Simple Secrets (The Harmony Series 1) (15 page)

I sighed. “You’re forgetting my dad. Trust me. He’ll try to take responsibility for Glick’s death.”

“But why would he connect the remains to Glick? Your father thinks he moved away years ago. It might never occur to him that the dead man is someone he knew.”

“Benjamin packed a suitcase to make it look like Glick left town and buried it with him. It won’t be hard for the authorities to figure out who the body belongs to. Look, Sam. In the time I have left here, let’s see what we can find out about Jacob Glick. There are still people in Harmony who knew him. I think we might be able to figure out what really happened if we talk to the right person. And in the process, we’ll probably find out who took Ruth’s vase and planted it at my place. Until then, everyone’s going to think I’m guilty.”

Sam stared at the floor for several seconds. Finally, he raised his hands in surrender. “I might be making the biggest mistake of my life, but okay.” He pointed his index finger at me. “But if we can’t solve this thing...”

“Like I said, we’ll probably have to call the sheriff.”

“Probably?”

I reached for a strand of hair and twirled it around my finger. “Just what kind of man is he?”

Sam’s eyes widened, and then he laughed. “He’s a jerk. I know it’s not nice to say things like that, but folks in Harmony try their best to keep him out of their business. He doesn’t like religious people, and he sees our little town as a hotbed of crazy zealots.”

I snorted. “Oh great. That’s encouraging.”

“Sorry. Just being honest.”

“Well, let’s keep that prospect in the background for now.” I looked at my watch. “It’s getting late. Let’s see if we can talk your aunt into having pity on us. I’m starving. Then I need to get back to my uncle’s and get a good night’s sleep. We have a lot of work to do...”

Sam held his hand up like a cop stopping traffic. “Whoa right there, little lady. I might have promised not to interfere in how you handle your family secret, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stay quiet about everything you do.”

I frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”

He stood up again. Somehow, Buddy knew this time Sam intended to leave. The small dog jumped down and waited at his master’s feet. “You heard noises outside Ben’s place last night. Today someone’s been inside your house twice. There’s no way on God’s green earth I’m letting you stay there another night. I’ll drive you over so you can get whatever clothes and supplies you need, but then you’re coming back here. And you’re staying with us until we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re safe.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared at me.

My own stubbornness raised its ugly head and met his expression with one of my own. I desperately wanted to inform him that he wasn’t about to tell me what to do. But to be honest, the idea of staying at Benjamin’s alone gave me the heebie-jeebies. “Don’t get used to pushing me around,” I growled at him. “However, in this case, I think you’re right.” I nodded toward the house. “What will Sweetie say?”

“Sweetie won’t say a word. She trusts me. If I say you need to stay with us, she’ll go along with it.”

Great. Just what I needed. A hostess forced into extending hospitality. I sighed. “Let’s see if she’ll feed us, and then you can give her the news. I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed.”

He chuckled and pointed toward the large barn door. Buddy and I headed out, but when I turned around, Sam wasn’t behind us. He stood in front of one of the horses, petting its head and speaking softly to it. I waited while he said good night to both of the beautiful animals, admiring his tenderness with them. Sam Goodrich was different than any man I’d ever known—except my father. Was that why I was drawn to him? I made an inner vow to keep a little distance between us—physically and emotionally. It would be hard. His long blond hair glowed in the dusky light, and the muscles in his arms moved as he stroked the horses. The remaining sunlight caught the light golden hairs on his arms. His lean body moved with an unusual grace. I suspected it came from working on the farm. I couldn’t call him cover-model handsome, but his looks were appealing, even though I got the feeling he wasn’t aware of it. More importantly, Sam Goodrich was an honorable man. To me, there was nothing more attractive than a man with a virtuous heart. And there weren’t enough of them around. I ran through a short mental list of the men I’d dated in the past year—every one a polished professional. Yet none of them held a candle to this Kansas farm boy.

Sam checked the padlocks on each stall and faced me with a smile. “Sweetie and I rescued Ranger and Tonto from a man in Council Grove who abused them. When we brought them here, they were sick, skinny, and afraid of people. They’ve come a long way.”

