Safe Hearts (Amish Safe House, Book 3)

by Ruth Hartzler

  Kate held a straight face, but deep down she wanted to laugh. Maria was always a bit uptight compared to the others, but the group wouldn’t be the same without the various personalities that each woman brought to it. Her thoughts then drifted back to the fact that they seemed to know beforehand that she wasn’t really Amish. “How did you know I wasn’t Amish, though? Well, beside the poor knitting,” she said, with a chuckle.

  Beckie looked up at Kate and spoke in a soft tone. “There were lots of little signs. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we like to be one step ahead of everyone else and know what’s going on.” The other women nodded in agreement, but Kate noticed Maria was rolling her eyes. “Esther was the first one to have a suspicion based on your mannerisms.”

  “I had a hunch that you were feeling us out the first few times you came to the knitting circle, like you were trying to understand our culture and ways of life or something. It confused me at first, but I never felt threatened by you, so we agreed to trust you. Then, the more we got to know you, the more obvious it became that you weren’t really one of us,” Esther explained. “Well, you are one of us now, but I meant that it was obvious you weren’t truly Amish.”

  “I still remember the look on your face when Bill broke out the German Bible passage,” Beckie laughed. Kate didn’t know that she had been so conspicuous in the eyes of the knitting circle, but looking back on it, she realized the mistakes she had made. The biggest one was underestimating this clever bunch of women. “I could tell you had no idea what he was saying,” Beth said.

  The women laughed as Kate tried to hide her embarrassment. “Okay, so I wasn’t the best Amish woman, but that is what broke my cover?”

  “Well, the main thing was when that man showed up asking all those questions. We immediately thought it might have something to do with you,” Lillian said. She was normally the quiet one of the bunch, but sometimes her knowledge of current events even exceeded Kate’s.

  “Yes, and that’s why I came to you with the information about the counterfeit identification card,” Beckie added. “When my nephew mentioned how the color-shifting inks worked and how the man’s ID lacked the correct holograms, we immediately thought bringing the information to you.”

  Kate scrunched her eyebrows as confusion struck her. “You automatically assumed he was here for me?”

  Esther shook her head. “Nee, but after everything Jeremiah had been saying about that private detective asking questions, we knew something was odd,” Esther said. “Two men snooping around Amish communities asking questions? Something wasn’t right.”

  “And that’s when Elijah and I went to inform you, Beth, and Bill of the man. We figured if we were right about you -”

  Nancy interrupted her. “She means if you were indeed in law enforcement, like we thought.”

  Beckie shot Nancy a quick glance, silencing her instantly. Kate laughed, causing the other women to join in. “We thought if we were right about you not being Amish and possibly being in law enforcement, that you’d be able to find out who he was and why he was here,” Beckie said.

  “Oh,” Kate replied, unsure of what else to say. She looked around the room and noticed that each of the women wore warm, friendly expressions on their faces. Despite knowing she had lied to them and hidden her true identity, they were all welcoming her back with open arms. Kate smiled at the thought, but then something occurred to her. “Wait. Why didn’t any of you say anything if you suspected that I wasn’t really who I claimed to be?”

  “That would be rude, and even if the women like to gossip a bit, it’s something we try to avoid,” Maria added, without looking up from her project.

  “We assumed you would tell us when it was the right time,” Nancy remarked. “As Maria likes to remind us, asking personal questions isn’t polite.”

  Kate still couldn’t believe that the knitting circle ladies had known the entire time, but the fact that they still trusted her, meant the world to her. “Well, I’m sorry I couldn’t have been entirely honest with you all, but my life was in danger, and the last thing I wanted to do was to bring that harm down on any of you.”

  “We’re not afraid of a little man and his clipboard of questions,” Nancy added.

  Kate felt laughter brewing up inside her, and noticed that all of the women, except one, was smiling at the comment. Maria shook her head and continued knitting, but Kate could see a partial smile washing over her face as well.

