Amish Country Arson

by Risner, Fay

  “I'll be right out to look around. You want to wait for me, Mrs. Keim?” the sheriff asked.

  “Jah, I will wait,” Emma said solemnly.

  She drove back to the school yard and stayed in the buggy until Sheriff Dawson drove in. The tall, lean man parked his patrol car under a tree and came to meet her. Grimly, he stared at the smoldering pit. “This is quite a loss. I can tell from the look on your face you're suffering. I'm so sorry.”

  Emma hopped from the buggy. “Denki, I feel bad for the pupils as much as for myself. It hurts them to think someone can be this mean.”

  “Well, let me look around. I might find some evidence left behind. We found some at the other fires,” the sheriff said.

  Emma knitted her fingers together in front of her and leaned against her buggy. “I'll stay here out of your way.”

  Dawson strode over to the foundation and searched in front and around his shiny, polished shoes until he reached where the door had been. He pulled a purple disposable glove and clear evidence sack out of his jacket pocket. After Dawson slid the glove on, he bent over to pick up a sliver of white plastic which he bagged. A few feet from the former entry way, he picked up a small plastic lid and put it in the bag. “Here is what I was looking for. This tells me it was the same fellow that set all the fires.”

  Emma closed the distance between the sheriff and herself. “What is it you found?”

  “A piece of a small orange juice bottle sold in most grocery and convenience stores. That's what the kerosene was in. The fires haven't quite burnt all of the plastic bottles, and the lid is always somewhere close. Hoof tracks of a large farm horse are always where the fires started. The person is Amish or wants us to think he is.

  We have a partial print on the lid found in Rudy Briskey's cornfield and DNA from the blood on Jonah Stolfus's barbed wire fence. We just need to catch the guy that matches our evidence.”

  Emma folded her arms around herself in a hug and stared at the ashes. “I sure hope you do and soon. Plain people's luck may run out. Someone will be killed in one of these awful fires.

  Sheriff, I do not like to point fingers, but I have always felt Joe Jostle's boys might have been in trouble before they moved here. Especially, the older one, Albert. He is taking full advantage of rumspringa now which means he drinks, smokes and takes liberties with English girls while he disrespects his elders.

  My brothers say they saw Albert Jostle using a small orange juice bottle to mix liquor in at a timber party. Right after that, Albert walked into the timber and came back to tell everyone to run from a fire.

  The whole family is standoffish for some reason. The parents are better than they were, but they still do not try to fit in much. I feel they are standoffish, because they are hiding something in their past.”

  Sheriff Dawson pushed his hat back off his forehead. “Thanks for bringing this up. I'll check out the family and see if there's anything they're hiding.”

  Emma wiped a tear from her cheek. “I'm going to stop by my parents now and tell them about this. I do not feel like sitting home alone anyway. Daed is one of the school board directors. He can get a hold of the other two.”

  When she walked into the kitchen, Hal stopped kneading bread to rush to her. “Emma, I was beating the dough so hard I didn't hear you drive in. This is a school day. What are you doing here?” She sensed the news wasn't good from the look of woe on Emma's face. “What's wrong? Adam all recht?”

  “Jah, Adam is gute. Some horrible person burnt the school last night clean to the ground.” Emma hated to say the words which made the event so very true.

  “Ach nah, the school is gone?” Hal led Emma to the table and pulled a chair out for her.

  “Jah, it is. I waited for the children to come and sent them home. Watching the hurt looks on their faces when they saw the smoking pit that used to be their school was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I called the sheriff. He came out and looked around,” Emma said. “Where is Daed? I need him to tell the other directors for me.”

  “Your father's walking around the hay field, checking the fence. Deer are hard on fences this time of year when they jump from field to field. He should be back by lunch. Did Sheriff Dawson find anything?” Hal asked anxiously.

  “Jah, another piece of a small orange juice bottle that held the kerosene and the lid that might have a finger print on it. A horse's tracks coming in the yard, close by the school door where the fire was set and back to the road. Large enough tracks to be a draft work horse.”

