by Dana R. Lynn
Had he been wrong to go against his father?
No, he couldn’t let himself get distracted by these questions. Not now. He was in the middle of something far too intense to allow his attention to wander. There was something he wanted to know, though.
“Do you think...” He paused, pondering the question he was about to ask his mother. Not sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
“What, Isaac? Please, tell me what’s in your heart?” His mother leaned forward, letting him see the love and concern on her face.
He braced himself. “Do you think Dat ever forgave me before he died? We said some pretty unkind things to each other.”
She sighed. “Your dat, he was a gut man. When Joshua was killed, it tore him apart. I know you didn’t see that. You were in so much pain yourself. Your dat clung to his faith, knowing that Gott is all-knowing and that He would see that justice was done.”
He nodded. He knew all this.
“When you questioned our way of life, it hurt him, too.” Isaac hung his head. His mother touched his arm. “Isaac, after his anger cooled, he realized that he had allowed his own fear to get in the way. He forgave you, and I know he prayed that you would forgive him and return.”
He was stricken. “Mamm, I didn’t know that.”
“He let Gott have the anxiety. He died content, knowing that you were in Gott’s hands. He believed that one day He would bring you home. And here you are.”
He needed to correct that misconception. “I’m not home for good, Mamm. I am here because my friend is in need. I have promised to protect her and to help her find the man who is trying to kill her. Once that’s done and the man is behind bars, I will go back to my life as a cop.”
“And Lizzy?”
Oh, no. He knew that tone. Somehow in just a few short moments, his mother had understood that the blonde woman sleeping upstairs had wormed her way into her wayward son’s heart. He had to shut this down, now.
“Mamm, she’s my friend. That’s it.”
She smiled. “I know that.”
“Seriously, there’s nothing more going on between us. And even if there was, it wouldn’t last. She’s baptized in the church. I would never ask her to leave. And I don’t think that I can ever return.”
“It will be as Gott intends,” was all she would say.
Later, he was in his old room next to the kitchen. He had told his mother that he didn’t think he could ever return. That bothered him. He hadn’t said that he would never return. It was a small difference, but he knew himself well enough to know that he was starting to question his past decisions. And he was questioning what he wanted in his life.
It didn’t matter. Even if he did want to return, and even if he was interested in pursuing a future with Lizzy, it could never happen. He had promised his brother that he would work for justice for those who were downtrodden. That still remained. So even if it made him unhappy, he was bound by that promise to continue.
The duty that had given his life purpose was beginning to feel like a stone around his neck.
THIRTEEN
Slipping back into his former way of life wasn’t as difficult as Isaac had thought it would be. He woke up the next morning and dressed in the clothes his mother had found for him. He’d grown a bit since he was seventeen, both in height and in muscle. For a few minutes, he stood in the center of his room, dressed in the blue trousers and the suspenders, and dealt with the sense of déjà vu. It felt odd not to have his weapons belt on.
The quietness of the farm was a shock to his senses. He had gotten used to the music pounding from his neighbor’s apartment. The slamming doors above him, the traffic outside his window. Here, he literally woke up with the rooster crowing. He shrugged off the disorientation and made his way to the kitchen, where he grabbed a cup of coffee before he headed out to the barn. He could hardly stay at his mother’s house and not pitch in with the chores.
It wasn’t long before the familiar rhythm of the chores came back to him. It took him longer than it used to, but he knew that within a few days it would feel as though he’d never left.
He wasn’t here to do farm chores all day, though. As soon as the sun was up in the sky, he left the shelter of the barn and began to walk the perimeter. He stopped several times along the way, hearing movement. Most of the time, he was able to find the source of the noise. Twice, however, he wasn’t.
He didn’t like that. Not at all. While he doubted that they would have been found, especially this quickly, he wasn’t about to take any chance.
Returning to the house, he went to his bedroom and sent Ryder and the chief a quick text. Then he returned to the kitchen. His mother and Lizzy were both up, and the tantalizing smell of breakfast wafted to him, making him realize how long ago it was since he ate.
The women were speaking in the dialect of German he had grown up with as he entered. He stopped and listened for a few minutes. He hadn’t spoken that dialect, really spoken it, other than a few isolated words, in seven years. There were a few words he had forgotten, but he was able to catch the drift of the conversation.
“Good morning, Mamm. Lizzy.”
Both women turned to smile at him. His heart lurched at the loveliness of the two women he loved most side by side.
He stumbled a moment, caught off his stride by the thought. He did not love Lizzy, he denied to himself. He admired her. He liked her very much. But he most definitely did not love her.
You keep telling yourself that.
The very idea terrified him more than facing an armed criminal. Because there was absolutely nothing he could do about it if he did love her. And once she was gone, he’d be left with a hole in his heart in the shape of Lizzy Miller.
“Good morning, Isaac,” Lizzy greeted him. The full smile she’d first worn when she had seen him had shrunk to a small, hesitant smile. Possibly because he had stood there so long in a daze over his own thoughts.
He needed to get himself under control, right now.
