The sudden appearance of a long line of buggies speeding up the driveway added to the surreal feeling of the scene. We paused from our conversation as two of the buggies pulled up almost beside us, the steam rising from the horses’ backs indicating the fast pace that they’d set to get to Rowan’s farm.
Jotham jumped from the first buggy and ran over to Rowan. He placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder and gushed, “I came as soon as I heard. Did you lose any of the horses?”
Rowan shook his head and glanced over at me and Daniel, “I was blessed to have these two. They helped me with Dakota and then they got the calf out, all on their own.”
I probably reddened a little at the flash of admiration I saw on Brody’s face and the genuine thankfulness reflected on Jotham’s.
Bishop Fisher joined us with another man who was unknown to me. The newcomer looked to be in his forties and sported a shorter beard than the others. I only spared him a glance, though. Anna King was on his heels and her flushed, anxious face got my attention.
“Rowan, is everyone all right?” she rushed the words out, as if saying them faster would get her an answer sooner. Anna stood beside the bishop and the newcomer, making no attempt to move any closer to Rowan.
“We’re all fine,” Rowan looked at me and said, “This is Mason Gingerich, one of our ministers and Anna’s uncle.
I nodded at Mason, who favored me with a quick smile before telling Rowan, “I see you lost the buggy. I’ll send Jacob and Jory over this evening with our extra one. You may borrow it for as long as you need.”
Rowan looked genuinely touched when he replied, “I appreciate that very much.”
A minute later, Shem Yoder appeared, along with the same group of men that had been working on his barn with him earlier in the day.
I patiently listened to the Amish as they talked to each other in German for a moment, not understanding a word of it. Brody didn’t look very patient, though. In between barking out a few orders to passing fireman and pulling the fire chief, Bill Doherty, aside to whisper back and forth, he stood silently, tapping his foot.
With a flurry of movement, most of the Amish men disbanded, leaving behind only the bishop and Jotham. I had already watched Anna slip away, heading towards the house soon after the other men began arriving. Fleetingly, I admired how the Amish handled an emergency. Several men, along with Daniel, were clearing out the shed on the side of the house to create a temporary stable for Dakota and the calf. I imagined that Anna was helping the girls with dinner, and the two teenagers that I assumed were Jacob and Jory, had already arrived with their extra buggy, before their father had even instructed them to do so. The Amish’s no-nonsense approach to a crisis was definitely impressive.
Rowan finally returned his attention to Sheriff Gentry and asked, “Did Chief Bill say anything about the cause of the fire?”
Brody rolled his eyes and snorted. “He assumes that it was purposely set, but he won’t be able to test for accelerant until it cools down. He found what looked to be a trail of prints on the backside of the barn that led out through the field, but the falling snow is quickly obscuring them.”
I processed what he said quickly and asked Brody, “Was there snow on the ground with the other fires?”
“Nope, this is the first one. Mighty lucky if you ask me for the guy to have an unexpected blizzard pop up to cover his tracks.”
“And you think it was just one person?”
Brody paused in thought, glancing at the burning scene and then back at me again. He shrugged, “Honestly, it just seems to me that it would be a hell of a lot easier for a single person to sneak across that snow white and barren field without being caught. But who knows. There certainly could have been an accomplice.”
Jotham looked between Brody and me and said, “So we aren’t any closer to finding out who’s been setting these fires?”
Brody answered, speaking to the bishop alone. “I’m willing to bet that the day you tell me what you know about the fire that killed my grandson is the day that we’ll have some clarity about this fire,” he nodded towards the debris pile, “and the others.”
“That sounds a lot like blackmail to me, Sheriff,” I spoke up.
Brody fixed a steely gaze on me. “It’s simply the truth.”
As I watched Sheriff Gentry walk away, I was more conflicted than ever about the case. As much as I wanted to distrust Brody, I couldn’t find it in my gut to do so. There was something genuine about the man that made me reluctant to brand him as a bad cop. He was definitely a good old boy, but I really didn’t think that he was behind the fires, or that he knew who was doing them for that matter.
“If you need anything at all, let me know, Rowan. We’ll talk more after the service tomorrow,” the bishop said before he tipped his hat to me and walked back to his buggy.
Jotham turned to me and with a high-pitched whine, said, “Do you see what we’re dealing with here?” he motioned at the sheriff’s retreating form and added, “He won’t help us.”
Swallowing first, I glanced between Rowan and Jotham before saying, “Why don’t you just tell him the truth about that fire that happened eighteen years ago?”
Jotham sighed loudly and ran his hand through his hair. Rowan continued to stand as if he was a statue, staring at the firefighters while they hosed down the burning debris.
When Jotham began to speak, Rowan abruptly came out of his daze and raised his hand to stop him. Rowan looked over at me and said, “Whatever happened back in nineteen ninety-seven has nothing to do with what’s going on today. I only hope you can figure out who is doing this before something really bad happens. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to help the others with the shed.”
Rowan left us with the straight-backed posture of a man who wasn’t anywhere near bending.
“Don’t blame him for his rudeness. He’s overly emotional right now. It wasn’t so long ago that Rowan returned to this very property to find his house in ashes and his wife gone.”