  “The food is almost ready!” Lillian blurted, walking toward the kitchen. She turned back and called out, “Will you be staying for lunch, Kate?”

  As much as she wanted to stay longer, Kate had to get going soon. “I would love to, but I really should be going shortly. I just wanted to come clean to you all, and say goodbye, but you already knew the truth, so that just leaves the goodbyes.”

  Lillian smiled, and then left to retrieve the food.

  “Have you told Bill and Beth yet?” Beckie asked.

  Kate sighed. “I stopped there before I came over to visit you ladies, and it was a lot more difficult to face them.”

  “What happened?” Nancy asked, earning a sharp glance from Marie.

  “It was just very sad and heartbreaking. Unlike you all, they had no idea that I wasn’t really Amish. They took the news well, but it still hurts to know I had to lie to them, despite everything they did for me,” Kate said. “Beth made it very clear that they both forgave me and were just happy I was safe, but I still feel so horrible about it all.”

  “You did what you had to, Kate. And you must have had someone’s blessing to hide out here, right? Did the bishop know?” Beckie asked. Kate nodded, but didn’t answer aloud. Part of her felt too embarrassed to make the admission.

  “Then you did nothing wrong,” Esther added. “Even though you may have been an outsider, you never treated us like we were different than you. I think that is why we were able to welcome you in and accept you, despite our hunches and instincts that you weren’t being entirely honest.”

  Kate smiled. The realization that she had people in her life who would stand up for her no matter what really filled her with confidence and humility. “Well, I thank you all for being such wonderful friends to me.”

  “There’s no need to thank us,” Nancy said. “Just make sure you don’t forget to come say hiya whenever you’re around.”

  “I’m not sure how often that will be, but you have my word. If I’m ever in town, I’ll make sure to stop by and see how things are in the community,” Kate promised.

  Beckie then looked at her and spoke. “Does that mean you’re leaving town?”

  “Actually, I’m not quite sure yet, but it’s possible. I haven’t made any decisions, but what happens next isn’t completely up to me anyway. But, if I do leave town, I’ll be back soon to visit you all!”

  Esther sat up in her rocking chair and cracked a smile. “You leaving town wouldn’t have anything to do with that handsome, young police officer, now would it?” she asked, causing the other women to chuckle loudly.

  Kate laughed, trying to hide the embarrassment from showing on her cheeks. “Perhaps it is.”

  Just then, Lillian walked back into the room carrying several containers of food. She placed them on the table next to the empty cups and the large pitcher of fresh meadow tea. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for lunch?” she asked Kate. “We’re having your favorite!”

  Kate looked down to see a delicious looking meal, corn, carrots, and mashed potatoes surrounded a large dish of baked chicken. “Okay, thank you,” she said in defeat. The circle of elderly women erupted with laughter as Kate and the others gathered around the table for their last lunch together.

  “Just don’t forget about us,” Nancy reminded her.

  “How could she?” Esther joked.

  Lillian chuckled and Maria sighed.

  “Kate, you’ll always be part of our circle,” Beckie said, with a broad smile. “So if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come and ask.�
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  “I won’t,” she replied. “And maybe one of you can teach me how to sew, since I’m so horrible at knitting.”

  The ladies of the knitting circle laughed, and then Maria chimed in. “Let’s enjoy this special lunch with Kate before she leaves.” They each smiled at each other and then shut their eyes for the silent prayer. Kate looked down at the table and closed her eyes. She prayed for the safety and protection of her friends in the Amish community.

  Hebrews 13: 8.

  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

  Chapter 15.

  Kate sat on a hotel chair, looking out the window at the yellow mellow afternoon sun. The hotel was small, nothing special, and she had planned to be back home already. Kate knew she needed to go back, but she was having a hard time leaving Ryan.

