Amish Redemption

by Patricia Davids

  “Why didn’t you call me?’ Nick demanded. “I could have stopped him.”

  “Because I didn’t trust you. I was afraid if you knew about Luke’s dealings with Dunbar, you’d make sure he stayed in prison.”

  “So now Dunbar has Hannah and we’re still no closer to knowing where he took her.”

  “Luke once mentioned Dunbar was going to set him up in business when he got out. With some of his friends in Cleveland. They’re brothers who run a salvage yard.”

  “There are a lot of brothers in Cleveland. You’re gonna have to do better than that.”

  “That’s all I know. Luke may know more.”

  “You had better hope he does. He’s going to tell me everything.”

  Joshua understood Nick’s anger. “He might not talk to you, but he’ll talk to me.”

  Nick turned to Mary. “Get your things together. You and Ada are leaving this afternoon. Miriam has a safe place for you. I want you out of harm’s way in case that maniac comes back.” Nick pulled open the rear door and pushed Joshua in.

  “I’m coming with you. I’ll be as safe with you as I am with Miriam. If Joshua’s brother knows where Hannah is, maybe I can convince him to tell us.”

  “All right, get in.”

  Joshua remained silent on the long ride to the correctional facility. Mary didn’t speak to him. She didn’t even look at him. He could hardly blame her. She had to be terrified. The handcuffs were cutting into his wrists by the time they arrived, but he didn’t complain. It was nothing more than what he deserved. Nick was right. If Joshua had only trusted Nick enough to call him, Hannah might be safe.

  Mary and Joshua were seated at a wooden table when they brought Luke into the interview room. Nick leaned against the cinder-block wall. Luke wore a defiant look. “So you couldn’t keep your mouth shut, little brother,” he said in Pennsylvania Dutch. “You had to involve me.”

  “Sit down and speak English.” Nick pushed away from the wall and shoved Luke into a chair. Luke glared at him.

  Mary clasped her hands together on the table. “Please help us. Kevin has taken my daughter. Her name is Hannah. She is only four years old. I know she must be so frightened. I only want to get her back. Anything that you can tell us may help us find her.”

  Joshua added his plea. “Please, brother. I know you would never hurt a child. I know you didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

  Some of Luke’s bluster slipped away. “I thought he was the kid’s father. A father has a right to see his child.”

  Nick struck the table with both hands, making everyone jump. “Do you know where he took her?”

  “I don’t.”

  Joshua said, “You told me Kevin had friends in Cleveland who would set you up with a job when you got out.”

  “He probably lied about that. He lied about everything else. He said he’d take care of me but the minute he got out, the supply dried up.”

  “Was he smuggling drugs to the inmates here?”

  Luke hunched forward and rubbed his arms as if he were cold. “He still has friends inside. I can’t tell you anything.”

  Nick pulled up a chair and sat beside Luke. “Hannah is the sweetest child you have ever met. Her eyes are as blue as the sky. She doesn’t deserve to be punished because Kevin Dunbar wants to make Mary suffer. She did the right thing when she testified against him.”

  “I forgave him for what he tried to do to me, but I could not let him do it to someone else,” she said.

  Nick patted Mary’s hand and then looked at Luke. “I know it will take courage to tell us what you know. Do you have as much courage as this woman does?”

  Luke sat back. “The name is Sanders. They own an auto salvage lot on the west side. They’ve been helping Dunbar smuggle drugs into here. I don’t know how. That’s all I know.

  “Thank you.” Nick jumped up from his seat and left the room.

  “Danki,” Mary said, and followed him.

  Joshua gave his brother a tired smile. “You did a good thing.”

  “It doesn’t make up for all the wrong things I have done.”

  “Maybe not. But it’s a start.”

  “This means I’m going to be in here for a long time.”

  Joshua stared at the door. “Maybe they will give us a cell together.”

  * * *

  Perched on the end of his cot in the county jail in Millersburg, Joshua prayed, not for his release, but for Mary’s and Hannah’s safety. The last thing he wanted was to hurt them, and yet he had led a vicious man to their door. He didn’t know how he could live with himself if anything happened to Hannah. All things were according to God’s plan, but it was hard to see that when his heart was breaking.

  He heard the cell-block door open. He looked up as Sheriff Bradley paused in front of his cell. Joshua jumped to his feet. “Did you find her?”

  The sheriff looked tired and worn. “My family is no concern of yours.”

  “I just want to know that she is safe. Please, can you tell me that much?”

  Nick sighed heavily. “We found her. She’s frightened but safe. We arrested two men, but Dunbar got away.”

  “Where is Mary now? Can I see her?”

  “She and Hannah are safe with an Amish family in another community.”

  “Thank God.” Joshua gripped the bars and laid his head against the cold steel. It didn’t matter what happened to him now. He would go back to prison and finish out his sentence, but he could face that knowing they were safe.

  Sheriff Bradley unlocked the cell door and held it open. “You’re free to go home if you agree to follow the conditions of your original parole.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You had a valid reason for missing your meeting with your parole officer, but it can’t happen again. Do you understand?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I think you love my daughter.”

