Dark Crossings

by Marta Perry

  Lena held her hands wide. “As you can see, there is no one dangerous here.”

  “I think we’ll just have a look for ourselves.” Chuck advanced into the room. His companion went to check out the window.

  Lena said, “You are frightening the children with your guns. Please take them outside, then search all you want.”

  “Not a chance, lady. If everyone sits quietly, no one will get hurt.”

  Lena repeated what he had said in Pennsylvania Dutch so that the youngest children could understand. She calmly reassured them in the same language.

  Chuck Carter scowled at her. “What did you just say?”

  Lena rose and moved from her desk to the front row, where Mary was starting to cry. She put her arm around the child. “Some of the students don’t yet understand English. I simply told them what you said.”

  “Ask them if they’ve seen a blond man dressed in jeans and a red shirt this morning.”

  Lena pretended to repeat his question, but she actually told the children to all shake their heads.

  The man near the window said, “Boss, someone is coming. A buggy just turned off the highway.”

  Chuck grabbed Lena by the elbow and pulled her toward the glass. “Who is it?”

  She recognized Isaac and her heart sank. He and Ruby were driving into danger, and there was nothing she could do about it. “It is Isaac Bowman. He has come to fix the hayloft door.”

  Letting go of her, Chuck said, “Take your seat. Dick, check upstairs and then go bring in the Amish fellow. I’ll keep an eye on him while you search the barn. Sam couldn’t have gotten far.”

  Fear tightened Lena’s throat. “Please, we mean you no harm.”

  “It’s not you I’m worried about. Do as you’re told and everything will be fine. Once we find the…poacher, we’ll take him to jail.” Chuck smiled at her, but his eyes remained cold. She didn’t believe him. They were all in danger.

  Behind him, Lena saw Ruby standing in the doorway with a look of panic on her face. Neither of the men had seen her. Speaking in Pennsylvania Dutch, Lena calmly said, “Go back to the barn and tell your father that there are men with guns here. Go very quietly. Tell him they are looking for a wounded man that I have hidden under my desk. He must go for help quickly before these men can stop him. Understand?”

  Ruby nodded and backed down the steps.

  Chuck’s eyes narrowed. “What are you yammering about?”

  “I’m praying for your soul. We are all praying for your soul.” She began the Lord’s Prayer in German. The children joined in.

  * * *

  ISAAC HEARD A WHISPER behind him. He turned in astonishment when he realized it was Ruby. He stared at her mutely.

  She whispered more loudly, “Papa, Lena is in trouble.”

  Joy sent a jolt through his heart and made it skip a beat. He dropped to his knees and grasped his child’s shoulders. “Ruby, you spoke.”

  She nodded. “Help her, Papa.”

  “I don’t understand. Why does Lena need my help?”

  “There are men with guns in the school. You have to help Lena.” Ruby’s voice grew stronger.

  Men with guns? Were they the ones who’d shot at him last night? He rose to his feet. He had no idea what he could do against armed men, but he wasn’t leaving Lena to face them alone. “Ruby, I want you to hide in the hayloft.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Lena wants you to go for help. The men are looking for a wounded man. Lena is hiding him under her desk.”

  Isaac racked his brain for a way to help Lena and the children inside. If the men were hunting for someone, he would give them someone to chase. He might be able to draw them away from the school long enough to let the children and Lena escape.

  He knelt beside his child again. “Ruby, can you run to the nearest Englische house and tell them what is happening?”

  She nodded. “I can.”

  “Can you run through the woods and stay clear of the road?”

  “Ja, I can do it.”

  He had to trust her. “I am going to lead the men away from here. I want you to watch from the window. When they follow my buggy around the bend in the road and you can’t see them anymore, I want you to run as fast as you can.”

  Drawing the men away would work for only a short time. How could Lena get everyone to safety by herself? She couldn’t. He would have to help.

  He looked toward the covered bridge, which sat at a slight angle to the school. If he jumped out of the buggy as it came out the other side, he might be able to get under the bridge and hide before the men went by. Or they might see him and know it was a trick.

  But what choice did he have? Nothing else came to mind. His only other option was to walk up to the school and stand calmly beside Lena as they waited for God’s mercy.

  If his plan failed, Isaac would do just that.

  He gathered Ruby in his arms. “I love you more than you will ever know. Do not fear. God will protect you.”

  He kissed her cheek and set her back on the floor. Then he looked out the doorway. Sophie stood calmly beside the barn with her head drooping. Her quiet demeanor didn’t fool Isaac. Like many Amish-owned horses, Sophie had been a racehorse in her younger years. When she broke into a run, she could still fly like the wind.

  The buggy sat between the barn and the school. He prayed the gunmen would believe their quarry was escaping.

  He glanced at Ruby. “Ready?”

  She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. She hadn’t gone for help for her mother and he had no idea why. Isaac prayed she would be able to do it now.

  He pulled her close once more. “You can do this. I have faith in you. You can save Lena and all the children. All you have to do is run. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered, and wiped her tears.

