When Father finally spoke, his voice was deflated, almost empty. “Son, what have you gone and done to yourself now? Can you not be content with the fine woman that you’ve asked to be your wife? Why must you stir up the devil’s games?”
“But this wasn’t my fault—or Rose’s. We were doing everything right, and her father and brother ruined it for us.” When Father’s head snapped up and I had his gaze, I forged on. “I never stopped loving her. You know that. Why would I abandon her now?” My own voice was steady. I’d already made up my mind. Regardless of whether my family supported me, I’d have Rose as my wife, and no other.
“Because it’s not the right thing to do—you’re committed to Constance now. Both you and Rose moved on with your lives and discovered that there were other people in the world that could fulfill your needs. How many girls’ hearts are you going to break before you get it through your thick skull that Rose is not the one for you?”
His words shot to my heart, waking my anger. “I wouldn’t have fooled with any other girls if it weren’t for the fact that so many people have been meddling with Rose and me from the beginning. But none of you succeeded—we still love each other.”
“I don’t doubt your love for her, Noah. I never did. But this is about what is in your best interest. Constance will make the perfect wife for you, and she’ll be happy and complacent in that role. With Rose, you’ll always have trouble in your life. She will never be content with our Plain ways.”
“She was doing just fine until her father took her away.” I slammed my hand on the solid oak table, the sound waking Mother from her fixation with the drain.
Mother turned and said, “I love Rose also. I understand how deep your feelings go with that girl, but how can you do this to Constance? She is the woman that you owe your allegiance to now.”
Mother’s voice was sad and pleading at the same time. It hit me how much my decisions had affected my folks, had hurt them, and I felt guilt well up inside of me. But, regardless of those feelings of remorse about my actions, I would not be deterred from Rose this time. Father and Mother must understand that Rose was the only woman for me.
I took a breath, and after swallowing my fear, I told them, “Rose may be with child—my child.”
The silence in the kitchen was complete. The warm breeze ruffled the curtains, pushing the smell of the lilac flowers from the bush outside to my nostrils. Somehow, the awakenings of nature after the long winter made everything seem a little less drastic. The hot season was approaching, the time that reminded me so much of Rose. I could handle anything that my parents threw at me...as long as I had Rose in the end.
Mother sat down, shaking her head feebly. Father, on the other hand, was pumped with fresh energy at my announcement.
“How could you do this to her—how could you do this to yourself? You’ve gone and made a proper mess of it this time,” he said, rubbing his beard as if he wanted to pull it off.
My mother’s calm voice pulled my focus back to her. “This news changes everything then, Amos. Noah has an obligation to take care of his child...and its mother.”
Father barked, “We won’t know if there is a child for weeks yet.”
Mother stood up and faced Father with such a hard face that I leaned back a little.
I hadn’t seen Mother with that kind of a look directed at Father since the time Jacob nearly got killed when the team of four Haflingers got away from him out in the cornfield. Jacob had only been nine at the time, and Mother had been fit to be tied that Father had given him the reins.
“You listen to me, Amos Miller. Noah has taken that girl’s purity and he must now marry her.” Glancing at me, she added, “And it’s a right good thing for you, Noah, that you’re so crazy in love with her, because as far as I’m concerned, you’ll be spending the rest of your life with Rose.”
Father sighed in resignation. He wasn’t going to argue with Mother when she was in such a state. He knew better.
The door burst open. Jacob came in breathing hard. Katie was on his heels, dragging Ella by the arm behind her.
“What’s amiss?” Father was as startled as I was when he spoke to Jacob.
Jacob took a second to catch his breath and looked between Father and me before he said, “Ella just told Katie something that I think you should know. It’s about Rose—and her safety.”
“What’s going on?” I shouted, confusion making my insides clench.
“Hold on, Noah. Jacob, you must calm yourself and explain.” Father moved closer to Jacob, his body tight as a bow.
Jacob nodded to Katie, who finally let go of Ella’s struggling arm, probably figuring that the rest of us would run Ella down if she made a move for the open door. Even in my anxious state, I couldn’t help but notice that Katie looked plumper in the face and around the middle. She was pregnant...and I hadn’t a clue until that moment. It was the type of thing that Amish women kept quiet about until they bloated to the point of no denial, but shucks, you’d think someone would have filled me in on the news.
It was Katie who spoke, the friction in her voice touchable. “Ella came to me, just a little while ago. She said that she did something that she wished she hadn’t. I didn’t pay much mind to her. After all, Ella is always having her drama, but when she said that she’d been talking to Levi Zook on the phone, I began to listen. Somehow, he’d contacted her from that place he’s at.” She paused, glancing back disapprovingly at her sister before continuing. “It seems that Levi was obsessed with Rose. Always asking Ella what she was doing.”
When Katie paused again, Father became impatient, saying, “How does this affect Rose’s safety—? Out with it, girl.”
Katie composed herself and said, “A while back, at the church service you held here last, Ella had seen Rose’s address in Cincinnati...”
My heart stopped, and I moved toward the door, but Father’s hand shot out, holding me back while Katie finished speaking. “...and she called Levi, and told him things about Rose.” Katie’s voice was almost hysterical now and Jacob closed the gap, putting his arm around her, pulling her into his chest.