“Ranger and Tonto? Like on
The Lone Ranger?”

“You’re too young to remember that show,” he said with an amused grin.

“So are you.”

He ambled over to where Buddy and I stood waiting. “When I was a kid I watched reruns. I used to pretend the Lone Ranger was my father—and Tonto was a wise uncle I could go to when I needed advice.”

I stepped outside so Sam could close the barn door. Dusk was giving way to darkness. The light above the barn door created a safe, golden circle for Sam, Buddy, and me. I’d told Sam my secrets. Was it time to ask him to reveal his? I took a deep breath and dove in. “I hope you don’t think I’m being nosy, but where are your parents? Why do you live here with your aunt?”

“You’re not being nosy. It’s a natural question.” He leaned against the barn door and crossed his arms. “My mother died when I was young. I never knew my father. Sweetie is my mother’s only sister. She applied to be my guardian, and here I am.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t be. Sweetie’s been a wonderful substitute parent. I had a great childhood, and there’s no other place I’d rather live than on this farm. I love Harmony and the people who live here.” He smiled at me, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Really, don’t feel sorry for me, Grace. I don’t.” He leaned down and petted Buddy on the head. “Now, let’s see what kind of mood Sweetie’s in. I swear, my belt buckle feels like it’s hitting my spine.”

I nodded and followed him and Buddy back to the house. I was glad I’d asked about his parents, but I’d noticed that he hadn’t told me how his mother had died or why he’d never known his father. Maybe I was splitting hairs. I guess he’d tell me when he was ready. Right now, Sweetie’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes called my name.

By the time we reached the porch, we could tell by the aroma that she had decided to have mercy on us. Sure enough, when we walked in the door, she yelled at us from the kitchen to “sit down at the table before I change my mind and throw this food in the trash.” A few minutes later, we were eating.

At first Sweetie didn’t say anything to me directly. She made sure I had some of everything on the table. After my second helping of mashed potatoes, she finally addressed me.

“So how do you imagine that silly vase of Ruth’s found its way to your place?” Her tone was sharp and confrontational, but there was no condemnation in her expression. I got the feeling she was testing me.

After swallowing the bite of biscuit and strawberry preserves in my mouth, I met her fixed gaze, refusing to look away. “I have no idea. Someone put it there, and I intend to find out why.”

After a brief staring contest, she lowered her eyes and nodded slowly. “Good for you. You might find it a little uncomfortable in town for a while, but sometimes you just gotta stand up straight and do whatcha gotta do. Backin’ down from a fight ain’t never the right way to go. You gotta face your adversaries with your head held high.”

“Sweetie, I want Grace to stay here with us,” Sam said. “Someone broke into Ben’s place and left that vase there to implicate her. It’s not safe.”

His tone didn’t invite discussion, and to my utter amazement, Sweetie didn’t offer any. The disagreeable look on her face was either due to my extended visit—or because she had indigestion. I couldn’t be sure, but to her credit she nodded.

“I’ll put clean sheets on the bed in the south bedroom.”

“Sw–Sweetie,” I said with a gulp, “did you see anyone at Benjamin’s house today while Sam and I were in town?” I patted myself mentally for finally spitting out the silly name.

She frowned so hard her two eyebrows became one. “What kind of a fool do you take me for?” she snapped. “If I’d seen someone snoopin’ around your house, don’t you think I woulda told you already? For cryin’ out loud...”

“Now, Sweetie,” Sam said in a soothing voice, “I intended to ask you the same question. Grace just got it out before I did. We’re not saying you’d forget to tell us if you saw someone. But sometimes we don’t realize until later how important some little detail might be in a situation like this.”

“Well, I didn’t see nothin’. I was workin’ today. Not gallivantin’ around town.”

“Thanks,” Sam said. “That’s all we needed to know. And thanks for this great supper. No one cooks the way you do. Not even Hector down at the café.”

Sweetie’s face relaxed, the storm seemingly abated for now. Sam certainly knew how to control his aunt. She stood up. “You two ready for some of my apple pie?”

