A Sister's Test (15 page)

“Whether it’s a man or a woman doesn’t really matter. What counts is keeping Ruth safe.” Martin leaned across the counter. “Now do you see why I wanted us to get married right away? I want to be there to watch out for you every day.”

“I’m okay,” Ruth assured him. “No harm came to any of us—just our garden.”

“Maybe not today, but what about next time?”

“Let’s hope there is no next time,” Sadie said.

Deep wrinkles formed in Martin’s forehead. “I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”

Ruth smiled. It was nice to know Martin was concerned about her. Luke never seemed to care so much. “God will watch over us,” she said with a nod. “We just need to trust Him and try to not worry.”

I
t’s nice to have things back to normal again,” Mom said to Ruth as the two of them hung out the wash one Monday morning in early fall.

Ruth nodded. “I’m glad they are, and I’m hoping it’s because the sheriff’s been keeping an eye on our place.”

“Now we can keep our focus on getting ready for your wedding.”

“I’m glad I have today off,” Ruth said. “It gives me a chance to wash and dry the material I bought for my wedding dress.”

Mom reached into the basket of clean clothes and withdrew a towel. “Have you and Martin decided where you’ll live once you’re married?” she asked, clipping the towel to the line.

“We’d talked about staying with his folks for a time, but Martin found a little house to rent near Abe’s place. It’s owned by the Larsons, and Martin plans to talk to them about renting it soon.”

“It makes sense that he’d want to live near his job.”

Ruth nodded. “And since we’ll be living close to Abe’s, I can stop in more often to see how Esta and the other kinner are doing.”

“Speaking of kinner,” Mom said, reaching into the basket for another towel, “Grace says Anna’s adjusting well in school, and she seems to like her teacher.”

“I figured she would. She’s smart and gets along well with others.” Ruth smiled. “Even though she’s a couple years younger than Esta, they’ve become best friends. You should see how much fun the girls have playing with Winkie.”

“That was a thoughtful thing you did when you gave Esta the
puppy.” Mom squeezed Ruth’s shoulder. “You’ll make a fine
mudder
someday.”

“I hope so. I’m also hoping Martin and I will be blessed with kinner right away.” Ruth clipped the piece of blue material that would soon be her wedding dress to the clothesline. “I love Martin, and I’m sure he’ll make a good daed.”

“I think you’re probably right about that.” Mom reached for the empty basket. “Now that our wash has been hung, I guess I’ll head back inside and see about baking some bread.” She smiled. “Oh, and speaking of bread, I just want to say that I think Martha’s gotten pretty good at baking since she started working for Irene.”

“She’ll need baking skills if she’s ever to marry.”

“She’s got to find herself a boyfriend first.”

“I’m sure she will when the time is right. I hope it’s someone as
wunderbaar
as Martin.”

“Are you getting nervous about your wedding day?” Abe asked as he cut a piece of leather and handed it to Martin to trim the edges.

“A bit.”

“I thought so. You’ve been acting kind of jittery lately, and you haven’t said more than two words since you came to work this morning.”

“I’ve been trying to stay focused on the job at hand.”

“More than likely you’re thinking about that little woman we’ll soon be calling Martin’s Ruth.”

Martin smiled. “I suppose I have been thinking about her some.”

Abe bumped Martin’s arm with his elbow. “Some?”

“Okay, more than some. I’ve been thinking about Ruth a lot these days.” Martin sucked in his breath. “I hope I can always keep her safe.”

“There are no guarantees of that.”

Martin’s heart went out to Abe. It had to be hard for him to come to work each morning and stay focused when his heart was full of sorrow and regrets. It couldn’t be easy for him to go home every night and father his kids when all he wanted to do was retreat to his room and sleep away the pain.

Abe grabbed a hunk of leather that had been dyed cinnamon
brown and snipped a curved shape with his scissors. “Guess we’d better quit gabbing and get back to work.”

Martin nodded. “Harnesses sure don’t get made themselves.”

“I’ll go out and check the clothes drying on the line if you like,” Martha said to Mom as they finished washing the dishes after lunch.

“That would be much appreciated. As soon as Ruth comes up from the cellar, she can help you.”