  He wanted his daughter away and safe. He didn’t know how he would live if any harm came to her.

  Isaac slipped out of the barn and into the buggy. Once there, he slapped the reins against Sophie’s rump. She jumped and trotted off. He slapped her again and yelled. By the time she reached the bridge she was at a full gallop.

  Isaac glanced out the rear window. Two men stood on the school step. Ruby ran out and pointed toward him. Why wasn’t she hiding?

  He didn’t have time to wonder. Sophie slowed only a little when she entered the bridge. Isaac had a second to think he was as likely to break his neck as he was to succeed in this crazy plan, then he jumped.

  He hit the ground on the far side of the bridge, clipping the timber with his shoulder as he did so. Pain shot up his arm as he rolled off the road and down the creek bank. He ignored it as he scrambled to get under the bridge and out of sight.

  Sophie continued on at a dead run down the school lane, and swung to the left when she hit the blacktop. She knew the way home.

  The sound of engines was his first indication that his plan was working. Within moments, two four-wheelers roared across the bridge and after Isaac’s buggy.

  Peering through the tall grasses, Isaac saw Sophie toss up her head as the machines bore down on her. She instantly picked up her pace. The race was on as she galloped around the bend in the road, with his buggy bumping and swaying behind her.

  “Go, Sophie, go,” he muttered as he climbed out of the creek bed. He flexed his arm, glad to realize nothing was broken.

  It was a good thing, because Ruby came flying through the bridge and launched herself into his arms
. He kissed her and put her down. “Go now, child. I’m all right.”

  She grinned. “I told a big lie, papa. I told those men someone was stealing your buggy.”

  Wonderful child. “You are forgiven,” he said, “but you must never lie again. Now go.”

  She took off like a deer into the woods, making a beeline for Clara’s farm.

  * * *

  LENA SHOVED THE DESK aside, folded her apron into a thick pad and pressed it against the oozing wound in the stranger’s side. All the children were grouped around her. The man opened his eyes. “That hurts.”

  “Gut, that means you are still alive. We must get out of here. Those men will come back.”

  “I think I’m past walking.” He closed his eyes again.

  Lena bit her lip. How was she going to get him to safety, and the children, too? She looked at Katie. Her family’s farm was the closest to the school. Could she trust Katie with the lives of so many kinder? What choice did she have?

  “I’m putting you in charge, Katie. Take all of the children and get into the woods as fast as you can. You older children, carry the little ones if you have to. Stick together and don’t stop until you reach Katie’s home.”

  Katie’s eyes grew wide. “What are you going to do, Lena?”

  “I must stay with this man.”

  “But those bad men may come back.” Mary glanced fearfully at the door.

  “As long as I know all of you are safe, I’ll be fine. Go now!”

  Katie quickly took charge. Picking up Fannie, she herded the rest of the children toward the door. Suddenly, it swung open. Mary screamed.

  Lena jumped to her feet and stepped over the wounded man to place her body between him and his assailants. Instead of the gunmen, Isaac stood in the doorway. Lena flew down the aisle and threw her arms around him. “You’re safe.”

  He returned her hug. “For now. We’ve got to get out of here. I don’t know how soon they’ll be back.”

  Lena spoke to Katie. “Take the children and do as I said.”

  They piled out the door, leaving Isaac and Lena alone. She looked behind him. “Where is Ruby?”

  “She’s gone to your friend Clara’s house.”

  “Clara won’t be there. She teaches school. But perhaps Brad will be home.”

  “Ruby is smart. If they are not there, she will go to your father’s house.”

  A low moan drew their attention to the wounded man. Isaac’s eyes widened in shock. He rushed toward the stranger and dropped to his knees. “Samuel, what has happened?”

  “I got shot.”

  Lena looked from one to the other. “You know each other?”

  Isaac nodded. “This is my Englische brother, Samuel. He works for the Department of Wildlife as an undercover agent. Who shot you, and why?”

  “I came back to look for you last night…to make sure you were okay. Chuck Carter followed me. He figured out then that I wasn’t who I claimed to be. We fought. Lost my gun in the shuffle. I got away, but he managed to get a shot off. I foolishly got in the way of the bullet. He and his wife are the brains behind this poaching ring.”

  “I can’t believe Wilfred would allow them to do this,” Lena said. “He loves the deer.”

  “The old man can’t get out of bed since his last stroke, but he’s no fool. He let his granddaughter know he changed his will. When he dies, she gets nothing. As long as he’s alive, she has a place to stay and food to eat. She and her husband decided to make some quick money off the old man by selling illegal hunts and poaching deer on his property while he’s too sick to realize what they’re doing. When the deer are gone, they will be, too.”

  “Wilfred has been trapped in that house with such evil people?” Lena couldn’t suppress a shiver.

  Samuel’s brows furrowed with pain. “Luckily, his attorney is also an old friend. The guy comes out from Canton once a week to check on him. I think they would have let the old guy starve to death if no one had been the wiser.”

