Gabe and Seth were by the doorway, both engrossed in their job of oiling a western saddle that was sitting on a wooden stand. The room was relatively quiet except for Cacey’s humming as she played with her doll on the floor and the constant crackling and hissing from the fireplace.
My attention was drawn back to Rowan’s oldest boy and I studied his features intently. He didn’t look anything like his father or brother and that made me wonder a bit. He didn’t resemble his sisters either and I tried to convince myself that perhaps he favored his mother and none of the other children did, but I highly doubted it. Unfortunately, since the Amish didn’t allow portraits of themselves, I had no way of even knowing what Hedy Schwartz looked like, but the thing that bugged me even more was the strong resemblance I saw in Gabe to Jotham Hochstetler. From the instant I had heard that Jotham had been in the house alone with Hedy and Cacey, I was suspicious, but it was very difficult to wrap my mind around the possibility that an Amish woman might have an affair. After seeing Rowan’s oldest child first hand, I was beginning to be a believer. And the fact that Jotham had been with Hedy in the house when it blew up couldn’t be ignored either.
Anna’s voice broke into my thoughts, “Supper’s ready.”
The boys rose quickly, wasting no time at all to cross the room and pick up their plates from the table. They lined up at the stove anxiously waiting for their food when Anna cleared her throat loudly. “Boys, the English have different dinner customs than we do. I think we should let Serenity get her fill first, and then you can dish yours out.”
I caught the startled looks from the boys, and the three girls, before Gabe and Seth stepped back.
Gabe graced me with a one sided smile and motioned with his hand for me to go first. Seth just slumped in defeat that he would have to wait a little longer for his dinner.
I glanced at Rowan who shrugged and said, “Usually the menfolk get their meals first, but Anna is right to change things up tonight since we have an English guest in our home.”
The idea that the men fed themselves first didn’t surprise me in the least and gave me one more reason to feel even more pity for the Amish women. But as I stepped up to the stovetop with my plate in hand, the look on Anna’s face was anything but resentful. She accepted the way things were done and was all right with it. Who was I to complain if no one else cared? But then I thought of Naomi. I bet she’d cared.
When we were all finally seated together, Rowan and the boys were lined up on one side of the table while all the females were situated on the other. At first, I thought that maybe it was just the way it had worked out, but then I reconsidered.
Rowan said, “Let us take a moment for silent prayer.”
Everyone bowed their heads and I followed suit. I had never been one to pray before meals, but sometimes at night when I was alone in the dark, I would pray to God about important things.
The weirdness of sitting at the dinner table with an Amish family that I barely knew had put me a little off balance anyway, making it impossible to focus on a proper prayer, so instead, I took a peek and was astonished to see that all the children, even little Cacey, had their eyes sealed tight.
The end of prayer time was signified with a sudden rustling of sound around the table as some of the kids reached for slices of bread and others began to dig into the meal.
I was famished myself, but I held myself in check and waited for Anna and Rowan to begin eating before I dove in. As usual, the food was amazing. The dumplings melted in my mouth and the creamy broth had a unique zing from an herb seasoning that I couldn’t quite place.
I had caught a couple of shy looks from Anna in Rowan’s direction, but I no longer believed her to be the sappy pushover that I had assumed earlier. Anna had taken the chance to initiate the change of dinner protocol on my account. I appreciated her thoughtfulness.
Half turning to Anna, I asked, “Did you grow up in this community?”
Shaking her head, she replied, “No, I moved here from northern Ohio about six months ago to take the teaching job.”
“It must have been difficult for you to relocate like that,” I said making small talk.
“Not really. I live with my aunt’s family and I’ve made friends here quickly,” she glanced towards Rowan, but quickly back at me again.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and for a second I was flushed with sudden excitement that I had reception. Unfortunately, I couldn’t act on it, especially with seven pairs of eyes staring at me because of the very out-of-place noise.