“Listen, I was outside checking on things. I’m probably overreacting, but I sent a text to my boss and asked for my friend Ryder to drop off one of the dogs I’ve trained.”
“A dog?” His mother frowned.
“She’s not a pet,” he told her. “She’s been trained to aid in investigations. She would be a valuable help to ensure Lizzy’s safety.”
Lizzy grinned. “Is he bringing Lily?”
He smiled at her enthusiasm. “If the chief agrees, then that’s the plan. But until she arrives, I need to ask you to stay in the house.”
Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a scowl. She had obviously thought she’d have a bit more freedom once they were back in Amish country. He would love to allow her to have her way, but her safety came first. He couldn’t be swayed by her wishes. Not in something this important.
“Jah, you should listen to my son, Lizzy. He’s right. We want to return you safely to your family.”
Did she look as stricken by the idea as he felt? But it was good that his mother had reminded them that she would be going home soon. It hadn’t been an accidental warning on his mother’s part. He remembered last night’s conversation. His mother had guessed his feelings were growing for Lizzy. And she’d be happy to see them get together—if Isaac returned to the Amish church. She would never condone him wooing Lizzy away to the Englisch world. Son or not, she would do what she could to keep that from happening.
The conversation changed when Mary skipped into the room. He saw the wariness in Lizzy’s eyes, though she smiled and tried to act as if she wasn’t disturbed. When breakfast was finished, though, she sidled close to him.
“Do you think Zave has found us?” she whispered, her eyes darting to his face.
He lifted his coffee mug to his lips, taking a sip as he gauged whether either his mamm or Mary was listening in. When he was sure they w
eren’t, he answered in a soft voice. “I hope not. It seems unlikely that he would have found us this quickly. But I’m not willing to take any chances with your safety on the line.”
She frowned. The lost look on her face tugged at his heart. He wanted to sling his arm around her shoulders and pull her close to him, but he refrained. He did allow himself to shift two inches closer to her. She didn’t appear to notice.
“It’s scary how quickly I let my guard down,” she mused. “Last night, I went to bed and I didn’t think I’d sleep. But I did. And waking up to the familiar sounds of the farm, I somehow convinced myself that I was safe here. It’s not true, though, is it? Until Zave is caught, I’ll never be safe.”
“Liz.” He waited until her eyes lifted. He held her gaze. “I will do everything humanly possible to protect you. I promise you that I will.” He hesitated. Did he dare? “I also have been thinking that we have God on our side. He has kept us from injury so far. I know that you know this, but I’m trying to trust Him to protect us, too.”
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. He could tell by the way her eyes glistened that his words had struck a chord with her. She lifted a hand to his face and placed it softly on his cheek. Butterfly soft and only for a moment, she allowed her hand to remain. Then it was gone and she was moving away from him.
He might have imagined it, but he could still feel her hand on his cheek.
Ryder arrived with Lily around nine. The German shepherd trembled with joy as she jumped out of the truck. She wasn’t working, so he allowed himself to give her a two-handed rub along her back. She licked his face.
“Hey, I missed you, too, girl.” He said it softly, but Ryder still heard him and snickered.
Isaac straightened. “You up to running the perimeter with us?”
Ryder patted his service weapon on his hip. “Always.”
Giving the dog the command that she was on duty, Isaac led her around to seek out any danger lurking. Lily was young, but she took her duties seriously. He felt better knowing that she would be there, helping him to watch over Lizzy.
* * *
The next two days passed without incident. There had been no further sightings of Zave, and Isaac finally told her she could leave the house. As long as she had Lily with her. Lily had been given the command to guard Lizzy. Consequently, whenever she walked outside the house, she had either her canine shadow or Isaac with her.
She didn’t leave the property, though. Isaac was still unsure of the safety outside of his family’s home. She was fine with that. As much as she itched to have some sense of freedom back, she knew that she could not do anything to risk the family or to announce her presence in the area.
That didn’t stop people from dropping by to visit them. Word had gotten around that Ruth’s son had returned and had brought a young woman with him. A young Amish woman. Most of the people were hoping to hear that he had returned to the church and wondered if Lizzy and he were courting. Of course, most never asked. They hinted, but very few were bold enough to suggest such a thing. Lizzy gritted her teeth at all the attention but said very little. It was hard to remain inconspicuous when everyone within three miles was coming by to catch a glimpse of her. She felt like she was living under a magnifying glass.
“Ruth?” she asked on the third morning, walking outside to where the older woman was hanging a load of laundry on the line. Lizzy grabbed a shirt and pinned it up. “I haven’t seen Isaac this morning. Not since breakfast.”
Ruth secured a dress to the line and nodded. “Jah. He decided to do a quick walk around to see if anyone has seen or heard anything strange. He said that we should stay close to the house. He should be back soon. He left Lily with us.”
Of course he did. She looked at the dog and had the distinct impression of a soldier on guard. She wished he had said something to her before he left, but shrugged the feeling off. Isaac did not need to report his every move to her. She knew that whatever he was about, her safety was at the root of it.
