A Sister's Test (11 page)

Martha looked over at Grace. “Did you ask if he knew about the stink bomb or the toilet-papering?”

Grace shook her head. “I didn’t want him to know what I suspect. I think it gives him pleasure to know I’m scared.”

“You shouldn’t have spoken to him alone.” Martha pursed her lips. “You should have let me go with you.”

Grace stared at her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

“The stink bomb and the toilet paper mess could have been pranks like Dad mentioned,” Ruth said. “I’ll bet if we asked some of our neighbors, we’d find out that their places were toilet-papered, too.”

Martha touched Grace’s shoulder. “I think we should go. You look all done in and need to get home, where you can rest.”

Grace nodded and slipped off the stool.

As Ruth’s sisters headed out the door, she offered up a prayer.
Lord, please be with my family—especially Grace.

Cleon had just finished staining the legs of a table when Judith and Anna entered the woodworking shop.

“We brought you some lunch,” Judith said, holding out two metal lunch boxes.

Roman moved away from the desk where he’d been doing paperwork and greeted her with a smile. “We appreciate that.”

Cleon straightened and set his staining rag aside. “Where’s Grace? She usually brings my meal if I don’t go home for lunch.”

“Mama went to town,” Anna said.

Cleon’s brows knit together as he looked over at Judith.

“She was upset when she found out about the toilet-papering. So she decided to go to Berlin, hoping she might see Gary Walker there.”

“What?” Cleon’s voice echoed in his ears. “She went to town alone—to speak with that man?”

Judith shook her head. “She’s not alone. Martha went with her.”

“As if that’s supposed to make me feel better. Doesn’t my wife ever think things through? Must she always make decisions without asking my opinion or getting my approval?”

Judith glanced down at Anna, whose eyes were huge as saucers; then she looked back at Cleon and shook her head. “I think this discussion can wait, don’t you?”

After seeing the frightened look on Anna’s face, Cleon realized he had let his emotions get the better of him. He knelt on the floor in front of the child. “I’m sorry for yelling. I’m just worried about your mamm.”

“Did Mama do somethin’ wrong?” Anna’s chin quivered as she stared up at Cleon.

“She didn’t do anything wrong. I just wish she’d told me where she was going.”

“Maybe you should go after her,” Roman suggested as he tapped
Cleon on the shoulder. “Just to be sure everything’s okay.”

Cleon stood. “You wouldn’t mind? I know you have a lot of work going.”

“Nothing I have to do here is as important as the safety of my girls. I know you won’t get much work done if you stay here stewing over things.”

“Danki. I’ll have Grace and Martha back soon,” Cleon called over his shoulder as he hurried out of the shop.

“I guess we’d better go, too,” Judith said. She steered Anna toward the door.

Judith and Anna had no more than left the shop when Bishop King showed up. “Wie geht’s?” Roman asked.

“I’m doing all right. How about you?”

Roman blew out his breath in a huff that lifted the hair off his forehead. “There have been a couple of attacks here lately. At first I thought they were just pranks, but now I’m not so sure.”

“What kind of attacks?” the bishop asked as he moved closer to Roman’s desk.

“Someone tossed a stink bomb through one of the barn windows the other day. Then this morning we found toilet paper all over the house, barn, and my shop.”

Bishop King compressed his lips. “Any idea who’s to blame?”

“I can’t be sure, but I found a half-empty pack of cigarettes lying next to the barn, and I’ve got a hunch whose it is.”

“Who would that be?”

“Luke. I told you once before that I thought Luke might be upset with me for firing him. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he’s trying to get even.”

“What makes you think the cigarettes are Luke’s?”

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “I smelled smoke on Luke a time or two when he was working for me.”

The bishop raked his fingers through the ends of his beard. “Now that I think of it, not long ago, my son Toby made mention of smelling smoke on Luke.”

“Remember the time Judith’s clothesline was cut?”

“Jah.”

“She found a pair of sunglasses on the ground not far from the line, and they turned out to be Luke’s.”

“Did he admit to cutting the line?”

“No, but—”

“Would you like me to speak with Luke?”

“Can you do it without letting him know I told you what I suspect?”

Bishop King nodded. “I’ll feel him out—maybe tell him what’s been going on here and see what kind of reaction I get.”

“Sounds good. You’ll let me know what he has to say?”

“Jah, sure.” The bishop shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m a bit concerned about your attitude, though, Roman.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seems to me as if you’re jumping to conclusions—judging Luke with no real evidence. Don’t you think you should give him the benefit of the doubt?”