“This is the best chicken and dumplings that I’ve ever had,” I complimented Anna to distract everyone’s attention.
Anna’s cheeks reddened and she smiled broadly. “I am so very glad that you like it.”
“Ma’am, do you know who has been setting the fires?” It was Gabe who had asked the question and I looked over at him with raised brows.
“That’s not your concern,” Rowan said tightly.
Gabe looked sulkily down at his plate for a moment and then he said, “I’m done eating. May I be excused?”
The boy’s words were contrite, but his tone wasn’t. I quickly glanced at Rowan to see his reaction and also brace for an embarrassing parental crack-down. Surprising me all the more, Rowan’s expression was only tired and I guessed that he must be having some kind of ongoing battle with the boy.
“You may be excused,” Rowan said neutrally.
My phone vibrated again, but this time it was an incoming text message. I couldn’t put off my curiosity any longer.
“I’m sorry, I need to read this,” I told Rowan.
“Go right ahead.”
Holding the phone in my lap, I saw the message was from Todd and touched the screen. The content made my heart rate accelerate rapidly and I had to scan the message twice to make sure I was reading it correctly.
It was nice to know that my instincts were still right on, but the implications from the text were also quite frightening. If Rowan’s ex-Amish brother was involved with the fires, then there was a strong possibility that other crimes were also being committed in the touristy Amish town. And the question of why a judge would expunge a professional criminal’s record was even scarier to contemplate.
“You’re as white as the snow outside. Is everything all right?” Anna asked in a concerned voice.
I didn’t have the chance to respond when loud knocks on the door sounded. Rowan rose quickly, muttering, “I wonder who that is…”
A rush of cold air slapped my face when Rowan opened the door.
When I saw who the visitor was, I felt both relief and an irritating flutter of my heart.
Holding out his hand to Rowan, Daniel said, “I’m sorry for the late arrival, but I had to finish up some business on the home front before I left Blood Rock.”
While he was grasping Rowan’s hand, Daniel gazed over at me and smiled.
Annoyingly, I felt at ease for the first time since arriving in Poplar Springs.
10
I stood beside Anna at the kitchen sink and glanced over my shoulder at Daniel, who was sitting at the table with Rowan. There was tension in the air between the men that I couldn’t quite figure out. Maybe it was just two type A personalities clashing or possibly it had to do with the fact that Daniel was an Amish deserter. Either way, I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder every so often in rapt i
nterest at their cautious conversation.
“Abner Fisher is our bishop here in Poplar Springs. He’s the one who put me in contact with Aaron. I understand they’re cousins,” Rowan said.
“Aaron is a good man. He’s a touch too strict with the authority in the community, but he means well,” Daniel said before he took a sip from his cup of coffee.
“Personally, I think strictness is a good thing,” Rowan said glumly and continued, “Poplar Springs could use a firmer hand, especially when dealing with its young people.”
“Some kids are more rebellious than others. How bad can it be?” Daniel asked.
Rowan responded with a snort. “I’m not talking about the usual sneaking off after chores to play with some English kid’s electronic games or getting caught kissing behind the woodshed.”
I paused with the dish towel in hand and listened closer. My conversation earlier in the day with Jotham about the problems with the kids in the Poplar Springs community was still fresh on my mind, but unfortunately Anna chose right then to interrupt Rowan.
“Rowan, you don’t want to give a negative impression to Daniel and Serenity of Poplar Spring’s children.” Anna spoke with a sweet voice, but I wanted to slap her just the same. Rowan was about to spill the beans and Anna had stopped him. Why?
I caught Daniel’s gaze and saw disappointment in his eyes as well.
Rowan stood and said, “Anna is right. I probably expect too much from the young ones.” He shrugged and added, “Perhaps a more traditional community might suit me better than this one.”
“You don’t mean that…do you?” Anna exclaimed, her cheeks suddenly flushing bright red.