  What’s more, Kate did not want to leave the rest of the people she had grown to love, the wonderful Amish community. She had said goodbye to those she cared about, and who had cared about her. She had moved out of the grossmammi haus, since she thought she would be back home by now. Everyone had been understanding, and some even had known she was lying to them about being Amish. She supposed it was hard to lead a fake life, and if Kate came away with anything from the experience, it was a newfound respect for those with whom she had worked, the people who had gone into witness protection. They had given up everything, and they were forced to pretend to be someone else. It was if they were playing a game, but it was a game which lasted forever. Hers hadn’t lasted forever, but a part of her was wishing it had.

  Thinking about moving, and leaving the area and the people, made her sad. It was time to go back, and she really couldn’t put it off any longer. She had been away from work for long enough.

  Kate rubbed her forehead. Yet could she go back? She wasn’t sure.

  Ryan came over that evening, and he brought with him a bag of Chinese food. They went outside and sat on two plastic, white chairs that were placed by her door, and ate as they watched the sun go from yellow back to orange, as it vanished behind the line of green fields in the distance.

  “So what time’s your flight?” Ryan asked.

  “Nine,” Kate said.

  “I have to get some things settled here, and then I can come,” Ryan said. He was going to sell his house, and give up everything, to go to Wyoming. But Kate had been thinking of that, while he had been gone. She enjoyed her life, but she didn’t love it. She didn’t love her job, and she didn’t love her home. She liked it; she was happy. But being here, in Amish country, with Ryan and the others, made her realize that she didn’t love any of what she used to have.

  On the other hand, Ryan did love his life. He loved his job and he was good at what he did. Kate was good at what she did, too, but it wasn’t even what she wanted to do. She had fallen into the job about as much as you could do such things. She had always really been keen to work in forensics, and had wanted to work with a forensics team.

  “I’m not going tonight,” she said softly.

  Ryan laughed. This would be the third plane ticket she had canceled in as many days.

  “You have to go back sometime,” Ryan said.

  “I don’t,” Kate said, “not really.”

  Ryan put his white, cardboard box of food down on the floor of the porch and leaned over, his fingers brushing Kate’s hand.

  “I’ll come to Wyoming, as quickly as I can.”

  “You love it here,” Kate said.

  “I love you more,” Ryan said.

  The words knocked the breath out of Kate, hitting her like a sledgehammer to the stomach. He loved her. And she loved him.

  “I love you,” Kate said softly, smiling over at Ryan. “You love it here, and you love me. I don’t love it back home. I liked it, but I love you, and I love it here.”

  Ryan’s forehead scrunched, and his eyebrows met in the middle. “So what are you saying?” he asked.

  “I’ll come here.”

  “I thought you couldn’t?” he said.

  “I thought I couldn’t, but I can,” Kate said. “I can get into forensics; it’s what I want to do.”

  “They have a pretty good team up in Lyleville,” Ryan said. Lyleville was only a forty minute drive from where they sat.

  Kate smiled. Ryan smiled, too. “I’m tired,” he said, “and I have work in the morning. I should really go, and get some rest.”

  That evening, Kate tried to have an early night, but sleep eluded her. She got up, and pulled on some jeans and her tennis shoes before sliding out of the front door.

  The night was a bit cool, and Kate crossed her arms over the front of her tee shirt. The moon was full, but partially hidden by a string of gray clouds that were floating lazily across the dark sky.

  The hotel was next to a farm, and in the distance she could see a barn, black in the night, red and white when the light shone on it. Green corn was planted in the fields, and the cool breeze was quick enough to set it swaying back and forth.

  Kate leaned against the side of the building, her arms still crossed, her elbows and forearms on the white wood. She closed her eyes, and listened to the bugs chirping. A big grasshopper to her left was particularly loud, as if it was trying to get her attention. She opened her eyes and tried to find it, and sure enough, there it was. It was sitting on the end of a blade of grass, and moments after she looked at it, it jumped, spreading its quickly moving wings.

