Secrets in the Grave

by Karen Ann Hopkins

  “No, we’re fine. Thank you, though.” I caught the raise of her brows and added, “What brought you and your family here to Blood Rock?”

  Ada Mae smiled and stared out the window. The tapping of light rain on the tin roof was a soft, constant drone. The sound made me sleepy.

  “Jonas was guided to come here by a dream,” she said in a faraway, quiet voice. She continued to gaze out the rain-streaked window.

  I glanced at Daniel. He shrugged, looking uncomfortable.

  “Those dried plants hanging over there. What are they?” I motioned to the bundles dangling from the rafter.

  Ada Mae’s face brightened when she turned back. She stood and crossed the room, telling me what they were. “Lavender…St. John’s wart, valerian root…and ginseng.”

  “What do you use those particular plants for?” I asked.

  Ada Mae’s voice became more animated as she talked. “Of course the lavender is used for its wonderful scent, but it also has calming effects, like chamomile. Valerian root can help a person sleep better, but brings vivid dreams. St. John’s wart is used as an anti-inflammatory and soothes a depressed spirit. I primarily use ginseng to fight infections, but it has many other benefits.”

  “Did your brother teach you about herbs and their uses?”

  She smiled. “No. It was my grandmother who taught me the healing arts.” She shrugged. “Of course it was Jonas who inherited Grandmother’s healing touch, not me.”

  It wasn’t resentment I sensed in her tone, more wistfulness.

  I was about to question Ada Mae more about the healing touch when a teenager burst into the room. She looked strikingly similar to Jonas, from her dark hair to her faint blue eyes. I scanned my notes and guessed the girl to be Verna.

  “Mervin is tying up his horse right…” The girl’s voice trailed off and she blushed when she saw me and Daniel.

  Ada Mae chuckled. “Verna, this is Sheriff Adams and Daniel Bachman. They are here to see your Da.”

  Verna recovered and nodded her head in my direction. She didn’t look at Daniel, dropping her eyes when they passed over him. “Sorry. I didn’t know we had company.” She giggled into her hand. “Your car must be parked on the other side of the house.”

  “Yes, that’s correct,” I said, stepping forward. I held out my hand to the girl. She looked surprised at the gesture, but grasped it in a firm grip anyway.

  The light rap on the door turned all of our heads. A man called out in the Amish language. The only words I recognized were “Hullo” and “Lester Lapp.”

  “Come in, Lester,” Ada Mae called out in English for my benefit.

  Lester walked through the door with his teenage son, Mervin. Daniel greeted Lester with a combined handshake and backslap. He squeezed Mervin’s shoulder and they chatted in their native language. The names Fannie and Irene popped up between the unintelligible words in their conversation.

  “I take it Mr. Bachman and Lester know each other?” Ada Mae inclined her head. The lines at the corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled. She leaned in closer, covering the side of her mouth with her hand. “Men are as bad as chickens in a henhouse when they become reacquainted,” she whispered.

  I smiled in return, but was too absorbed with a quick succession of dark thoughts to agree with Ada Mae. The last time I’d seen Mervin, he’d been sitting in a weathered deer hunting stand. He had held a shotgun and was contemplating suicide. If Daniel and I hadn’t shown up when we did and talked him down, he might be dead. The kid had watched his older brother gun down Naomi in a cornfield. Making it worse, Mervin had a crush on her while she was alive. His mother had forced him to keep silent on the matter. It had been my first murder investigation as sheriff in Blood Rock, and my first real interaction with the Amish people.

  The other thing on my mind was Daniel’s story about his childhood friend being miraculously healed by his mother. This was the same Lester who had supposedly been brought back from near death.

  “Serenity, you remember Lester and his son Mervin?” Daniel’s voice burst into my thoughts. His question was out of politeness. He knew I wasn’t likely to forget the Lapp family.

  “Yes, of course.” I grasped Lester’s hand. “What are you up to these days?”

  I tried to keep the sarcasm from my voice, mostly for Mervin’s benefit, but I doubted that I was successful.

  “Mervin and I are keeping busy getting the fields ready for planting.” Lester smiled proudly at his son, then hesitated. “Esther is struggling these days. She visited David at the prison last week. It’s hard, you know?”