I was so full my stomach wanted to scream “No!” but I found myself nodding along with Sam. It was as if my head had no actual connection to my brain. Within a few minutes we were eating the best apple pie I’d ever tasted, covered with cream. I’d had apple pie and ice cream before, but never warm pie with pure cream ladled over it. It wouldn’t be the last time.

Finally, when there was no way to put another bite of food into my body, Sam and I left to pick up my things from Benjamin’s. As we approached the house, a clap of thunder exploded overhead, and I jumped.

“Hope you’re not afraid of storms,” Sam said. “In the spring, we get them all the time. Sometimes one right after the other. The farmers look forward to the rain—as long as it’s not too much.”

“No, I love rain. I just didn’t realize we had a storm coming in.”

As if on cue, thick sheets of rain began falling on us. Sam parked as close to the door as he could, but we still got soaked before we hit the front porch. It didn’t take me long to gather what I needed. Before we left, I carried a lantern to the basement. I wanted to look inside the trunk where the vase had supposedly been found. It was still open, and except for a quilt that had been moved to one side, it looked just as it had when I’d gone through it the first time.

“The trunk was unlocked?” Sam had followed me down the stairs.

“Yes.”

“And where was the letter?”

“That was upstairs, in Mama and Papa’s room.” It made me nervous to think that someone had not only been in this basement, but also in the main room and the upstairs. The entire house felt tainted somehow.

Sam closed the chest. “I don’t like leaving the house unprotected.” He shook his head. “In Harmony, we don’t usually worry about locking our doors. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about someone breaking in and stealing something as long as I’ve lived here. But now I’m uneasy. This house is way too accessible.”

I reached over and put my hand on his arm. “Look. Whoever broke in was here for a specific reason. To get that letter and to plant the vase. I don’t think anything else is missing, and I doubt they’ll be back—especially since they know we’d be watching for them.”

He stared at the closed trunk. “Maybe you’re right,” he said thoughtfully, “but some new locks and dead bolts wouldn’t hurt.” His face creased in a deep frown. “Grace, how could anyone know about that letter? I mean, I doubt seriously that Ben told anyone else about it. If he had, they could have gotten it before you came to town.”

“I’ve wondered about that myself. I don’t know the answer.”

He turned toward me. “I might. I think the noises you heard last night were more than squirrels. I think someone was watching you and saw you read the letter.” He reached over and put his hand on my cheek. “You need to consider the idea that whoever is behind this may not take kindly to your probing and prodding around for information. I’m beginning to wonder if you might actually be in some danger.”

Although I already shivered from the chilled rain outside, his words made me feel even colder on the inside. Seeing my distress, he opened his arms, and I leaned into him. In the circle of his embrace, I felt safe. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that right at that moment, someone else in Harmony had very different intentions—and my safety was the least of that person’s concerns.

After a hot shower and clean clothes, I felt more like myself. I crawled into bed and gazed around the room Sweetie had prepared for me. Although only a guest room, it matched the rest of the house in charm and decor. Deep purple violets adorned the wallpaper. The thick oak furniture was delicately carved. A gorgeous lavender and gold Victorian rug lay in the middle of the gleaming wood floor. Flowers and vines decorated its edges. A fireplace with a thick oak mantel held a large basket of silk lilacs. I tried to imagine lying in this tall bed and snuggling down into the soft, stuffed mattress while snow fell outside and a fire crackled in the fireplace. Even though it wasn’t winter, it made me feel warm and comfortable. Over the bed hung a beautiful painting of children playing in a meadow full of flowers. I pulled myself up so I could see the signature.
H. Mueller.
Still another painting by Hannah. After hearing that Sam regularly bought her work, I felt confident I’d find more of the young girl’s paintings throughout the house.

I lay back down in the bed, pulled the thick, handmade quilt up to my chin, and stared up at the decorated ceiling tiles. The glow from a bedside lamp made the room seem so cozy and safe that the tension from the day’s earlier events began to lessen. I listened to the rain pelting the roof overhead and prayed for guidance. One of my favorite times to talk to God was after climbing into bed at night. Everything is dark and still, and His presence seems so real. Although no voice boomed out of heaven with the answers to my problems, a solid sense of peace washed over me, reminding me that I am never alone and that my Father is never surprised by any turn of events. Nor is there anything He can’t handle.