Rowan’s own children had left the kitchen shortly after Daniel’s arrival and the question hung in the air uncomfortably. Daniel and I exchanged glances and I could tell he was clearly confused.
Finally, Rowan responded with a smile and firm shake of his head. “No worries. I have no plans to relocate. But things do need to change around here.” He turned to Daniel. “It’s getting on pretty late now and I have an early morning with the cows. I’m afraid you’ll have to sleep on the couch tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll make arrangements for you to have a room at one of the other families in the community.”
“There’s the trundle bed in the cabin. Daniel can use it.” My words spilled from my mouth unexpectedly and after simultaneously seeing Rowan’s shocked look and Daniel’s huge grin, I instantly wanted to swallow them back down.
“That would not be appropriate, Serenity,” Rowan admonished.
I glanced at Anna who was staring at me with a look of understanding, and maybe a bit of envy, thrown in. I narrowed my eyes at all three of them. I was a grown woman and a sheriff to boot. I didn’t need to explain myself to these people.
“Look, it might be inappropriate for your Amish sensibilities, but it isn’t for us. This will give Daniel and me the opportunity to discuss the case without interfering with your household,” I placed the plate that I had been holding onto the stack of other dishes with a clank.
I walked to the door and plucked my jacket from the peg. Meeting Rowan’s gaze steadily, I added, “This isn’t going to be a problem, is it?”
Rowan’s already dark eyes became black pools. There was an incredibly long pause before he said, “Of course not. I forgot my place. You aren’t one of us and you can do as you wish.” Rowan picked up his hat and told Anna, “I’ll get your horse hitched up.”
After saying a quick goodbye to Anna, Daniel and I followed Rowan out the door. The rush of cold air was refreshing after leaving the overly warm confines of Rowan’s small kitchen. Daniel stopped at his Jeep just long enough to grab a duffle bag and then he met me at the cabin’s door. I glanced over at Rowan’s rigid form moving quickly towards the barn and shouted out, “Good night.”
Rowan raised his hand and replied, “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Once we were inside the dark cabin, I stumbled over to the bed and flopped down on it.
“The matches are in the basket on the counter,” I told Daniel.
I hadn’t bothered to put the sleeper sofa back together that morning and with a sudden racing of my heart, I became aware of the possibilities of what might happen with Daniel and me spending a night alone together. As I waited for Daniel to light the three oil lamps in the room, I silently scolded myself for offering the trundle bed in the corner for Daniel’s use in the first place. I should have swallowed my pride and just listened to Rowan. It would have been a whole lot less complicated if Daniel was sleeping on the couch in the main house, instead of a few feet away from me.
When the lamps were glowing, Daniel went to work on the wood stove, cleaning the ashes out and adding several logs. I watched him intently as he quietly went about his business, falling right into rhythm of his old Amish ways. I admired the calm and detached way that he prepared the cabin and was also blazingly irritated that he was so easily ignoring my existence in the room. It was as if he knew we had all night together and he wasn’t in any kind of a hurry.
Finally, after a very long ten minutes or so, Daniel passed by me on the bed and sat down on the trundle. When he met my gaze, he smiled smugly and said, “Cozy little place isn’t it?”
His suggestive tone set me off. “Don’t even think that the two of us sharing this cabin is going to lead to anything remotely romantic. We are here on business…and that’s it.”
Daniel didn’t lose the smirk when he shrugged and said, “Trust me. I’m not delusional about our relationship in the least.” He leaned back leisurely and his brown eyes were sharp when he went on to say, “But we are two consenting adults who are highly attracted to each other. I’m happy to help you in any way you need on this trip.”
Part of me wanted to pull out my gun and shoot him, and the other wanted to have my legs wrapped tightly around him. The warring sides battled within me as a frustrating tingle began to develop in my groin. I looked back at Daniel, feeling confused and angry. Why did this man have such an effect on me? A mere glance from him set my body on fire. I wanted him—badly—and the feeling completely freaked me out. Before Daniel, the only time that my body had reacted so violently to a man was when I’d dated Denton, and look how that had turned out. Really hot guys were nothing but trouble. I had already learned that lesson and I wasn’t about to go there again, at least not tonight.