  My contemptuous thoughts softened at Lester’s words and his uneasy frown. It took a brave man to talk about a son who had killed a girl, especially one serving life in prison for the crime, but life had to go on for the rest of the family.

  Wanting desperately to change the subject, I said, “What brings you here?”

  Lester’s face brightened. “Do you remember Mervin’s leg injury? Jonas and Ada Mae have been healing him. His limp is nearly gone. Tonight is supposed to be his last visit.”

  “Will Jonas do the laying of his hands?” Daniel asked, reading my thoughts.

  Lester nodded, but it was Ada Mae who answered. “I’ve been treating Mervin with a comfrey paste to aid in his healing, but it hasn’t been enough. Jonas will finish the job.”

  When she said finish the job my heart rate sped up. I glanced at Mervin. He’d grown a few inches over the winter and was now taller than me. His blond hair had darkened a shade and most of his freckles were gone. His green eyes were still vibrant, though. Those eyes were so busy staring at Verna, he didn’t even notice my appraisal. It abruptly occurred to me why Verna had rushed into the house to announce Mervin’s arrival, and why her aunt Ada Mae had laughed.

  I was too cynical to get warm, fuzzy feelings about young love. I had experienced my own with Denton McAllister and that single experience had made me a jaded woman. I was happy that Mervin had found some semblance of happiness in his troubled existence. He deserved a break. It was too bad he had to take a liking to this particular girl. If the bishop was correct about Jonas Peachey, the family might not be in Blood Rock for long.

  “Do you mind if we stick around for it?” I was skeptical about the magical healing process, but I was also worried about Mervin and what might happen to him if I left him in the medicine man’s clutches.

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Daniel’s firm nod.

  “Uh, I don’t know about that,” Ada Mae said carefully. “First, Lester would have to agree—”

  “It’s fine with me, Ada. They are friends,” Lester interrupted.

  I raised my brows at his use of friends, but didn’t say anything. I looked hopefully back at Ada Mae.

  “It will be up to Jonas then,” she said.

  “What will be up to me?”

  The deep voice behind us made my stomach do a somersault. When I turned around, Jonas stood in the doorway. His sharp, tan features were relaxed as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but his piercing blue eyes were sharp, and they focused on me.

  I walked forward, holding out my hand. “You must be Jonas Peachey. It’s nice to finally meet you,” I said, connecting with his raised brow gaze. “Of course, if you’d stayed put at the Kuhn’s farm, I wouldn’t have had to visit your own home.”

  He grasped my hand. “Sorry about that. I had an errand to run. I’ve heard some intriguing tales about Blood Rock’s sheriff.” He smiled. “Though I must admit, I wasn’t expecting you to be so young.”

  I was usually too preoccupied to pick up the subtleties of flirting, but I wasn’t completely ignorant about the signs, either. It made my skin crawl to even acknowledge it in my head. This Amish guy was appraising me, but he was smart enough to stay within the boundaries of acceptable behavior, even for an Amish man. I hadn’t expected the medicine man to be a Casanova. The realization threw me off balance.

  “I hope the stories didn’t portray me in a bad ligh
t.”

  “On the contrary. Most folk around here hold you in high esteem.” His eyes flicked to Daniel. “You must be Mo’s son—the rebellious one. You could be his twin from thirty years ago.”

  Jonas forgot me as he turned his attention to Daniel. The two men shook hands.

  “Yes, I am. I’m surprised you remember me at all. It’s been a long time.”

  “I never forget a face. It’s one of my gifts.” His attention flicked back to me as he smiled again. “I understand you have some questions for me?”

  “Ah, yes, I do, but that can wait.” I jutted my chin towards Mervin. “I understand you have a patient to see. I was hoping to sit in on the healing. That is, if it doesn’t mess up your mojo or anything.”

  Jonas glanced at Lester and Ada Mae. “It’s fine with me as long as everyone else is comfortable with it.”

  Lester didn’t hesitate. “I have no problem with them observing.”

  Ada Mae nodded as an answer, then busied herself alongside Verna. Together, they raised a wooden folding table.

