by Molly Jebber
Joel darted his gaze to the sheriff. “The sheriff is way back behind us. We’ll keep leading him to the kidnapper, and then once he catches up to us, we’ll stay back and let him and his lawmen take over. There may be dangerous men living with her.”
Ellie nodded. The rumble of the horse’s hooves shook the ground. “Poor Peter! We have to get him away from her. She couldn’t have good intentions. I noticed her out the window. She paced and talked to herself. I sensed something was wrong. I never should have left Peter alone.” She gripped the side of the fast-moving buggy. “Peter, we’re kumming! We’re kumming!”
Peter didn’t attempt to turn around. She groaned. The horse’s hooves pounding the dirt and the distance between them must’ve drowned out the sound of her voice.
The kidnapper jumped out of the wagon, untied Peter, and snatched him in both her arms, and dragged him inside the haus.
Joel and Ellie looked back at the sheriff.
Joel said, “The sheriff will catch up to us soon. He’s getting closer.”
“Who are you? Let me go!” Peter cried. “Joel! Ellie!”
Ellie swayed next to Joel. The wagon wheel had hit another rut and slowed the horse. She regained her balance and sat on the edge of the seat. “Peter!” She kept her eyes on him in the distance. Her heart ached. She wanted to run after him.
Joel flicked the reins again. “Kumme on, girl. You’re all right. Let’s go!”
The horse picked up momentum.
The sheriff caught up to them. “Esther pointed us in the right direction. I’m glad you followed the kidnapper. It helped me spot you and kept us on track. I was just kumming into town on my horse. My deputies must’ve noticed me barreling through town and followed. They’re close behind.” He went ahead of them, dismounted, and hurried to tie off his horse.
Joel pulled up next to him. “I’d like to help, Sheriff.”
The sheriff got off his horse and secured it to a worn hitching post. “You two stay in your wagon. We’ll take care of this.” The deputies arrived, and he motioned for his men to go with him after Peter and the stranger. He rushed to the door and rapped hard with his fist. “This is the sheriff. Open this door, and let the boy go.”
Ellie held her fists to her quivering lips. “I’m afraid for Peter.”
“Shut up and go away, Sheriff. I won’t let you take my Leroy. Ya hear?”
Ellie shivered. The defiant woman wasn’t budging. She wouldn’t give in easily.
The sheriff held his rifle to his side. “I’ll break this door down if you don’t cooperate.”
“Go away, or I’ll shoot you where you stand.”
Ellie looked at Joel. “She’s loud and mean. No telling what she’ll do.” She prayed for Peter’s and the men’s safety.
Another woman with auburn hair and average height and weight pulled her wagon next to them in front of the haus. “What is going on?”
Ellie pointed to the haus. “The deranged woman in this haus kidnapped my bruder from town. She’s got him inside.”
The woman didn’t respond and took one big jump out of her wagon and ran to the sheriff. “I’m her sister, Pamela Myers. Harriett’s not right in the head. Let me try. Harriett, open this door right now.”
“Pamela? I found Leroy and brought him home.”
“Harriett, Leroy went to Heaven. Remember, he got ill and passed.”
“No! You’re wrong. You’re lying! He’s our Leroy.”
Pamela turned to them. “I’m sorry. My sister had a child who died last year. Her husband ran off with another woman before the funeral.” She shook her head. “Anyway, the child passed away at the age of five from an unknown illness. The child never enjoyed good health. She is replacing her boy with yours.” She pounded harder on the door then dropped her fist to her side. “Let me in, Harriett. I want to meet him.”
Joel and Ellie stared in disbelief.
“The woman is troubled. This is dangerous.” Ellie let tears fall onto her cheeks. “I feel so helpless.”
“She wouldn’t hurt her child. I doubt she’d harm Peter. This will all be over soon, and we’ll take Peter home.” He covered her hand.
Ellie loved Joel so much. He protected her and comforted her, and she was relieved he was with her. He gave her the reassurance and calm she needed in this storm. She prayed God would work a miracle in his mamm’s heart so she didn’t have to live her life without him. “Joel, I’ll never forgive myself if Peter gets hurt.”
