by Lenora Worth
Now the whole community would be buzzing with the news that a drone had destroyed the Englischer’s car. As if he didn’t have enough to cause him to worry.
He rushed through the open barn doors and heard Samantha and Emmie laughing in a corner past the livestock stalls. He stopped to watch them and listened in over the neighs and snorts of the big horses and the shuffles of the few cows he kept.
“See, he’s okay,” Samantha said on a low voice, her silhouette so natural-looking, it was as if she belonged here. “Just a little scratch on his left leg. I’ve cleaned it with the soap we found by the water pump and he doesn’t need stitches. We’ll bandage him up with that gauze your brother keeps in the tack room.”
“And we can check on him every hour, right?” Emmie said, her sweet voice full of concern.
“Of course,” Samantha agreed. “Would you feel better if we bring him onto the back porch? We don’t have a kennel and he’d probably run away.”
“I don’t want that,” Emmie said. “I’ll check on him until dark and maybe Micah can fix him up a little cage closer to the house.” She went quiet then asked, “Will he be safe? I don’t want him to be scared again.”
Another silent moment. “We will do our best to keep him and all your animals safe,” Samantha said, her serene expression belying what she must be feeling inside. “I hope you and Jed and Micah will be okay now, too.”
Micah came around the corner, appreciating that Samantha had been so kind to his siblings. Her being here and giving them attention only showed how he sometimes took them for granted and neglected them. He’d have to do better at that. It seemed he never had any spare moments.
“What’s this I hear about a sick kid?” he asked, pretending he hadn’t heard a word, pretending he hadn’t heard the fear and doubt in both their voices. “We do not allow baby goats to get sick around here.”
“Micah!” Emmie jumped up and tugged him to the corner where they’d placed the tiny goat in a hurriedly-put-together corral of old wood and a couple old chairs. Lifting the kid out, she said, “He got scared and tried to get through the fence. You need to fix that gap in the left corner.”
“What gap?” Micah asked. “That fence is solid. I check it enough to know that.”
Samantha sat with her legs tucked under her skirt. “Emmie’s right. There is a gap in the fence. As if someone—” she stopped, her gaze shifting up to Micah’s “—as if someone didn’t notice it needed repairing.”
Micah sent her a slight nod of acknowledgment for what she’d almost let slip. Someone had tampered with the fence. “Let me go and check it. You two should stay close to the house. Take the kid with you.”
“Are we still in danger?” Emmie asked as she stroked the silky white hair of the squirming kid. “Those bad people are gone now. The police scared them away, didn’t they?” Her inquisitive gaze moved from Micah to Samantha. “They won’t come back anymore, will they?”
Samantha shot him a beseeching stare. “We are going to make sure that you and Jed are safe. Sometimes bad things happen and we can’t make promises that they won’t. God is watching over us. We pray that man who tried to break in won’t return and no more drones pass by.”
“Let’s hope not,” Micah said, grabbing his pliers and bolt cutters. When he rounded the barn and saw the damage to the wire fence, he knew this wasn’t something he’d overlooked and there was no way the storm could have done this damage. Someone had tried to cut through the wiring of the goat corral that extended out beyond their shelter shed.
But why?
Studying the enclosure, he could only guess they hoped to gain access to the barn from the back, maybe to lie in wait for someone to enter? He’d taken this barn for granted, thinking of it as a haven, a place for work and to protect his animals. Now it took on sinister shadows and mysterious creaking noises.
He checked the goat shed and found it clear. No footprints there or anywhere else for that matter. He studied the grass and dirt near where the wire fence met the big barn. Fresh footprints near the cut place in the fence.
Someone had intruded on his property yet again.
Something must have scared them off. Maybe Patch had barked, unknowingly. Or the overprotective does or one of the wethers he kept around had chased the intruder away.
When had this happened? Before or after the drone strike? Had someone hoped to use the explosion as a cover while they entered the barn and hid until nightfall?
Micah did a hasty bandaging of the wires until he could redo the whole section. Goats were notorious about chewing their way through anything, but not this strong wire and these solid, crisscrossed boards.
A human had made these cuts.
Just one more reason to get Samantha to a safer place.
How would he know she was truly safe?
Not your problem, he reminded himself as he headed back to the barn. Taking a glance around, he figured he’d have to check every corner over and over to be sure.
“Let’s take your baby up to the house,” he suggested to Emmie, his gaze on Samantha. “I have a shipping crate we can use.”
After locating the crate and using the search to make sure no one was lurking in the barn, he brought it back to Emmie.
“Get this to the porch. We’ll find some blankets to put in there and feed him some hay and a bit of grain. Not too much. He’s only been weaned a couple weeks ago. We don’t want to upset his stomach.”
“Can he hop out?” Emmie asked, oblivious to the tension between Samantha and Micah. “I don’t want him to get away.”
“It’s tall and sturdy enough that he should be okay for a while.”
Jed ran up and Emmie told him about the little goat. “We have to take care of him, Jed.”
“I’ll help,” her brother offered. He patted the frightened animal’s head.
Micah shooed them along, concern making him gruff. “Go ahead and take him up. Samantha and I will be there shortly.”
