A Sister's Secret (23 page)

“Where are you going?” Mom asked.

“Upstairs to check on Anna.”

“I told you she’s asleep,” Martha said.

“I just want to be sure she’s okay.”

“Will you join us for some popcorn and hot apple cider afterward?” Mom called. “Your daed will be joining us when he’s done with his chores in the barn.”

Grace gave a quick nod, then rushed out of the room.

Chapter 23

“It’s been awhile since I’ve ridden in your buggy,” Ruth said as she and Luke headed down the road in his open courting buggy. It was a brisk, windy evening, and she felt grateful for the quilt wrapped around her legs.

Luke looked over at her and smiled. “I’m glad you were free to go with me this evening.”

“Me, too.”

“Your daed says things are hectic at your house right now, what with Grace’s secret daughter showing up and all.”

She nodded. “That’s why I haven’t felt free to go anywhere with you. I wanted to be around home every evening so I could get to know Anna better and help Grace deal with things. It’s been quite a shock to have her daughter show up the way she did.”

“I imagine.”

“Almost every day Anna asks about her other grandpa, wondering when he’s coming back for her.”

“He’s not, though, right?”

“Maybe for a visit.” Ruth sighed. “Even though Anna seems to be adjusting in some ways, she doesn’t like doing without some of the modern things she’s used to. She isn’t accepting Grace as her mamm very well, either.”

“I’m sure in time she’ll be okay.”

“I hope so.” She lifted her gaze toward the starry sky. It was a clear winter night, and the stars looked so bright and close she felt as if she could reach out and touch them.

“Your daed told me that you’ve had no more break-ins at your place, but he’s worried there might be more because of the magazine article about the troubles you had.”

“I think Dad’s more concerned about the article bringing attention to the Amish in this area than he is with trying to find out who attacked us.”

“Maybe it’s best that he doesn’t find out.”

“What do you mean?”

“If someone in your family started snooping around, trying to play detective, somebody might end up getting hurt.”

Ruth blinked as a feeling of dread crept up her spine. She knew Grace had been trying to find out if the English reporter might have been responsible for the break-ins, but the last she’d heard, Gary was gone, so Grace would no longer be asking him questions and putting herself at risk.

“Your daed’s a stubborn man; that much I know,” Luke said. “We’ve butted heads about the way I do my work, and he won’t listen to reason when I try to show him something new I’d like to try. He’s gotten upset with me for being late to work a couple of times or taking longer to get a delivery made. Even docked my pay once because he blamed me for some cabinets that fell off the wagon and got busted.” He grunted. “Makes me wonder if I shouldn’t try to find another job.”

“Has someone offered you a better job?”

“Not yet, but I’m good with my hands, and I’m sure somebody would be willing to hire me as a carpenter.”

Ruth hated to think of Luke quitting work for her father, but if he decided to go, she couldn’t do much about it. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we? This is supposed to be a fun evening, and discussing my daed’s business isn’t much fun.”

Luke reached for her hand. “You’re right. Your daed’s not my favorite subject, either.”

Her face flamed. “I didn’t say that—”

He let go of her hand and slipped his arm around her shoulder. “Getting back to that reporter fellow, do you have any idea who gave him the information he used in that article or how he got Grace’s picture?”

She shrugged. “Grace admitted that she’d told him a few things, but she never posed for the picture. He took it without her permission. She believes he might have gotten the rest of his story from someone else in our community.”

“Like who?”

“I have no idea.”

“Who else knew about the break-ins?”

Ruth pursed her lips. “Let me see. Dad told Bishop King and a couple of our Amish neighbors about them. Grace told Cleon, and then I mentioned it to one of our English neighbors when she came into the bakeshop.” She looked over at Luke. “Of course, you knew.”

“I never talked to that reporter, so I hope you’re not accusing me of anything.” Luke’s voice raised a notch, and he gave the reins a quick snap, causing the horse to pick up speed. “Giddy-up, there, boy.”

“I wasn’t accusing you.”

“Sure sounded like it to me.”

“You asked who else knew about the break-ins, and I answered.”

He frowned. “Jah, well, I thought maybe you didn’t trust me, that’s all.”

“Of course I trust you.” Ruth flinched as the words rolled off her tongue. For some time she’d felt uneasy whenever she was with Luke. She wasn’t sure if it was mistrust or simply confusion because he acted so odd at times. It was almost as if he was hiding something, but she didn’t know what it could be.

She thought about the day she and Sadie had met Toby and Luke for a picnic, and how Luke had been late but wouldn’t explain why. She thought about that morning when she and Martha had seen Luke outside the market in Berlin talking to a couple of English fellows. He’d acted strange then, too, not even bothering to introduce her.

“I’ve been wondering about something,” she said, gathering up her courage.

“What’s that?”

“A few months ago when Martha and I saw you outside the market talking to a couple of English fellows, you seemed kind of edgy and acted like you barely knew me.”

His forehead wrinkled. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. Fact is, I barely remember the incident. I’m sure I wasn’t acting edgy or said I didn’t know you.”

“I said you
acted
like you barely knew me.”

He removed his arm from around her shoulders and gave the reins another snap. “I was busy, and you probably interrupted my conversation.”

Ruth looked away, feeling like a glass of water had been dashed in her face. The passing scenery became a blur as tears stung the back of her eyes. “I wish you would slow down, Luke. The road could be icy, and it makes me naerfich to be going this fast.”

