted at the end of her needle and furrowed her brow. “Kate dear, could you thread this for me? I left my glasses at home.”

“No problem.” Kate took the needle and tried to coax the thread through the tiny eye. She hadn’t done much stitching in her day, but she did know how to sew a button. She hoped that no one would expect her to make a dress of anything. Buttons and simple tears were the entirety of her experience. “I'm glad that they finally found some witnesses.”

“With your help,” Lillian chimed in.

Kate shook her head. “Really, I didn’t do anything.” She appreciated that the ladies were grateful that she went to talk to someone at the station. But they were going overboard in their gratitude. “I didn't do anything but go talk to a police officer. If anyone deserves credit, it would be you ladies.”

Nancy waved her hand dismissively. “We didn't go to the police and convince them to keep looking into the case.”

“Just don't make a habit of spreading our talks to outsiders, young lady,” Maria said as she carefully stitched two brightly colored squares together. “This time it is fine, of course. You saved Jeremiah from that awful jailhouse.

The women all nodded in agreement and started praising her effort again. Even Esther hobbled out of her rocking chair and hobbled over to pat Kate's shoulder in thanks. “You have such a good heart, going out of your way to save Jeremiah's nephew like you did.”

Kate sighed in resignation. All she did was talk to Ryan, but the ladies were acting as if she herself were law enforcement. If only she were, but right now, she was plain Katie, the amnesiac Amish woman.

“You are always at the right place, at the right time it seems,” Esther said speculatively as she hobbled back to her chair and picked up her knitting. “Never a case unsolved when you get involved.”

Kate opened her mouth to protest, when Beckie burst through the door. The young woman looked positively radiant. Kate sighed in relief.

Beckie headed straight for her. “Oh Kate, denki so much. I heard you talked to the police and they let Jeremiah out. I can't thank you enough.”

Kate’s protests were once again muffled as the women spoke at once. “They've cleared Jeremiah of all charges..”

“Wunderbaar!” Nancy said in a high, excited voice as there was a collective sigh of relief from the ladies.

“Have they caught the real killer then?” Lillian asked, ignoring Maria's disapproving frown.

“Nee, they haven’t caught any suspect yet,” Miriam said as she sighed contently. “What matters, though, is that Jeremiah is safe and sound. He even came home with us last night.”

“I'm surprised you let him out of your sight today.” Nancy gave a soft laugh at Miriam's eye roll in her direction. Maria scoffed and frowned at Nancy.

“I promised you ladies an update today,” Beckie said cheerfully, “Honestly I was beside myself waiting for the meeting. But I just couldn't find a minute to get away. Jeremiah has eaten like a horse since he got home.”

The ladies laughed. It was a small consolation that all Amish women appeared to be naturals at everything domestic. Apparently these ladies were the elite force of the crafting and culinary arts - and information gathering skills.

“Come now, we’re here to knit,” Maria scolded them as she waved a knobby finger. The women tried their best to look chastised, but then they were soon smiling and whispering amongst each other.

“Kate, denki again,” Beckie said gratefully. “I know you have your own reasons for being here. It does my heart good that you went out of your way for my Jeremiah.”

“I didn't do anything special; I'm just happy that he's home.” Kate picked up a needle, and started to measure out some thread.

“As we all are.” Beckie beamed. Esther nodded from her rocking chair as she regarded Kate and Beckie with a smile. It was probably the warmest the elderly woman had been to her since she got here. Esther was always polite, but she never seemed to approve of Kate vacationing here while she was recovering. At least up until today. It seemed her little chat with Ryan had won over the ninety year old lady.

Kate glanced over at the table, seeing Lillian and Nancy both practically cheek to cheek as they poured over the dessert table. They were whispering something excitedly, though Kate could not hear what they were discussing with such energy. It was likely some juicy gossip they didn't want a scolding for. Maria seemed to suspect as much too, as she kept her eye on them like a mother preparing to guide her wayward children.

Kate smiled as she suppressed a guilty twinge. These ladies were unlike anyone she had ever met.

“When it's time for me to go, they'll be the first I'll tell the truth to. They deserve that much for helping me keep my sanity.” Kate looked down at the bright blue cloth in her hands. She'd gone undercover before for a case, but she had never felt so anxious and fearful of revealing her identity. Would they resent her for lying to them all these months? Would they understand the necessity? Or would she end up shunned for tricking them for all this time, as they had shared everything with her without reservation?