Rebecca's Bouquet (17 page)

“We will,” William promised. Beth nodded in agreement.

After the officers left, Beth put a reassuring arm around Rebecca. “Only an unstable person would leave a drawing of a coffin at our door.”

“I'm sorry.”

Beth and William looked at Rebecca in surprise. “For what?”

“For causing you to worry. I hope Daniel didn't see the cop car. I couldn't bear for him to suffer another heart attack because of me.”

“Don't blame yourself, dear.”

Rebecca watched the police vehicle disappear. When she thought of the coffin, a cold, eerie chill crept up her spine and landed at the base of her neck. She rolled her shoulders, but the feeling remained.

William frowned. “I can't imagine who would do something like this.” He raised an inquisitive brow at Rebecca. “Remember what you told me about Natalie?”

Rebecca gave a quick nod.

William turned to Beth. “You know her better than we do. Would she do something like this?”

When Beth's jaw dropped in surprise, Rebecca related the conversation she'd had with Henry's daughter. “It sounds trivial, doesn't it?”

“You've met other people since you've been here. Like the workers in Daniel's shop. Have you argued with anyone?”

“I had a small disagreement with the girl named Janet over something small.”

“What was it?”

“Whether or not to add more stain to a cabinet. I've also asked her to keep her station cleaner.”

William sighed. “That's certainly no reason to threaten you.”

“No.”

“I can't imagine Natalie would be so jealous as to do something like this.” Beth's voice was thoughtful as she waved a hand to shoo a gnat that flew around her ear.

William took Rebecca's hand. “Let's go inside. We're taking the rest of the day off.”

As soon as they turned, Daniel stood in front of them. “What's going on?”

* * *

In her room, Rebecca collected a small coin purse. As she gathered her belongings, she thought of the coffin drawing she'd found just awhile ago, and worried about William and his parents.

Although the warning had been addressed to her, it wasn't just about her. She didn't want anything to threaten their security. Daniel had seen the police, and Beth had explained what had happened. Of course, the incident had upset him.

She stepped down the stairs where William waited.

She forced a smile. “I'm glad we're spending the afternoon together. Are you sure the shop can do without us?”

He held up a confident hand. “It will have to.” He looked at her hands and frowned. “You're shaking.”

She drew in a deep breath. “I'm still in shock.”

“That's exactly why we're spending time together, Rebecca. What would you like to do?” He reworded the question. “What would help you relax?”

She shrugged. “I'd love to forget about the threat.”

“Me too. But we can't ignore what happened.” He paused. “How 'bout we discuss it later?”

She nodded in agreement.

“It's a nice day. And it's ours. Now . . .”

Rebecca raised a quizzical brow. “I have something in mind. But I'm afraid it's not your cup of tea.”

* * *

Outside, as William proceeded to Beth's car, he came face-to-face with his father. Before William could even say hi, his dad took him by the shoulders. “Son, we've got to get Rebecca out of here.”

William caught his breath. “You mean, send her back to Arthur?”

Daniel nodded. “ASAP.”

“Why? She hasn't done anything wrong.”

Daniel shook his head. “We can't have this kind of thing going on at our house. It puts us all in jeopardy.”

Heat rushed to William's face. He raised his voice a notch. “It's not her fault. Why should she be punished?”

Daniel released his hold on William. “It's for her own good, son. We've got to protect her. Isn't it obvious that it's too dangerous for her to stay? As much as we'd like to, we can't watch over her twenty-four-seven. And we certainly wouldn't want anything to happen.”

William crossed his hands over his chest. “No, but do you really care if she's safe?”

“Why wouldn't I be concerned about her? She's the woman you plan to marry. Of course I want her to be okay.”

William swallowed. “But do you really, truly care about her? Rebecca's a wonderful woman. She didn't have to leave her family to help you, but she did. And she came with the genuine hope of saving your business.”

Daniel nodded. “I know.”

William's voice cracked with emotion. “You've never loved me, Dad. But I want you to care about Rebecca. It's important to me that you treat her like a daughter. And I think sending her home is too harsh. Instead, why don't you press to find out who's threatening her? Offer a reward or something. Don't you want to know who's responsible?”

Daniel let out a frustrated sigh. “Of course. But in the meantime, what if something happens to her? Can Rebecca be happy living here, knowing that someone wants her dead?”

* * *

Not long after the conversation with his dad, William watched in amusement as Rebecca shopped in It Can Be Arranged in Evansville. Beth seemed quite fond of the place as she'd gone on about its arrangements and items that were unique to this particular floral shop.

When they stepped inside, William took in the vast array of arrangements. There were live plants. Dried and silk flowers. Balloons. But there were also specialties that Beth had commented on. Gifts from all over the United States. Pottery. Metalware. Printed umbrellas. Displays.

