“I hear a buggy, must be Silvie back,” Emma said.
A minute later, Silvie burst through the door, quite breathless. “Phew, it took me a while and two cups of coffee, but old Mr. Winters told me that Frank insisted on changing his will there and then, so his ‘useless’ sons would get nothing.”
Elsa-May leaned forward and asked, “So who did he leave his money to?”
“Bob, Bob Pluver. And Bob’s to see that Growler is looked after.”
Emma covered her mouth. “Bob.”
Elsa-May said, “That means that Bob is now our prime suspect. That’s not gut. It means that we can’t listen to what he told us. If he killed Frank, he could’ve made up the entire thing he told Maureen.”
“He was right about going to the lawyer, though,” Maureen said. “He didn’t lie about that.”
“Jah, That’s right, Maureen.” Ettie laughed. “But that was to his advantage to know where the most recent will was kept.”
Maureen shook her head. “I don’t believe that he did it.”
“Neither do I, but he does move to front place as far as the suspects are concerned,” Elsa-May said.
“Are you going to tell the detective, Elsa-May?” Maureen said.
Elsa-May narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know. I think we should sit on the information for now.”
The widows had been silent for a moment, before Ettie asked, “You’ve got the cat, haven’t you, Emma?”
“I’m afraid so. He just ignores me all the time; I don’t know how the old man got so attached to him. He just sleeps, eats, and he’s taken over the whole haus.”
“You must look after him well, Emma. That was Frank’s wish,” Silvie said.
“I will. He already has the run of the haus.” Emma gave a little giggle; she was not brave enough to tell the widows that the cat slept on her bed. They would consider her far too soft in the head.
“Why would Frank suddenly decide to leave all his money to Bob on that very day? What had him so shaken?” Elsa-May drummed her fingertips onto her chin. “Ettie, go out to the buggy and get me my writing pad.”
Ettie came back into the haus within moments with a pen and Elsa-May’s writing pad.
Elsa-May began writing. “Suspects? We have the old man next door, the two sons and Bob.”
“Nee, not Bob,” Maureen said.
Elsa-May glanced up at Maureen and then set her eyes once more to her writing pad. “As I was saying, Bob, and who else would have had something to gain from the man’s death?”
“When Andrew and his girlfriend were here the other day, he mentioned something; he thought his daed had in a safe-deposit box somewhere,” Emma said.
Elsa-May pushed out her lips. “Maybe he did have something in a safe-deposit box somewhere. Did we find a key anywhere?” The widows all shook their heads. “Perhaps the detective found a key. I’ll pay him a visit and give him what we found and ask him a few questions.”
Elsa-May scribbled down a few more things on to her writing pad. “Let’s re-cap. Frank was upset by something –most likely to do with his sons, because he had Bob drive him to town where he went to two banks and then changed his will at the solicitor’s. And that’s only if Bob was telling Maureen the truth.”
“He was, I’m sure of it,” Maureen said.
“Did Bob come into Frank’s haus on the Thursday, the day that Frank died?” Silvie asked.
“He said that he didn’t,” Maureen said. “He had to go back to work.”
“So we can’t say at what time Frank’s home was broken into and wrecked. Frank was upset, went to banks, solicitor, back home, and that’s all we know until Emma came later in the day and found him poisoned on the floor,” Elsa-May said as she studied her writing pad.
“Jah, seems to be all we know so far,” Ettie said. “His boys had to have been upset with him because he changed his will. That part is obvious.”
“Would one of his sons have killed him if Frank told them what he’d done about changing the will?” Emma asked.
“Nee, because then he’d never be alive to change the will back,” Elsa-May said. “It’s pointing more and more to Bob.”
“Can’t we rule out the man next door? It’s a bit weird to think someone could kill someone over just a fence,” Silvie said.
“Ahh, but it’s never just a fence. The fence could be the last straw, as the expression goes; the last straw that broke the camel’s back. We can’t rule anyone out.”