  Lena pressed a hand to her heart. “Poor Wilfred.”

  Isaac rested a palm on Samuel’s flushed face. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “I tried. After I got shot, I hid until daylight. Then I started for your place. I guess I passed out. The next thing I knew, two boys were trying to drag me here. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring those men down on a school full of kids.”

  Isaac quickly reassured him. “God was merciful. The children are all safe. Now we must get you out of here. Sophie cannot run forever. When they catch her, they will find my buggy is empty and they’ll be back.”

  Isaac slipped one arm under Samuel’s knees and another around his shoulders, then picked him up as easily as a child.

  Samuel groaned.

  Lena rushed to open the door for them. “You can’t carry him all the way to town.”

  “Sure I can. Samuel is the runt of the litter, aren’t you?”

  His brother managed a half smile. “It’s better than being bigger than an ox.”

  Outside, Lena checked the road. There wasn’t any sign of the gunmen returning. “Hurry. If we can get across the bridge, we can hide in the woods beyond and make our way to town. I know a path. It’s steep and rough, but shorter than staying on the highway. The children from town come that way to school. We will have to cross the road several times, for it meanders back and forth, but if we are careful, we should be able to get Samuel to a doctor without being seen.”

  “She’s got a quick wit, Isaac. I think she might be the one you’ve been praying for.”

  “Shut up and save your breath,” he growled.

  Lena had little time to wonder what they were talking about. Even though he was carrying his brother, she had a hard time keeping up with Isaac’s long strides. When they reached the blacktop, he said, “Lena, you don’t have to stay with us. You will be safer alone.”

  “Nonsense. I’m not leaving you and that is that,” she declared, propping her hands on her hips.

  “Oh, yes, she’s the one, big brother.” Samuel laughed weakly, then his head rolled back and she knew he had fainted.

  The three of them had gone nearly half a mile through the woods when they came to the road again. They’d started across it when Lena heard the sound of an engine. “They’re coming!”

  Isaac stopped. “Nay, that’s a truck, not a four-wheeler.”

  No sooner had he said that than a gray pickup came barreling around the bend in front of them. It skidded to a stop and Lena saw the driver was Brad Jenkins. Ruby sat on the seat beside him.

  Lena rushed to open the door. She pulled Ruby into her arms. “I’m so glad you are safe.”

  The girl hugged her back. “I got help.”

  Lena smiled at her. “I see you did. Bless you, child.”

  With Brad’s help, Samuel was loaded into the back of the truck. Isaac sat beside him, pillowing his head on his lap as Brad headed for the hospital in Millersburg, the closest large town.

  * * *

  HOURS LATER, an exhausted Lena sat on a chair in the hospital waiting room. Ruby was curled up beside her. Isaac had gone to find them some coffee.

  Samuel had come through surgery without complications. He was in the recovery room now and would soon be moved to a room where they could see him. Lena shifted her position on the hard seat.

  Ruby woke up when Lena moved. “Are the bad men coming?”

  “Nay,” Lena soothed. “All the bad men have been taken to jail. We wil
l not see them again.”

  “Is Onkel Samuel okay?”

  “The doctors say he will be fine. We should be able to see him soon. I want to tell you how brave you were today, Ruby.” Lena looked up to see Isaac standing in the doorway, a cup of coffee in each hand.

  “Today, maybe, but not when my mamm died. I wasn’t brave then.” The girl’s voice cracked and she tried to stifle her tears.

  Lena stroked Ruby’s cheek, but didn’t take her gaze off Isaac. He said, “I’m sure you were brave that day, too, only in a different way.”

  Ruby looked over at him. “Mamm said, ‘Don’t leave me, Ruby. Your papa will come soon. He’ll come. Don’t leave me.’ I should have left her. I should have gone for help. You were so mad at me for staying with her. I tried to tell you what happened, but I couldn’t speak.”

  “Oh, liebchen,” Isaac said as Lena took the coffee from him. He sat beside Ruby and gathered her into his arms. “It was not your fault. God wanted your mother to come and live in joy with him. You cannot change the will of God.”

  “Do you still hate me, Papa?”

  Isaac’s voice trembled. “I’ve never hated you, Ruby. I have loved you every day of your life.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t go for help, Papa. I’m sorry I let Mama die.”

  He held her close, and tears welled up in his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t come. Can you forgive me for failing you and your mother?”

  Ruby cupped his face between her hands. “I forgive you, Papa. Please don’t cry.”

  He kissed her hands and then her cheek. “Bless you, child. You will forever remind me of the love she and I shared. You are, and have always been, God’s gift to me.”

  Lena had tears in her eyes, too. It was so good to see them repairing the damage silence and guilt had caused.

  Isaac managed a watery smile for Lena. “We have had quite an adventure-filled day.”

  She pressed a hand to her mouth as a giggle escaped.

  He gave her an odd look. “What is so funny?”

  “All my life I have wanted to have adventures. I had no idea how frightening and exhausting they can be. I hope I am done with them.”