Hidden (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 2) (6 page)

Chapter 9.

For as the body without the spirit/breath is dead,

so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:26

Emma drove herself to the Sunday meeting rather than go with Maureen or Wil. Sometimes she liked to be alone driving to the gathering together and back home.

Walking toward the group, she saw Silvie and was sure that the woman next to her had to be Silvie’s
schweschder.
She had the same fine features and the same delicate coloring with the blonde hair and the blue eyes.

Silvie looked up, caught her eye and walked over to her with her arm looped through her
schweschder’s
. “Emma, this is Sabrina, my
schweschder
.”

“Hello, Sabrina.” Up close the girl was even more beautiful than Silvie.

“Nice to meet you, Emma.”

Emma noticed that Sabrina was hardly paying her any attention as her eyes darted to and fro over the crowd. It was clear to Emma that Sabrina was single and looking for a husband. Most young girls of her age thought of little else. “I guess you’re from Ohio too, Sabrina?”

“
Jah
, I don’t know how long I’m staying yet, maybe just a week or so.”

Sabrina and Silvie sat with Maureen and Emma during the service.

When the meal was being served afterward, Silvie pulled Emma aside. “
Mamm
sent her to spy on me because she heard that I was sweet on an
Englischer
.”

“Really? I guessed that she was looking for a husband.”

“
Jah
, that too.”

Emma laughed, and they both turned to look at Sabrina only to see her approach Wil. “
Ach
, look she’s gone over to Wil. Emma, you have to stop her.”

Emma scoffed. “I’m not concerned. Wil had plenty of time to find someone else besides me; he’s never been interested in anyone else.”

Silvie frowned. “You’re very confident, Emma.”

Emma was not confident at all, not after the argument they had. “We’ve talked of marriage.”

“You haven’t said ‘yes’ though, have you?”

“
Nee
, but we have an understanding. He knows it’s too soon for me to say ‘yes.’”

Although Emma knew that Wil loved her, Silvie’s words began to concern her. “Let’s go closer to hear what they are talking about,” Emma said.

Wil immediately looked up as they approached. “Ahh, Silvie you have a delightful
schweschder.”

Silvie smiled and looked at Emma.

“Emma, have you met Sabrina?”

Emma noticed that as Wil spoke he shifted his weight from one foot to another as if he was nervous.

“
Jah
, we met earlier.” Emma looked at Sabrina and was sure that she looked disappointed that her talk with Wil had been interrupted. Could Sabrina see Wil as a potential husband even though she was only eighteen and he was in his thirties? Surely not.

“Sabrina’s interested in my inventions.”

Emma raised her eyebrows. She did not see how anyone could be interested in Wil’s inventions. How did they come to speak of his inventions so quickly? “Is she?”

“
Jah
, I do a little fiddling with inventions myself.” Sabrina was certainly more animated in her conversation when there was a man around.

“Such as?” Emma asked, wondering if Sabrina would dare to make up such a thing.

“
Mamm
has a gas powered iron and I’ve made it into a battery powered iron by fitting it with a battery pack that I made myself.”

Emma laughed and before she could stop herself, she said, “What would be the use of that?”

Wil stared at her and Emma knew that he sensed something was not right with her. Did Wil know that she was a little jealous of this new girl?

Sabrina tilted her chin high. “Well,
mamm
liked it. She found it more convenient.”

“
Jah
, I’m sure it’s got many convenient uses.” Emma tried to sound sincere to cover her previous cruel outburst.

Sabrina ignored Emma’s words and said, “Why don’t you show me some of your inventions, Wil?”

“Of course, have Silvie bring you for dinner one night this week. That’ll be okay, won’t it, Silvie?”

Silvie smiled. “
Jah
, we could come tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow it is then.”

“Come on, Sabrina.” Silvie linked her arm through Sabrina’s. “I’ve got some people I want you to meet. Excuse us, Wil, Emma.” Silvie pulled Sabrina away, leaving Wil and Emma alone.

“You’ll come to dinner on tomorrow too, of course?” Wil asked Emma.

“Do you want me to?” Emma asked.

“Of course, all my dinner invitations include you.”

Emma folded her arms and looked into the distance. She had never experienced the emotion of jealousy, but now she knew what it was. She was annoyed at Sabrina for speaking to Wil and not just speaking, she was flirting with him. Outrageously flirting and she even invited herself to his
haus.
The sheer nerve of the woman. “Don’t you know that Sabrina is attracted to you? She’s only here from Ohio to look for a husband.”

“That’s a little harsh, Emma. You’ve only just met the girl. You were also rude to her.”

Emma’s mouth fell open at Wil’s words. “I was not.”

Wil rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ve never understood about my inventions have you?”

“What do you mean? I do understand about your inventions.”