Mother said, “What does this mean? Why would you do such a thing, Ella?”
Ella didn’t meet Mother’s eyes. Instead, she talked to the floor. “I...I never did get on well with Rose. If you all remember, it was me that Noah was going to court. And then to have an Englisher come into the community and become so popular—it didn’t seem right.”
Ella’s voice cracked, and for the first time since we were kids, real emotion poured forth from the ice princess. “But I never meant her any real harm. I didn’t.”
I shouted, “What did you do, Ella? Tell us.”
Ella raised her face, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I gave Levi her address. Noah, he’s going there. He told me that he could study road maps on the computer at the library with no trouble at all. He said he was going to teach Rose a lesson for setting him up.”
My heart froze—the chill crawling all over me.
I looked at Father, who met my eyes at the same time. “I have to go to her.”
“Yes. And I’ll go with you,” Father said, picking up his hat and placing it on his head.
Jacob said, “But Mr. Denton has already left to haul those cows for the Yoders. He’s not supposed to be back until nightfall.”
“I know who to call,” I told them all, my words racing as fast as my heart.
I silently prayed that we got to Rose before Levi did.
35
Rose
“Rose, come on. You need to think this out before you go doing something stupid.”
Summer’s voice sounded more mature than usual, but I didn’t like her words much.
Watching the cars hustle by the vet clinic, I fiddled with my car keys. I didn’t like driving and talking on the phone; I hadn’t mastered that ability yet—thus the reason for me hanging out in the clinic parking lot for the past half hour.
“I get what you’re sa
ying, but I love him so much. How can I not be with Noah?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But you were doing pretty well these last few months with your new guy. You’ve been having fun being English again...dancing, doing your drill team, and all.” Summer’s voice came through the invisible wires, scratchy with frustration.
“That stuff isn’t so important,” I said quietly, not sure I believed myself.
“What about Hunter...don’t you like him anymore—at all?”
I couldn’t help but see Hunter’s handsome face float into my vision. He’d been really good for me—the guy who came out of nowhere at the crisis point and helped me make it through. But was there more to it than friendship?
I didn’t want to know.
“Course I still like Hunter. He’s been great. But I love Noah. Nothing is going to change that.”
“Look, Rose, all I’m saying is you should think long and hard before you jump back into the Amish community with him. Wrack you brain, and try to remember all that hard work and those dumb rules. Do you really want to live like that for the rest of your life?”
She was right.
I was conflicted. It wouldn’t kill me to wait a little while, finish up my junior year in Fairfield. I wanted to follow through with the spring dance recital—and my drill team performances. The clinic needed me also.
Maybe Noah could wait a while.
“And, don’t you go thinking that since you had sex with the guy, you owe him anything...’cause you don’t,” Summer tossed in for good measure, bringing a grin to my mouth.
“Thanks for the advice, Summer. All your worldly knowledge is very helpful.” I giggled into the phone.
“Yeah, and you’re lucky I’m not charging for it.”
“I need to get home. I haven’t taken Hope for a walk in a few days, and she’s digging up all Aunt Debbie’s tulips in the back yard from boredom.”
“Oh, sure, drop me for the dog. I see how it is.” Summer tried to sound hurt, but I could tell she was messing with me.
“My phone’s about to go dead, anyway—I’ll call you later on tonight. That is, if you’re not busy doing something with my brother.” I smirked to myself.
“Sam is in time-out, far as I’m concerned. I might allow him the pleasure of my company next weekend...so I’ll be available to talk tonight. You better call me.”
“Okay. Later.”
When I hung up, my whole body felt lighter. Talking to Summer always brought things into perspective. She had a way of taking any problem down a couple of notches.
Turning the key and hearing the engine roar to life, butterflies spread out in my belly. Driving my truck was as fun as kissing—almost. I turned the radio up, listening to my favorite station and trying not to think about how Noah would handle the news that he’d have to wait a little longer for me.
* * *
What’s that car still doing there?
My mood darkened when I saw the old car parked in front of the house.
Taking the initiative, I circled the cul-de-sac, cruising slowly up behind the black Monte Carlo. Strange, it had Indiana plates. Peering in as I crept by, I saw no one.
Maybe who ever owned the vehicle was visiting one of the neighbors?
I hesitated for a minute, staring at the car. I could check around the neighborhood.
No, I was just being dumb. Shaking off the weariness, I pulled into the driveway and parked.
If I planned my timing right, I could take the dog for a run, visit Lady at the barn for a few minutes and still meet up with Amanda and Brittany somewhere later tonight. Having some friends around when Noah called would be a good thing.
Slipping in the front door, I dropped my purse on the table in the foyer and headed for the kitchen. That’s odd, I thought, when I saw the mayo and deli ham slices on the counter. I didn’t remember leaving the food out—or even having a ham sandwich.
I picked up the butter knife and studied the smudge of white goo at the end of it. A little chill breezed over me. I might be dealing with a whole lot of crap right now, but I knew that I hadn’t done this.
“Hello, pretty.”
The voice behind me froze me to the tile floor.