  Daniel ushered me to the high-backed chairs in the corner where we had a view of the room without being in anyone’s way. Butterflies danced in my stomach as Mervin climbed onto the uncomfortable looking table. When he crossed the room, I noticed his limp had lessened considerably from the last time I’d seen him, but he flinched in pain as he walked. I wondered how much of his recovery was related to the passage of time and how much had been affected by the ministrations of Ada Mae.

  “You wouldn’t believe a miracle if you saw it with your own eyes,” Daniel whispered.

  When I looked at him, he grinned slightly, but his eyes were troubled. I wasn’t sure if he was worried about Mervin or my soul. The thought made me bristle, although I tried not to let him see it.

  “If healing can be done magically, then why are there so many people dying of cancer, heart disease and any number of other ailments? There’s rarely an easy solution to anything, especially when it comes to medicine,” I whispered, continuing to watch the goings-on in the room.

  Mervin’s eyes were closed. He breathed evenly, but his booted feet tapped together. Verna held out a bowl of something to Jonas. He dipped his hands into the bowl, and rubbed them together.

  Ada Mae handed him a towel when he lifted his hands. As if she read my mind, she glanced my way and said, “It’s a special oil we use to prepare the hands for healing. There’s wood betony, blood root and a few other ingredients in it.”

  I inhaled, trying to catch the scent of the mixture. All I smelled were the lavender scented flickering candles.

  A gust of wind blew in through the windows, flapping the curtains high and extinguishing several of the candles. Ada Mae rushed over to the windows and closed them. The sky outside turned an ominous gray. A flash of lightning zigzagged in the distance. Thunder rumbled and I shivered. Daniel’s strong arm went around my shoulder. I didn’t shrug him off. I leaned against him, allowing his warmth to chase away the unreasonable chills that came over me.

  “Don’t let your mind wander too much. You need to stay focused. Ma always told me a distracted mind was a vulnerable one,” Daniel whispered.

  Was he kidding? I glanced up. He stared ahead, frowning, and I thought, Oh shit.

  The storm building outside added to the strangeness of the moment. Ada Mae and Verna, in their polyester dresses and crisp white caps, stood beside Mervin and across the make shift bed from Jonas. Lester stepped back, but was closer to the action than Daniel and I. He smoothed his scraggly beard down his chest.

  Jonas spoke in German, mumbling words that were unintelligible to me. I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand.

  He paused and looked at me, and the breath caught in my throat. His clear eyes glinted. A tremor passed through me, but I didn’t look away. Jonas tilted his head, raising one eyebrow and turned back to Mervin.

  I exhaled. I didn’t bother to check Daniel’s reaction, not wanting to miss anything that Jonas was doing.

  His voice rose, becoming powerful enough to be heard over the advancing thunder booms and the heavy rain making a million sharp taps on the tin roof. When I glanced at Ada Mae and Verna, they had their eyes closed and were moving their mouths in what I assumed was a silent prayer. A quick glimpse at Lester proved he was doing the same.

  I pulled myself from Jonas’ ramblings to look at Daniel. He was watching the scene, eyes wide. I relaxed a little. At least he wasn’t participating in whatever was going on.

  Jonas put one of his hands on Mervin’s forehead and rested the other on the boy’s chest. His words, chanting to be more precise, gained volume. My heart raced with the building intensity of his voice. The air in the room took on a humid, thick consistency, almost as if a window had opened, allowing the rain to blow in. When I searched around, the windows were all shut. The wind howled outside. Branches scraped the glass and lightning lit up the room sporadically.

  With wider eyes, I studied everyone’s faces. The Amish still had their eyes closed, praying fervently. Daniel seemed to be holding his breath. Something was off in the room—hazy like, strange. My own mind was clouding over, heavy. I was tired. I fought the sensation, forcing myself to take a deep breath.

  Mervin arched from the table, taking a gasping gulp of air. He dropped back onto the wood with a thud. His body was limp and memories from the time I’d spent in the abandoned barn with the Amish men rushed back to me.

  I stood up, pulling my gun from the holster strapped at my waist. I aimed it at Jonas.

  “Step away from him,” I ordered.

