Dark Crossings (23 page)

“My wife died of a punctured lung after she was kicked in the
chest by one of our horses.”

His throat closed around the words he wanted to say: that it
had been his fault. He knew Ada Mae didn’t trust the young gelding he had been
so proud to own. It had been his pride, in more ways than one, that had resulted
in his wife’s death and his daughter’s affliction.

“I am sorry for your loss. Was Ruby with your wife when the
accident happened?”

“Why do you ask?” He didn’t like this prying. He wasn’t ready
to discuss what had happened.

“I want to understand why Ruby stopped speaking.”

“Only Ruby and God know why she remains silent.” Isaac hoped
his tone conveyed that he didn’t wish to talk about it.

Lena took the hint and fell silent. An air of tension simmered
between them and that, too, was his fault.

He shouldn’t spend any more time alone with Ruby’s new teacher.
Emotions he didn’t want to face seemed to surface whenever she was near. Not
seeing her was the best plan. He was becoming much too interested in Lena
Troyer, not as a teacher, but as a woman.

* * *

I
N
THE
DAYS
FOLLOWING
Lena’s visit to Wilfred’s house, the
sounds of gunfire in the woods stopped. The Carters must have followed through
and notified the law. Lena began to breathe easier knowing that the deer were
safe, at least until the legal hunting season opened in a few more weeks. Even
though she climbed to the bell tower every evening, she still hadn’t seen
Goliath. She began to fear he had been killed, and she mourned his loss.

She saw Glenda Carter once more, when she went to town on
Monday evening. The woman was coming out of John Miller’s store, and Lena
stopped to thank her for helping. Glenda assured her she was glad to do it, but
couldn’t stay and talk because Wilfred needed his medicine. As Lena watched her
drive away, she was glad her friend had such a devoted granddaughter to care for
him.

On Wednesday afternoon, when the children finished their
lunches, Lena read them a story about a young man who loved to draw, and how he
turned his gift into a business by painting wooden boxes to sell to tourists so
he could help support his aging parents.

When she closed the book, Lena looked over the young faces so
intent on her words. “Art for art’s sake is worldly and unacceptable to us. Art
must have a purpose. God has already made a beautiful world and nothing we make
can add to that beauty. What are some of the ways we can use art?” Lena still
didn’t know how her own art could be used to better someone’s life.

Katie held up her hand. “The quilts we make are pretty and
useful.”

Lena nodded. “That’s right.”

She pointed to David when he raised his hand.

“I sent a picture of my new horse to my cousin so he would know
I have a better horse than he does.”

“That is prideful, David. Can you think of a nicer reason?”

The boy scrunched up his face and then said slowly, “No.”

Ruby held up her hand. Lena walked to her desk to read what she
wrote. “Ruby says her father uses art by carving furniture to sell. Very good,
Ruby.”

Lena moved to the front of the room. “Today, I’d like you to
use your art to show me one kind of animal that lives on your farm. It can be
any animal you want.”

An hour later, she had pictures of horses, cats, dogs, pigs and
an owl. One by one, she hung them around the room so that everyone could see. It
wasn’t until after school was out that she realized Ruby hadn’t turned in a
picture.

When Lena left the school that afternoon, she caught sight of
someone peeking around the edge of the barn. The fleeting glimpse of a black
prayer
kapp
and red-gold hair was enough to tell her
who it was.

CHAPTER SEVEN

L
ENA
CALLED
OUT
,
“Ruby, won’t your
father be worried if you don’t come home on time?”

The child stepped out from behind the building and came forward
with lagging steps. Lena descended the stairs and waited for her. Ruby stopped
in front of her and began writing. She held her board up for Lena to see. “He
doesn’t care.”

“I find that hard to believe. Your father is very concerned
about you. Why didn’t you go home with the other children?”

Ruby scribbled her answer: “I wanted to walk home with
you.”

Lena was secretly pleased. Not only was it good to find someone
who enjoyed her company, but she’d grown quite fond of Ruby. “All right then,
let’s go.”

Walking side by side, they followed the dirt road down the
short hill and through the covered bridge. Lena resisted an overwhelming urge to
check the woods for watchers, and kept a one-sided conversation going until they
reached the lane leading to her father’s house.