It hadn't taken William long to figure out to leave Rebecca alone to look around. For something to do, he stepped inside of the cooler room and took in the arrangements as well as the single flowers. He looked around and nodded satisfaction.

“Brr.” He wrapped his hands around his waist.

As he breathed in sweet, fresh fragrances, he closed his eyes in pleasure for a moment. Rebecca was right. There was something calming and reassuring about plants.

Maybe that's why Rebecca loved growing them. Perhaps that's why his father enjoyed the garden from his bedroom window. William remembered how Aenti Sarah liked to pamper the deep red roses in her backyard.

William stepped back into the main area and closed the door behind him.

“Can I help you?”

“No, thanks.” William motioned with his hand. “I'm waiting on the ladies.”

The worker offered a nod and proceeded to inventory flowers.

For something to do, William glanced at the small cards attached to vases that were obviously ready for delivery.

They were for weddings. Funerals. Baby congratulations. Get-well bouquets. He took in the combination of bright and subtle petals, glancing with curiosity at some dried roses while he recalled a conversation he'd had once with Rebecca. She dried her flowers upside down, and she'd commented that the hotter the place, the quicker the dry and the more beautiful the hues.

He noticed Beth talking with a clerk who was transplanting a green palm. It hadn't taken much to convince her to drive them into town.

A lady scurried to the register to ring up an order for a customer. But William's attention stayed on Beth. He regarded her thoughtfully.

She appeared to be well-respected by others. Several people in the shop had greeted her and had inquired about his father. William had caught bits and pieces of her explanation of his dad's struggle to get well.

Before he'd come to Indiana, he'd barely known Beth. Worse, he'd hardly known his father. But he remembered his mom. He wished he owned just one picture of the woman who'd been everything to him. Of course, as an Amish woman, she would never have allowed her photograph to be taken. The only images he would ever have of her were in his mind.

As he drifted back in time, he could hear the upbeat tone in her voice. When William had complained about small things, she'd always pointed out the positive and had told him to make the best of what he had. That things could be worse. Her reassurance had always made things okay.

He stood very still and frowned at the tightness in his chest. He finally understood why his dad loved Beth. She, too, had a positive outlook. She also smiled a lot. He liked her laugh.

But she'd never, ever replace his mother. Besides, Beth had caused William to miss out on a life with his father. How could he be close to her?

William bit his lip as he silently chastised himself for thinking negative thoughts. Aenti Sarah would be disappointed in him. So would his mom. But William knew she'd also be disappointed in the man who had deserted William.

A loud noise made him jump. He turned to two women laughing as they pumped air into decorative balloons. The red one had popped.

William's heart beat at a faster pace because of his concern that something could happen to Rebecca. He stuck his hands deep into his pockets. As he glanced at Rebecca, he realized why his mother's death suddenly haunted him.

He was worried about losing Rebecca. He'd always expected her to be there for him and had taken her love for granted. But what would he do without her?

There was only one solution to the threat on her life. To send Rebecca home.

Chapter Eleven

While Beth and Daniel were at the doctor, Rebecca took advantage of the time alone to create another arrangement. She smiled as she breathed in the sweet, fresh fragrance of the light green eucalyptus branches and stuck them into the sky-blue glass vase. The soft colors blended well with the small cream-colored petals of the baby's breath.

She smiled in satisfaction. Not only because her new project was exciting, but because she'd finally decided on her third goal. It was to bond William and his father. She'd known all along that she'd wanted this; however, the stakes were higher now because she'd set out to mend their relationship, even if it meant losing William. Risking their future made this objective the most difficult of the three.

It was an ambitious goal and difficult to accomplish, but the bishop's request hadn't been intended for easy tasks. By undertaking such an endeavor, she would be reaching for the clouds. But she prayed for help. With God, anything was possible. With Him on her side, she had no doubt that she could move the world.

She heard William's voice and turned. With a nod of approval, he glanced at her project. “It's beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“You're amazing.” He whistled. “You made this out of those flowers from the shop?”

She nodded. “I've had a little practice.”

He arched a curious brow.

“In Old Sam's barn.”

“Oh. So that's what you do while he works on his hope chests.”

Rebecca nodded with a smile.

He touched a finger to one of the leaves. “Who's it for?”

“Beth.”

“Really?”

Rebecca kept her attention on the stems in front of her. She played with them until they looked just right. “This is to encourage and cheer her. She's gone through such a difficult time. The uncertainty of Daniel's condition has been tough. I just want Beth to keep her faith.”

Rebecca glanced up at him and smiled. “Hopefully, this will be the right medicine.”

William came around to stand opposite her. His smile faltered. The expression in his eyes turned serious.

Rebecca stopped what she was doing. “What's wrong?”

