After wrapping up a Christmas quilt, Elizabeth took a moment to rest and eat the sandwich David had brought from Leah’s Sunshine Café. There was a lull in the shopping, although she had nothing to complain about.
Her sales had been brisk, and she noticed several customers checking out David’s furniture, too.
It made her sad to think about how he’d lost his home. Although, if she were honest, she’d admit to being glad to have a good reason to have him sleep in her living room for the next few days.
Mammi Ruth couldn’t be upset at him staying when he had nowhere else to go. Well, technically he did have somewhere else to go. He could stay with Liam, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Elizabeth?” Shauna’s expression was full of concern.
She immediately rose to her feet. “What’s wrong?”
“David is fine,” Shauna hastened to assure her. “But a gunman took a shot at him at the Green Lake Grill. Liam is there, now. I felt you should know.”
“The Green Lake Grill?” Elizabeth frowned. “What is David doing there? I thought he was in the workroom?”
A flash of guilt shadowed Shauna’s features. “He asked to borrow my car, so I gave him my keys. I didn’t have any idea that he planned to go to the Green Lake Grill.”
“He drove your car?” Stunned at the revelation, she could only stare at Shauna. She’d thought David had chosen to live like the Amish, but mayhap she was wrong.
And she really didn’t like the way David had kept this little side trip of his a secret. It reminded her of how Adam had kept things from her. Always saying for her to mind her own business when she asked where he was going or what he was doing.
“David has his driver’s license, so I didn’t think too much about loaning him the car.” Shauna grimaced. “I guess that goes against your beliefs, though.”
She didn’t answer, her thoughts whirling. “Certain sure he’s not injured?”
“Yes, Liam said he’s fine. He hit the ground and scrambled beneath the car.” Shauna reached out to touch her hand. “David will be here soon. In the meantime, I have to continue helping in the showroom.” Shauna turned away.
Elizabeth resumed her seat and picked up her half-eaten sandwich. Unfortunately, she’d lost her appetite. Wasting food was frowned upon, so she forced herself to take one bite, then another.
Another customer came in, so she gratefully set the last quarter of her sandwich aside. Keeping busy would help her ignore the keen sense of betrayal.
In truth, David’s driving wasn’t that great a sin. During Rumspringa, Amish teenagers were known to drive cars as they had their taste of Englisch life. The custom was such so that the children would choose being baptized as Amish on their own, without being forced.
Her real disappointment came from David’s doing so without telling her.
It was almost an hour later before David and Liam returned. Liam’s expression was grave, and there was a touch of guilt in David’s eyes as he looked at her.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I hope you’re not upset with me.”
She managed a smile. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt, David. Did you get a good description of the man who shot at you?”
“He wore a ski mask,” David said. “Although he was shorter and stockier in build, like the guy I saw here inside the Amish Shoppe that first night.”
“I have Garrett and another deputy questioning the Green Lake Grill staff,” Liam added. “But so far, no one has come forward with a name.”
Shauna threw her arms around David. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Davy.”
“I’m fine.” David awkwardly patted her back. “And thankfully, your car wasn’t hit by a stray bullet, either.”
“As if I care about that,” Shauna said. “You’re all that matters.”
Elizabeth watched them, wondering if David was feeling pulled back into the Englisch world. The thought saddened her, and she realized in that moment just how much she’d cherished their friendship.
Their companionship.
What if David decided to go with his family, rather than continuing his current path where he’d once intended to join the Amish?
She felt hot, then cold. She returned to her quilt shop, telling herself that it didn’t matter what David decided.
After all, she’d already informed him marriage was not for her. She was sure she and David could still be friends, regardless of which path he decided to take.
The next few hours passed by quickly. When closing time grew near, she straightened her stock, grateful to note that she only had one Christmas quilt left.
She would start making more next fall, after the summer wedding quilt rush.
Yet keeping focused on the success of her business didn’t help lift her spirits.
“Elizabeth, Shauna would like to drive us back to your house,” David said, his tone tentative. His blue gaze searched hers for a long moment. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about having me sleep on your sofa.”
“Ach, of course not. You’re wilkom to stay.” It seemed uncharitable to refuse him after the way his home had been burned to the ground. The disappointment she felt was her problem, not his. “Denke, a ride home would be sehr gut.”
“Great. Are you ready to go?” David glanced around her tidy shop.
She nodded and locked the door before following him to the showroom where Shauna waited. There was no sign of Liam.
“Oh, and I have a padlock for your barn.” David held up the device. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d feel safer if you kept the doors locked.”
“That’s fine.” Having the sturdy lock would give her one less thing to worry about. She followed Shauna and David down the center aisle toward the front door.
Outside, she glanced up at the eaves but didn’t see the small cameras Liam had mentioned. Maybe installing the cameras was for the best. She truly didn’t want the building to burn the way David’s house had.
Had the arsonist really been Amish? She didn’t want to believe it, despite what the witness had seen.