  Hal looked confounded. “There doesn't seem to be any reason behind any of the fires. Why would anyone burn the school?”

  “I keep thinking about the boys from the Hosteller compound. Those three boys look like they could be responsible and call their actions pranks,” Emma said. “Maybe I should have kept quiet, but I mentioned them to the sheriff. He said he would check on the Jostle boys past before they came here. Especially Albert.”

  “Noah and Daniel think the same thing, but you can't accuse the boys without proof,” Hal warned. “The person who burnt the Stolfus barn cut his leg on the barbed wire fence when he climbed over it. The sheriff has a sample of blood. If he gets a DNA match from that, he will know he has the right person.”

  Emma put her hands over her face. “The sheriff told me. That is all well and gute, but in the meantime, what are my pupils to do for a school? It will take maybe two weeks to organize and a day or two to build the school. We will be so far behind by that time the children will never catch up.”

  Hal looked thoughtful. “Don't worry yet.” She chuckled. “Funny Jane had to say that twice to me recently. Just so you know, I picked that advice up from her, and I can't swear that it has taken hold of me yet. What you need is a make shift school until you can move back into a new building.”

  “Have you any suggestions?”

  “Jah, has Adam filled the upstairs above the store with furniture?”

  Emma's face lit up. “Nah, he does some varnishing there sometimes is all.”

  “There's your answer. Ask that generous husband of yours for the use of the shop's upstairs until the new school is built. You will need tables and seats. We can get the bench wagon sent to Adam's furniture shop. Wa-la, a makeshift school,” Hal said, wiping a tear off Emma's cheek with her finger.

  Emma felt as if a great mountain had been lifted off her shoulders. She paused to listen. “It is very quiet around here this morning. Where are Mammi Nora and Aendi Tootie?”

  It was Hal's turn to look sad. “Packing. Dad is ready to go home. He says he wants to leave before winter sets in. They are leaving in the morning.”

  “It has been a long time they have been here They are probably ready for the peace and quiet of their own homes and less excitement than they had here this time,” Emma said wisely.

  “Would you and Adam like to come over tonight for supper since this is their last night here?” Hal invited.

  “Jah, that would be gute. I could use a happy distraction for a change. We will come early enough for me to help you cook,” Emma said.

  “That's great! I've missed your hand in the kitchen,” Hal said, smiling as if Emma had given her a gift.

  “What would you like to fix for this last supper?” Emma asked.

  “My, that sounds so biblical. Why don't we ask our guests of honor what they would like to eat,” suggested Hal. “I'll see if they will stop packing long enough to discuss this with us.”

  She went to the foot of the stairs, and Emma stood behind her. “Mom, Dad, Aunt Tootie, could you come down here for a minute?”

  The three appeared on the landing.

  “Why?” Jim asked.

  “Oh, Emma is here,” cried Nora. “Come on, Tootie. We can take the time to visit with her. Jim, it must be coffee break time.”

  They tromped down the stairs and followed Hal and Emma to the table.

  Jim puzzled, “Wait a minute! Emma, why are you here in the middle of the morning?”

>   “That's right. This is a school day,” Nora said.

  “It would have been, but someone burnt the school last night.” Emma brushed tears from her cheeks.

  “That is just plain too awful,” Aunt Tootie asserted, stamping her foot.

  “That's the way we feel about it,” Hal said. “Now sit down, and I'll pour the coffee.”

  “What are you going to do for a school, Emma?” Nora asked.

  “Hallie had the answer. We will hold school in the top of Adam's store until a new school can be built,” Emma told her.

  “That is great news. When times are tough, the tough get going,” Jim said, giving Emma a hug.

  Hal said, “Now before Emma leaves to make plans for setting up the school room, I've invited Adam and her to come for your gute bye supper tonight. We want to know what each of you would most like to eat so Emma and I can fix your favorite dishes.”

  “Let me think a minute.” Aunt Tootie took a sip of coffee.

  “I sure like your raw apple cake,” Jim said.

  “The Pennsylvania Dutch green bean dish you fix is my favorite,” Nora said.

  “Aunt Tootie?” Hal questioned.

