Murder Simply Brewed

by Vannetta Chapman

Two donkeys, a small herd of cows, one yellow cat, plus Tate’s children and grandchild.

  She was going to be a grandmother!

  And all of it might not have happened if it hadn’t been for Patricia Gray, her plan to reclaim lost property, and the chaos she wrought. God had turned that destruction into a blessing.

  Which seemed to her to be the biggest miracle of all.

  Epilogue

  August

  Hannah and Amber stepped out of the summer heat and into the air-conditioned foyer of Happy Hearts Therapeutic Center. Hannah was holding an afghan she had crocheted. Amber carried an armful of magazines.

  “Jesse heard that Larry found a job at the downtown hardware store.” Hannah still didn’t like to think that someone who had been a supervisor to her had been instrumental in a murder plot, but the more she thought about it, she found she wasn’t actually surprised. There had been small indications that Larry was troubled—the strange expressions, rumors of his temper, even missed meetings toward the end. His behavior had definitely become more erratic as he’d been drawn into Patricia’s web.

  “That’s true.” Amber signed in for both of them at the front desk, and the receptionist told them they could proceed to Patricia’s room. “He received a lengthy probation—ten years.”

  “Because he knew of what Patricia planned to do?”

  “He suspected, and he did nothing to stop her. He also admitted to provoking Ethan into arguments, trying to push him into quitting his job. It’s not clear how that would have helped Larry or Patricia, but then, her methods didn’t always make sense.”

  “And he was involved in the robbery.”

  “Yes. The judge wasn’t convinced he would have gone through with it, only that he was willing to help Patricia. Since Larry pleaded guilty, his sentence was lighter than it might have been.”

  “And he has to stay in the area.” Hannah reached for the strings of her prayer kapp, ran the fingers of her right hand down the entire length. Was Larry still a threat?

  “Yes. He must report in with a guidance counselor and his parole officer.” Amber reached out and squeezed her hand. “There’s no need to worry about him.”

  “You’re not worried that he’s still a danger to us? Or to the Village?”

  “No. Gordon was able to trace Larry’s Internet activity and found that he had huge online gambling debts. I think Larry was caught up in Patricia’s scheme, hoping he would get some money out of it, and possibly he was harboring resentment that he hadn’t been promoted to general manager instead of me.”

  “That’s what made him so desperate—gambling debts.”

  “His gambling addiction was apparently severe. Which was one of the reasons he started the mystery guest sites. He was pulling in a nice chunk of change from that side job. The gambling though, it’s what undid him.”

  Hannah had trouble imagining how anyone could place bets on a computer and then owe that computer thousands of dollars. It was something she’d rather not know more about.

  “Ethan knew something was wrong. There were the letters and also the new binder he made with instructions for the shop.”

  “Yes, he suspected, but he couldn’t prove any of it.”

  They stopped at the doorway of Patricia’s room. The room was small, neat, and clean, with sunshine streaming through the window. The only person there was an orderly putting fresh sheets on the bed.

  The young man with hair pulled back with a rubber band turned and smiled. “Miss Gray is in the garden.”

  They thanked him and turned back the way they had come, down the hall and to the outside area.

  “Why did she do it?”

  “No one really knows. Patricia’s drug use started when her sister, Priscilla, died. She’s been unstable since that time.”

  “How long will she have to stay here?” The facility was nicer than Hannah had imagined. She was suddenly glad she’d asked to tag along. Perhaps seeing Patricia and where she was to live for the foreseeable future would help to squelch some of her nightmares.

  The bad dreams plagued her at least twice a week. In the dream she was always hiding in the darkness, shaking and unable to scream. Though she knew Amber could be hurt, she couldn’t stop the shot that rang out or the red blood that seeped across the carpet.

  “A judge will reevaluate her case every six months.”

  They pushed out into the atrium, where a large garden area was divided into sections—flowers, herbs, native plants, and a small fish pond.

  Patricia was working in the herb garden, which didn’t surprise Hannah at all. Perhaps the work was therapeutic. Perhaps it would allow Patricia to find a legitimate way to use her talents of growing, drying, and mixing things.

  When she looked up and saw them, Patricia waved.

  Hannah was reminded of what her bishop had said to her when she’d spoken to him of her dreams. “Our mind has a way of working out our fears, but God—he has a way of making us a new creature if we let him.”