Yet, there was no denying the danger was very real. David had clearly been targeted.
And her, too? If so, she wished she understood the motive behind it.
She didn’t doubt David would keep her and Mammi Ruth safe. But she needed to try to keep a bit of emotional distance from him, too.
Her bruised feelings indicated she’d already allowed David to get too close.
David sensed Elizabeth was upset with him, and thought he understood why. After giving up electronics and other worldly goods, he’d broken the rules by driving Shauna’s car.
In hindsight, he couldn’t even be that sorry about it. He was glad he’d been alone at the Green Lake Grill, rather than risk Shauna or Liam.
But other than his belief the stocky man he’d seen today was the same one who’d picked the lock to gain access to the Amish Shoppe, he hadn’t discovered anything useful.
Well, except for knowing the Green Lake Grill was being patronized by criminals.
Liam hadn’t sounded confident about learning anything more about the gunman. Everything had happened so fast that David couldn’t even say for certain if the guy had been wearing Amish clothing.
His gaze had focused on the man’s face, covered with a black ski mask. He firmly believed the gunman had recognized him in the entranceway of the restaurant and had decided to come after him.
In broad daylight. Had the gunman known no one inside would rat him out?
“Are you okay?” Shauna’s voice betrayed her concern.
“Fine.” He needed to shake it off. Although in his mind’s eye, he was thinking about that table in the back where the three men were sitting.
Had one of them been the stocky guy? Difficult to say. He wished he had a phone with a camera so he could have taken a picture.
So much for living the simple life of the Amish, he thought grimly.
Shauna pulled up in front of Elizabeth’s house and slid the gearshift into Park. “I wish I had a way of getting in touch with you, Davy.”
“No need, we’ll be safe here.” He slid out of the back seat and opened Elizabeth’s door. “Tomorrow is Sunday, and I’m sure things will be quiet.”
“Denke.” Elizabeth held her bag of sewing close to her body as she turned to bid Shauna goodbye. “Take care, ja?”
“You, too.” Shauna waved and waited for them to go inside the house before driving off.
“Excuse me while I check on Mammi Ruth.” Elizabeth didn’t meet his gaze as she hurried upstairs.
He tried not to be disheartened by her anger. After adding wood to the fire, he went into the kitchen to check on dinner. Elizabeth had left beef and vegetable soup on the counter, so he set it on the woodstove to get hot.
She also had fresh bread and butter, which he set on the table, too.
Elizabeth returned after fifteen minutes. “Mammi Ruth would prefer a tray in her room for dinner.”
“She’s upset with me, too, huh?” David’s attempt to lighten things up fell flat.
“No, she is feeling weak, that’s all.” Elizabeth stirred the soup for a moment.
“I know you’re angry, but I’m hoping you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.” She’d forgiven him for killing a man; certainly driving a car wasn’t nearly as terrible. Granted he hadn’t intended to kill Carson Wells.
And he had fully intended to drive Shauna’s car.
“I’m not angry.” The way she avoided his gaze belied her words. “‘Tis your choice to make, ain’t so?”
“My choice to drive Shauna’s car,” he agreed.
She set the top on the kettle of soup with a loud clatter. “Your choice to go to the Green Lake Grill in the first place, without telling me.”
Now he understood. “You are right, Elizabeth. I should have informed you of my intent,” he admitted. “After seeing what was left of my house, I needed to do something, anything, to find the man responsible.”
“Ach, for what purpose?” She turned to face him. “To seek revenge?”
“No! Only so that he could be arrested.” He rubbed the back of his head, where the lump was slowly getting smaller. “I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m responsible for another man’s death.” Having Carson Wells’s demise hanging over him like a shroud was bad enough.
“I see.” He couldn’t tell if she truly believed him. “Well, I must get Mammi Ruth’s meal ready, ain’t so?”
He felt rather useless standing there. “I’ll put the lock on the barn door, if that’s okay.”
“Certain sure.” She filled a bowl with steaming soup and then added two slices of bread. When she headed back upstairs, he pulled on his coat, took the padlock from his pocket and walked outside.
It seemed like days, rather than hours, since he’d been out chopping wood. Glancing around, he didn’t see anything amiss. He strode straight to the barn door and yanked it open. He didn’t see anyone inside, so he closed it and attached the sturdy padlock.
At least now they didn’t have to worry about anyone hiding in there, waiting to attack.
Yet as he trudged back inside, he knew the danger was far from over. Either an Amish man or an English one had tried to kill him.
More than once.
He needed to figure out a way to find the man responsible, before he could try again.
Elizabeth was filling large bowls of soup for them when he returned. He joined her at the table, then reached over to take her hand. She stared at their clasped hands for a moment, then bowed her head.
“Dear Lord, we ask You to bless this amazing food. We also ask for You to continue keeping us safe in Your care. And please, Lord, forgive my sins. Amen.”
