One day, while she and Libby were leaving Libby’s client’s house, she got that feeling yet again. Stopping cold, she whipped around, looking for anyone who might be spying on her.
“Katie, what are you doing? Trying to dance?” Libby giggled.
“Nee, Libby. I just feel like someone’s following me. I’ve been getting that for a while now. And I hate it!”
Libby felt uneasy. Was this another story?
“You’re not doing ‘what ifs’ again, are you?”
“Nee. Nee!”
“Taking a step back, Libby said, “Uh...well, I hope nobody is following you. I’d better get back home. Mam had a lot of work for me to do.” Libby hurried off, too unsettled to keep talking to Katie.
“Libby! Libby! I’m sorry!” Katie called after her friend, but Libby didn’t look back.
Why do I have to destroy everything?
KATIE WAS BEING FOLLOWED...by Annie Yoder, the deacon’s daughter. Annie had decided she was going to take matters into her own hands—at least as much as the Ordnung would allow her to do. So, any time she had a few minutes free, she would look for Katie and begin tracking her as carefully as she could. Today, she had spotted Katie and her friend, Libby, coming out of Libby’s customer’s house. Edging back behind a large tree, she had peeked out, listening to the faint conversation taking place. As she did, she listened for any sign that Katie was the source of the ugly English rumor.
Seeing the girls approaching, she held her breath and prayed she was hidden well by the massive tree trunk. Katie must have noticed something, because she suddenly stopped, looked around, and shouted something about being followed. Fortunately, Libby didn’t believe it. Gut.
If Katie was the source of the rumor, it was safer for Libby to stay away from her.
After Katie was gone, Annie emerged. She did her best to walk casually, as though she’d just happened to come out of the copse of trees. Just an ordinary stroll.
Oh, Libby, if you only knew what I suspect. I can’t say or do anything until I get some gut proof, though. I know what Dat and the other elders would say if I speak up any earlier.
It was safest to share her activities and findings with Eli. The next time they got together, she would. Clambering into her own buggy, she went home so she could write her notes down and begin working on a large, new order.
THAT EVENING, ELI STOPPED at the Yoder’s home. “Annie, do you have some time to spend together? It’s a Wunderbaar summer evening.” He smiled, hoping Annie would agree to go riding with him.
“Ja, I do. Let me just tell Mam.” Coming back, she made sure she had her house key. Climbing into the buggy, she waited until they were well away from the house. The trees were lush in their greenery as the flower gardens, crops and vegetable gardens all bloomed and spilled forth their abundance. But the beauty couldn’t calm her completely.
“Eli?”
“Ja?”
“You remember that discussion we had with your brother this past Sunday?”
“How can I forget it? He’s as prickly as a hungry pig!”
“I wonder...he may already be having doubts.”
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it. He’s still seeing Katie, and I think they’re already talking about marriage.”
“What? She hasn’t even been baptized yet!”
“Ja, I know. Amos’s already in his own instruction. But he doesn’t see what we see.”
“That’s what I want to talk about, Eli. I hope you’ll be able to listen without getting angry at me.”
Eli turned to Annie in surprise. “What? Why?”
Annie sighed. “Well—I’ve begun to follow Katie around. Like you, I just get the sense that there’s more to her than she’s revealing. Something that’s bad.”
“Annie. Ja, follow her, but be careful. I worry that she could have something off in her mind and I don’t want her hurting you.” Eli’s voice was low, a thread of worry coming through.
Annie let out a loud laugh. “Hah! Eli, I’m a gut five inches taller than she is! I outweigh her, by at least fifteen pounds! She can’t—”
“We don’t know what she’s capable of, Annie. Tell me what you learn. Any time you follow her, if you find out anything that connects her to this hateful rumor, write it down. Uh...” Eli was thinking about where they could exchange her notes. “Hide it in that tree next to your dat’s house.”
Annie was puzzled. “Which tree?”
“You know, the one that has that large branch about three feet from the ground. There’s a little hole in the bark. You can stick notes in there. When I drive by, I’ll check and take them home. For sure and for certain, we need to begin getting proof, if Katie is the one who started this rumor.
