The Protector

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Forgotten. That had, indeed, been how she’d felt. Everyone else had moved on, while she’d stayed behind, doing what was right. Making her mother as comfortable as possible, doing her best to take care of their home and farm.

  But then, of course, she’d failed at every turn. Her mother still had been in pain and ultimately passed on.

  And the farm had been too much—and too expensive for her to keep.

  Even Loyal’s exuberance to share with her the renovations couldn’t hide the vague niggling feeling that she’d failed to keep up the house as well.

  And though Corrine and Mattie and other people from their community had stopped by, their visits weren’t with any sort of regularity. Often, they were explained as an afterthought.

  Was Dorothy right?

  Dorothy laughed. “Now you know what I mean, don’t you? Nobody missed you, Ella. Everyone was too intent on their own life and their own problems to pay any attention to yours.” She darted another look Ella’s way. “Everyone except for me.”

  Dorothy’s hurtful words did, indeed, strike a nerve. Living on the farm, with only her mother who had been near death . . . it had been a horribly isolating experience. Many nights she had gone to sleep, sure that no one had been thinking of her. And if they did, it wasn’t more than a passing concern.

  And as she’d held her dear mother’s hand on her last day on earth, Ella finally allowed herself to contemplate the terrible truth—perhaps no one ever would care about her.

  Against her best efforts, old hurts rushed forward. In a blink, all the confidence she’d felt growing inside of her started to wither.

  Outside, the clouds darkened as twilight approached and the storm intensified. Raindrops splattered on the pavement, causing puffs of steam to appear.

  Water had now soaked through most of her dress. Her arms and legs were wet. Little by little, the fabric got heavier, feeling tighter and even more confining.

  They rounded a curve. Dorothy’s horse slowed for a brief instant before picking up speed.

  In spite of her efforts to remain strong, Ella started to cry. Her tears mixed with the raindrops on her face. Together, they trickled down her cheeks and fell onto her lap.

  Perhaps Dorothy really was the winner.

  Ella knew she’d never felt more lost.

  As if she sensed victory, Dorothy’s posture changed and her voice turned triumphant. “I was all you had. And when it was just me, you acted as if you cared about me.”

  “Of course I cared. I still do care.”

  “No. You were only using me to get what you wanted. In spite of all my efforts, in spite of everything I’ve done for you, you forgot me, Ella.”

  “No—”

  “You’ve forgotten me. I know you so well; I know what you were thinking. You were going to leave me for Loyal. No matter what it took or what you had to do, you were going to catch him.”

  “It wasn’t like that. It isn’t like that.”

  But Dorothy wasn’t listening. Peering straight ahead, she lowered her voice. “I had to stop you. I had to stop you from abandoning me. Again.”

  Again?

  “Dorothy, I live next to you. We were working together.”

  “But everything isn’t right between us. You’re too different, Ella . . .”

  “I’m the same I’ve always been.”

  Dorothy shook her head. “No. You’re turning into the worst sort of woman. You’re pretending to be something you’re not. All to gain Loyal Weaver’s attention.”

  Ella blinked. For a moment, she let the harsh, difficult words sink in; and for a split second, she believed them. Then she realized that Loyal wasn’t that kind of man.

  He wasn’t the kind of man who flirted without true intentions. He wasn’t the kind of person who kissed without thoughts and care behind it.

  And she wasn’t the kind of woman who did that, either.

  Gathering her courage, Ella said, “Let me have the reins.”

  “Of course not. “

  “Dorothy, I’m not going to sit here and let you do this.”

  “There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing at all you can ever do. I won.” She looked at Ella and smiled.

  Ella realized that Dorothy had gone completely off balance. There would be no reasoning with her. There would be nothing to do except try to escape.

  Lord, please help me, she prayed. I know I’ve asked you for so much, but I need you more than ever. I can’t fight her alone.

  The horse neighed and jostled.

  A car attempting to pass them screeched as a truck approaching them laid on its horn.

  Scaring the horse. The buggy shook. Bumped. With a hard thump it righted itself, but then jumped and swayed again. Ella gripped the seat. Grabbed at the opening, hoping there was some way she could will the careening buggy to rights.

  Dorothy started. Yelled.

  As the buggy bolted off the road, breaking away from the horse, tethers snapped. Ella’s grip slipped.

  The buggy crashed to the side.

  Car tires screeched. The horse cried out.

  So did Ella as she watched Dorothy fall. She had only a second’s glimpse as the woman landed on the hard pavement and slid to the side.

  Then she gasped as the buggy fell on her.

  Her lungs screaming, Ella heaved. With a last bit of effort, she strained to get free.

  But it was no use. She was trapped hard against the wet ground.

  “Please!” she called out. Hoping that someone would hear her.

  That someone would save her.

  But all she felt was the cold stinging needles of sharp raindrops as her world turned black.

