by Nancy Mehl
“I’ll pick you up in an hour, Mother,” he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“Thank you, Elijah,” she said with a smile.
I stood there in shock. I’d been in town only a short time and had already met the person I’d come here to see. I watched as the woman walked up the steps and went into the library. Then I turned back to see the young man get into the buggy and ride off. The love between them was evident. That boy didn’t look like someone who had been kidnapped and held against his will. Had I made a mistake in coming here? Was I risking my job on a wild-goose chase? A voice in my head told me to get out of Sanctuary. But another one whispered that I should stay. I decided to listen to the second voice.
Chapter
Four
We followed Reuben to Esther’s house. A large two-story structure with a huge front porch, it reminded me of my grandmother’s home in rural Nebraska. Before we had a chance to knock on the front door, it swung open. A small elderly woman welcomed us with a wide, friendly smile. She wore a dark-blue dress with a small floral pattern. Her hem hung to just above her ankles. Her gray hair was wrapped in a bun, and a black covering sat atop her head. I introduced myself and Zac, and she welcomed us inside as if she’d known us all our lives.
I tried to concentrate on everything she said, but the image of the young man I saw outside the library overwhelmed my thoughts. I’d have to tread carefully. If that boy wasn’t my brother, I could ignite a situation that could disrupt his life—and mine. Ed wasn’t going to be happy that I’d ignored his directive to skip Sanctuary, and finding out I was stalking a teenage Mennonite boy would probably cost me my job.
I tried to concentrate on what Esther was saying as we followed her up the stairs that led to the second floor.
“Zac, you will stay in Benjamin’s room.” She swung open a door on the left side of the hall. The room was spacious and comfortable. A large iron bed stood against the wall. It was covered with a beautiful quilt, the kind my grandmother used to make. There was an oak dresser with several drawers, and in the corner sat an overstuffed chair with a matching ottoman. The antique floor lamp next to it helped to create a wonderful cozy nook to read a book. As if confirming my evaluation, Esther pointed to a large shelf near the door that was stuffed with books.
“Benjamin is a reader,” she said with a smile. “These are only some of his books. The ones he couldn’t take with him. Please help yourself, Zac. They are yours to enjoy.”
I shook my head at Zac when he rolled his eyes. Thankfully, Esther didn’t see him.
“It’s a lovely room,” I said. “We’re so grateful.”
To his credit, Zac wiped the smirk off his face. “Yes, Mrs. Lapp. It’s very nice. Thank you.”
Esther nodded happily, pleased with his response. “I’m so glad. And please, call me Esther,” she said. “Mrs. Lapp was my mother-in-law.” Esther wrinkled her nose and grinned. For a brief moment, she looked like a young girl. “She never thought I was good enough for her son. We were married only twenty years before he died, but every single year was happy.”
“I’m sorry he passed away so young,” I said.
Esther’s eyes flushed with tears. “I am too, honey.” She sighed and regained her composure. “But I know we will spend eternity together, and that knowledge keeps me praising God every day. No reason to feel sorry for myself.”
I glanced over at Zac. His raised eyebrow told me he found Esther’s conviction fanciful.
He put the bag with his camera and equipment down on the bed. “I’ll go to the car and get the rest of our stuff.”
I nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Now for your room,” Esther said, smiling at me. “It belonged to my daughter, Rebecca. She’s married now. She lives with her husband and four children in Springfield.”
“You must miss your children.”
Esther was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, it was almost a whisper. “More than you know.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
She shook her head and managed to smile at me. “I have a dear friend who lives next door, Janet Dowell. She’s alone too. We kind of look out for each other. Having a close friend really helps the loneliness.”
“Is she Mennonite too?”
“No. We differ in some of our beliefs, but we’re one in the Lord. I’ve never known anyone who can talk about God the way Janet does. Like they’re best friends. But that’s the way it should be, isn’t that right?”
I nodded and followed her out of Zac’s room to a door at the end of the hall, her question ringing in my ears. I actually understood what she meant. My grandmother had been like that, talking about God as though He was someone she could call up on the phone and talk to whenever she wanted to.
“You probably think it is silly to keep my children’s rooms just like they were when they lived here,” Esther was saying. “But I hope my grandchildren will like staying in the same room their mother or father grew up in.” She put her hand on my arm. “Besides,” she whispered, “I like to remember them as little children, even though I know they’re grown-ups now.”
Ryan’s room flashed in my mind. Mom kept it just the way he’d left it until my father sold the house out from under us and forced us to move. I don’t think Mom ever forgave him for that. It was only one item in a long list of thoughtless incidents perpetrated by my father that eventually led to my parents’ divorce.
“Are you all right, honey? I know I talk a lot. I don’t mean to prattle on and on.”
Esther’s voice snapped me back to the present. “No, that’s not it,” I said quickly. “I’m sorry. You said something that reminded me of . . . someone.”
“Someone you miss?”
Startled, I blurted out, “My brother. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
I’d had no intention of telling anyone in Sanctuary about Ryan. My father’s voice floated through my thoughts. “Loose lips sink ships, Emily. Best to keep your secrets close to the vest.” I didn’t understand what the vest comment meant, but I knew it was important to keep quiet about my brother. My comment was said innocently enough, and I couldn’t see any way it could cause problems. But I’d have to be very careful from here on out.
