Seeds of Deception: A Kate Burkholder Short Story (3 page)

“It’s a good thing you and Billy got out when you did,” Katie said after a moment.

“That’s for sure,” Mattie replied.

“I wonder how the fire started.”

When her friend didn’t reply, Katie looked her way. “Mattie?”

Glancing left and right, Mattie lowered her voice. “I think Billy Marquart might’ve … done something.”

Though she was sweating, the hairs on Katie’s arms stood on end. “Done something like what?”

“When we were in the barn,” Mattie began, “We smoked for a bit and then he … you know, tried to … kiss me. I pushed him away, and he got angry. He … called me bad names and punched the wall with his fist.”

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No, but he scared me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it was my fault for going into the barn with him in the first place.” Mattie blew out a breath. “Bad idea, huh?”

A second fire truck arrived on scene. Two additional firefighters disembarked. Beyond, flames devoured the barn, the dry wood snapping and popping like firecrackers.

All the while Katie tried to absorb everything her friend had told her. “Did Billy start the fire?” she whispered.

“He was so angry with me.” Looking miserable, Mattie shrugged. “He had a lighter. What if he did?”

A crash sounded, making both girls jump. Katie glanced over in time to see part of the barn’s roof cave in, sparks flying high into the air, gray smoke billowing. The firefighters continued to battle the blaze. In the gravel driveway beyond, a sheriff’s department cruiser pulled up next to one of the fire trucks.

“We have to tell someone,” Katie said after a moment.

“You mean the police?” Mattie asked.

“They’re probably going to want to talk to us anyway. All we have to do is tell the truth.”

For the first time Mattie looked frightened. “Billy’s going to be pissed.”

Katie felt something protective rise up inside her. “I have a feeling the police are going to keep him busy for a while.”

*   *   *

Twenty minutes later, Katie, Jacob, and Mattie stood in the gravel driveway of the Zimmerman home. They’d been instructed by the Holmes County sheriff’s deputy to wait for their turn to be interviewed. Mr. Zimmerman was talking to the deputy, gesturing angrily toward the barn. Both men’s faces were grim, their voices low.

A dozen yards away, the barn smoldered and steamed. The fire had been extinguished. The structure was still standing, for the most part, but the contents inside—a tractor, spray equipment, and a hundred bales of hay—had been destroyed.

Through the door, Katie saw the outline of the tractor listing at a cockeyed slant, the tires burned off. Once the firefighters had gotten the blaze under control, the deputy motioned them over and brought them here, to the driveway. Katie, Jacob, and Mattie watched, unspeaking, while the police had methodically talked to everyone—workers and customers alike. Billy Marquart was nowhere in sight.

The uniformed deputy approached them, his expression grim, his demeanor professional. “Is everyone okay here?” he asked.

“We’re fine,” Jacob told him.

“Was anyone hurt?” Katie asked.

The deputy shook his head. “Luckily, no one was inside.”

He pulled a notebook from his shirt pocket. His eyes fell on Katie and then went to Mattie. “I understand you girls were picking apples near the barn. Did either of you see anything you want to tell me about? Was there anyone else around?”

Jacob interjected, his expression puzzled. “Did someone start the fire?”

“We don’t know yet,” the deputy hedged. “Fire marshal is probably going to get involved. But we think it’s a possibility.”

The cop’s gaze slid to Katie. “Did you see anyone?”

Her heart began to pound. She swallowed hard, staring back at him. “The English boy.”

The deputy’s eyes narrowed. “Which English boy? What’s his name?”

“Billy Marquart,” Mattie put in. “He works here at the orchard.”

He scribbled in the notebook. “Virginia and Bud’s son.” He said the words to no one in particular, frowning. Painters Mill was a small town, and evidently, he had some knowledge of Billy.

“Where did you see him exactly?” the deputy asked.

“Both of us saw him,” Mattie replied. “In the barn.”

Neither girl mentioned that Mattie had been in the barn with him.

Across from her, Jacob looked from Katie to Mattie, his eyes narrow and glinting with reproach.

“How long after you saw him in the barn did you notice the fire?” the deputy asked.

“A few minutes,” Katie replied.