“When someone invents something, it’s important to them. You have never shown any interest in my inventions - ever.” Wil nodded his head in a definite manner as he spoke.

Emma remained silent; she was not the slightest bit interested in his senseless tinkering with useless objects, and why should she be? They were a sheer waste of
Gott’s
time. Why couldn’t Wil see that for himself?

Wil continued, “Think of it like your needlework. You spend hours on your needlework and show me what you’ve done and I show interest in your work – the fine stitches, the different colors. But, if I try and speak about my inventions or try to show you, you just don’t pay any mind. You make no effort to even pretend to have a tiny piece of curiosity.”

Emma looked up at Wil. He was scolding her. He had never spoken crossly like that to her before.

Wil continued, “You even told that girl that her invention was of no use. How would you feel if someone told you your needlework was of no use to anybody?”

Emma jutted out her bottom lip as she thought of Sabrina’s invention. “Well, I think the battery iron was silly and I do think it’s of no use. I have to be truthful.” Couldn’t Wil see that a battery pack on an iron was pointless when a gas-powered iron would’ve done the same thing? Why was he defending the girl, because she was pretty and young?

“What use is your needlework? What use is it to anybody?”

Emma scoffed. “It’s hardly the same thing, Wil.”

“It might not be the same thing, but it’s about people’s feelings. Think about other people for once, Emma.” Wil put his hands on his hips and his eyes flashed with disappointment.

“Are you saying that I’m selfish?” Emma asked.

Wil slowly nodded his head. “
Jah
, something like that. If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to speak to.” Wil walked away from Emma with long, fast strides.

Emma’s eyes filled with tears. Never had he spoken to her like that. Wil had been her rock ever since Levi had died. Wil was her best friend and now he had said mean things to her and for no reason.

Feeling all alone in the world, Emma walked directly to her buggy, hoping that no one would see her in tears. She drove all the way home with tears brimming in her eyes. She was pleased that she had decided to drive there alone that day.

Was she selfish? Could Wil be right? No one else had ever called her selfish.

She opened her front door, lay down on the couch, closed her eyes and thought on Wil’s words. He was as
gut
as saying that she was selfish for not showing interest in his silly inventions. She was sick on the tummy. It was true she never showed any interest but he had never been angry about it before, not ‘til she hadn’t shown any interest in Sabrina’s useless invention. Maybe Wil was sweet on Sabrina. Could it be more than a coincidence that he picked a fight with her straight after he met the young and pretty Sabrina?

No one had ever said that needlework was a waste of time.
At least I have something to show for all my time
, Emma thought of her sewing.

Emma went into the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Growler was finishing the last of the meat she had put out for him that morning. “Hello, Growler.” As usual, Growler ignored her and kept eating. She leaned over and stroked his gray, silver fur until he purred.

She walked past Growler into the utility room and spied some chocolates and decided that she needed something to cheer herself up. Emma took the chocolates back to the lounge and covered herself with a blanket. As the chocolate melted in her mouth, she thought of more than a few times that Wil had tried to show her what he was working on. Sometimes she would laugh, or scoff and sometimes she would say she’d look later, but never did. Perhaps she should show interest in what he did with his time, but couldn’t he see that his inventions were useless? Even Levi had said that they were a waste of time.

Maybe she wasn’t a match with Wil as she had thought. Maybe loneliness was the only factor that had driven her to find comfort and companionship with Wil.

Chapter 10.

 
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 4:32

Typically Emma would have offered to cook when Wil had guests but considering their cross words of late, Emma thought she would leave Wil to cook on his own. She thought by doing so he would appreciate her more and not speak to her so meanly in the future.

She arrived at Wil’s
haus
at 6 p.m. only to find that Silvie was already there so she assumed that Sabrina would be as well.

Silvie and Bailey were talking on the porch on two large wooden chairs. “Hello, Emma,” Silvie said.

“Hello, you two. Where are Wil and Sabrina?”

“Sabrina’s helping Wil in the kitchen.”

The nerve of the girl; she’s trying to step right into my shoes.
Emma was angry with herself for not helping Wil as she usually did. Because of her pride and selfishness, she had unknowingly opened a way for Sabrina to work her way into Wil’s heart.

Emma looked down at the apple pie in her hands. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll just take the apple pie into the kitchen.” Was she going to be the odd one out tonight? Silvie and Bailey were attracted to each other and Wil and Sabrina had their inventions to chat about. Emma walked quickly into the kitchen. “I brought apple pie.”

“
Denke
, Emma. I love your apple pie.”

“I know. I made it especially for you.” Emma tried to make it sound as though they were a couple in front of Sabrina. “Hello, Sabrina.
Denke
for helping Wil; I usually help him with the cooking, but I was busy with other things today.”

“Hello, Emma. I couldn’t see Wil do all the cooking himself. He needs a
fraa
to look after him.” Sabrina shot an adoring look at Wil, which annoyed Emma greatly.