“I’ll pray for you and your brother,” Esther continued in her sweet voice. “Just remember that God will keep your loved ones safe—whether they’re in this world or in the next. Love is never lost.”
“Thank you.” I pointed at the door, trying to distract the elderly woman from her current train of thought. “You said this was Rebecca’s room?”
Esther studied me for a few seconds before removing her hand from my arm. “Yes, it was. I hope you like it.” She pushed the door open.
Expecting a plain, unadorned room much like Zac’s, I was surprised and pleased to find a lovely bedroom full of feminine touches. A tall bed with a carved mahogany headboard stood against the wall, windows on each side. There was a matching armoire near the door and an old fainting couch against the far wall. A dark-wood table next to the bed held an antique lamp with a Tiffany-style shade that matched the rich colors in the room. The couch was covered with maroon brocade, and the magnificent quilt on the bed tied in with the burgundy and forest-green colors in the wallpaper.
“Oh my,” I said, stunned by the gorgeous room. “It’s so . . .”
“Not Mennonite?” Esther interjected. She laughed lightly. “Mennonites love fine craftsmanship. This furniture was fashioned by my father, and my mother made this quilt.”
Esther had just mentioned the colorful quilt when a gray-striped cat suddenly jumped up on the bed and lay down as if it belonged to him and we were the intruders.
“Clyde!” Esther said. “You get down off that bed.”
Clyde gave his mistress a dismissive look, yawned, and promptly closed his eyes.
“Did you hear me, young man?” Esther said as she reached for him.
“Don’t make him move on my account,” I said quickly. “I
love cats.”
Esther stopped and looked at me with concern. “Are you sure, honey? Some people are allergic.”
“Well, I’m not. I miss my own cat when I have to travel. Having Clyde around will make me feel better.”
“Well, if you’re positive,” she said hesitantly.
“I’m absolutely . . .”
Before I could get my next words out, another cat jumped up next to Clyde. This one was small with white and red fur.
“Maizie!”
“Um, how many cats do you have, Esther?”
“Only four. Clyde, Maizie, Frances, and Sam. Sam is the oldest.” She shook her head. “Uncaring people drop off pets in the country, leaving them to fend for themselves. We take them in. You’ll find a lot of dogs and cats in Sanctuary.”
I smiled at her. “Just one more reason for me to like this town.”
“And you’re sure the cats won’t bother you?”
I reached over to pet Maizie, who stretched her legs out as far as she could to enjoy being rubbed. “Not at all. They’ll make me feel right at home.”
Esther took a deep breath. “I’m so glad. They’re my family now. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
Although I didn’t say it, I understood. My cat, Mr. Henderson, kept me from feeling alone. When I got home from work, there was always someone to greet me. Someone excited to see me. Mr. Henderson loved to cuddle, and he spent many hours lying in my lap while I watched TV. He also slept on my bed at night. I couldn’t imagine life without him.
“I think you’ll enjoy staying here,” Esther said. She sighed as she gazed around the room. “Rebecca was very happy in this room.”
“I’m sure she was.”
Esther pointed to a small stool against the wall. “You might want to use that stool to get in and out of the bed. Some of the older beds are taller than today’s more modern beds.”
“Thank you, Esther, for all your generosity. After we get settled in, I’d love to talk with you more about Sanctuary. I bet you know a lot about this town.”
She was silent for a moment, and when she spoke again, I was surprised to see a guarded expression on her face. I’d chalked Martha’s attitude up as paranoia, but Esther? What was she worried about? What was it about Sanctuary that made everyone so nervous?
“Why don’t we talk after breakfast tomorrow?” she said. “I heard you make dinner plans with Reuben, and I go to bed pretty early.”
“That sounds fine. What if we stay out late? Do you want to give me a key?”
Esther chuckled, her previous good humor restored. “This is Sanctuary. The door won’t be locked. You just come on in whenever you get back.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
We heard footsteps coming down the hall.
“That must be Zac with your luggage,” she said. “There are two bathrooms on this floor. A full bath across the hall and a small half-bath down at the other end. I’ll make sure you have clean towels. You’re welcome to use the kitchen anytime, day or night. Help yourself to anything you see. I’ll get to the store tomorrow and stock up. If there’s anything in particular you want, just let me know.”
“That’s so kind of you,” I said, “but why don’t you let us run to the store for you? It’s the least we can do.”
Esther smiled. “You just concentrate on your story. I’m sure you’ll want to finish as soon as possible so you can leave town.”
I looked closely at the diminutive woman. Was that a hint to get out of Sanctuary? “Hopefully, it won’t take us long to get what we need. I don’t intend to leave until we do.”
Esther’s smile disappeared. “Just be careful, honey,” she said softly. “Some people are willing to protect their secrets at all costs.” She walked out the door just as Zac came in.
“Where do you want these suitcases?” he asked.
“Put them over there on the floor,” I said slowly.
“Looks like I can’t toss them on the bed. You seem to have visitors.” Zac put the suitcases against the wall.