Chapter 8.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:10-13
It was on the Saturday after the funeral that Silvie heard a knock at her door. She opened it to see her younger schweschder, Sabrina, with a suitcase in her hand. Silvie looked up the road to see a taxi driving away. “Sabrina, what are you doing here?”
Sabrina pushed past Silvie into the haus. “Mamm sent me.”
“She did? How did you get here?”
“I came on the Greyhound.” Sabrina put her bag down just inside the door and took off her coat.
Silvie took her coat from her. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but why are you here?”
“Mamm heard that you were very friendly with an Englischer at a funeral.”
Silvie was surprised how fast news traveled. “There is a man, but he’s staying in the community because he wants to become Amish, that’s all. There’s nothing going on with me and him.”
“Really?” Sabrina raised an eyebrow and stared at Silvie. It reminded Silvie of how her mudder had always stared at her when she’d done something wrong. Silvie’s mudder was a dominating force and Silvie had escaped that domination when she married John. At that moment, Silvie realized that getting away from her mudder might have been a major factor in her decision to marry John.
“Why do you come to my haus and question me? I’m a grown woman and can do as I please,” Silvie said as she hung up Sabrina’s coat.
“Do what you want.” Sabrina laughed. “I just had to get away for a while and this was a gut excuse. Besides, it’ll give me a chance to meet the menner in the community. Is there anyone who might suit me?”
Silvie reached for Sabrina’s suitcase. “I’ll take this up to the spare room. Come, I’ll show you where it is.”
“Silvie, you didn’t answer me. There are no menner for me in Ohio so I’m hoping there might be someone here for me. You’d like to have a schweschder here, wouldn’t you? It must be lonely out here all by yourself.”
Her schweschder or for that matter, any member of her familye staying in Lancaster County, was far less than an ideal situation for Silvie. “It’s the second Sunday tomorrow so there’ll be a meeting; come see for yourself.”
Sabrina clapped her hands together. “Goodie. You don’t mind me staying a while, do you?”
“Of course not,” Silvie said as she heaved the heavy suitcase onto the bed. “I’ll be pleased of the company.” Silvie wondered who there might be for Sabrina. “There are a few single menner you might like.”
“Ach, I can’t wait for tomorrow to see for myself.”
“Mamm sent you to spy on me?”
“She sent me to make sure that you don’t make a mistake. She was worried when she heard about the Englischer.” Sabrina sat down heavily on the other side of the bed. “Who is he, the Englischer?”
“No one important. Just someone who might become Amish soon, that’s all, but I’m a grown woman and can make my own choices; I wish mamm would realize that. Apparently, I’m not far enough away from her.” Silvie wondered who it was who reported back to her mudder.
“Silvie, that’s a terrible thing to say. Mamm would be so upset to hear you say a thing like that about her.”<
br />
Silvie laughed. “You only just said that you needed to get away too.”
“I didn’t say it was because of mamm. I mind what I say.” Sabrina pouted.
“Okay, then I’ll mind what I say as well. You get settled, unpack your clothes and you can help me with the chores.”
“Chores? I’m a guest. I don’t want to do any chores; I have to do chores at home.”
Silvie shook a finger at Sabrina. “If you stay here, you’ll be doing chores.”
Sabrina pouted once more. “If I’d known that, I would not have come.”
Silvie turned and walked toward the bedroom door. “If you want to stay with me, you have to do chores. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to unpack.” Silvie walked out of the bedroom pleased with herself. If her mudder had sent Sabrina to spy on her, she had to turn things to her advantage in the best way that she could.
As Silvie finished washing the dishes, she looked out the window and remembered her prayer of just days ago. She shared with Gott that she did not want to be alone. Was this Gott’s answer, to send her Sabrina? She meant she wanted a mann in her life, not her spoiled schweschder to come and stay with her. She would have to be more specific with her prayers in the future.
Chapter 9.