Wil and she were courting, didn’t Sabrina know that; hadn’t Silvie told her to keep away from him?

When Wil remained silent, Emma walked out of the kitchen and sat out on the porch with Bailey and Silvie. They stopped speaking when she approached.

“How are you going with things, Bailey?” Emma asked.

“Fine,
denke
, Emma. I’m learning a lot and taking it all in. I’ll be Amish in no time.”

“That’s
gut
.” Trying not to clench her mouth, Emma asked, “Silvie, how long is Sabrina staying with you?”

“I don’t know. She’s enjoying a little freedom away from
mamm
.”

That was the answer that Emma did not want to hear. She had no one to discipline her and she was set loose on the
menner
in the community, in particular Wil.

Wil and Sabrina came through the front door. “I’m just going to show Sabrina some of my inventions in the barn. Do you want to come with us, Emma?”

“
Jah
, I’ll go and have a look.” Emma considered that she was in a difficult position. While she was glad that Wil asked her, she did not want to appear to Sabrina as though she was jealous of her. She would also have to leave Bailey and Silvie alone with each other.

While Wil showed Sabrina and Emma all the things he had invented, Sabrina made all the appropriate oohs and ahhhs while Emma found it difficult to muster the appropriate enthusiasm.

The whole night Emma felt totally out of sorts. Sabrina took over her role as hostess and Emma spent the night forcing a smile on her face.

Once everyone had gone, Emma turned to Wil. “I’d better get going too.”

“
Nee
, wait, Emma. I’m sorry for what I said to you on Sunday. It was mean.”

“You were right, Wil. I’ve been so consumed with myself and feeling sorry for what happened to me that I haven’t been aware of other people’s needs. Well, your needs.”

Wil said, “I’ll walk you home.”

Although they had both apologized to one another, something had changed. Emma knew in her heart that things between them were not the same.

* * *

The tension between Wil and Emma played on her mind so much that Emma knew she had to have a straight talk with Wil about it. The next morning Emma stopped in on Wil on her way to town. “Are you there, Wil?”

Wil came to the door with a coffee cup in his hands. “Emma, come in.”

“How about we sit out here, in the morning sun?”

“Okay, would you like a
kaffe
?”

“
Nee
, I just had one at home. Wil, I feel things between us are different.”

Wil smiled.
“
Are they?”

“If something’s important to you, I will try and understand why it interests you.”

Wil reached out and took hold of Emma’s hand. “Let’s not speak of it again. We said all we needed to say last night.”

“Okay,” Emma said.

“Let’s just enjoy this beautiful sunny day before the cold weather sets in.”

Emma took a deep breath and let it out slowly while she enjoyed the sunlight on her face. She was happy not to speak of things that they would disagree on.

“Have you heard the latest about Frank?” Emma tried to change the subject.

“
Nee
, what’s happened?” Wil asked.

“Oh, I know nothing. I wondered if you’d heard anything. It was a little difficult to talk last night with all the people around.”

“
Nee
, I’ve heard of nothing. They are trying to locate Frank’s will and that’s all I know,” Wil said.

Emma bit her lip. She had to keep quiet about the will since she wasn’t supposed to know about the will. “Ettie did a bit of digging about Frank’s past before he came to the community. Anyway, he was an auctioneer and Ettie seems to think that he might have some paintings hidden away somewhere.” Emma giggled nervously knowing that she should not have talked about things that came out of the widows’ meeting.

Wil, sprung to his feet. “Emma, I completely forgot about the paintings.”

Emma rose to her feet. “What paintings? Wil, what do you mean?”

“It was years ago; that’s why I forgot about them. One day Frank brought some paintings to me. That was just after his
fraa
, Sally, died and before he moved into the smaller
haus.”

“Go on.”

“He said if anything should happen to him, I’m to give them to his boys.”

“Where are the paintings now?” Emma asked.

“I wrapped them in brown paper and a large blanket and put them up in the roof.”

“Go and see if they’re still there, but don’t tell Bailey what you’re doing.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon. I think Bailey’s out with Silvie anyway.”

“
Gut
. Wait, I’ll come with you.”

The two of them walked quickly into Wil’s
haus.
Wil had a ladder already at the back door as he’d been working on his roof. He climbed the ladder and pushed aside the entry into the ceiling. “Hand me that kerosene lamp, would you?”

Emma lit the lamp and handed it to him.

“
Jah,
seems they’re still here.”

“That’s far enough. Both of you stay where you are.”

Emma held her stomach at the sight of Bailey Abler with a gun in his hand. Wil ducked his head back into the room.

Bailey took a step closer. “Emma, stay where you are and put your hands in the air. Wil, get the paintings and come down the ladder very, very slowly.”