  “How about the chicken corn soup we had at one of the worship service luncheons? That was really tasty. I loved your shoo fly pie, but Jim is right. The raw apple cake is good, too,” Tootie said wistfully.

  “We can have the soup, both desserts and homemade ice cream,” Emma told her. “Plus, fried potatoes and tomato gravy.”

  Hal planned, “For meat, I'll open some canned pork roast.”

  Jim said, “We're leaving John out. What do you think he'd like to have for this supper?”

  “I know,” Hal said. “He will want a big pan of Emma's light, fluffy biscuits.”

  Nora laughed. “Slow down. You cook too much, and there won't be any room for our plates on the table.”

  “Now, Mom, don't discourage us. Emma's left overs are gute especially when my two cooks take off for home and leave me in the kitchen alone,” Hal teased.

  Emma stood up. “I should leave now if I'm going to ready a substitute school for Monday. I will find Daed and talk to him before I take off. See you three tonight,” She hugged her mammi, dawdi and aendi before she left.

  Nora and Aunt Tootie fixed a light lunch of creamed corn, sausage cakes and vanilla pudding. After they ate, Hal hunted up the ingredients for the evening meal while Nora and Aunt Tootie did the dishes. She liked to be prepared so they didn't have to rush later on. Besides if she stayed busy, she didn't have time to feel sad about the loss of the school or think about how much she'd miss her parents and Aunt Tootie.

  Mid afternoon, the women sat down at the table for a coffee break. They reminisced about the summer and fall and how quickly their vacation had passed.

  “It'll seem lonesome for all of us when you're gone,” Hal said. “We count the days until your next visit. You will be able to come back next summer, won't you, Mom?”

  “We should be able to if our health holds up. I know Jim will be eager to come, and I sure enjoyed being here,” Nora said.

  Nora and Hal looked at Aunt Tootie who was quietly staring into her coffee cup to avoid the conversation.

  “How about you, Aunt Tootie?” Hal asked.

  Aunt Tootie looked pensive. “I hate to say this, but I'm not sure. Let's wait and see how I feel in the spring. I don't know if I can take another summer like this one. What with someone trying to burn your barn and hurt you, your mean rooster attacking me, that goat trying to eat my clothes right off of me and a skunk sleeping next door to me. I think it will take a good long time for me to get over this stay.”

  “I'm so sorry, Aunt Tootie. I hope you recover by the time Mom and Dad are ready to return,” Hal consoled. “Listen, I hear a buggy coming in. Emma and Adam must be here.”

  As they waited for the company to come inside, they heard them walk up the steps and Emma say, “Turn loose of my apron. Get away from us, Goat. Go back to the barn.”

  Aunt Tootie grumbled softly to Nora, “See this is what I was trying to tell you. The animals around here are too friendly.”

  “Oh, nah! Gano is taking over where Tom Turkey left off. She has become the official Lapp company greeter,” Hal said as she left to help Emma and Adam in the house.

  All the talking woke up Redbird and Beth from their nap. As soon as they saw Adam standing in the living room, they popped up from the quilt and ran to grab him around the leg. Both little girls squeezed Adam so tightly, he couldn't move.

  Redbird smiled up at him. “My Adam.”

  “My Adam,” Beth said argumentatively.

  Redbird shoved at her.

  Adam's face turned stern as he put one forefinger over the other and rubbed it at both of them. The girls lowered their eyes and pouted.

  Adam picked them both up and smiled at them. That earned him a hug from each.

  Emma watched, thinking what a good father Adam would make, but she teased, “I sure see how I rate around here when Adam is with me.”

  Aunt Tootie rushed to her and hugged her. “Don't worry, dear. The rest of us are happy to see you.”

  Emma laughed. “Now I feel better.”

  The women took on the task of fixing a large supper that Jim, Nora and Aunt Tootie would remember. Hal and Emma found it hard to stay cheerful, but they managed. Hal's mind wandered to how lonesome she'd be after tomorrow morning when her family left for home. Emma got a heart sinking feeling every time she thought about how much she'd miss her school house until the new one was built.