“Don’t go there. Everything will be fine. The sheriff will take charge, and he won’t put Peter in danger. If we’re quiet, we’ll hear their conversation.”
Ellie nodded.
“Would she injure the boy?” Sheriff Williams stared at Pamela.
Ellie pressed a hand to her throat.
“I doubt it.” Pamela turned the nob. “Unlock the door, Harriett. I need to kumme inside.”
“You kumme in alone.”
Pamela motioned for them to step back. “She’s unstable. You have to let me reason with her. She’s desperate and anxious, which makes her very aggressive. She won’t hesitate to shoot you. I don’t want anyone injured, or worse. Give me a few minutes.”
The sheriff said, “From what you’ve said, she may harm you.”
“I’ll be all right. She won’t do anything to me.” She wrung her hands. “We’ve only been here a week. Leroy passed right before we left Akron. She was taking a nap when I left. I went to the neighbor’s to buy eggs. I stayed longer than I should have. The change in location has upset her, and she’s still grieving over her son. She’s been a handful, and unpredictable.”
Ellie fidgeted her hands. “Peter must be terrified.”
Joel raked a hand through his hair. “He’ll be in your arms in no time.”
“Madam. Step aside. You’re facing a mad woman. Now time’s a wastin’.” The sheriff motioned for the deputies to get ready to go in.
“Harriett, please! Let me in!” Pamela screamed, as a deputy subdued her.
The door creaked open a few inches.
The sheriff forced it open. His deputies ran in with him. “Put your gun down now!”
The woman ranted and raved and waved the rifle at them. “I’m his mother. Get out of this house now! You touch Leroy, and it will be your last day on this earth. You got it!”
Ellie eyed the sheriff through the open door. She held her breath and exhaled, shaking her hands. “She’s in full view over there.” Ellie pointed to the window. “Where’s Peter?”
Joel gasped. “He’ll be all right. The sheriff’s got this under control.”
His pale face didn’t convince her. She loved him for attempting to keep her calm, but she didn’t trust this crazed woman.
“Don’t harm my sister!” Pamela struggled to get away from the deputy’s grasp on the porch.
The sheriff took Harriett by surprise and grabbed the rifle. His other deputy pulled Harriet outside, dragged her hands behind her back, and handcuffed her. He had a tight grip on her arm.
Another deputy grabbed her other arm.
“Let go of me!” Harriett jerked her arm to no avail.
Pamela wagged a finger at Harriett. “I’m ashamed of you! You can’t take a child. You’re being ridiculous.” She narrowed her eyes. “You were not to go anywhere without me.”
Harriett’s shoulders slumped and tears dampened her cheeks. “Please don’t make me give Leroy up. He’s mine.”
The sheriff waved his hand. “Peter, you can kumme out now.”
Peter bolted out the door. “Ellie! Joel!”
Joel and Ellie got out of the wagon and ran to him. Joel lifted him up, and they hugged him.
Peter shivered and swiped his tears. He’d wet his pants. “I was so scared. She kept calling me Leroy.”
“She had a little boy named Leroy who got ill and passed. She wanted to believe you are him. She’s not right in the head.”
“I just want to go home. I don’t ever want to see her again.” He buried
his head in Joel’s shoulder and had a tight grip on his shirt.
The sheriff handed the disturbed woman off to his deputies and approached Joel and Ellie. “I’ll take care of the woman, and you take Peter home.”
“Danki, Sheriff.” Joel carried Peter and waited for Ellie to get seated. He slid her bruder on her lap.
Peter snuggled close to Ellie and held a fist of the fabric on her sleeve. He pressed his head against her. “She’s so scary, Ellie.” He wept and his body trembled.
Joel headed to Ellie’s haus. “You’re safe and the woman can’t hurt you anymore.” He rested a hand on Peter’s leg.
Ellie tightened her arm around Peter and her hand gently held his head against her. “We’ll be home in a few minutes, and you’ll be with Snuggles and Cinnamon, safe and sound.”
Peter had mashed his body so close to hers, she was uncomfortable. But she didn’t move an inch. She’d do anything to make him feel safe again.