  Patricia had no family now that Ethan was gone. Margaret had moved, declaring she hoped never to set eyes on her sister-in-law again. At least that was what Hannah had heard through the Village grapevine.

  Amber and Hannah had spoken about that at length. After praying and talking to their families—she suspected Tate and Amber’s wedding would be soon—they had both decided to be Patricia’s family. That was their plan. They would pray for her, visit, and take small gifts.

  Perhaps like the herbs growing around her, Patricia would find health, a measure of peace, and God’s grace.

  Acknowledgments

  This book is dedicated to Kristy Kreymer. I held her in my arms the day she came home from the hospital, and twenty-six years later I was in the room when her daughter was born. Ours is a friendship that has lasted a lifetime, and that is a precious thing indeed. Although she has a full-time job, she works as my assistant in the evenings. Her help is invaluable.

  I’d also like to thank my new friends in Middlebury—both Amish and Englisch. You were a joy to visit, very welcoming, and kindly offered information about your lovely town. A special thank you to Jeffrey Miller, operations manager of Das Dutchman Essenhaus.

  Thank you to Donna and Dorsey, my pre-readers. I also appreciate the work of my agent, Mary Sue Seymour, and my editors, Becky Philpott and Sue Brower. My husband deserves a special thanks. His patience as I submerge myself in the writing process continues to amaze me.

  I enjoyed this return visit to northern Indiana. If you’re in the area, I encourage you to stop by Middlebury, Goshen, Nappanee, Elkhart, and Shipshewana. Visit the local shops, enjoy the beautiful countryside, and by all means take a walk along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

  And finally . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).

  Blessings,

  Vannetta

  Discussion Questions

  1. In chapter two we learn that Tate is reading through the gospel of Luke, but the words don’t seem to make any sense to him. Later, when he hears the ambulance rushing toward the Village, he understands that his reaction is not charitable. How can we be more Christlike, even when we don’t feel like it?

  2. Chapter five finds Hannah talking to her mother about Ethan’s death. Eunice reminds her that death “marks a place with special memories because it’s where a soul left this world and entered the next.” Sometimes people are uncomfortable with death. What can we do to make such times easier for each other?

  3. Amber’s heart desires friendship. In chapter nine she wrestles with this. “She’d always been a friendly person, but it seemed close friendships were hard to come by.” Do you agree that close friendships are rare? How can we have more meaningful relationships with those we see on a day-to-day basis?

  4. In chapter eighteen we learn one of Amber’s main worries. She considers the Village to be a mission, “a haven of sorts. A place where people can work and rest in peace.” But it had be
come a place of possible danger. How important are such places for all of us? Name one that you’ve been to in the last year, and express how it served to revive you mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

  5. In chapter twenty-four we meet Preston Johnstone, who is a veteran. Preston is homeless and living in a city park, but it’s obvious from the things he says to Tate that he is on the mend. Often our veterans do have trouble transitioning back to civilian life, though their difficulties aren’t always as obvious as Preston’s. List ways we can help these members of our community who have served in the military.

  6. When Hannah attends church, she is convicted about “the peace of Christ.” She hasn’t felt peaceful. Can you relate? What does “the peace of Christ” mean to you, and how can it help with daily trials?

  7. In chapter thirty Amber hears a sermon about King David. She’s disturbed by this picture of David, this imperfect picture. Why do you think the Bible includes the experiences of flawed individuals? What can we learn from these portions of Scripture?

  8. In chapter thirty-four Tate realizes the time has come to trust God again, and to trust the things that God puts on his heart. Describe a time you’ve had trouble trusting the Lord. Then describe a time when you did place your trust in him.

  9. By the end of the story, Hannah is no longer irritated by the small things her sister, Mattie, does. After all she has been through, Hannah realizes the value of life and the importance of her family. Discuss a time when you were especially grateful for your family.

  10. Hannah’s mother tells her, “Gotte will direct you. He loves you.” In the end, that’s all we really need to know—that God does love us. How has God shown his love to you, and how has he been directing you?

  About the Author

  PHOTO CREDIT: JASON IRWIN

  Vannetta Chapman is author of the bestselling novel A Simple Amish Christmas. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. In 2012 she was awarded a Carol Award for Falling to Pieces. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.