For as the body without the spirit/breath is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26
Emma drove herself to the Sunday meeting rather than go with Maureen or Wil. Sometimes she liked to be alone driving to the gathering together and back home.
Walking toward the group, she saw Silvie and was sure that the woman next to her had to be Silvie’s schweschder. She had the same fine features and the same delicate coloring with the blonde hair and the blue eyes.
Silvie looked up, caught her eye and walked over to her with her arm looped through her schweschder’s. “Emma, this is Sabrina, my schweschder.”
“Hello, Sabrina.” Up close the girl was even more beautiful than Silvie.
“Nice to meet you, Emma.”
Emma noticed that Sabrina was hardly paying her any attention as her eyes darted to and fro over the crowd. It was clear to Emma that Sabrina was single and looking for a husband. Most young girls of her age thought of little else. “I guess you’re from Ohio too, Sabrina?”
“Jah, I don’t know how long I’m staying yet, maybe just a week or so.”
Sabrina and Silvie sat with Maureen and Emma during the service.
When the meal was being served afterward, Silvie pulled Emma aside. “Mamm sent her to spy on me because she heard that I was sweet on an Englischer.”
“Really? I guessed that she was looking for a husband.”
“Jah, that too.”
Emma laughed, and they both turned to look at Sabrina only to see her approach Wil. “Ach, look she’s gone over to Wil. Emma, you have to stop her.”
Emma scoffed. “I’m not concerned. Wil had plenty of time to find someone else besides me; he’s never been interested in anyone else.”
Silvie frowned. “You’re very confident, Emma.”
Emma was not confident at all, not after the argument they had. “We’ve talked of marriage.”
“You haven’t said ‘yes’ though, have you?”
“Nee, but we have an understanding. He knows it’s too soon for me to say ‘yes.’”
Although Emma knew that Wil loved her, Silvie’s words began to concern her. “Let’s go closer to hear what they are talking about,” Emma said.
Wil immediately looked up as they approached. “Ahh, Silvie you have a delightful schweschder.”
Silvie smiled and looked at Emma.
“Emma, have you met Sabrina?”
Emma noticed that as Wil spoke he shifted his weight from one foot to another as if he was nervous.
“Jah, we met earlier.” Emma looked at Sabrina and was sure that she looked disappointed that her talk with Wil had been interrupted. Could Sabrina see Wil as a potential husband even though she was only eighteen and he was in his thirties? Surely not.
“Sabrina’s interested in my inventions.”
Emma raised her eyebrows. She did not see how anyone could be interested in Wil’s inventions. How did they come to speak of his inventions so quickly? “Is she?”
“Jah, I do a little fiddling with inventions myself.” Sabrina was certainly more animated in her conversation when there was a man around.
“Such as?” Emma asked, wondering if Sabrina would dare to make up such a thing.
“Mamm has a gas powered iron and I’ve made it into a battery powered iron by fitting it with a battery pack that I made myself.”
Emma laughed and before she could stop herself, she said, “What would be the use of that?”
Wil stared at her and Emma knew that he sensed something was not right with her. Did Wil know that she was a little jealous of this new girl?
Sabrina tilted her chin high. “Well, mamm liked it. She found it more convenient.”
“Jah, I’m sure it’s got many convenient uses.” Emma tried to sound sincere to cover her previous cruel outburst.
Sabrina ignored Emma’s words and said, “Why don’t you show me some of your inventions, Wil?”
“Of course, have Silvie bring you for dinner one night this week. That’ll be okay, won’t it, Silvie?”
Silvie smiled. “Jah, we could come tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow it is then.”
“Come on, Sabrina.” Silvie linked her arm through Sabrina’s. “I’ve got some people I want you to meet. Excuse us, Wil, Emma.” Silvie pulled Sabrina away, leaving Wil and Emma alone.
“You’ll come to dinner on tomorrow too, of course?” Wil asked Emma.
“Do you want me to?” Emma asked.