Joel had risked his life for them. He’d been close to the bakery at the time. Kumming to talk to her? His timing couldn’t have been better.
She ached for their problems to dissolve so they could go back to the way things were between them before she told him about her past. His part in rescuing Peter made it even harder to accept they might never plan a future together and hurt worse than ever. She glanced at him. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
* * *
Joel pulled the buggy up at Liza and Jacob’s. They were outside pacing across the yard with Abe and Esther. Jacob had his arm around Liza.
They came running to the buggy. “Peter!”
Jacob stepped up and scooped Peter in his arms. He put the boy on the ground, and Liza, Esther, and Abe circled them in a hug, then stepped back.
Liza’s eyes damp, she wrapped her arms around her husband and Peter and turned her head to Joel and Ellie. “I’m glad you’re both all right. I prayed and prayed for your safe return. I’ve been beside myself with worry. Jacob and Abe wanted to go and find you, but I begged them to stay here.”
Jacob faced Joel. “We’re so thankful you were there to help.”
“She lived in the big white haus on the outskirts of town. It’s an out of the way place. Liza’s right. There was nothing you could do. We let the sheriff handle the situation, and he did a fine job.” Joel gave them a reassuring smile.
“Danki for everything, Joel.” Liza held Peter’s hand. “Would you like to go inside?”
He hung his head and nodded.
“Esther, do you want to join us?” Liza waved her over.
“I would love to.”
“Abe and I paced and fretted.” Jacob rubbed his arms. “We couldn’t sit still. At least we would’ve been doing something. It took everything I had in me to stay put.”
“I was as bad as he was, fidgeting and worrying.” Abe clasped Joel’s shoulder. “We did say a prayer for everyone’s safety. We might never have found Peter if you hadn’t followed them.”
Ellie stood next to Joel and rolled her tense shoulders back. “Everything happened so fast. The woman grabbed Peter and practically threw him in her buggy, tied him up, then she took off with him. I ran out. Joel was near the bakery and saw what she was doing. He hurried and got in his wagon, and I did too. Esther ran to the sheriff as he was kumming into town. We took off after them. The mad woman dragged Peter inside her house before we could get to them. Her schweschder arrived and said the woman was not right in the head, had lost a son, and probably thought she could replace him with Peter.”
Abe blew out a breath. “Did she have a gun? Were you in danger?”
Joel moved his boot across dry leaves, then met Abe’s gaze. “A rifle. We stayed back at the sheriff’s request and watched them through an open door and window. The hardest part was staying out of the way. I wanted to help, but I knew it was best to adhere to the sheriff’s advice and stay in the wagon.”
Jacob reared his head back. “You did the right thing. Did she surrender to the sheriff ?”
Ellie held up her hands and let out an exasperated breath. “We watched and listened to the whole thing. Her schweschder, Pamela, begged the sheriff to let her reason with the mad woman, who we heard her call Harriett. The sheriff didn’t trust Harriett not to harm Pamela. He burst in and wrestled the weapon from Harriett and subdued her, and Peter ran to us. I thought I was going to go mad before it was over. I was a mess. Without Joel, I’d have been at my wits’ end. He was patient and calming.”
Jacob clasped Joel’s arm. “Danki for everything, Joel. We’re blessed you were there.”
He would do it all over again if necessary. The bond he had with this family had become important to him. The days he’d stayed away from Ellie and her family had left him with a sense of loss and sadness. He not only loved Ellie, but them too. “I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. You’re all important to me.”
“You’ve found a place in our hearts as well, Joel.” Abe patted his arm.
Jacob circled an arm around Ellie. “Hannah stayed back to manage the bakery. She must be beside herself with worry. Will you go and help her? Liza can then stay with Peter the rest of the day. I’ll tell her later the details of what happened.”
“I’d be glad to.” She motioned for Joel to follow her away from her family. “Danki. You gave me strength today, just being with you. You said all the right things. I fell apart.”
“I may have appeared calm, but I was worried. You did well under the circumstances.” He wanted to tell her how important she was to him, no matter what they were going through. But he noticed the sheriff headed in their direction. “The sheriff’s here.”