And it’s getting bad...”
Annie coughed. Hearing Eli say that the situation was getting worse caused her breath to slow down in her lungs. “Eli? What have you heard?”
“Just more of the same. Only now, this English person, fictional though they may be, is now saying that we have a deadline of one year to leave.”
Annie shivered. Hugging her arms around her ribcage, she shook her head. “I wish we knew more about her past!”
“Gut idea. I’ll ask my dat to see if there’s any way we can find out. Do you know where they moved from?”
“All I know is that it was somewhere in Indiana.”
“Well, that’s not too hard. Just find out which Amish community they lived in. Once we do that, I can ask Dat to allow me to travel there, maybe by train. Go talk to the elders there and see if she did anything like what’s happening here.”
Annie grew excited. “Ja, that shouldn’t be too hard. It’s just finding out where they came from.”
Eli grimaced. “Ja, and as busy as we are, we’re going to have to fit that into our schedules. One thing gut that’s come out of our argument with Amos, I think he’s beginning to experience a few doubts. Normally, he’s spouting all kinds of plans about what he wants to do with Katie, but now, this week, nothing.”
Annie closed her eyes, saying a fast prayer of thanksgiving. “Gut! Uh-oh, look who’s coming down the road. Shhh!”
She had spotted Amos and Katie, in Amos’s buggy. Far from looking on the outs with each other, Katie was sitting close to Amos, and he wasn’t objecting. As Amos recognized Eli and Annie, his flow of conversation stopped. “Eli. Annie. What are you doing?”
“Going for some hot cocoa. You?” Eli carefully kept a neutral expression on his face.
“We just came from the coffee shop. Katie needs to get home early—her mam is worried about this person who wants to chase us out of here.”
“Ja, she’s right to worry. That person is dangerous.” Eli deliberately used words that wouldn’t accuse Katie, but he sent a message to Amos as well.
Amos caught the message. Raising his head slightly, he sighed. “Well, I’d better get Katie home, or her mam will be angry. I’ll see you at home.”
Amos was uneasy. His older brother’s words had hit the mark almost dead center. Eli was talking about Katie. And he was also frustrated because Eli’s concerns were causing him to doubt the girl he wanted to marry.
Katie picked up quickly on Amos’s mood change. From being happier than he’d been since Sunday, he was now plunged back into moodiness. Katie said, “Amos? Have I told you yet about the funny feelings I’m getting?” Her voice was tentative, almost shy.
“Nee. What kinds of feelings? Any of the sort the bishop would frown at?”
Katie’s giggle was weak. “Nee! Nee, I just feel like someone is watching me. Wherever I go when I’m running errands for myself or Mam. It’s funny, but I don’t get them at home.”
Amos’s eyes widened, and he gasped. “Katie, that’s why I want you to allow me to escort you when you go to the shop or to deliver orders! What if it’s that English person?”
Katie shivered. Even though she’d made the rumor up, she was now scared. Maybe she hadn’t made it up after all. “Ja, I may begin taking
you up on that offer. I am scared.”
“Well, let’s do this. Compare work schedules and, when we can get them to agree with each other, I’ll pick you up, and we’ll take your orders to your customers. We’ll have to combine yours and mine, though, so we can get done in the shortest amount of time possible.” Amos wondered about his worries, now.
Seeing Katie’s reaction to the feeling that she was being followed convinced him that she hadn’t made up a rumor. Pulling into her parents’ yard, he drove along the path to the barn and stopped as close to the house as he could get. “Let me get you down. I’m not letting you out of sight until you’re inside the house.”
Katie smiled, grateful. “Ja, thank you.” She landed gracefully and walked to Amos.
The front door opened, and Mary stood in the doorway. “Amos, denki for bringing our daughter home early. Did you see anything or anyone?”
“Nee, just my brother and his girlfriend. They were going for hot cocoa. Katie, I’ll stop by for your schedule for the rest of this week. If you know what next week looks like, I’ll see if we can coordinate those days, too.”