  Supper went well. At devotion, John read the bible, concentrating on Matthew in chapter five and verse forty four. Emma had the feeling her father aimed the reading at her.

  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you,” John read. “Let us pray now.” Everyone bowed their heads as John prayed for the soul of the arsonist and his awakening to the destruction he'd done before others were harmed. John added the Plain children needed guidance and understanding while they tried to deal with this latest act of evil.

  By the time devotions were over, Redbird and Beth's heads were nodding. Hal said it was time the two sleepy heads were in bed, and Emma offered to help her put them there.

  While they undressed the girls, Hal said, “I think tonight went pretty well, ain't so?”

  “Jah. I've tried very hard not to think about how sad I feel about the school,” Emma said.

  “I know what you mean. I'd very easily break into tears before my parents and Aunt Tootie have even taken off if I gave their going much thought.” Hal gave a mournful sigh as she put the nightgown over Beth's head.

  Emma slipped Redbird's arms into her nightgown and laid her on the pillow. She kissed the girls on the cheek. “Go to sleep, little redbird and sweet Beth.” Emma's soft voice was all it took for the girls to close their eyes and doze off. Emma turned to Hal and folded her arms over her chest. “Maybe what you need is some happy news to concentrate on.”

  “Was ist los?”

  “What is up is how would you like to know you are going to be a mammi?”

  Hal digested that out of the blue admission and squealed. “You're serious?”

  “Jah, one of the reasons the school house burning bothers me is this will be my last year of teaching. I will always remember the arsonist's awful act as part of my last year.” Emma bit her lower lip to keep from crying.

  “Oh, but keep thinking about what you have to look forward to now. I'll bet Adam is excited about your news,” Hal said.

  “Ach, jah!” Emma gave Hal a wide smile.

  Hal hugged her. “I am so happy for you. Fudge! I'm even happier for John and me. Wait until he hears we are going to be grandparents. Are you going to tell him or can I?”

  “You can if you want to,” offered Emma hesitantly.

  “I might have to, or I'll burst waiting for you to find a quiet momen
t to talk to him,” Hal said.

  “All recht, you tell Daed.”

  “Well, since we're confessing, I haven't told anyone not even John yet, but you're going to be a big sister again.” The words rushed from Hal's mouth, and she waited for a reaction from Emma.

  “Our children will grow up together. I think that is a voonderball gute thing. Turn about is only fair. Do I get to tell Adam your news?”

  “Jah, that would be gute,” Hal said.

  Emma put her hand to her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled. “I just thought of something. You can be the midwife to deliver you grandchild into the world.”

  Hal slowly shook her head. “Emma, I'm not sure I want that responsibility. Maybe we better ask Rachel Kitzmiller to help with you.”

  “Nah, it has to be you. It would be my luck Rachel would go to town the day I need her. If you recall, that is what she did to you,” Emma said stubbornly.

  “All recht, young lady, but turn about is only fair. If I help you, you have to be my midwife,” Hal shot back.

  Emma frowned a second before she broke into a smile. “All recht. I will do it.”

  Chapter 11

  The next morning was a lonely start to the day after Hal's parents and aunt left for home. Redbird and Beth wandered from room to room, calling for their grandparents and aunt. Hal tried to explain Dawdi, Mammi and Aendi went to their home far away, but the little girls weren't buying it.

  Hal was ready for a diversion by the time Margaret Yoder, Roseanna Nisely and Martha Briskey all drove in at the same time. They came to help cook molasses at Sugar Camp.

  Hal met them on the porch.

  “You ready to go while it is still cool. I believe the day will warm up from the way it feels,” Margaret said.

  “All I have left to load is our lunch basket, a quilt and the water cooler in the buggy and the girls, of course,” Hal said.

  Margaret opened the screen door and scooped up Redbird. “We can help carry. I caught me a girl.” She tickled Redbird's belly as she carried the giggling girl to Hal's buggy.

  “Jah, it will be a gute, warm, fall day,” Martha agreed, taking a deep breath of fresh air as she placed Beth beside Redbird. “The vat will make us hot enough without added heat from the sun.”