What’s he doing here?” Stephen’s pent-up anger seemed to inflate the air pressure in the pickup’s cab.
I recognized the silhouette of Jake’s profile in the dim light, but I didn’t respond. I had no idea why he was here, but the sight of him sent a tingling buzz through me. Ach, I couldn’t help myself.
When Stephen turned off his engine, he made no move to get out or stop me. “Call me if Heath returns. Please tell Beatrice I’m still looking for him. Goodbye, Eva.” His farewell sounded final. Like the end of an era. I watched as he pulled away.
As I turned toward Jake’s car, he opened his door. He wore clean Englisch clothes and looked as though he’d just stepped out of the shower. His bangs hung longer, or maybe that was just me wishing he was intentionally growing them. He approached me slowly as I walked to the cabin.
“Wait up, my love.”
I whirled around. “Is this some kind of cruel joke? You said you might marry Brandy.”
“Nee, I want to spend my life with you.” He took hold of my elbow, but I jerked out of his grasp.
I cautioned myself to stay strong. “I don’t know what to believe, Jake.” A dreadful thought flooded my brain. “Is Amos worse? Did your mamm send you here?”
“Just one minute.” Jake’s handsome face transformed to a mask of indignation. “What about Stephen? Were you two just out on a date? Are you infatuated with him?”
If I claimed I wasn’t attracted to Stephen, I’d be lying. “None of your business.”
“I’d say it is. Don’t you still have feelings for me? I adore you.”
“But you told me you’re marrying Brandy.”
“A rash and foolish remark I regret. Although my heart goes out to her and her unborn child.”
“Yah, mine does too.” I wished I could assist her without forever losing Jake.
“There’s something you could do to help me right now, Jake. As a friend.”
“Yeah? What is it?” His blue eyes darkened, conveying distrust.
“Remember the barn that burned down?”
He ran his fingers through his bangs and then let them flop back across his forehead. “How could I ever forget?”
“Would you take me there?”
“To the barn? Right now? Are you ab im kopp?”
“Nee, I’m not crazy. I just—” I wasn’t ready to share my hunch with him or anyone. “Please, will you take me?”
He paused, as if weighing his options. “Yah, okay. In the car or on foot?”
“It’s close enough to walk, don’t you think? And quieter.”
“But why go there? I heard just a couple of mares are living in that barn now. And the owner’s stallion. Jeremiah Schmucker refuses to give up the horse even though it’s unruly.”
“The farmer doesn’t own dairy cows anymore?” I recalled his two dozen black-and-white Holsteins, but that was more than seven years ago.
“Jeremiah grew too old to milk the herd and had no sons to help him,” Jake said. “As it turns out, we rebuilt that barn for nothing.”
“You rebuilt it because it needed rebuilding. And I want to see it.”
“Evie, you don’t know how close I came to being charged for arson. I could be behind bars.” He shivered for effect. “Some people still think I’m guilty. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to get anywhere near that place.” He jingled the keys in his pocket, making me think he was about to take off.
“Jake, I’m walking over to the barn by myself if you won’t accompany me.” I lifted my chin and headed off in that direction.
All was quiet. I didn’t see Beatrice peering out the window, and I hoped she hadn’t noticed us. An idea took shape. I marched over to the back porch, climbed the steps, and rapped on the door. Missy and Minnie barked, and Beatrice appeared to let me in.
“I’m going for a short walk, and I would like to take Missy with me.”
“Have you ever walked a dog in your life?” Beatrice’s voice got lost amid the barking. “On leash, I assume.”
“Yah. Would you please clip one on her? She needs to go out every evening anyway, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, but why now?” She glanced over to Jake and greeted him with an unenthusiastic nod. “What’s going on in that noggin of yours?”
“She might pick up Heath’s scent,” I said. “Please? I’ll take good care of her.”
“You’d better.” Beatrice’s words came out a threat. “Here, take this.” She handed me a flashlight.
Missy’s body sprang to life when Beatrice snapped on the leather leash and I took hold of it. Her tail beat against my leg. She nearly tugged me off my feet as she pranced down the porch steps.
I jerked on the leash and lowered my voice as I’d heard Stephen do when the dogs became rambunctious. “Missy, if you want to come, you must behave.” She looked up at me, her ears perked, as if she understood I was the boss. For now, anyway.
I sensed Beatrice watching as I ushered Missy across the road and onto a path toward the barn. I heard Jake’s footsteps behind us, praise the Lord. He walked ahead and opened the gate to a low fence. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” He closed it behind us.
Missy’s tail wagged with expectancy, and she pawed the ground. She dragged harder on the leash the closer to the barn we got. She barked. Two woofs emanated from the depths of the dark barn.
“Heath, are you in there?” I called, but the air turned silent. Missy tugged on the leash, and it slipped from my hand. Jake leaned down to retrieve it, but he was too late.