William hesitated and looked down at his shoes as if studying them.

Rebecca waited for an answer. But she suspected what he was about to say was something she didn't want to hear.

“I've been thinking about yesterday's threat. And the other warning.”

She grimaced. A sour feeling filled her stomach until it ached. She'd struggled to put the unpleasant messages out of her mind and concentrate on the good in her life. But as much as she tried to ignore them, they were there.

He took her hands in his. They were cold. The chill spread up her arms and landed in her shoulders. She tensed.

“I'm worried about you, Rebecca. So is Beth. Daniel, too. What happened kept him up the entire night.”

“Oh no.”

William nodded. “Before we left Arthur, I promised your father I'd look out for you. I'm going to keep that commitment. We're both here to help Dad, but first and foremost, my job is to make sure you're safe.”

Rebecca smiled a little. The words comforted her a bit, and the cold sensation began to go away. She rolled her shoulders to relieve the tension.

“As much as I'd like you to stay, the smart thing for you to do right now is to go home.”

For a few moments, she was speechless. After giving his statement some thought, she raised her chin and moved her hands to her hips. As she shifted her stance, she remembered her three goals. They were decided. But not accomplished. How could she leave without fulfilling the bishop's expectation of her?

“I can't go. Not yet. You need me. So do Beth and Daniel.”

“We'll have to do without you. I won't let anything happen to you, Rebecca. Maybe the letter was a joke; maybe not. In either case, we can't risk it.”

She straightened and raised her chin. “I won't allow someone to force me to leave, William. It's not right. Besides, if that person's not even strong enough to warn me to my face, do you think they're brave enough to actually harm me?”

He shrugged. “I don't know.”

Rebecca frowned.

William slipped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “Rebecca, just because you leave doesn't mean you can't come back. For now, there's no other choice. You're much too important to me to take chances. Don't you know I'd be devastated if I lost you?”

He hesitated before continuing. “You're all I have.”

As their gazes locked, Rebecca felt his shaky hands on her waist. At that instant, she knew William was afraid. An eerie chill crept up her spine.

When he spoke again, his voice was low and serious. “Please, Rebecca. Tell me you'll leave.”

* * *

The following morning, Rebecca lifted the hem of her dress and used the two metal steps to get inside of Katie's buggy. Today was the last time she'd be with her friend. At least, for awhile. Katie needed to do errands.

Tomorrow, Rebecca would return to Arthur. Beth had already arranged for Rebecca's transportation. She told Katie about the threat and that Rebecca had finally agreed with Daniel and William. She was no longer safe at the Conrad place.

As Katie took the reins, the horse threw its head back with an impatient snort and stepped in place.

“I'll miss you,” Katie said as she closed the door. “But honestly . . .”

Rebecca gave her a curious glance. “What?”

“I'm convinced that going home is for the best.”

“You are?”

Katie gave a convincing nod. “That way, you'll be safe.” She paused. “I'm sure William will miss you, but hopefully, he'll join you soon.”

“That's what I'd like. Of course, he can't leave until Daniel's back on his feet.” Rebecca gave a frustrated shake of her head. “Daniel has sure had a hard time of it.”

“Any sign of improvement?”

“Jah.”

“So when do you leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Aren't you looking forward to seeing your family?”

“Of course. But I don't like being forced out. I make my own decisions. To be honest, I have huge regrets.”

“Oh?”

Rebecca told her about the three goals. “I didn't accomplish them.”

“What are they?”

Rebecca ticked them off.

“Well . . . I'd say you've done the first. You've definitely been a support to Beth. And you've got your whole life to help others.”

Rebecca glanced at Katie. “But I didn't do the most important one. I pray every night for William and Daniel to be close. It wouldn't be right for William to go through life looking back and focusing on what could have been. I want him to move forward and make the most of the time he has left with his father. It's only right.”

“Don't you think you're asking too much of yourself? You can't make miracles happen.”

“No, but I can do my best. I'm not a quitter. The bishop will be disappointed in me.”

“I doubt that. Sometimes, circumstances prevent us from having what we want. In this case, there's just too much unknown. But God knows best, Rebecca. He'll guide you.”

Rebecca nodded as they turned a corner. “I trust Him. Daniel could suffer a setback.”

Rebecca closed her eyes and prayed in silence.
Please, God. Help William to forgive Daniel
. Help them to be close.

When she opened her lids, she relaxed a bit. Even with her struggles, God was still an ever-present force in her life. The evidence was all around.

She took in the breathtaking sky decorated with white fluffy clouds. Tall evergreens that scented the outdoors. A squirrel running in front of them. Beautiful purple and yellow wildflowers springing up beside the road.

Rebecca's thoughts drifted back to their conversation, and she questioned if leaving was really the right thing to do. She wasn't completely convinced it was.