Grimacing as if he’d bitten into something distasteful, the deputy made another notation in his notebook. “Did you see anyone else?”

“No,” Mattie replied. “Just Billy.”

In her peripheral vision, Katie was aware of Jacob watching the exchange with interest. She didn’t dare look at him, but she knew what he was thinking. That she and Mattie had been talking to Billy. That they’d been
flirting
with him.
That Mattie had been in the barn.

The deputy asked for the exact time, but neither girl could say for certain. “What was Billy doing when you saw him?” he asked.

“Leaving the barn,” Katie said.

“He was running,” Mattie added. “He looked like he was in a big hurry.”

The deputy snapped the notebook closed. “If we need anything else, we’ll get in touch with your parents. You’re free to go.” Tipping his hat, he walked away.

Katie had hoped for a few minutes alone with Mattie, but she didn’t get the chance to speak with her again because Datt arrived a few minutes later to take her and Jacob home.

On the buggy ride to the farm, Datt inquired about the fire. Jacob explained that Mattie had seen the
Englischer
boy who worked at the orchard and left it at that. Datt didn’t press.

Katie decided she was going to be nicer to her older brother.

*   *   *

Early the next morning before worship, Katie went to the barn to feed the old Percheron draft horse her
datt
had charged her with caring for. She found Jacob already at work, mucking out the stalls.

“Did you hear about Billy Marquart?” he asked.

Katie cut the tie on the hay bale, pulled out a generous flake of alfalfa and dropped it into the feeder. “What did he do now?”

“The police arrested him. For arson.”

The statement shouldn’t have surprised her. Mattie had told her Billy might have set the fire. Katie had seen him walking away. The problem was, he hadn’t been alone in the barn, and no one had told the deputy.

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Datt told me. One of his English friends works at the sheriff’s department.”

Katie went over to the hand pump, concentrating a little too hard on pumping water into the bucket.

“Billy claims he didn’t do it,” Jacob told her.

She stopped pumping. “Everyone knows Billy Marquart is a liar and a
druvvel-machah
to boot.”

“Did you talk to him?”

She stopped pumping, her heart beating fast. “He came over to Mattie and me while we were picking apples. He was on an ATV with another boy. He asked me to go into the barn with him, and I told him no.”

Jacob didn’t look happy about that bit of information. He was protective of his sisters. Too protective, in Katie’s opinion, and a lot more judgmental than he had a right to be. This morning, she sorely hoped he just let it go.

“What about Mattie?” he pressed. “You told me she went into the barn for a … break.”

She stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. A lie dangled on her lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to utter the words. “You’ll have to ask her.” Hefting the bucket, she carried it to the stall and hung it over the hook.

Her brother’s eyes sharpened on hers.

“Stop looking at me like that.” She closed the stall door with a little too much force. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Are you sure?”

Katie didn’t respond. There was no way she could defend herself without having to tell him more than she wanted to and risk getting her friend in trouble.

Leaving the stall where he’d been working, Jacob crossed to her. “I see things, Katie. Things Mamm and Datt do not. Sometimes I don’t like what I see when it comes to you.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know you talked to Billy. I know you’ve talked to other boys, too, haven’t you?”

“I don’t see how that’s any business of yours.”

“You think I didn’t notice the way you looked at Daniel Lapp? The way he looked at you?”

Heat flooded her face. Not because she was being accused of something she hadn’t done, but because he was calling her on something she was, indeed, guilty of.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” she snapped. “I’m fourteen years old. I’ll be going to singings before long.”

“I don’t like Lapp. I don’t like Billy Marquart. And I’m not sure I like Mattie Erb.”

“You can’t choose my friends,” she spat, but her cheeks were still burning.

“Keep it up and I’ll have no choice but to go to Datt.”

Turning away, she started toward the barn door. “I have to get ready for worship.”

“Billy says Mattie started the fire.”

Katie stopped and swiveled to face him, her heart pounding. “
Sell is nix as baeffzes
!” That’s nothing but trifling talk.

“He told the police
she
had a lighter. A pink one. The police searched Billy, searched his room, and guess what? They didn’t find a lighter.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” she hissed.