Martha grabbed the wicker basket from the utility room and scurried out the back door. As she came around the side of the house, she screeched to a halt. “Someone’s shredded the clothes!”

Mom rushed outside, with Ruth right behind her.

“Ach!” Ruth cried. “My material is ruined!”

Mom stood there shaking her head. “I don’t understand why anyone would do something like this.”

Martha headed for her father’s woodworking shop.

“Where are you going?” Mom called after her.

“To tell Dad what’s happened.”

“He’s not there. He had a dental appointment, remember?”

Martha started running. Dad might not be there, but Cleon would be.

Ruth sat on the grass holding what was left of her wedding dress material and rocking back and forth. “Why, Mom? Why did this have to happen now when everything was going so well?”

Mom knelt beside Ruth and gently patted her back. “I don’t know, dear one. I just don’t know.”

A few minutes later, Martha showed up with Cleon at her side.

“Martha said someone ruined the clothes you hung on the line this morning,” he said, a look of concern etched on his face.

Ruth choked back a sob. “Every last one has been shredded.”

“Look there.” Cleon pointed to a set of footprints in the dirt that seemed to be headed in the direction of the Larsons’ place. “Whoever did this must have gone that way.”

“Surely the Larsons wouldn’t be involved in something so terrible,” Mom was quick to say. “They’re our good friends and neighbors.”

“Maybe it was Drew, that rowdy fourteen-year-old grandson of theirs who’s been visiting them this week,” Martha put in. “Think I’ll go over and ask a few questions.” She took off running before anyone could stop her.

“Want me to go after her?” Cleon asked, looking at Mom.

She shook her head. “She’ll be all right. I’m sure neither the Larsons nor their grandson had anything to do with this.”

“Let me help you clean up this mess.” Cleon bent down to grab a couple of shredded towels.

“That’s okay; you have work to do in the shop. Ruth and I can manage. Right, Ruth?”

Ruth nodded as she stood, but she couldn’t seem to find her voice.

“It will be all right,” Mom said, stroking Ruth’s back. “We’ll get more material tomorrow, and then we can start making your wedding dress as planned.”

Tears welled in Ruth’s eyes. “And then what, Mom? Do we make the dress, wash it, then hang it on the line again so someone can shred it in two?” She let her gaze travel around the yard. “Where was the sheriff when this was done to our clothes? Why wasn’t he watching out for us the way he said he would?”

“Sheriff Osborn can’t be everywhere,” Mom reminded. “He’s got other obligations and isn’t able to keep an eye on our place all the time. Besides, this is the first attack we’ve had in many weeks. The sheriff probably figured things were fine and dandy around here since he hasn’t heard anything to the contrary.”

Ruth stared at her mother as she gulped in deep breaths; then she dashed across the yard and sprinted up the driveway to Grace’s house.

Grace had just taken a loaf of bread from the oven when the back door swooshed open and Ruth rushed into the room, wide-eyed and waving a piece of blue material in her hands.

“He’s at it again, Grace! Whoever attacked us before has shredded
all the clothes on our line, including the material for my wedding dress!”

Grace hurried across the room. “Ach, I’m so sorry,” she said, wrapping her arms around Ruth. “This had to be Gary’s doing.”

“But why?” Ruth sobbed. “Why would he want to ruin the material for my wedding dress?”

Grace shook her head. “It’s me he wants to hurt, not you.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I’m sorry to say this, but he’s hurting my family in the process.”

Ruth leaned her head on Grace’s shoulder. “How are we going to make it stop?”

“I don’t know. I suppose we could talk to the sheriff.”

Ruth’s mouth dropped open. “Without Dad’s permission?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

“But I thought Sheriff Osborn was supposed to be keeping an eye on our place. If so, it hasn’t done much good.”

“Maybe he’s been too busy or decided to give up patrolling the area because things have quieted down. Since Anna’s in school, I’m free to go with you to town. We can see Sheriff Osborn first, and then we’ll head over to the fabric outlet and get more material for your wedding dress.”

“Are you sure you feel up to it?” Ruth asked with a look of concern. “Maybe it would be better if you stayed home and rested. I can go by myself to see the sheriff.”

Grace shook her head. “I’m fine, and I insist on going to town with you.”