My eyes saw Hope through the window, digging madly at one of my aunt’s newly planted saplings, but my mind was far away—screaming.
This could not be happening. I knew that voice. It belonged to Levi Zook. He was in my aunt’s kitchen, standing behind me. Close enough that I felt his breath on my hair.
My brain started rattling off strategies as his hand touched my hair, softly for a few seconds, and then yanking me backward with nasty force.
Just as my back hit his chest, I swiveled, trying to jab at Levi with the only weapon I had, the blunt-ended knife. He was too quick, and I suddenly recalled his hidden strength when I’d wrestled with him in the Weavers’ barn.
He twisted my hand, forcing me to drop my only chance to the ground.
“Aren’t you happy to see me, Rose?” Levi’s voice was deceptively sweet, but his eyes were black, crazy pools. The contrast between those eyes and his pale skin made him seem not quite human.
My brain registered that his orange hair was longer, the strands clinging together with greasiness. He was wearing regular street clothes—a T-shirt with a skull that had a guitar popping out of an eye socket and plain old jeans—as if he were a normal, regular kind of guy.
He might fool some people, but I knew differently.
I’d watched enough crime shows to realize my best bet was to talk him down. And, if that didn’t work out, judging by the not–really-there look on Levi’s face, I was dead.
“Hey, this is a surprise. Did you drive here all by yourself?”
Only my eyes moved as I checked to see if there was another psychopath in the house.
Levi had my hands clamped tight in his own between us. Since he couldn’t touch me with his fingers, he used his face instead, rubbing it alongside my cheek, as he said, “Clever girl. But that’s exactly what I’d expect from you.”
He buried his nose in my neck, breathing in, and then letting out a disgusting breath of enjoyment. The grossness of him touching me made me feel as if I was going to vomit. I had to swallow the hot juices that rose in my throat.
“Did you steal that car?” I hoped that my voice was steadier than the rolling of my insides.
He pulled back, his gaze focused again.
“Guess you could say I borrowed it from a friend. But that’s not really important,” he said, his eyes prowling over my face and body as if I were a juicy steak.
My hands were hurting, and the fact that I couldn’t move much made my heart drop into my belly. I had one more idea, but I knew that if it didn’t work, Levi was going to hurt me bad, so I gave the talking plan a little more time. Time for what, I wasn’t sure. Maybe, Amanda would stop by...or Hunter.
How I wished that he would break the damn rules and show up with the intention of trying to win me back from Noah. Then he could rescue me... But that kind of thing only happened in the movies.
“What is important?” I tried to distract him, looking up with a friendly face, even though it was difficult.
“Seems to me that you did me a bad turn a while back—you need to make it up to me.”
Levi’s voice was not right. He was speaking differently now, as if he was pretending to be someone else, someone older. The craziness in his eyes had changed to an even more terrifying, hungry look.
I panicked just as his mouth slammed onto mine. He brutally bit at my lips, forcing my mouth open as his snakelike tongue slithered in.
The talking option was over.
Lifting my knee as fast and hard as I could, I brought it into his groin. I was too close to him to do any real damage, but I did get him to let go of my hands for just enough seconds for me to bring up my balled fist into his jaw. That separated us, giving me the space I needed to dart past him.
I was heading for the door, but he got a hold of me be
fore I reached it. I fought with everything I had, giving Sam and Justin a mental thank-you for the combat training.
Clawing, swiping, kicking—but I still couldn’t get him off of me. My long hair was my biggest downfall, giving Levi a flying target to grab on to and control my body with. The hair pulling hurt more than the return kicks and punches he was giving me combined.
My adrenaline was up, and even though I was in a dreamlike state, the sharp jabs of pain I was feeling drove me to an anger that I’d never experienced before.
I was not going to make it easy for Levi.
When his arm was close enough, the one connected to the hand that had my hair jerked high, I bit down. Tasting his salty blood in my mouth, I let go and spit at the same time that he howled back in fury.
“Damn it, you little bitch.”
He had me trapped in the stairway, so I turned and worked my legs into a run up the steps. He caught my leg before I reached the top, pulling me down a few of the steps with thuds. The carpet rubbed hard against my chin as I bounced down the steps, instantly becoming wet with blood. His body crawled onto me, pinning me facedown onto the stairs. His weight on my back smashed my chest, cutting off my ability to breathe.
Levi brought his face down to mine and spoke into my bleeding ear. “You little whore. I’m going to take my time with you, have my fun, then I’m going to squeeze the life out of you...”
His words swam around in my head.
I was going to die.
He whispered, “...so that Noah will never have you again.”
Levi’s words seeped in. My brain was slowing, maybe going into shock from lack of oxygen. Besides the burning on my chin and the pain shooting through my ear, I also was aware of the jab to my hip from the car keys in my pocket, which were pressed into the stair.
As Levi shifted his weight and rolled me over, I reached into my pocket and pulled them out. The slash to his face was a blur in my mind, until I made contact with the soft flesh of his eye. The squirt of liquid onto my face told me I’d hit the mark.
Levi let go completely to clutch his ruined eye, and I worked my bruised body into a fast climb up the stairs with my hands and knees.