I took the opening that Jotham’s words gave me and asked, “Why were you in the house with Hedy Schwartz in the middle of the night?”
Jotham didn’t hesitate. He almost sounded relieved when he said, “I needed to talk to her about something very important. But we never did get the chance.”
“Do you think it was an accident?” I pressed.
Jotham swallowed and then frowned. “I always thought that it was, but lately here, I’ve been wondering…”
“Jotham will you help us?” Gabe called out. Seth had a halter on the calf and was tugging on the rope as Gabe pushed the animal’s rear end up the driveway.
A slight smile teased at Jotham’s face when he looked at Gabe. I could now see the eerie resemblance between Jotham and Gabe, from the tawny hair and sky-blue eyes to the straight nose and square chin.
“Of course I will, one minute!” Jotham called out.
Jotham turned back to me with a little wetness in his one good eye. The wintry wind had battered the scar tissue on the side of his face to an even deeper, beet red color and I tried not to stare at it. Suddenly, I recognized his pleading look.
“Does Rowan know that Gabe is your son?” I whispered.
Jotham wasn’t surprised, only resigned when he smiled sadly. “I think he does…but after he lost Hedy, he didn’t want to lose Gabe too.”
I nodded with some understanding. Jotham left me standing in the driveway to jog over to help the boys with the calf.
As a heavier, wetter snow began falling, I muttered under my breath, “The truth always comes out, in the end.”
Then I spotted Daniel talking to a couple of firemen near one of the trucks. As if he felt my gaze on him, he looked up and smiled. My very core trembled as warmth spread through my veins.
How am I ever going to stay focused enough to figure this craziness out with Daniel turning
me into hot molten lava with a mere glance, I thought to myself. Shaking away the uncomfortable sensation the best I could, I began walking to the house. I needed to call Todd and attempt to help Anna and the girls with supper. I raised my face to the snow in an effort to cool my desire and wipe away the touch of death that had grazed my skin when the barn had collapsed nearly on top of me.
17
When I opened the door, the warmth of Rowan’s kitchen, along with a dozen pairs of eyes greeted me. I quickly recovered, taking note of Mariah’s presence in the room as the teenager gently rocked Cacey on her lap in the corner of the room. But I singled out Joanna Fisher, when I said, “Well, I guess my help isn’t really needed in here.”
Joanna left the counter to grasp my hand and say, “I heard all about how you charged into that burning barn to help the men get the animals out.” She smiled. “Seems to me that you’ve helped out enough already today.”
The room suddenly seemed smaller and warmer too. I shrugged, feeling my face tingle with heat. “It wasn’t a big deal. I’m just glad that we got the horse and calf out safely.”
Anna handed me a warm, wet wash cloth. She pointed to her own face and said, “You’re face is smudged.”
I touched my check questioningly. Lucinda giggled and held up a shiny pot for me to get a distorted view of my face. Sure enough, Anna was right. My forehead, nose and left cheek were sooty. Damn men. Not even one of them had the decency to point out that I looked like a chimney sweep.
I vigorously wiped my face while Joanna guided me to a seat. She gently pushed me into it as Mareena handed me a tall glass of water. Catching a glimpse of Mareena’s and Lucinda’s worried expressions, I was once again reminded of the amazing resilience of children. Their barn had just been burned to the ground by some nutcase, and here they were, all concerned about my well-being.
Joanna briefly motioned to each of the other women in the room, naming them off, before she turned her attentions back to me. When Joanna leaned in and began whispering, I’d already forgotten the women’s names, being much more focused on the intensity of the look in the bishop’s wife’s eyes than anything else.
“You see, I warned you that it would happen again.”
I tilted my head, “I need some help on this, Joanna. I’ve only been here a couple of days, and no one in your community is willing to point the finger at anyone. Surely, you have an idea who is doing this?”
Anna joined us at the table, sitting close beside me on the bench. She glanced between Joanna and me and urged softly, “We can trust her, Joanna. Go on…tell her.”
The other women in the room, along with Mareena and Lucinda, were now busily making sandwiches at the counter, seemingly ignoring our conversation, but I wasn’t fooled. They were all listening. Mariah didn’t even try to pretend. She just stared directly at me while she continued to rock Cacey in her arms.
Joanna’s face twisted with intense thought and I almost felt sorry for her confliction. But I didn’t say anything, hoping desperately that she’d spill the beans.
With a heavy sigh, Joanna said resignedly, “Our men make most of the decisions in our lives, but they certainly aren’t always right. I’m afraid this is one of those situations.” Her face sobered even more when she added, “You, or Rowan or Daniel could have easily been killed today. This must end.”
Carefully, I nodded my head.
“Our men don’t want to point blame at anyone. They are afraid that it goes against our spiritual convictions to get involved in the goings-on in the outside world, and its system. They are also afraid of what might happen to some of our own people if the box of truth is flung open.” In a firmer voice, Joanna continued, “But enough is enough. We must act.”
Joanna met my gaze unblinkingly and said, “Eighteen years ago, Sheriff Gentry’s son’s barn burnt down. His grandson and a girl were killed in that fire.”