“Okay, ja. I’ll write them down for you. Gut night!” She waved at Amos, wishing they could kiss. But her mam stood right there.
Later, in her quilting room, Katie went through her schedule for the next two weeks. Writing the dates and appointments down on a sheet of paper, she folded it and stuck it back in her calendar.
“Amos’s worried, isn’t he?” Mary stood in the doorway, feeling curious.
“Ja, he is. Mam, I’ve been feeling like I’m being followed. I told Amos tonight, and he got really worried. Now, he’s going to escort me where I need to go.”
Mary’s eyes narrowed. “Daughter, I told you not to tell stories.”
“I’m not!” Why was it when Katie told the truth, nobody believed her?
Her mam continued, “Well, I hope you’re not going to keep that boy from his own work!”
Katie sighed sharply. “Nee, Mam. We talked about that. He’s just as busy as I am and we both agreed that we need to coordinate our schedules with each other.”
Chapter 11
“Hmm. So you’re going to give each other your schedules for the week ahead of time?” Seeing Katie’s nod and frown, she went on. “He’s just starting out as a carpenter. He needs to make sure that he delivers orders to his customers on time so he can build a gut reputation and get more customers. Before long, he’s going to marry—possibly you—and you don’t want him to be struggling because he had to take on even more responsibility.” Mary sighed. “I just wish that Englisher, whoever it is, would leave us alone! Ja, accept Amos’s offer. But you make sure, Katie, that you won’t be taking him away from things he has to do.” Turning, she left the quilting room.
Katie stood, shocked, in the room. And what about my work? Deliveries? Buying new supplies? Are they as important as his? Blowing out the lamp, she hurried upstairs before she lost her temper. Once she was safely behind a closed door, she threw herself carelessly onto her bed. As she raged, Katie completely forgot that the Englisher rumor was just a rumor. One she’d made up.
She realized how much time had passed when her mam knocked heavily at her door. “Ja?”
“Are you in bed yet? Get ready, blow out your lamp and get to bed!” Mary’s voice was a low, angered hiss.
Of course it was. Her mam didn’t love her.
“I am, Mam!” Katie barely managed to hide her own anger. Jumping up, she changed, pulled her hair painfully out of its bun and blew the lamp out. Once in bed, she lay there for a long time, continuing to ruminate.
Maybe it’s time for the threats to go up. She yawned. Just before her eyes closed, she remembered she would also need to take her schedule to Amos. When she woke the next morning, she was unaccountably sluggish. She didn’t remember dreaming, and she was sure she hadn’t gone to sleep that late. Rushing into the kitchen, she quietly began to help Mary with making breakfast.
“Gut morning!” Her dat’s hearty greeting grated on Katie’s nerves. “Katie? What is it? You got to sleep pretty late last night.”
“I was just worried about the Englisher.” Katie didn’t have to specify which one. “We don’t even know who it is.”
“What’s this I hear about you feeling like you’re being followed, daughter?” David carefully sipped from his steaming coffee.
Katie dumped three spoonfuls of sugar into her mug and stirred it loudly. “Ja, I’ve been feeling like someone is following me. It’s been a few weeks. I turn around, but I see nobody there.”
David looked at Mary, his eyes wide. “Maybe we should return to taking you—?”
“Nee, Dat! Amos offered to escort me last night when he brought me back home. I’ve written up a schedule of my appointments for the next two weeks so we can coordinate them.”
“Well, gut! That’s kind of him. Just be...”
Katie waited for her dat to give the same warning her mam had. She was shocked when he said something different.
“...careful out there. Until this person is identified, everyone here is in danger.”
Katie felt warm. Happy. Maybe the lie wasn’t such a terrible thing after all. Her dat was worried, and for once not about something she might do. Her dat cared.
Katie nodded absently. Danger. That’s it. I have to make it to where this person begins to threaten us. Looking up quickly, she set her mug down and helped her mam to put breakfast on the trivets so they could eat.