“Billy told the fire marshal that he
saw
Mattie set that fire.”

“I don’t believe it. Mattie wouldn’t—”

“Billy said she did it to punish him for getting her fired from her job at the auction.”

“What else is he going to say?” Katie tried to laugh, but it didn’t ring true. “Billy Marquart is a
liknah
.” A liar.

“You seem to know a lot of them.” Jacob moved closer, tilted his head to make better eye contact. “Maybe you ought to choose your friends with a little more care. I wouldn’t want any of it to rub off on you.”

“The only thing rubbing off on me is your suspicious attitude,” she said.

Jacob sighed. “Datt told me the fire marshal is going to talk to Mattie again, if they haven’t already. More than likely they’ll be speaking to you and me, too.”

A quiver of fear moved through Katie, but she didn’t let it show. “I’m not worried,” she said. “All we have to do is tell the truth.”

“Hopefully, you will.”

“I have to go.” When she turned and walked away, her legs were shaking.

*   *   *

The day of worship is an important one for the Amish. It’s a time of reflection and anticipation, but it’s also a day reserved for rest and for socializing with friends, family, and neighbors. With the exception of caring for the farm animals, chores are set aside. The preaching service is held every other Sunday, not in a church, but in an Amish home or barn. Benches and chairs are brought in. Most of the women bring food. The service often lasts three hours or longer.

This week, worship was at the Stutz farm, and Katie couldn’t wait to see Mattie. She’d been on pins and needles since talking to her brother. She couldn’t get his words out of her head.
Billie says Mattie started the fire.

Of course Billy Marquart was lying. That’s what people like him did when they got caught doing something they shouldn’t. They lied or blamed someone else.
Not this time
, Katie thought. She wouldn’t allow it. If only she could silence the other, more disturbing voice whispering inside her head. That was the one that had her stomach in knots. The one that reminded her Billy Marquart wasn’t the
only
one with a reputation. His was earned. Was Mattie’s?

Katie knew better than anyone that her friend wasn’t perfect. No one was. Yes, it was true that Mattie broke the rules and pushed boundaries—lots of people did, even among the Amish. It was one of the things Katie loved about Mattie. Her sharp mouth. Her quick laugh. Her devil-may-care attitude when it came to all those Amish rules. As far as Katie was concerned, most of those rules were too strict, anyway.

She’d never told a soul, but there were times when she entertained fantasies of leaving it all behind. Times when she knew in her heart that a life without books and music couldn’t possibly be fulfilling. And what about college? What was so terrible about an education? How could those things keep you from getting into heaven?

Some days she was so filled with discontent that she dreamed about running away and never coming back. They were her private thoughts, thoughts she’d never shared with anyone.

Except Mattie.

One night last summer, Mattie had slept over with Katie. There was a new foal on the way and Mamm had allowed them to take their sleeping bags to the barn for the night. They hadn’t slept a wink, instead staying up talking far into the night as they watched the mare and waited for the foal to come. They had shared their most personal hopes and secret dreams for the future. Not all those dreams included baptism, marriage, and children.

Mattie was the only one who understood. The only person brave enough to speak of such forbidden topics aloud and in the presence of another person. That was one of the reasons, Katie supposed, that not everyone liked Mattie.

She’d heard all the mean-spirited barbs.
The Erb girl is a boy magnet.
That Erb girl will smile at a boy whether he’s Amish or English.
Her parents had better look out come her time for
Rumspringa
!

Katie wanted to believe it was just idle gossip, a favorite Amish pastime. But as she’d entered her teens, she’d realized that harmless gossip was rarely harmless. The Amish may be pious, but they excelled at throwing the occasional petty jab, especially at their own.

Katie refused to give the cruel comments weight. She wouldn’t listen and she wouldn’t judge her friend. She loved Mattie and the loyalty she felt toward her was abiding and deep.

The preaching service seemed to go on forever. In the course of
Es schwere Deel
, or the main sermon, Katie had looked around and spotted Mattie on a bench three rows back. They made eye contact and a silent communication had passed between them.
Meet me at the swing behind the barn when this is over!
It was their usual rendezvous point, and Katie could barely wait.