“Yes, I already know that.”
Joanna ignored my comment and went on, “The Sheriff believed that Amish teenagers had something to do with it. Our elders at the time didn’t like the accusation. They chose to hide whatever knowledge they may have had to protect the young ones in the community who were being singled out.”
She must have seen the question in my eyes, because she hurriedly said, “Abner and I don’t know anything about it. I wasn’t much beyond my teen years myself at the time and Abner wasn’t even a minister back then. But what I do know, is that a lot of animosity from the English towards our community began building after Austin Gentry died…and I think the fires that we’re having now are in retribution for his death.”
The room was silent, except for the slight clinks of the dishes being moved half-heartedly around on the counter by the eavesdropping women. The theory wasn’t far off from my own, but there was one thing that I was now certain of. The bishop’s wife herself believed that Amish kids had set the barn on fire that killed Brody’s grandson and another girl. But why would they have done such a thing in the first place?
“Will that help you to find the person who’s setting the fires now?” Anna asked in a hopeful voice.
“I already had this pegged as retaliation crimes. What I need to know is if you have any idea who might be involved—in both the Gentry fire and recent ones?”
Mariah spoke up from across the room. “I already told you who I thought it was.”
“Hush now, Mariah. This is not your concern,” Joanna chastised her daughter.
I met Mariah’s hot gaze. The girl was angry at the world. But maybe it was just because no one was listening to her.
“Trust me, Mariah. I’m looking into what you told me.”
“There are some people you ought to talk to,” Joanna said hesitantly.
I pulled out the notepad and pen from my back pocket and waited.
Joanna lowered her voice and leaned even closer. “There is a group of English teens…”
“Momma!” Mariah shouted, waking Cacey when she bolted right out of the chair.
“Don’t interfere, Mariah. If they’re innocent, then Serenity will find that out. But if they’re not…”
“I don’t believe you’re doing this,” Mariah hissed. She abruptly deposited a confused looking Cacey onto the rocker and grabbed her coat from the peg by the door. “You’re all going to regret this.”
There was a brief blast of cold air as the door swung open and then slammed shut.
Anna looked away in embarrassment, but Joanna held my gaze firmly. “Don’t mind her. She’s a rebellious girl and she’s gifted her loyalties falsely.” She took a breath and said, “Cody Buffet, Lyell Simmons, Nathan Tucker and Brandy Warner. Those are the people you need to speak to.”
As I wrote the names down, I immediately pictured the group of teens that I had encountered at the gas station convenience center on my first night in Poplar Springs. Sure, the one boy had attempted to shoplift a pack of gum, but I definitely didn’t get the vibe that any of them would be running around setting Amish barns ablaze. But I’d been fooled before.
I closed the notepad and rose.
Anna bolted up beside me, “You aren’t going out on a night like this and after everything you’ve been through?”
I chuckled. “I only have twelve days left of vacation before I have to return to Blood Rock. I can’t afford to waste any time.”
Mareena handed me a brown paper bag. “At least take sandwiches for you and Mr. Bachman.”
The simple gesture affected me more than I cared to admit. For all the backward thinking, secrets and vigilante tendencies, the Amish were good people.
“Thank you,” I told the girl.
I opened the trunk of my car and grabbed my spare coat and quickly slipped it on. It wasn’t as warm as the other one, but it was better than nothing.
“Where are you going?”
Daniel’s voice made me jump. “Dammit,
I wish you’d stop sneaking up on me.”
“Maybe it’s a guilty conscience making you jumpy,” Daniel accused.
I faced him with angry determination that quickly turned to a giggle when I saw the black smudges on his face as well. Pulling an old, but clean napkin, from my pocket, I handed it to him. “Your face could use a little cleaning.”
Daniel took the napkin without argument and began rubbing it all over his face.
“Seriously, are you leaving?”
“The bishop’s wife just gave me the names of some possible culprits.”
“Really, that’s surprising.” He paused and lifted his brows. “And you were going to sneak off without me?”
I exhaled warily. It was true, I was definitely trying to get away without him noticing, but I wasn’t exactly sure why. Most of the time, I really liked having him beside me during my interviews, but there was still that part of me that felt all too vulnerable when he was around. For all of my tough cop bravado on the outside, I was a bowl of mush on the inside when it came to this gorgeous man.
Not wanting to hurt his feelings because of my own issues, I said, “I thought you’d be a while longer with the make-shift building project.”
“We’ve got the buggy horse and the calf under cover for the night. Tomorrow we’ll have some more work to do, but for now it’ll do.” He grinned. “So, I’m all yours.”
I handed him the sandwich bag and said, “Then get in. It’s almost dark and the roads aren’t getting any better.”
18
I hung up the phone. “The girl lives at thirteen Mulberry Road. Can you put that into my GPS, please?”
“Sure thing,” Daniel replied. “Todd can certainly be handy sometimes.”
I eased up on the gas pedal as another squall of snow whipped up in front of us from a drift on the side of the road. I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward over of the wheel to see a little bit better.
“Damn, I can barely see thirty feet in front of the car,” I grumbled.
“Do you want me to drive?”