“Please forgive my sins, too. Amen,” Elizabeth echoed. When she lifted her head, her warm brown gaze met his. “We are all sinners, ja?”
“Yes.” Some more so than others, he thought wearily. Unfortunately, his list of sins seemed to be growing, rather than shrinking.
“You’ll still attend services with us tomorrow morning?” Elizabeth’s question drew him from his thoughts.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Sehr gut.” Elizabeth smiled, which felt like the first warmth he’d felt from her since he’d left the Amish Shoppe in Shauna’s car.
“Are there other chores that need tending tomorrow?” He knew the Amish didn’t work on Sunday, but chores were obviously an exception.
“Nothing pressing. You’ve brought more than enough firewood in, ain’t so?”
“I can chop more, too, as needed.” It occurred to him that he may want to stock up the woodpile for her. Once Liam had arrested the gunman, there would be no need for him to continue staying here.
No matter how much he wanted to.
They finished eating, then worked together to take care of the dishes. He was glad some of their previous camaraderie had returned.
He hoped that meant she’d forgiven him.
After Elizabeth bid him good-night, he stretched out on the sofa beneath her wonderfully soft quilt and closed his eyes.
Immediately the stocky, masked gunman flashed in his mind.
David turned to prayer, seeking peace from the disturbing events of the day. He prayed Liam would find the man responsible, and he prayed for Elizabeth’s safety.
Finally, he relaxed enough to drift off.
A muffled thump woke him, and he frowned in the darkness, wondering if he’d imagined it. Then he tensed. What if the stocky gunman had found him here?
He couldn’t take that risk. He shoved the quilt aside, quickly slipped on his boots, coat and hat, then silently crept to the front door. Remembering the incident in the barn, he went back to grab a log from the woodpile. He’d use it to frighten an intruder or to block a blow, rather than to strike. Then he opened the door and stepped outside.
The moon reflected off the snow, providing enough light for him to see better than he’d expected. He silently closed the door behind him, then stood for a moment, sweeping his gaze over the front yard.
After finding nothing out of place, he moved to the left, the side of the house where he thought the thudding sound had come from. It also happened to be the same side of the house where he’d noticed the two pairs of footprints in the snow earlier in the week. At the corner, he hesitated, then poked his head around to see if anyone was there.
The area was empty. Then his gaze narrowed as he noticed the snow seemed disturbed beneath one of the windows.
Still holding the stick of firewood, he moved along the side of the house. There were blue cellar doors leading into the space beneath the house, where he knew Elizabeth stored freshly canned goods and other food items. After rounding that, he paused near the window. Peering through the glass, he frowned as he realized the entire living space was visible.
If someone had stood there looking in, they’d have seen him stretched out on the sofa.
Panic gripped him by the throat. Had the thudding noise been a diversion? A way to draw him out so the intruder could get inside?
He pushed away from the house and ran back around to the front door. He took the corner too fast, his boots slipping in the snow. Somehow, he managed to stay upright, pushing off the wall as he rushed to the front door and threw it open.
Elizabeth was standing there, a shawl wrapped tightly around her. “David? Ach, what are you doing outside in the middle of the night?” Her gaze landed on the quarter log of wood in his hand. “Are you bringing in more wood?”
“No.” He dropped the log on the top of the pile near the woodburning stove. “Are you okay? You didn’t see anyone come in?” He pulled her to his side, while raking his gaze over the room. Had there been enough time for the intruder to duck inside and hide? He couldn’t say for sure.
“I heard the front door close and came down to find you were gone.” She stared at him with wide eyes. “Why would you think someone might come inside?”
“I heard a muffled thud,” he admitted. “Stay here, while I look around.”
“Look around?” Now she sounded exasperated. “No one is here but us, David.”
“I hope so.” His heart thudded painfully against his sternum as he moved through the house, peering into closets and behind large furniture.
Finally, he forced himself to stop being so paranoid. He blew out a breath and returned to the main living area. “I think we’re safe.”
“Safe from whom? Did you see someone outside?”
“No, but there were several footprints in the snow by the window.” He gestured to the one. “I think someone may have been out there, looking in.”
“Footprints,” she whispered. “Like the ones I followed the night I was pushed to the ground.”
“Yes.” He longed to draw her into his arms, but reminded himself they were only friends. After the events earlier in the day, she wouldn’t want anything more from him. “I’m sorry if I frightened you. I was afraid someone had drawn me out on purpose to get to you.”
Her gaze softened and she stepped close, putting her hand on his arm. “I’m safe with you, David.”
“Are you?” His tone was full of doubt. “I’m not so sure.”
“I am.” She surprised him by coming closer still. He gently drew her into his arms, intending to offer comfort.
But their embrace was so much more. Elizabeth felt right in his arms, as if God had made them for each other.
Yet he knew that wasn’t true. God would never pair a woman like Elizabeth with a sinner like him.