Micah watched Emmie carry the little goat to the house, his mind seeing grim scenarios while he heard her cooing to the little fellow. Turning to face Samantha, he said, “Someone’s been prowling around this barn.”
She nodded, distress coloring her eyes. “So all those times the animals were restless means they sensed someone near.”
“Ja, they always got away before we could discover them.”
“This is why I’m leaving, Micah,” she said, pushing at her falling-down hair. “Once they finish getting this crate up to the house and get Emmie and her baby goat settled, I’ll go. Rebecca is waiting and Isaac should be back by now. I’m sure they’re ready to go home.”
Micah should be thankful she was going. Instead he worried these people would follow her. Grabbing her hand, he said, “Don’t do anything noble or stupid, Samantha. Stay with Isaac and Rebecca. You’ll be safe as long as you don’t try anything on your own or try to go to your grandmother’s place.”
“I can’t be safe until Leon is behind bars,” she said. “I won’t continue to put you and Emmie and Jed in the line of fire. And I certainly won’t do that to Rebecca and Isaac either.”
She took off ahead of him, looking regal in spite of her plain clothes. She also looked natural and at home in those clothes.
Micah shook off the disturbing feelings that kept nudging at his soul. He had no interest in this woman who’d moved from this world to the Englisch world. He needed to remember that.
He had to take care of this land and his siblings. That was more than enough for him. As the sun settled over the distant hills and the shadows of day became hulking and shrouded in darkness, Micah felt a chill passing in the midsummer heat.
Who was in those woods?
Were they watching him even now?
And what if they kept coming long after Samantha had left?
* * *
Samanth
a reached the house in record time and helped Emmie find what she needed for the baby goat. When Rebecca heard her knocking around in the mudroom, the other woman came to stand at the door.
“Is something wrong, Samantha?”
Samantha whirled and nodded. “You mean besides the fact that a madman is trying to kill me?”
“Yes, besides that,” Rebecca replied in her serene way.
“I’m sorry,” Samantha said after she’d located some old towels and blankets. “That drone strike was terrifying and could have turned out badly. Micah is so angry and I don’t blame him. It was unreasonable of me to stay here with strangers when I have a place to hide.”
“You can’t do this alone,” Rebecca said. “You have to see that now.”
“The local police already know about me being here and now the whole community will soon know. I’m not safe anywhere, especially not here.”
“If you’re worried about Isaac and me, don’t be,” Rebecca replied. “We are watchful and we are careful. There isn’t much crime around here. Every now and then some Englisch teens decide it might be fun to paint nasty words on our barn. Isaac has ways of finding out about people and he has ways to stop any trespassers.”
“Not violent, I hope,” Samantha said. “I don’t want to bring that down on you.”
“No, no violence,” Rebecca said. “Just one mean bull and a couple of dangerous male goats.”
Samantha actually laughed. It felt so foreign, she stopped short. Taking Rebecca’s hand, she said, “You remind me of my grandmother.”
“She and I are friends,” Rebecca said. “She’d want me to take care of you.” Holding tight to Samantha’s hand, Rebecca gave her an understanding stare. “I think it’s best you come with us, not only because someone is trying to harm you.”
Samantha saw the compassion in her friend’s eyes. “I agree. It’s for the best all the way around.”
Because if she stayed here much longer, she’d have to admit her growing feelings for Micah and his brother and sister, feelings that could never develop into anything more than friendship and gratefulness.
They heard a rustling outside. “That would be Isaac,” Rebecca said, pivoting toward the front of the house.
Isaac entered and patted his wife’s arm. “Sorry I’m late getting back. I saw two black trucks riding the roads, so I waited as long as I could.”
“They’re still out there,” Samantha said from where she stood near the hallway. “They’ll keep coming.”
“I’m afraid so,” Isaac replied. “We’ll need to smuggle you out at dark, to be safe.”
Micah came up the hall. “What’s going on?”
Isaac filled him in. “We wait here for a while.” He scratched his beard. “I went to the phone shanty and called the town police.”
Micah got his shotgun and headed for the front door. “I’ll be right back.”
“Micah, don’t go out there,” Samantha said. “You don’t want to shoot at them.”
“My property, my decision,” he said as he hurried out the door.
Samantha and Isaac went to the window to watch as Micah approached where the trucks were sitting, his gun lowered. Samantha heard him shout, “Leave now, before the police show up.”
The trucks didn’t move. Micah walked closer.
A patrol car came around the bend and slowed. Both trucks cranked up and roared away. The officer followed.
Micah came back in and put away the shotgun. His gaze flashed from Isaac back to Samantha. “You’re right to leave. Keep moving around and we can throw them off, I hope. I’d go with you tonight.”
“You have to stay here,” she finished. “Emmie and Jed need you.”
He could only nod. It seemed they’d both come to the same conclusion. She was leaving for more reasons than one.
“I’ll get her safely to our place,” Isaac said. “We’ll pretend you are one of our own, Samantha.”
The man had no idea how sweet and enticing that sounded to her right now. To be free and clear with no worries of being killed and...to be able to let her feelings for Micah be real.