“I just think he’s the one with the most likely reason to want to get even with me. If that’s the case, it could be why he won’t get baptized and join the church.”

“The fact that Luke hasn’t left the faith and gone English gives me hope that eventually he’ll settle down and do what’s expected of him. More than likely that will happen when he finds the right woman and decides to get married.”

“Maybe so. I’d still appreciate you talking to him, though.”

“No problem.” The bishop glanced around the room. “So do you have that set of dressers I ordered last month ready for me yet?”

“Sure do. We can load them into your buggy right now.”

Cleon had just begun hitching a horse to his rig when another horse trotted up the driveway, pulling a buggy. He realized right away that it was one of Roman’s mares, so he hurried over to the barn and waited by the hitching rail until the horse came to a stop. “Are you okay?” he called to Grace through the open buggy flap.

She nodded, although he noticed that she looked exhausted.

Martha climbed down from the driver’s side, and Cleon helped Grace out of the buggy. “Why’d you run off like that without telling me where you were going?”

“Because I was afraid you would say no.” Grace spoke so softly he could barely hear the words.

“You’re right, I would have. You’re in no condition to go traipsing around after someone you
think
might be responsible for the things that have been done here these past two days.”

“I needed to speak with Gary and see how long he plans to stay in Holmes County.” She drew in a ragged breath. “It’s not just what’s been done here recently, either. There were other attacks that took place when he was here before.”

“So what did you find out?”

“Gary said he’s come back to the area to write more stories and that he’ll be here until they’re done.”

Cleon took hold of Grace’s arm and looked over at Martha, who stood near the buggy with a concerned look on her face. “Would you let your folks know that you and Grace are home?”

Martha nodded. “Jah, sure.”

“Oh, and would you see if Judith can keep Anna for the rest of the day? My
fraa
looks exhausted and needs to go to bed.”

“Your wife will be just fine once she’s had something to eat and has rested awhile, so there’s no need for Mom to keep Anna,” Grace argued.

Cleon slipped his arm around her waist. “I can’t go back to work in your daed’s shop unless I know you’re resting.”

Grace finally nodded, and Cleon felt relief. He might not be able to do anything about the vandalism that had been done at his in-laws’ place, but he could take care of his wife.

W
hen Martha directed her buggy up Abe Wengerd’s driveway, she spotted Martin walking toward the harness shop. She needed to be at Irene’s by three o’clock but had decided to stop on her way and see how Esta was getting along with Winkie.

Martha halted the horse near Abe’s barn and climbed out of the buggy. She was greeted by Esta, who had been in the yard playing with the puppy.

“Wie geht’s?” Martha asked.

“I’m doin’ good,” Esta replied. “Just givin’ Winkie some exercise.”

Martha smiled. “Winkie’s a cute name.”

Esta nodded. “Anna chose it ’cause the pup likes to wink one eye.”

“Jah, she told me.”

“How come Anna didn’t come with you? I like it when she comes over to play.”

“I didn’t invite her because I can’t stay very long.”

“Why not?”

“I’m on my way to work, and I’ll need to leave soon.” Martha bent down and stroked the puppy’s ears. “I’m glad Winkie has a good home.”

Esta nodded and scooped the little sheltie into her arms. “I’m takin’ good care of him.”

“I’m sure you are.” Martha squeezed Esta’s shoulder. “I’ll try to bring Anna along the next time I come over.”

“Okay.”

As Martha started for her buggy, she spotted Luke coming out of
Abe’s harness shop, and her heart missed a beat. She wished she didn’t feel so giddy every time she saw Luke. She was sure he had no interest in her. If Dad knew she had a crush on Luke, he wouldn’t approve.

“Hello, Luke,” she said as he approached. “How are you?”

“Fair to middlin’,” he replied with a shrug. “And you?”

“Doing okay.” She was tempted to mention the acts of vandalism earlier in the week but thought better of it, in case Luke was the one responsible. She hoped he wasn’t. Even if Luke was angry because Dad had fired him, Martha couldn’t imagine Luke being behind any of the things that had been done to her family. Dad had asked around the day after they’d discovered all of the toilet paper on their buildings, but none of their neighbors had been bothered. That made Martha wonder if more attacks would be forthcoming.

“How’s the dog business going?” Luke asked, pulling her thoughts aside.

“Not so well. The female beagle I bought still isn’t pregnant, but I’ll be breeding Heidi and Fritz again when the time is right.”

“Maybe you should sell off the beagles and buy some other breed of dog.”

“I’ve thought of that, and I might put an ad in
The Budget
soon.”