“Yes, Clyde and Maizie. There are two more running around here somewhere. Hope you like cats.”
“I like all animals. It’s people I have a problem with.” Zac sat down on the bed next to the two very comfortable cats. Clyde eyed him somewhat suspiciously, but Maizie immediately jumped up on his lap. Zac laughed and petted her. She began to purr loudly. This was the first time Zac had reacted positively to anything since we’d left the station.
“You’ve got another small bag,” he said. “I’ll bring it up with mine.” He looked up at me and frowned. “You look upset. Something wrong?”
“I don’t know. I think Esther just politely encouraged us to get out of town. Something about protecting secrets.”
“Wow.” He cocked his head and raised his eyebrows. “This place is weird. And I don’t mean just because it’s religious.” He shook his head, causing his auburn ponytail to sway back and forth. “There’s something else here. Something . . . disturbing.”
“Probably just small-town paranoia.” I could hear the uncertainty in my voice. Esther’s comment had shaken me, but it wouldn’t do any good to raise Zac’s suspicions.
He stared at me for a moment. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Wynter? We’re here just for the story, right?”
His question caught me off guard. How could he know? Was I that transparent? “I have no idea what you’re talking about. We’ll get our interviews, and then we’ll leave. That’s all there is to it.”
“All right. It’s just that . . . well, you’ve been different ever since we got here.” He rubbed Maizie behind the ears once more before getting to his feet. “Dinner with that Reuben guy tonight, then tomorrow we’ll shoot and get out of here, right?”
“I intend to spend some time with Esther tomorrow. We’ll see. Better plan on being here a couple of days. We have to make sure we’ve got everything we need.”
“Okay,” he said, drawing the word out. “Just keep me in the loop, will you? I don’t like being on the outside.”
I watched him as he left, Esther’s words ringing in my head. “Some people are willing to protect their secrets at all costs.”
Chapter
Five
“So what do you recommend?” I asked as I perused the menu at Randi’s Oil Lamp Restaurant. According to Reuben, there were two restaurants in Sanctuary. The other one, The Whistle Stop Café, was only open for breakfast and lunch. Randi’s was it for the Sanctuary resident who wanted to eat supper out. It was a charming little place with mismatched vinyl tablecloths and red and yellow plastic mustard and ketchup bottles. The air was heavy with the aroma of grease and grilled onions.
“Randi’s got some great dishes,” Reuben said with a smile. “Her cabbage casserole is incredible. And if you like liver and onions, you’ll never have any better than hers.”
Zac had decided to stay back at Esther’s and clean his camera equipment. Honestly, I was relieved. His attitude grated on my nerves. Not having him around allowed me to relax a bit.
I happened to glance back toward the kitchen and noticed a man staring at me from a large pass-through window. An older man with sparse, graying hair and the features of a basset hound. His expression was less than welcoming. Surely visitors to Sanctuary weren’t that unusual. I broke my gaze away from his and turned my attention back to ordering.
“Well, I’m up for liver and onions,” I said.
Reuben nodded. “Sounds good to me too.”
I glanced up and caught him looking at me. Every time I looked into his blue eyes, my heart beat a little faster. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t here to pick up a Mennonite boyfriend. I had something much more important to accomplish.
“So tell me about Sanctuary,” I said. “When was it founded? Was it always Mennonite?”
Reuben started to say something, but I held up my finger. “Wait a minute. Do you mind if I record this? I don’t want to trust my memory.”
“
Sure, that’s fine,” he said, “but it’s a little intimidating. What if I say something I want to take back later?”
I smiled. “Then I’ll erase it. It’s not like our conversation will end up in court or anything.”
“I’m afraid that would be a pretty boring court case. Nothing very exciting ever happens here.”
I fumbled through my purse for my phone. After several attempts, I finally gave up. “Must have left my phone in my room. Guess I’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way.” I pulled out the small notebook I always carried with me, along with a pen. “I’ll just take notes. It will help us decide what we want in the interview.” As I put my notebook on the table, I couldn’t help but look back toward the kitchen once more. The cook was still there, but he was looking the other way. Good.
Before Reuben had a chance to respond, a young woman came up to our table with an order pad in her hand.
“Hey, Reuben,” she said. “Who’s your friend?”
“Evening, Randi.” Reuben nodded toward me. “This is Wynter Evans, a reporter from a television station in St. Louis. She’s here with a photographer to do a story about Sanctuary. Wynter, this is Rachelle Lindquist,” Reuben said, “the owner of this fine establishment. We all call her Randi.”
“Nice to meet you.” Her words were welcoming, but the look on her face echoed her cook’s. Fortunately for her sake, she was much better looking. “Hope you won’t make us all out to look like hicks,” she said. “We’re not, you know.”
“We have no intention of presenting Sanctuary in a bad light,” I said. “We’re here because you have a unique town. This is just a human-interest piece, not an exposé. You have nothing to worry about.”
The guarded expression on Randi’s face slipped a bit, but the look in her eyes made me feel slightly defensive. What was it with these people? As soon as the thought entered my mind, the reality that I was here with ulterior motives hit me. I felt a quick stab of guilt.