The sheriff halted his mare and dismounted. “We have the woman in custody, but I’m sure the judge will deem she go to the mental institution, where she can’t hurt anyone again. Pamela, the schweschder, said she realizes she can no longer properly watch and take care of her.”
Jacob and Abe thanked the sheriff for his help.
“Such an unusual and frightening situation. I’m just glad everyone was left unharmed.” Jacob shook his head.
They all agreed.
“I’ve got to get back. You take care.” The sheriff bid them farewell and headed toward town.
Abe scratched his neck. “I should get back to work, but I’ll go in and ask Esther if she wants to stay or go with me.” He clapped Joel’s back. “Danki, Joel, for what you did. Ellie, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re all right.” He winked at her.
Jacob hugged her. “Ellie, I’m glad you’re home safe.” He stepped to Abe. “I’ll go inside with you.”
Ellie waved to them. “Love you both.”
Jacob walked next to Abe to the haus, then stopped. “Kumming in with us, you two?”
Ellie waved them ahead. “I’d like to talk to Joel a few more minutes before I return to the bakery and help Hannah.”
Jacob and Abe nodded and went inside.
She motioned to the bench near the pond. She clutched her heavy wool shawl, sat, and waited for him to sit next to her. “Let’s get our minds off what happened today. I’ve got a question.”
“What is it?” He rubbed his hands together and blew to warm them.
“A sweet little girl told me you went to Magdelena’s for supper. Were you on your way to tell me so I wouldn’t hear from someone else you were going to pursue her?” She sucked in her lips and stared at the ground.
His tightened chest eased. “Are you talking about Charity, Magdelena’s little schweschder?”
She squinted and spoke soft. “Jah, she and her mamm came in the bakery to purchase some goodies. She mentioned you.”
Her worried eyes and fidgeting hands endeared her more to him. Her sweet nature and soft expression didn’t show any anger on her part over his harsh judgment of her during their previous meeting, just concern he might be severing their relationship for good. He wasn’t proud of the harshness he’d shown her. He wouldn’t cause her another minute of doubt.
“Mamm accepted the suppe
r invitation, and she insisted I go. I made it clear to Magdelena and my parents I wasn’t over you.” He inched closer to her. “I reacted horribly to what you had to tell me about your past. I’m sorry, Ellie. Really sorry.”
Ellie didn’t respond right away. She watched a hawk fly over the water. “You’ve avoided me for days. What changed your mind and why now?”
He frowned. She’d taken a minute to gather her thoughts before commenting. He hoped she’d understand he was truly remorseful. He crossed his ankles. “Maryann’s leaving tainted my view, and I made an unfair comparison. She left for a man she loved. You did not. She hasn’t returned. You did. I have to choose to trust you, and I do.”
Joel picked up a small stone and threw it in the water. Ripples moved across the pond. “I needed time to sort this all out. And I had an enlightening discussion with Daed. He and Mamm’s relationship remains strained since Maryann left. Mamm’s positive outlook and happy demeanor has all but disappeared, and she lets her grief overshadow the joy she could still have with Daed, me, and friends.”
“He’s the opposite of her. I feel bad for him.” Ellie frowned.
Joel covered her hand with his. “He accepts the things he can’t change, and he trusts God completely. He has the best attitude. He likes you and advised me to not make the worst mistake of my life if I love you. We all grieve differently. Who am I to judge?” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Forgive me?
“I do forgive you. But do you still have a sliver of doubt about me?”
“Nah, I promise.”
“Good.” She grinned. “I express my opinions more than the average Amish woman. I hope you can contend with that trait.”
“I can manage. I may even wilkom it. I prefer a partner from whom I can ask advice.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly on the lips. His stomach danced and his heart soared. “I love you so much, Ellie.”
“I love you too, Joel. I’ve missed you. Those were the longest days after we’d had our difficult conversation. I wondered what you had on your mind or if you’d ever speak to me again. It kept me up most nights. Maybe I’ll get a decent night’s sleep now.”
“I didn’t sleep peacefully either. Maybe we’ll both get a good night’s rest now we’ve reconciled.” He stretched his arms over his head. “I should go home and explain why I’ve been gone so long.”