Isaac still hadn’t arrived half an hour later when one of the teenage daughters of Ruth’s friend from a few blocks away drove up, her buggy clattering as she parked it in front of the house. The desperate look on the girl’s face made Lizzy pay attention.
“Annie, what is it?” Ruth came out to see what was happening.
“It’s Mamm!” the girl panted. “Something’s wrong.”
Ruth’s face lost some of its color. “Is it the baby?”
“Jah. We have sent for the doctor, but the clinic is an hour away.” The girl tried to hold herself together, but the tears fell down her cheeks, anyway.
Lizzy made a snap decision. “Ruth, I will go with her.” When Ruth started to protest, she put her hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “I’m a midwife. This is what I do.”
She saw relief flood the girl’s face at her words. She could not put her safety above the life of this woman and her baby. “I will take Lily with me. As soon as Isaac gets back, tell him where I am. He can meet me there.”
She climbed up on Annie’s buggy, making room for Lily, who hopped up next to her. Annie scrambled up on the other side and took the reins.
“Tell me what is happening with your mother.”
The girl gave a jerky description. By the time she came to an end, they were parked in front of another house. Lizzy understood the fear. The poor woman wasn’t due to have her baby for six weeks. Although Lizzy strongly suspected that the woman may be having twins from the description of how quickly she had gained weight, as well as how carefully she was being monitored. It didn’t surprise her that the daughter wouldn’t know. Many families didn’t even talk about the baby on the way with the other children until it was born. Lily went inside and found a woman who might have been in her early thirties, obviously in labor. Judging from the size of her belly, twins were a definite possibility. Lizzy put her training to use. By the time the doctor from the clinic arrived, one of the twins had been born and his sibling would be on the way shortly. She stayed until the second boy had been delivered.
Isaac hadn’t arrived yet. She had expected him to be outside waiting for her.
Uncomfortable in the strange house, and not wanting to be in the way, she went outside and waited for another five minutes.
“What do you think, Lily?” she asked the dog. Lily’s ears perked up at her name. “Should we start walking? Isaac is probably on his way. We’ll probably meet up with him.”
He would not be pleased that they had left. She should stay. But she didn’t like the way the doctor had watched her. He didn’t appear to be mean, only suspicious of her. No, she didn’t want to stay here. With Lily by her side, she should be safe. And it was only a few blocks away. It had taken five minutes to drive there. She could be back at Ruth’s in half an hour. It had been a fairly straight route, too, so she wasn’t concerned about losing her way.
Her decision made, she headed out, the dog at her side. She did try to stay off the road as much as possible. The one side of the road was bordered by a thick, dense wood, so she figured if she saw anyone or heard anything, she would run in there and hide.
They had traveled about half the distance when the space between her shoulder blades began to tingle. She twitched her shoulders. Looking around, she tried to see who was watching her, but didn’t see anyone. There was a scraping sound off to the left.
Lily growled. The sound stopped. That’s when she realized that what she had been hearing was footsteps.
The hairs on the nape of her neck stood on end. She was being followed.
Urging the dog forward, she quickened her pace. The scraping started again. Was the person dragging their feet?
Gasping, she broke into a run, Lily keeping pace at her side.
She heard her name being called. Isaac! He was standing beside a buggy, but the horse was not attached to it. She ran up to him and threw her
arms around him. He hugged her tightly, then set her back and searched her face.
“Are you hurt? Why were you running?”
She remembered the sound. “I think we were being followed.” She looked around. “Why is your horse off the buggy?”
He pointed to the wheel. “It broke. I didn’t want to risk injuring the horse while I tried to fix it.”
A loud noise caused him to break off what he was about to say. They looked up the hill. She gasped. A farm tractor was barreling down the hill toward them. There was no one in the driver’s seat.
Isaac grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the buggy. They ran to safety, then turned to watch in horror as the tractor slammed into the buggy, smashing through it. It hit the guardrail and stopped. Isaac approached it carefully, vaulting up on the still-churning tractor and killing the engine.
The look on his face told her that he didn’t believe this was an accident.
FOURTEEN
She was still shaking an hour later when she thought of their near miss.
“Are we returning to Waylan Grove?” she asked after Isaac got off the phone with his chief.
He shook his head. “I called the chief. She said that someone they believe is Zave has been spotted several times in the past three days. He can’t be there and here. As much as I don’t want to believe it, it may be that the tractor accident was just that. An accident.”
The skepticism in his voice echoed the doubt in her own mind. However, hearing that Zave had been seen not once but several times made her question herself.
“I find it hard to believe it was an accident. Even though I know such things happen. They can’t all be brought on by someone wishing to hurt someone else.”
“There is that.” He pivoted to face her. They were standing in the barn, the only place they could be assured of finding five minutes of privacy. She knew that they shouldn’t be out here alone, but they had come so close to dying that she agreed to go with him when he asked her if he could speak with her for a few minutes. She knew she’d have some explaining to do. His clenched jaw told her that while he had been scared, he was also a little bit upset with her choice to leave the property. Well, that decision couldn’t be undone. And she still felt that she had no choice. She had chosen to be a midwife, and that meant to assist women in their time of need.