“Of course, all my dinner invitations include you.”
Emma folded her arms and looked into the distance. She had never experienced the emotion of jealousy, but now she knew what it was. She was annoyed at Sabrina for speaking to Wil and not just speaking, she was flirting with him. Outrageously flirting and she even invited herself to his haus. The sheer nerve of the woman. “Don’t you know that Sabrina is attracted to you? She’s only here from Ohio to look for a husband.”
“That’s a little harsh, Emma. You’ve only just met the girl. You were also rude to her.”
Emma’s mouth fell open at Wil’s words. “I was not.”
Wil rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ve never understood about my inventions have you?”
“What do you mean? I do understand about your inventions.”
“When someone invents something, it’s important to them. You have never shown any interest in my inventions - ever.” Wil nodded his head in a definite manner as he spoke.
Emma remained silent; she was not the slightest bit interested in his senseless tinkering with useless objects, and why should she be? They were a sheer waste of Gott’s time. Why couldn’t Wil see that for himself?
Wil continued, “Think of it like your needlework. You spend hours on your needlework and show me what you’ve done and I show interest in your work – the fine stitches, the different colors. But, if I try and speak about my inventions or try to show you, you just don’t pay any mind. You make no effort to even pretend to have a tiny piece of curiosity.”
Emma looked up at Wil. He was scolding her. He had never spoken crossly like that to her before.
Wil continued, “You even told that girl that her invention was of no use. How would you feel if someone told you your needlework was of no use to anybody?”
Emma jutted out her bottom lip as she thought of Sabrina’s invention. “Well, I think the battery iron was silly and I do think it’s of no use. I have to be truthful.” Couldn’t Wil see that a battery pack on an iron was pointless when a gas-powered iron would’ve done the same thing? Why was he defending the girl, because she was pretty and young?
“What use is your needlework? What use is it to anybody?”
Emma scoffed.
“It’s hardly the same thing, Wil.”
“It might not be the same thing, but it’s about people’s feelings. Think about other people for once, Emma.” Wil put his hands on his hips and his eyes flashed with disappointment.
“Are you saying that I’m selfish?” Emma asked.
Wil slowly nodded his head. “Jah, something like that. If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to speak to.” Wil walked away from Emma with long, fast strides.
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. Never had he spoken to her like that. Wil had been her rock ever since Levi had died. Wil was her best friend and now he had said mean things to her and for no reason.
Feeling all alone in the world, Emma walked directly to her buggy, hoping that no one would see her in tears. She drove all the way home with tears brimming in her eyes. She was pleased that she had decided to drive there alone that day.
Was she selfish? Could Wil be right? No one else had ever called her selfish.
She opened her front door, lay down on the couch, closed her eyes and thought on Wil’s words. He was as gut as saying that she was selfish for not showing interest in his silly inventions. She was sick on the tummy. It was true she never showed any interest but he had never been angry about it before, not ‘til she hadn’t shown any interest in Sabrina’s useless invention. Maybe Wil was sweet on Sabrina. Could it be more than a coincidence that he picked a fight with her straight after he met the young and pretty Sabrina?
No one had ever said that needlework was a waste of time. At least I have something to show for all my time, Emma thought of her sewing.
Emma went into the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Growler was finishing the last of the meat she had put out for him that morning. “Hello, Growler.” As usual, Growler ignored her and kept eating. She leaned over and stroked his gray, silver fur until he purred.
She walked past Growler into the utility room and spied some chocolates and decided that she needed something to cheer herself up. Emma took the chocolates back to the lounge and covered herself with a blanket. As the chocolate melted in her mouth, she thought of more than a few times that Wil had tried to show her what he was working on. Sometimes she would laugh, or scoff and sometimes she would say she’d look later, but never did. Perhaps she should show interest in what he did with his time, but couldn’t he see that his inventions were useless? Even Levi had said that they were a waste of time.
Hidden (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 2) Page 6