Katie's horse slowed its gait. Within a matter of minutes, they were at the post office. With practiced ease, Katie parked the buggy under the canopy outside and tied her horse to the pole.

She glanced at Rebecca. “I won't be long.”

Rebecca waved a hand in dismissal. “No rush.”

As she watched Katie disappear around the corner, she let out a sigh of relief. God would help her bond William and Daniel. And He would keep her safe.

At that thought, she glimpsed the corner of a cream-colored envelope between the door and the front mat. Katie had dropped one of her letters. Rebecca quickly bent to retrieve it. But as her hand touched the envelope, she stopped and drew in a quick breath.

She stared at it. There was nothing unusual about the address and stamp. What drew Rebecca's attention was the special marking in the bottom left-hand corner. She'd noticed it before when she'd received the two threats.

But that wasn't all she'd seen on those two frightening occasions. The neat hand printing also struck a familiar chord. It was eerily similar to the printing on her warnings. She stiffened. Her heart pounded as hard as a jackhammer.

Envelope in hand, she plopped back in her seat and stared straight ahead. She barely noticed Katie's horse as she sifted through the facts.

Had Katie threatened her? Rebecca shook her head. No way. Why on earth would Katie want Rebecca gone? Rebecca's hands shook as she tried for an answer. None came. She thought of the worry caused by those ugly warnings.

They had kept Rebecca awake late into the night. She'd prayed for God to keep her safe from whoever hated her so much.

In the end, those awful threats were the reason she'd finally agreed to return to Arthur before her mission in Indiana was accomplished. Was Katie responsible?

An eternity seemed to pass as that potent, unanswered question haunted Rebecca. In a daze, she continued staring at the emblem and the print. She drew the envelope closer and squinted to get a better look.

But she knew it by memory. The emblem was permanently imprinted in her mind. And the longer she tried to deny the obvious, the faster her heart beat.

She had to find the truth. Needed to know if Katie had indeed been the sender.

Rebecca would ask her. Suddenly, she realized she was clutching the envelope in a death grip. Her fingers ached. She relaxed her hold.

She and Katie were alone. Was a confrontation wise?
If
Katie was responsible, and
if
Rebecca confronted her, would Katie harm her?

After careful thought, Rebecca decided that because they were in a public place, she shouldn't worry. But if anything happened, Rebecca would scream for help.

Why on earth would Katie want her to leave? They hadn't argued. As Rebecca tried for an answer, Katie suddenly appeared from around the corner.

As she walked to the buggy, she waved and met Rebecca's gaze with a wide smile. Confused, Rebecca glanced again at her find and started to return it to where she'd discovered it.

Instead, she held on to it. There was no reason to pretend she hadn't found it. As Katie stepped inside of the buggy, Rebecca turned to her.

“I did my errands.”

As Katie slammed her door closed, Rebecca studied her. As soon as Katie turned to her, her smile quickly slipped into a look of surprise when she noticed the envelope in Rebecca's hand.

It was time to get answers.

* * *

While Rebecca was with Katie, William helped to steady his dad as he stepped to the front door. Daniel stopped.

“Are you okay?”

With a half smile, Daniel gave a slight nod. “I'm not up to running a marathon, but for the time being, I'll be satisfied with being half a man.”

William frowned. “Half a man? Don't say that.”

“Why not?”

William shrugged. “Because it's not true.”

Daniel gave a frustrated shake of his head. “William, one of my problems in the past was that I wasn't brave enough to communicate with you.”

Tears sparkled in the fragile-looking man's eyes as he looked at William. “Your old man never liked to talk about things he didn't want to deal with. And look what happened. From now on, that's going to change.”

He motioned to the wooden porch swing. “Let's sit down. I need to clear the air about some things.”

Without responding, William joined him on the bench. Their elbows brushed. Sitting side by side gave William a feeling of closeness and reassurance. For the first time in years, he felt a strange and wonderful sense of security.

As they rocked back and forth, the iron chains holding the swing to the roof of the patio creaked. The wooden boards felt hard against William's back. His father's tone was serious. Something was wrong.

He rested a shaky hand on William's thigh and took a deep breath while he glanced at William. “I guess I've got to start somewhere. My apologies for not being the father you deserved, William.”

A stressful silence ensued while William waited for his dad to go on.

“They say hindsight's twenty-twenty. Now I see things more clearly than ever.” He shook his head and lowered his voice. “I should never have left you. If I could do it again, I would have brought you with me.”

William digested the words. “But Mom—”

“I know that Miriam expected you to grow up Amish. That went without saying.” He shrugged. “But sometimes, we have to make judgment calls.” He hesitated. “Instead of hating me like you should, you came here and made sure my business survived. I don't deserve you.”