“I’m a good driver. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“There have been too many buggy accidents on this road, and the way you’re driving could set us up for one.”

“You’re turning out to be just like your sister Grace, you know that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You both worry too much.”

Ruth folded her arms and compressed her lips. She had a good mind to tell Luke to turn his buggy around and take her home. And if he said one more unkind thing, that’s exactly what she would do.

They rode in silence for the next several miles; then Luke reached for her hand and gave her fingers a little squeeze. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I know most women tend to worry about things—my mamm most of all.”

“I never used to worry so much,” Ruth admitted. “But when the vandalism went on at our place, I began feeling anxious about many things.”

“Guess that’s understandable.”

Ruth moistened her lips and decided to bring up the previous subject again. “Mind if I ask what you and those English fellows were talking about in the parking lot that day?”

He stared at her in such a strange way it sent chills up her spine. “I can’t believe you’re bringing something up that happened months ago.”

“I wanted to talk to you about it before, but every time I started to, you changed the subject.”

He shrugged.

“So I’m asking now, and I’d really like an answer.”

“I’d rather not say.”

“Why? Is it because you have something to hide?”

Luke’s face turned bright red. “I’ve got nothin’ to hide.”

“Then why won’t you tell me what was being said?”

“Because it’s not important.”

“What about that day at the pond with Sadie and Toby?”

“What about it?”

“How come you acted so strange and said you were late because you’d stopped in the woods? What did you really stop for, Luke?”

He slowed the horse and released a grunt. “Promise you won’t say anything to anyone?”

She nodded, although it made her feel uneasy to make such a promise. What if Luke had been doing something wrong? If she knew about it and kept quiet, wouldn’t that mean she was doing something wrong, too?

“If you really must know, I bought myself a truck last summer, and I’ve been keeping it hidden in the woods so my folks won’t know.”

Ruth compressed her lips tightly together. So that must have been Luke’s truck she and Sadie had seen the day they’d been walking in the woods.

“Now, don’t give me that face,” he said, wagging his finger. “I’m still in rumschpringe, and I’ve every right to drive a motorized vehicle if I want to.”

“If you think it’s fine and dandy, then why hide it from your folks?”

Luke stared straight ahead and shrugged.

“Are you planning to leave the Amish faith?” Ruth dared to ask. She had to know what his plans were, for it could affect their relationship.

He shrugged again.

“Luke, would you please answer my question?”

“Haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Ruth leaned against the narrow seat and closed her eyes. This whole evening had gone sour, and from the looks of things, it wasn’t going to get any better. “I think it would be good if you took me home now,” she muttered.

“Whatever you say.” Luke directed the horse to make a U-turn.

They rode the rest of the way in silence, and when they pulled into Ruth’s yard, she turned to him and said, “I think it would be best if we don’t see each other anymore.”

His eyebrows lifted high on his forehead. “Now what brought that on?”

“If you don’t care enough for me to answer my questions, then I think—”

“I did answer your questions. Well, most of ’em, anyway.”

“If you decided to go English, we’d have to break up because I could never leave the Amish faith.”

A spot on the right side of his face twitched, and he looked away. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should go our separate ways before someone gets hurt.”

“Jah, I agree.
Gut nacht,
Luke.”

“Good night.”

Ruth stepped down from the buggy onto the frost-covered grass and shivered. It wasn’t until she reached the back porch that she allowed her tears to flow. It had been a mistake to let someone like Luke court her, and she almost felt relief that it was over.

***

Grace sank into a chair at the kitchen table, where Martha sat with their parents. Dad was reading
The Budget;
Mom had the newest issue of
Country Magazine;
and Martha was doing a crossword puzzle. A bowl of popcorn sat in the center of the table, and they each had cups of hot cider.

“Was Anna asleep when you checked on her?” Martha asked.

Grace nodded with a weary sigh. “I wish she was willing to sleep in my room. Anna, my own flesh-and-blood daughter, wants as little to do with me as possible. She talks more to her new friend, Esta, than she does me.”

She blinked, willing her tears not to spill over. She’d shed enough tears since the little girl had come to live with them—tears over Anna not accepting her as mother, tears over Cleon’s refusal to forgive her, tears over her own shame and regrets.

“It will get better in time—you’ll see,” Mom said with a look of understanding.

“I don’t think anything will ever be better for me.” Grace’s head ached, her emotions were spent, and a sense of despair threatened to pull her down. “I–I’m afraid Cleon’s never coming back.”

Dad’s head came up. “Why would you say something like that? Have you heard from him again?”

“I got a letter this morning.”

“What’d it say?”

“He’s asked his brother Ivan to check on his bees and collect the honey because he’s going to be on the road a few more weeks, trying to line up several new customers.”

“That makes sense to me,” Martha put in. “Someone’s got to take care of the bees while he’s gone.”

“But what if Cleon never comes back? What if—”

“He’ll be back. He’s just trying to drum up more business so he can provide better for you and Anna,” Mom said.

Grace shook her head as tears coursed down her cheeks, despite her effort to keep them at bay.

Mom patted Grace gently on the back. “I’m sorry for your pain.”

“Cleon might not have gone if you’d been honest with us in the first place.” Dad’s chair scraped against the linoleum as he pushed away from the table. “If your husband leaves the Amish faith and never returns, it will be your fault.”

Grace trembled as her father’s sharp admonition pierced her soul, but as much as his words hurt, she knew they were true.