  Chapter 27

  Frantic, Mattie pounded on the front door of John Weaver’s shop for a second time. “John?” she called out, almost oblivious to the crash of thunder and lightning above her head. “Mr. Weaver?”

  When no sound of rushing footsteps greeted her, she pounded again. Harder. “Oh, please, please answer me,” she said, though she wasn’t sure if she was speaking to John or the Lord.

  The fact was, she needed some help, and she needed it as soon as possible.

  After waiting for the space of a few breaths, Mattie knocked her knuckles against the hard oak one more time, desperately hoping Graham and Calvin’s uncle would suddenly appear.

  In the back of her mind, she prayed for another plan to appear in her mind. Quickly. No matter what, she needed to locate Ella.

  Even if she couldn’t find another person to help, she had to figure out some way to come to her friend’s aid. Even if all she could offer was moral support.

  Just when she’d been on the verge of turning around, the door to The Kaffi Haus flew open and John appeared.

  For a full second, they stood staring at each other. Mattie gazing at him in wonder, wondering if he was, indeed, the answer to her prayers. John looking frightened to death.

  Looking her up and down, he gasped, “Mattie, what is it?”

  “I need your help,” she blurted.

  When his eyebrows rose, she tried to calm herself enough. Trying again, she said, “I need your help, John. Please. I’m sorry, but I don’t know who else to turn to.”

  With a worried frown, John stepped out, circled one comforting arm around her shoulder and guided her inside. Out of the rain. With a kick, the door closed behind him. “What’s wrong, Mattie?” he asked gently, just as if he feared she was about to fall apart. “Are you ill again? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

  Turning to face him, she shook her head. “Nee. The problem—it’s not about me.”

  “Then what?”

  “It’s Ella.”

  He blinked, obviously trying to place the girl’s name. “Loyal’s Ella?”

  She nodded. “John, please help Loyal and me
find her.” When he continued to stare at her blankly, she rushed to try to explain. “John, I think something awful has happened to her.”

  Though his body tensed, he still seemed far too calm.

  “Mattie, what in the world are you talking about?” He glanced at the rain pelting the windows. “Is she caught out in the storm?”

  “Most likely. But John, that isn’t the problem! I think Dorothy Zook got mad at her.”

  “And who is Dorothy?”

  “Her friend. Well, she used to be her friend. But now I don’t think she’s that at all. In fact, I think Dorothy has maybe hurt Ella. Or worse,” she added, voicing her deepest concerns. “Oh, but I’m terribly worried, John. We need to go find her. Offer our protection.” Grabbing hold of his arm, she said, “Actually, I think maybe we should even call the police.”

  To her dismay, John’s shoulders relaxed. He even looked to be fighting off a smile. “Oh, Mattie, it’s just the storm that’s got you upset. Don’t worry yourself so much, I’m sure Ella will be just fine.”

  She shook her head and opened her mouth to tell him that she wasn’t afraid of a rainstorm—when John continued talking again, his voice now slick and even. As smooth as syrup.

  “I know the thunder is bad, but I promise, it’s just rain. Hey, how about a fresh cup of coffee? It will warm you up.” He nodded as he walked toward the coffeemaker. “Yes. You can rest here for a bit and then I’ll drive you home.”

  Pure frustration made her raise her voice as she followed him to the sink. “Nee! No, John Weaver! My fears have nothing to do with me or my health. You need to hear me, to listen to what I am sayin’.”

  Adrenaline made her dig her fingers into his forearm, stopping him from pulling out a coffee filter. “I know what I’m saying sounds fanciful, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need you.” When he finally froze, she moved her hand to his. Reaching out, she curved her hand around his own and softly squeezed. “Please, don’t laugh me off. I need your help.”

  A whole new look entered his eyes. “Okay. I hear you. And I’m finally listening. What’s going on?”

  Taking a deep breath, she said, “After I saw you, I went down to the library. I thought I’d visit with Ella.”

  A flash of awareness entered his eyes before he blinked it away. “And?”

  “When I got there, instead of seeing Ella, I saw Loyal and Katie and Ms. Donovan.” She paused to explain. “All were upset. It turns out that Ella had told Loyal she was going to confront Dorothy this afternoon. She wanted to put a stop to the awful rumors Dorothy had told Ms. Donovan about her.”

  “Okay . . .”

  “After talking, Loyal and I left to make sure everything was all right. Because of Dorothy’s actions of late, we felt that Ella might have been in over her head. But when we got to her house, we guessed that Dorothy picked Ella up in her buggy.”

  “Where’s Loyal?”

  “He went back to the library to collect Katie.”

  He pursed his lips. “I know you’re worried, but sometimes it’s better to think the best instead of the worst. Maybe they’re patching things up?”