  5

  DANIEL

  I bolted upright and the blood drained from my head at dizzying speed. I wanted to touch Serenity’s shoulder, but didn’t dare, fearing that in her jumpy state, she might pull the trigger.

  A faint smile touched Jonas’ lips. He didn’t raise his hands, but he did back away from Mervin. Ada Mae and the girl stood frozen. The girl’s eyes were saucer sized. Ada Mae’s flashed with humor, matching her twitching lips.

  Another roll of thunder boomed and a blast of lightning immediately followed it. The candles illuminated the room in an eerie light. The west-facing windows revealed a break in the storm clouds and blue skies. In about five minutes, the sun would be shining again.

  Serenity strode to Mervin’s side, not taking her eyes from Jonas. She managed to point the gun at him while she felt for a pulse at Mervin’s neck. She lowered the gun, slipping it back into the holster.

  Her face flushed, but her voice was cool. “You have to understand, I couldn’t take any chances with the boy’s life.”

  A quivering look of confusion passed over Jonas’ face when he met Serenity’s hard gaze. No one else dared to move.

  Without turning his head, Jonas called out, “Mervin, wake up. It’s time to walk on your new legs.”

  Serenity looked down at Mervin along with everyone else. The boy stirred, taking a deep breath. His eyes popped open. He rubbed them with his fingers and struggled to sit up, swaying as he straightened. Ada Mae slipped around the table. She grasped his arm to help him step down from the table. Lester hung back. He met my worried frown with a reassuring smile. My mother and father believed Jonas had the healing gift and so did Lester. Whether the man used his powers for evil purposes was anyone’s guess, though.

  Mervin leaned on Ada Mae as he slid off the table, his boots catching his weight with only a slight wobble. He paused to glance at Verna. She beamed at him. He returned the smile more shyly. I couldn’t help grinning at the obvious puppy love.

  Mervin took a sharp breath and then a step. Ada Mae stayed with him for several more steps before she let go. At first the boy’s steps were tentative, searching for the pain that had plagued him for months. I thought back to the times I’d met him for lunch or walked along the river at his side. He’d been pretty messed up after his brother had killed Naomi, not sure if he wanted to remain Amish. I offered to help the kid, not just because he was my friend’s son, but because
I knew how he felt. I’d battled with the same questions and doubts, but with the pretty Amish girl watching his every step with rapt concern, I knew exactly where he’d end up.

  Mervin’s stride became surer and springier. After a little jump and a skip, he exclaimed, “The pain’s gone—I’m healed!”

  Serenity rolled her eyes and exhaled.

  “Denki, denki,” Lester thanked Jonas, his face beaming. He reverted back to English. “I’ll bring that bull calf over to you tomorrow.”

  “No need to hurry. Whenever you’re heading back this way will be soon enough.” Jonas’ face hardened. “I expect you’ll put those fresh legs to good use. Rebellion must not enter your heart, lest you tempt God. Our Lord took the pain away. He can bring it back.”

  I cringed inwardly at the religious reference, but said nothing. Serenity stood tight lipped.

  “Ada, Verna, please escort the Lapps to their buggy. The Sheriff and Daniel have waited long enough to ask their questions,” Jonas said.

  “But you’re exhausted,” Ada Mae pointed out as she hesitated joining the others. Lester tipped his hat at me and made his escape. Mervin took the time to offer me a smile before he walked through the door beside Verna.

  “I’ll be fine,” Jonas assured her. He nodded toward the door. She sighed loudly, but didn’t argue.

  When only Serenity, Jonas and I remained in the room, Jonas pointed to the chairs at the kitchen table. “I can make a pot of coffee if you’d like.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Serenity said in a business-like manner as she took the chair closest to the wall. She had a view of the entire room and the doorway. I worked to keep the smile from my mouth. She was always the cop.

  I sat in the chair beside her and Jonas settled across from us. For the first time I noticed his drooping eyes and pale face. Just as saving Lester had taking the life out of Ma, Jonas seemed to be thoroughly spent as well.

  If Serenity saw the exhaustion on his face, she didn’t acknowledge it.

  “What ailment were you treating Fannie Kuhns for?” she asked.