Looking down at Ruby, she smiled. “I appreciate you keeping me
company. I will see you tomorrow at school.”

The girl wrote a question on her board and held it up for Lena
to see. “Can you teach me to draw as well as you do?”

“I don’t see why not. God has bestowed considerable talent upon
you. If you are sure your father doesn’t mind, come up to the house with
me.”

After introducing Ruby to Anna, Lena led the child upstairs to
her room. From a cupboard in the corner, she withdrew a tattered book. “This
book has easy-to-follow lessons for developing your talent. If your father
agrees, you can keep it if you want.”

Ruby’s bright smile told Lena she’d made a friend for life. She
wrote on her board, “Will you ask him for me?”

Lena nodded. Staring at the child’s happy face, she prayed
Isaac wouldn’t object.

Ruby jotted another note and held it up. “Please?”

After getting the child’s hopes up, how could she refuse? “Is
he at work?”

Ruby shook her head and pointed to the floor. Lena took that to
mean he was at home. He must be worried that Ruby wasn’t home yet. They should
hurry. At least the walk to the old Stoltz farm was closer than walking into
town.

“Come,” Ruby whispered, excitement glowing in her eyes. She
took Lena’s hand and tugged her toward the door.

Lena stood rooted to the spot. “Ruby, you spoke!”

The girl gave her a funny look and shook her head.

“You did. You spoke. You said, ‘Come.’”

Shaking her head again, Ruby scrawled, “No, I didn’t” on her
board.

Lena leaned close to examine the writing. “What does this
say?”

Rolling her eyes, Rudy whispered, “No.” Then her eyes grew wide
and she snapped her mouth shut.

Lena dropped to her knees and hugged the child. “Ruby, this is
wonderful. God is so good!”

Holding her at arm’s length, she coaxed, “Say something else.
You can do it.”

Ruby opened and closed her mouth. No words came out. Finally,
she cupped Lena’s face between her hands. In a tiny whisper, she pleaded, “Don’t
tell Papa.”

* * *

I
SAAC
HAD
FINISHED
the wash and was hanging the wet clothes on
the line when he heard a muffled laugh behind him. Turning around, he saw Samuel
standing by the back door of the house. His brother looked tired and worn, but
he was smiling.

“What are you laughing at, little brother?”

“The sight of you doing woman’s work.”

Isaac secured one of Ruby’s dresses to the clothesline with
wooden pins. “At least I know how to wash clothes. You look like you could use a
lesson or two.”

Samuel brushed at the front of his jacket. “My current
companions don’t value cleanliness.”

“What do they value?”

“Money, guns, drugs and the money to buy more drugs.”

“It is no joking matter, Samuel. Do you know what you’re
doing?”

“Don’t worry about me, Isaac.”

Crossing to where his brother stood, Isaac laid a hand on his
shoulder. “How can I not?”

“I shouldn’t be here. I don’t know why I came.”

“I’m glad you did.” Isaac gazed into Samuel’s eyes and saw the
affection they’d always shared.

“Is your little teacher all right? I’m sorry I spooked your
horse. I never saw you until it was too late.”

Isaac frowned. “That was you?”

“I said I’m sorry. You were just in the wrong place at the
wrong time.”

“Lena was not harmed, but you frightened us half to death. What
were you thinking?”

“I had only a short window of time to make contact with my
supervisor. We had arranged to meet each week over in the next town. That day I
had trouble getting away. If I didn’t show, I knew the department would come
looking for me with guns drawn. I didn’t want them rushing to my rescue and
having all my work go down the drain. Not yet. I don’t have enough to make a
case that will stick.”

“This undercover work is too dangerous, Samuel. Why must you do
it?”

“Because I believe it’s important. The Department of Wildlife
has invested a lot of manpower and money into shutting down poaching rings, but
these people are careful. They confiscated my cell phone and search my stuff all
the time. I haven’t met the ringleader yet. We want the brains behind this
operation, not the small fry.”

“God is the judge of all men. Can you not leave justice to
him?”

“Spoken like the good Amish fellow you are.”