“We are here to solve a case involving multiple arsons and a body. Let’s not get sidetracked,” I said. And to emphasize my seriousness, I slipped off my jacket, and then my holster. I took my time, making a big show of placing the gun on the nightstand beside the bed before I forced my attention back to Daniel.
He was staring at me with a stubborn tilt to his chin, and the look doused the flames sparking inside of me a little, thankfully.
“You aren’t going to have to shoot me. I would never do anything to you that you weren’t begging for.”
The thought of how easy it would be to just walk over to him, climb onto his lap and press my mouth against his lips was fleeting, but poignant. I swallowed and took a steady breath, trying desperately to hide my reaction to his flirting.
Clearing my throat, I said, “We’ve got a lot more on our plate here than I originally thought.”
“Don’t we always?” Daniel teased.
“I’m serious. Listen up. Like you heard tonight, there seems to be a lot of trouble with the Amish kids in this neighborhood. Not only is Rowan worried about it, but his friend, Jotham, also gave me the heads up that something more sinister is going on with the local teens. On top of all that, Jotham was scarred up pretty badly when he was in a house that blew up from a gas leak.” I paused to take a breath, and to make sure that I still had his full attention. “It was Rowan’s house, and Jotham was alone with Rowan’s wife, Hedy, and her infant daughter at the time. Hedy died, but Jotham shielded Cacey with his own body, and she
managed to escape relatively unharmed.”
“What does that have to do with the recent fires?” Daniel interrupted.
“The explosion happened at night—don’t you think that it’s strange that the two of them were alone together at the time?”
Daniel shrugged, “Maybe, but I still don’t see how it relates to why we’re here now.”
“Jotham also wants me to look into a fire that happened in the area in nineteen ninety-seven. There were two deaths in that one and although I haven’t had a chance to do any research on it yet, it appears that that fire might be connected to our recent ones. To me, it signals that the explosion of Rowan’s house can’t be ignored either. The cherry on top of all this is Rowan’s brother, Asher. He has a rap sheet a mile long in Indianapolis, but for some strange reason, his narcotics convictions here in Poplar Springs were expunged two years ago.”
“Why would a judge do that?”
Good question.
“My personal experience is that people who get their records expunged are either selling out someone else’s secrets, or they’re blackmailing or bribing the local authorities.”
Daniel leaned forward. “Do you think that the law is corrupt in this town?”
I chuckled at Daniel’s naivety. “Law enforcement, from cops all the way up to judges, have been known to work the system in a lot of small towns around the country. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if that’s happening here in Poplar Springs.”
Daniel shook his head and held up his hand. “Whoa, if that’s the case, then we need to get the hell out of Dodge.” Daniel ignored my gasp, and added, “This isn’t your jurisdiction. You can’t manipulate the case the way you did back in Blood Rock with Naomi’s murder. We can get in over our heads really quickly up here.”
Daniel had a point. There was a lot more going on in Poplar Springs than I ever imagined, but after spending a day here I couldn’t just up and leave without at least trying to find out some answers. My mind drifted back to Cacey’s stoic little round face and Lucinda’s friendly smile. And I thought about Mareena baking her pies every Thursday morning and Gabe and Seth rising before the sun to do their chores in the frigid temperatures. They were great kids and I couldn’t live with the thought that if I left, they all might be in some kind of danger. I had two weeks of paid vacation. Surely, in that amount of time I could figure things out enough to at least provide myself with some peace of mind that I wasn’t abandoning this family to some horrible fate. And then there was the obviously troubled bishop’s daughter, Mariah, who reminded me so much of Naomi. I had arrived too late to save Naomi, but not this time. There was time to help Mariah, if she needed it. I couldn’t just walk away at this point.