Were they real? She’d been through so much these past few days, the kind of life-changing trauma that could make a person’s perspective shift and become disoriented and distorted. She wasn’t prepared for these strong emotions he brought out in her. Way too soon after Leon to feel so impulsive. Maybe like the animals she loved, she’d attached herself to the human who had saved her and was now protecting her. Micah stirred long-held emotions and so did Campton Creek.
She did feel at peace, being back here. As much at peace as she could be with Leon sending people to kill her.
When had this happened? This longing inside her soul.
Probably a natural reaction to Leon’s evil ways and how he’d used her and lied to her.
Here, she felt safe and welcome. Here, people looked out for each other and didn’t keep dangerous secrets as she’d had to do.
Soon, she’d have to leave this cocoon and go back out into the real world.
She was moving on for the sake of the man studying her so intently right now. She had a feeling her leaving couldn’t be soon enough for him.
ELEVEN
Since the two pickup trucks had left once they saw a patrol car cruising by, Isaac and Rebecca got Samantha into the buggy by bringing it close to the house. Rebecca and Samantha left together, keeping their heads down as they rushed to the buggy. They couldn’t be sure if the pickups had been construction workers parked out beyond the farmhouses or Leon’s men watching Micah’s house.
Either way, Samantha only knew she had to leave, and she hoped that by doing so, Micah and the twins could get back to a normal routine. She and Patch would miss them so much.
Rebecca settled on the buggy seat and turned to give Samantha a reassuring smile. “We’ll be there soon.”
Samantha sat in the back, out of sight, her mind swirling with an ebb and flow of so many rising emotions. She’d hugged Emmie and Jed and pushed back tears when Patch whined to stay with the twins.
“We’ll visit him,” Micah had told her once she’d decided to take the dog. Leaving him here would indicate she was still here.
“Patch would like that,” she said. “And so would I.” She turned to Emmie and Jed. “I’ll let you visit with him, either here or wherever I am. Soon.”
It was the only thing she could promise and even that might not happen.
The twins accepted her promise, their eyes full of trust.
Emmie hugged her and said, “You’ll come back to visit, won’t you?”
Samantha had glimpsed at Micah. “I for sure will visit. You are all so special to me.”
Micah had followed them to the door. “Stay safe. I’ll drop by and check on you when I can.”
Samantha could only nod. She’d thanked him over and over.
As the buggy pulled away, she closed her eyes and said a prayer for Micah and his family. She’d miss them, no doubt about that. Danger and a storm had brought them together.
Or maybe God had done that. She wasn’t sure.
“You know we live close to your grossmammi, Samantha,” Isaac said now. The big horse tugged the buggy toward home.
“Good to know,” she replied, wondering how she’d ever find her way home. Winter Lake didn’t seem so bucolic and peaceful now. “I need to get in touch with my assistant,” she blurted. “I left her in charge of my practice and I’m concerned about her.”
Rebecca nodded and looked around at Samantha. “We can take you into town in the morning. We usually go in for supplies at the Hartford General Store. Mr. Hartford has a little office in the back and he lets us use his phone as needed. I’m sure you can charge your fancy laptop while we shop.”
“I’ll appreciate that,” Samantha said, glad she’d be able to take some action.
That would keep her mind off worrying and feeling helpless, at least. “I need to be my own advocate on this situation.”
“Don’t advocate yourself into a corner,” Rebecca replied. “These people coming after you seem to be very determined.”
Samantha could only nod. Exhaustion dragged at her like a chain. Her life had been turned upside down and she wasn’t sure how to get it back on track. She’d had the perfect job, the perfect man—or so she thought—and a content life. But had she really been content with Leon and his demands? Or had she settled because she was afraid to be cast aside again in the way her mother had cast her aside?
They were clopping along when headlights shined brightly behind them. Samantha came back to the present and turned and looked through the tiny back opening of the buggy, the lights of the big vehicle blinding her. Sliding down, she said, “I think one of the trucks is back.”
“I believe you are correct,” Isaac said. “Let’s stay calm and hope they pass.”
Samantha took another peek, her heart racing, her temples throbbing with fear and adrenaline. “They’re getting closer.”
“Hold on,” Isaac said as the engine of the big truck roared to life. He moved off the road a bit, giving the truck an opportunity to pass.
The truck held back, staying behind.
“Let me out,” Samantha said, breathless. “I’ll run through the woods so you two can get away.”
“We will do no such thing,” Rebecca said. “We won’t leave you to the mercy of these evil people.”
Isaac eased back onto the road and picked up the pace, the reins popping right along with the click of his tongue to his teeth.
Once more, the truck eased up close to the buggy’s back side. Samantha took a breath and prayed with all of her heart. Isaac and Rebecca shouldn’t be a part of her drama, and yet they were willing to help her.
Please, dear Lord, don’t let this happen. Not to them.
She thought of Micah and the twins and how they’d lost their parents. She couldn’t allow them to lose Isaac and Rebecca, too.
“My phone,” she said, urgency in the words. “I can call for help.” She quickly dialed 911 and told the dispatcher someone was tailgating their buggy.