  “I do. I love her more than life itself and I love Hannah like she was my own child.”

  “Then I’m sorry, but you are going to have to forget about them. They are no longer your concern. The only way to keep Mary and Hannah safe is to keep them hidden.”

  “If I could just say goodbye to them. That’s all I’m asking. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”

  “No.”

  Hope died in Joshua’s chest.

  “There’s a car waiting outside that will take you home.”

  “What about my brother? What will happen to him?”

  “I’m not at liberty to talk about an ongoing case. Go home. There’s nothing you can do for them.”

  * * *

  “You have to eat something. You’re going to dry up and blow away. Who will take care of Hannah then?” Ada pushed a plate piled high with meat loaf, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy across the table to Mary.

  Mary pushed it aside. “I’m not hungry, and I’m not about to dry up and blow away. I will always take care of Hannah. You should stop worrying about me.”

  “How can I stop worrying when there is such sadness in your eyes?”

  “If you’re worried that I’m going to do something stupid, don’t be. I was very young and very foolish when I tried to commit suicide. I have learned that I can bear all things if I trust in the Lord. This too shall pass.” They were hard words to say while her heart was breaking, but she spoke the truth.

  Her daughter was safe. Bella was making a good recovery from the blow to her head. Ada hadn’t suffered any ill effects from the fright and stress. It had been two weeks since Hannah’s abduction and Mary had no idea if she would ever see Joshua again. She missed him dreadfully.

  The outside door opened and Miriam came in. “They caught him.”

  Mary jumped to h
er feet. “They caught Kevin Dunbar?”

  “He was trying to cross into Canada.”

  Ada patted her chest. “The goodness of the Lord be praised.”

  “Amen,” Mary and Miriam said together, and smiled at each other.

  “Does this mean we can go home?” Hannah was sitting at the table eating her green beans and dropping a few to Bella, who was on the floor at her feet.

  Miriam grinned at her. “According to Papa Nick, you can.”

  Mary laced her fingers together and squeezed hard. “When can I see Joshua?”

  “Nick is going there tomorrow. He wanted to know if you would like to go, too?”

  Mary squealed in delight. “I do. I do want to go.”

  “Me, too,” Hannah shouted.

  “Me, three,” Ada shouted, and they all laughed.

  Miriam looked over the table. “We’re to meet him there at ten o’clock. This looks good. Can I join you?”

  “I will get you a plate.” Ada hurried to the cupboard.

  Mary sat back and gave silent thanks. The dark clouds covering her days had been blown away. If only Joshua could accept her family and her family accept him. It was a tall order, but nothing was impossible in the sight of God.

  * * *

  Joshua was cleaning Oscar’s stall when he heard a car drive in. He put aside his pitchfork and headed to the door. It wasn’t his day to meet with Officer Merlin. Who was here?

  He recognized Nick Bradley’s SUV and his heart thudded painfully. Were Mary and Hannah okay? Had Dunbar found them again?

  Nick got out and opened the back door on the passenger’s side. Joshua couldn’t believe his eyes when Luke got out. He glanced toward the house. His father and mother had heard the vehicle, too, and had come outside. The joy that spilled across their faces took his breath away.

  He hurried forward and held out his hand. His brother was still pale, but his eyes were clear. “Luke, I can’t believe it’s you. What’s going on?”

  “I got an early parole.”

  “How?”

  Nick closed the door and folded his arms over his chest. “Your brother is cooperating with our investigation into drug-smuggling activities at the Beaumont Correctional Facility. In the interest of his safety, the judge has granted him parole. You might also want to know that Kevin Dunbar was arrested this morning trying to cross into Canada. He’s going away for a long, long time, without the possibility of parole.”

  Another car turned into the drive. It was a blue sedan. Joshua didn’t recognize it. By this time, all of Joshua’s brothers were standing behind his parents.

  Luke rubbed his palms on his pant legs. “Reckon it’s time to get a tongue lashing from dear old daed.”

  Joshua slapped him on the shoulder. “It won’t be as bad as you think.”

  As his family went into the house with Luke, Joshua stayed behind. “Was this your doing, Nick?”

  “A little. I thought your family deserved a break after what happened to you.”

  The car pulled up behind Nick’s vehicle. Joshua went weak in the knees when Hannah burst out of the backseat and came running toward him. He crouched down and gathered her in his arms. “Hannah Banana, it is so good to see you.”

  She squeezed his neck in a huge hug, then leaned back and patted his face with both hands. “I’m not a banana.”

  “I guess you aren’t. You’re getting to be a very big girl.” Joshua put her down. He saw Miriam get out of the driver’s side and open the back door. Ada got out. Then the beautiful woman he was dying to hold in his arms stepped out, too.

  “Mary.” He breathed her name into the air.

  She slowly approached him. He’d thought about her so often, agonized over what he might say to her. Wondered what she might say to him. Now that she was standing in front of him, words failed him. He wanted to drop to his knees and beg her forgiveness.

  “Hello, Joshua.” Her voice was tentative, hesitant.