Emma obeyed him and raised her hands above her head. Once Wil got to the bottom of the ladder he placed the paintings still wrapped in a blanket onto the floor.

“What is the meaning of this, Bailey? What are you doing pointing a gun at us?”

“I need to ask you, Wil, what are you doing with stolen art work?” Bailey asked.

“Stolen? Frank asked me to take care of them. Emma has just jogged my memory of them. He placed them in my care years ago and never mentioned them to me again.” As Bailey slowly walked closer, Wil asked, “Who are they stolen from? Or do you think that we stole them?”

Emma was relieved to hear the sound of a buggy stopping outside the
haus.
Emma glanced at Bailey’s startled face. Surely he couldn’t shoot everyone. Emma lowered her hands.

“Bailey, what are you doing?”

Emma knew that the booming voice belonged to Elsa-May. Behind Elsa-May she saw Ettie and Maureen.

Bailey addressed Elsa-May. “I just found that these two are in possession of stolen paintings.”

“Nonsense.” Elsa-May pushed the gun in his hand down.

Emma quickly told Elsa-May, “Wil remembered that Frank had given him the paintings to look after. How did you know to come here?”

“We were coming to visit you when we saw your buggy here at Wil’s place.” Elsa-May ignored Bailey and walked right past him. “Did you say paintings? Well, let’s unwrap them and take a look.”

Bailey put his hand agitatedly to his forehead. “Aunt Em, you can’t just walk into my investigation like this.”

Elsa-May swung around to Bailey. “Wil, Emma, meet my and Ettie’s nephew, Bailey Rivers. He’s a detective.”

Emma gasped and Wil said, “You’re Elsa-May and Ettie’s nephew?” Emma was relieved that he was not a thief or a murderer.

Bailey nodded. “Well, great nephew, really.”

“So you don’t want to join the Amish? Your name’s not Bailey Abler?” Wil asked.

“Sorry to do that to you, Wil. I’m Bailey Rivers. You’ve been very kind to me, showing me how everything works, the traditions and the customs.”

“This is such a shock.” Emma put her hands to her head.

“I think the person you should apologize to should be Silvie,” Wil said with deep furrows in his brow. “Does the bishop know of this deception?”

Bailey lowered his head. “The bishop knew from the start.”

Wil shook his head.

“I’m afraid I’m the one who organized things for Bailey to be here, Wil,” Elsa-May said, “Now, let’s have a look at these paintings.”

Elsa-May and Bailey carefully unwrapped the paintings while Wil and the others looked on.

There were three small paintings. “This one looks to be a Chagall, that one is by Otto Dix and I don’t know who that one was painted by, but it looks to be a 16
th
century painting.” Elsa-May rose to her feet. “You see, a lot of art went missing in World War Two from Germany.”

“How do you know all these things, Elsa-May?” Emma asked.

Elsa-May flung a hand in the air. “I studied art history in college.”

“You went to college?” Maureen asked.

Elsa-May smiled and nodded.

Emma’s head felt as though it was spinning with all the surprises. “So Frank was murdered for these paintings? They don’t look like they’re worth much at all,” Emma said.

“We could be looking at millions, Emma,” Elsa-May said.

Emma’s hand flew to her mouth. “Millions?”

“What have you found out, Aunt Em?” Bailey asked.

Emma knew she should be concentrating on the paintings, but all she could think of was how devastated Silvie would be.

“Well, you obviously knew about Frank’s father’s art dealings and you knew that he’d have these paintings hidden somewhere,” Elsa-May said.

“Yes, I’ve been on the trail of the paintings for a long time. Funny that they should bring me here to the same community where you are,” Bailey said.

“And the same community that Silvie’s in,” Emma said, hoping he would see that she was cranky with him for leading her dear friend up the garden path.

“If only you’d come a little earlier, you could have saved old Frank from being murdered,” Wil said.

“Do any of you have any idea who could have done it?” Bailey asked.

“Yes, that was my question,” Detective Crowley said as he walked through the door. He glanced at the three paintings on the floor. “So you’ve found the paintings, Rivers?”

“Yes, seems that the old man gave them to Wil to look after, and Wil’s only just remembered about it.”

The detective raised his eyebrows. “How convenient.”

“Look here, what are you implying?” Wil said with a raised voice.

“I can vouch for Wil and Emma, Detective. They’re just innocent bystanders in all this,” Elsa-May said. It appeared that Elsa-May had a fair amount of influence over the detective.

Was the detective also a relative of Elsa-May’s and Ettie’s? Emma wondered.

“Well, if neither of them did it, who killed Frank?” Crowley asked.

“I don’t know, but I will have to take these paintings and have them verified. I’ll call for a photographer first and have them catalogued before I move them.” He looked at Detective Crowley. “I should also probably have them dusted for prints.”