“Do not mock me, Samuel.”

His brother gave him a wry smile. “I don’t. I wish I had your
faith that everything turns out the way it should in the end. I, on the other
hand, like to see justice done before the crooks die of old age.”

“I pray for you every day, as do all in our family.”

“While you’re praying, you might add a request for a new wife.
Ruby needs a woman in her life and so do you. You’re getting dishpan hands,
bro.” With a jaunty salute, Samuel strode away and vanished into a narrow neck
of woods at the back of the barn.

Pray for a new wife? Isaac shook his head. His brother had
developed an odd sense of humor in his years among the
Englische
.

Isaac tried to dismiss the idea, but it wouldn’t leave him
alone. What kind of woman would he pray for if he did such a thing?

Someone kind, who shared his love of God and his Amish faith,
for certain. But what else?

She would have to love his daughter as her own. It didn’t
matter if she was pretty or not, but a pleasant face would be nice. Lena’s
delicate features came to mind. She was everything he needed.

He was being foolish. Isaac went back to hanging up the
laundry. He tossed a sheet over the line and spread it evenly before pinning it
in place. He was content with his life as it was. Pray for a wife—why would he
do that?

“If two people are meant for each other, God will bring them
together.” He ducked under the sheet and came face-to-face with Lena.

She took a quick step back and looked around. “Who are you
talking to?”

* * *

I
SAAC
WAS
LOOKING
AT
HER
with the strangest expression on his face. Lena wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Isaac, are you all right?”

He blinked hard. “
Ja,
I’m fine.
What are you doing here? Is Ruby okay?”

“Ruby is fine,” she quickly assured him. “She has gone to do
her chores.”

“Gut.”
He spun around, walked into
the clothesline and struggled to keep his balance for a second before whipping
the sheet out of his way and picking up an empty laundry basket.

Not knowing what to do, she reached for the basket. “Can I help
you?”

“
Nay,
I have said I’m fine, and I
am,” he bellowed.

She took two steps back. “Forgive me. I can see you would
rather not have company at the moment.”

He visibly gathered himself and said in a moderate tone, “I’m
sorry. I was distracted. Ruby’s teacher is always welcome in our home. What can
I do for you?”

Lena caught sight of the girl standing behind him. Ruby shook
her head and folded her hands together in a pleading gesture.

Clearly, this might not be the best time to broach the subject
of her newfound speech. Lena said, “I would like to give Ruby a book of drawing
instructions, but I wanted to check with you first.”

The child sagged with relief and smiled.

Isaac continued toward the house. Lena had to rush to keep up
with him. He asked, “Do you think it a suitable book for her?”

“I do, but I’m not her parent.”

“Then I’m sure it is fine.” He paused at the back door. “Thank
you for stopping by.” A second later, he was in the house and the door was
closed in her face.

What on earth was he trying to hide?

Ruby ran forward and threw her arms around Lena’s waist in a
fierce hug. Lena patted her back. “You will have to tell him soon, Ruby. If you
don’t, I must.”

Looking up at her, Ruby shook her head in denial.

Lena cupped the child’s face. “He has prayed for this day, I
know it in my heart. You do him a great disservice by staying silent now. He
will rejoice. I know he will.”

Ruby relinquished her hold on her and slowly walked into the
house. Lena had no idea if she intended to tell her father the good news or not.
Nor did she have any idea why the child would want to stay silent. There was so
much here she didn’t understand.

Lena left Isaac’s house and walked home. The evening air had
turned chilly. She pulled her coat collar up around her neck to block the wind.
When she arrived, her father was sitting at the table even though supper wasn’t
ready.

She glanced at Anna. Her sister wore a worried expression, and
kept clasping and unclasping her hands. Something was wrong.

Her father stood. “John Miller and the school board members
stopped by this evening. Since you were not home and no one knew where you had
gone, he asked that you come to his home tomorrow night at six o’clock for a
special meeting of the board.”

Lena braced herself to hear the worst. “Did he say what the
meeting was about?”

“
Nay,
he did not, but he warned me
that you may face a shunning if you do not appear. What have you done to shame
us, Lena?”