David had gone back to his carpentry shop, and Katie was cleaning the kitchen before she retreated to her own planned quilting for the day. At a knock on the door, she looked for Mary. Not seeing her, she answered the door. “Amos! Come in!”
Amos came in quickly. “Do you have your schedule? I have mine here.” He waved a piece of paper in his hand.
“Ja, let me get it.” Katie trotted into her quilting room, retrieving the list she’d written last night. Comparing her commitments with Amos’s, she spoke. “Okay, it looks like Tuesday’s completely out. You’re going to be out of town all the day. What about Wednesday or Thursday?”
Amos brought himself back to the present. He’d been troubled by a vague thought that kept niggling at him. “Oh, uh...Wednesday or Thursday.” Looking at his scribbled notations, he sighed. “Wednesday is probably the best day for me. I only need to stop at the lumber yard and pick up wood I need for a new order. You have to deliver an order and buy your own supplies. I want to be done early, so I’ll pick you up right after breakfast. We’ll get my lumber—I’ll be in Dat’s wagon—then we’ll go into town, deliver your order and stop at the store so you can buy what you need.”
Katie was nodding. “Ja, that works.”
“Okay, well, I’d better get on, then. I have a busy day if I’m going to finish staining that cupboard. Bye!” Quickly, Amos left before Katie could even look up for a stolen kiss.
ON HIS WAY BACK HOME, Amos tried to look around him everywhere at once. Where was this Englisher? Why had he been following Katie?
Everything seemed normal.
I don’t feel any creepy feelings. I’m going to start asking around. Maybe she’s right. I don’t know. Amos muttered under his breath. He wished his brother hadn’t put these doubts into his mind. Now, here he was, questioning his own fiancée!
Seeing one of his friends Thomas approaching, Amos waved. “Hey, need to ask you something. Have you felt like someone’s following you? Or just watching you?”
Thomas’ brow furrowed, and he shook his head “What? What are you talking about, Amos? Nee. Are you thinking of that English person?”
“Ja. I am. Katie says she’s been getting creepy feelings as if someone’s watching her. She says it’s been happening for two or three weeks.”
Thomas grunted. “I’ll ask Rachel and have her ask her sisters. But I have my opinions about Katie.”
“Ja, and I don’t need to hear them right now. I’m already dealing with enough as it is.” Amos nearly growl
ed as he spoke.
“Hey, I’m just warning you. I get a funny sense from Katie. Like she’s not quite all there.” Seeing the clouds of anger building on Amos’s handsome face, Thomas took a step back. “Never mind. I’d better go. I have weeding to finish, or Dat will be on my back all week long.” He ran off before Amos could ask any more questions.
Amos was frustrated. Why didn’t people like Katie? How could he doubt her?
AS KATIE WORKED ON a large quilting order, her mind whirred. She just needed a threat. Something dramatic, but nothing truly harmful. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake she made in Goshen.
An idea struck as she snipped thread that tethered the strip of quilt squares to her sewing machine and she smiled. That’s it! It’s perfect!
IN TOWN, MAYOR KERRY Winters was puzzled. As she passed a group of young Amish women, they glanced up at her and quickly away. They looked afraid. She stopped and gazed after them as they hurried down the street.
“Linda, did you see that?” The mayor asked her aide.
Linda, a thin, energetic woman with close-cropped grey-brown hair and large, thick glasses asked, “See what?”
“Those Amish girls. They were scared of me.”
“Think they’re getting into some kind of trouble?”
“The Amish girls? No, I doubt it. Something’s wrong though. Can you look into it?”
Looking at her aide, she asked him, “What’s that all about? I’ve never seen anyone from the Amish area looking at me that way before.”
“Mayor, I’m not sure, but let me see what I can find out. Soon as I do, I’ll let you know.” Linda knew everything that went on in Big Valley. Her biggest asset was her ability to approach anyone and, with her empathetic character and friendliness, quickly gain their trust. “I saw how they looked at you. It’s kind of like they expected you to yell at them. And that’s never happened before.”
Amish Secrets and Lies Page 7