  Kate stepped back and then walked across the parking lot, walking out and to the side of a stretch of yard that ran alongside the building. She went out into the grass with her bare feet. She sat on the grass, looking out across the street at the farmland. There were several long, metal poles held horizontally over the ground, and a few minutes after she sat they came to life, throwing huge arcs of water over the corn.

  “Interesting, isn’t it?” Ryan said as he came to sit beside her, causing Kate to jump.

  “You scared me!” she said.

  The cop laughed. He was wearing jeans and a tee shirt. “I had to go into work. Someone hadn’t filed the paperwork they needed to, so it fell to me. I saw you sitting out here as I was heading home.”

  “You don’t live around here,” Kate said.

  Ryan chose to ignore that. “So what’s up?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why are you out here? Couldn’t you sleep?”

  “I guess not. I guess I’m too excited. It’s just nice out here though, you know? I guess I just wanted to feel the grass.”

  “Believe me, this is a good place for that,” Ryan said with a laugh. “Look at that big guy,” he said, pointing as the grasshopper took off again, this time landing on the road. He didn’t linger long there, as if he knew it was dangerous. He jumped up again and was lost in the corn across the way.

  “I could catch so many criminals if I could jump like that,” Ryan said.

  Kate laughed, loud and sudden. “You would be a superhero. Grasshopper Man!”

  Ryan laughed and shook his head. “That sounds like the lamest hero ever.”

  And they went on, laughing and making jokes, and having one of their easy conversations, where nothing of importance was said, but every word brought them closer together. Ryan was sweet; he was easy to talk to. Kate had never felt that way about someone before. She had never had someone she wanted to be with all the time, someone about whom she thought when she wasn’t with them. Ryan was that guy, and he had been for some time.

  The cop stood, after ten more minutes. “I better hit it,” he said.

  Kate stood as well. “Yes, I should try to sleep,” she said, and Ryan nodded and kissed her, and then went to the cruiser he had pulled into the lot without Kate noticing.

  Kate watched him leave and then went to her room, stepping onto the concrete that ran in front of the hotel, but turning when she was at her door. She looked out once more at the corn field. She wondered where the grasshopper was. She thought of herself as the grasshopper. Not for the super po
wer like jumping, but just for the ease in which it moved. It wanted to jump, and it jumped, up into the air, those wings beating furiously, and then down, into a whole, new place.

  That’s what Kate was doing in a way. Up into the air, and miles away. With just a thought, and some faith. It was easy; it didn’t take preparation; it had just been something she wanted to do, and so she did it. She wanted to be with the man she loved, and with a community she had come to care about, and with people who had come to care about her. And so she had jumped. Both feet in, all or nothing.

  Kate smiled at the farmland, at the grasshopper, at the street and at the moon. The clouds moved out of the way, and silvery light came down and smiled back at her. Kate had left, and she had come here, and it should have been scary, but it wasn’t. She hadn’t left her home; she knew that. She had come home. And she couldn’t be happier.

  Kate turned, and went back into her room. She and Ryan had not yet set a date, so she had to find a place to live until they were married. There was a lot to do, but she was home. That last thought lingered in her head as she went back to bed. She was home.

  * The End *

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  The Next Book in this Series.

  This was the last book in the Amish Safe House series, but watch for a new series with the Knitting Circle ladies, with some appearances from Kate and Ryan: The Amish Knitting Circle series.

  Other Books by Ruth Hartzler.

  #1 Best-selling series, The Amish Buggy Horse, by Ruth Hartzler.

  Faith (Book ONE)

  For years, Nettie looked after her aged mother Elma, a demanding woman who did not want any involvement with the community.

  Now that her mother has died, Nettie is alone. She is regarded with suspicion by the local townspeople, and has had no visitors from her community for some years.

  Nettie’s buggy horse has gone lame and has had to be retired, but Nettie cannot afford a new horse. Just as Nettie is despairing about not having any means of transport, a lost horse appears in her driveway, bringing with him far-reaching consequences.