  “Hello, Mary.” He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked in the morning light. He wanted to tell her how much he had missed the sound of her voice, the curve of her lips when she smiled, the soft blush that stained her cheeks so easily.

  Miriam took Nick by the elbow and Hannah by the hand. “Let’s go inside and meet Joshua’s family. I’m sure they have a lot of questions for us.”

  Joshua shoved his hands in his pockets. He had no idea where to go from here.

  * * *

  Mary couldn’t believe how nervous she was. Once she had Hannah safely in her arms, the only thing she’d wanted was to tell Joshua how much she missed him. Now that he was standing in front of her, she couldn’t think of a thing to say. She just wanted to be in his arms. Why was he just standing there? Couldn’t he see how much she loved him?

  He raised his face to heaven. “When you look at me like that, I can’t think straight.”

  “How am I looking at you?” she asked softly, stepping closer.

  “Like you need me to hold you.”

  “I do, Joshua. I need you to hold me all the days of my life.” He groaned as he pulled her close and her joy filled her to the brim. He was strong and solid—this wasn’t a dream. She wouldn’t wake and find she was alone in her bed in a strange house. She was finally where she belonged. She was afraid to breathe, afraid he would pull away and she would never feel this complete again. She cupped his face with her hands and gazed into his eyes. “You are a wonderful man. I don’t deserve you.”

  He gave her a wry smile. “I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you. I understand if you would rather have Delbert Miller.”

  Mary’s heart soared as she realized her life was about to take an amazingly wonderful turn with this amazing and wonderful man. She grinned happily. “He’s a fine fellow, but I think Hannah likes you better.”

  “What will she think about having me as a father?” His voice was hesitant. Didn’t he know Hannah already loved him, too?

  “She will be delighted.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m very, very sure. There’s no one in the world who will be a better father than you, Joshua. I believe that with all my heart.”

  He brushed his lips tenderly over hers. She raised her arms to circle his neck as he crushed her close. She wanted to be held by him this way for a lifetime. When he drew away, she missed his warmth and the feel of his heart beating against hers.

  Drawing a shaky breath, he said, “That still leaves one obstacle.”

  “I don’t see any.” She needed his lips on hers. She tried to pull him back, but he resisted.

  “What about your father?”

  “Nick? What about him?”

  “Mary, my brother and I are felons. Your father is a sheriff. He’s not going to like having ex-cons for in-laws. Neither will your mother.”

  “Oh, Joshua, you underestimate Nick and Miriam. They fell in love young, but theirs was not an easy path. Nick was English, Miriam was Amish, but there was much more. Nick was responsible for the death of Miriam’s only brother.”

  Joshua’s eyes widened with shock. “How?”

  “Miriam’s brother had stolen a car. He was desperate to reach the English girl he loved before she left town. Nick gave chase, not knowing who was driving the stolen vehicle. He ran the car off the road in an attempt to stop it and Miriam’s brother was killed in the crash. It took a long time for Nick to forgive himself and much longer for Miriam to forgive him. A baby left on Miriam’s doorstep years later brought them together.”

  “Hannah?”

  Mary slipped her arms around Joshua’s waist and laid her head on his chest. “Ja. It was Hannah. The baby I gave away.”

  When his arms closed around her, she knew he was the one God had chosen for her. “Isn’t it amazing how the Lord uses us to
reach others in ways we can’t imagine? Nick and Miriam understand that people make mistakes, but those mistakes do not define who we are. What we do with each new day that God gives us defines who we are in His sight.”

  “In that case, Mary Kaufman, will you marry me? I love you. I don’t want to face a life without you. Every morning and every night I want my love for you to define who I am in the sight of God.”

  Sweet bliss filled her heart and surged through her veins. She hated doing it, but he had to know one more thing before she gave him her answer. She stepped back and pulled up her sleeve. Her scars stood out puckered and white on her wrists. “You know what these are from?”

  “I don’t, but it must have hurt you very much.”

  “I don’t remember it hurting. I did it to myself, Joshua. I tried to kill myself with a broken piece of bathroom mirror. I cut my wrists open and waited to die.”

  She expected the shock she saw in his face, but she hadn’t expected how quickly his expression changed to compassion. “You must have been terribly alone.”

  It was so long ago, but she could feel the cold creeping over her even now the way it had as she lay dying. “You can’t know what it’s like to reach the point where you believe in your soul that you and everyone else will be better off if you’re dead. After I lost Hannah, I had nothing to live for. I wasn’t sick when Nick and Miriam found me in the hospital. I tried to commit suicide.”

  He caressed her cheek with his fingers. “I’m sorry you went through such a terrible ordeal, but I rejoice that your life was spared. Mary, it doesn’t change the way I feel when I’m with you.”

  “Truly?”

  “Truly.”

  She let out the breath she had been holding. “In that case, I would love to marry you.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her again, with infinite tenderness and passion. Mary saw just how wonderful their life together was going to be.

  The door to the house opened and Hannah came out with a cookie in her hand. “Joshua, your mother is a goot cook.”