  “If they are, and Loyal and I are making fools of ourselves, I’ll be mighty relieved. But, John, I don’t think I’m mistaken about this.” Lowering her voice, she said, “I’ve had almost a year of sitting by myself and thinking about life and death. I’ve watched people and tried to gauge their actions. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

  John looked at her for a long moment before finally nodding. “All right, then. Let me lock up the shop. We’ll go to the library, get Loyal and Katie, and go find Ella.”

  Impulsively, she hugged him. “Oh, Danke.”

  “It’s nothing,” he murmured right back in Pennsylvania Dutch, making her realize that he wasn’t far removed from their lives after all.

  “Would you like to run by the Weaver’s farm and get Graham, too?”

  Feeling her cheeks heat, she turned away, hoping John wouldn’t notice. “There’s no need for him to get involved. He’s, uh, seeing Jenna now.”

  “All right. If you’re sure?”

  “I’m positive. This isn’t about me, John. I’m really worried.”

  “If you’re worried, I am too. Let’s go.”

  Within two minutes, John had locked up the store and was helping her into his truck. Then he pulled out, turned right, and sped the few blocks to the library.

  As soon as he stopped, Loyal and Katie joined them. “Where do you want to go first, Loyal?” John asked.

  “Let’s go to the farm first,” he said. “Perhaps Dorothy was just giving Ella a ride over there.”

  Mattie shook her head. “But—”

  “Let’s not borrow trouble, Mattie. Enough trouble follows us, I promise you that.”

  As the truck sped along the highway, Mattie finally allowed herself to close her eyes and pray. She gave thanks that John was in their lives. They needed the speed his truck could give them.

  She gave thanks for friends that both she and Ella could lean on. And, surprising herself, she gave thanks for her cancer. Now she realized that if she hadn’t suffered, if she hadn’t spent so much time alone, watching people, thinking about other’s problems and dreams, she wouldn’t have felt so sure that Ella needed her now.

  I know I haven’t believed in you, she silently prayed. I know I thought you’d left me. But now I realize you’d been there all along, helping me through. And helping me grow up. Helping me see that there’s more to the world than I had ever realized.

  Reminding me that I’d once taken so much for granted. Please be with Ella right now. Please be with all of us.

  As they waited at a stoplight, Loyal looked her way. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I . . . I was just praying,” she murmured, half afraid he would think she was being even sillier than he’d first thought.

  But instead of smiling, he merely nodded. “I think that’s a very good idea. If what you suspect is true—if Ella really is in terrible danger—we’re going to need everyone’s help. Especially our Lord’s.”

  Mattie forced herself to breathe slowly as the light turned green and he drove with the traffic flow. Never had it felt like it had taken so long to get to the Weaver farm.

  As Mattie sat beside him praying, Loyal added his own prayers, too. Please be with Ella, Lord, he silently asked. Please help her, and please let her know that she isn’t alone. She has You protecting her, and all of us on her side as well.

  When they reached the farm, Loyal helped Katie out of the truck. Calvin met them at the door. Obviously seeing their worried expressions, he looked from one to the other. “What’s going on?”

  Briefly Mattie filled Calvin in on what she’d heard at the library and how they think they figured out that Dorothy had Ella in her buggy. After a quick hug, they left the Weaver farm and headed toward Ella’s old farm. Loyal’s new one.

  “I’m plenty worried, Loyal,” Mattie said after a bit. “I keep feeling like Ella is in danger. I don’t want to be right, but what if I am?”

  Loyal eyed Mattie, then looked over her head and shared an exchange with his uncle. What Mattie was saying sounded completely off the wall, but for some reason he didn’t doubt her words.

  Snippets of his past conversations with Ella came flashing back. He recalled every comment she’d shared with him about Dorothy, and how concerned and confused she’d felt about her longtime friend.

  Then Loyal remembered discussing Dorothy with his mother. Recalled how his mamm had said Dorothy felt like everyone she’d loved abandoned her. That it had made her feel helpless and angry.

  It really all did make sense.

  Just as John was about to turn into the entrance to the farm, his uncle’s cell phone rang.

  After checking the incoming call’s phone number, John took the call. “Jayne?” he
said, his voice soft. “What’s go-

  ing on?”

  But then John’s curious expression turned to a scowl as he listened. “When? Are you sure? Where? Okay. Yes. Yes.”

  Mattie met Loyal’s gaze and frowned.

  Finally, John hung up.

  Running a hand through his hair, he turned to both of them. “Um . . . that was Jayne. One of the patrons just came running into the library to tell Jayne about an accident she saw. It . . . it was a buggy accident.”

  Mattie paled. “Are you sure?”

  “She thinks so. Mattie, Loyal . . . Jayne said she heard the accident was a bad one. Two women were involved. She fears it was Dorothy and Ella.”

  Loyal shook his head, every bit of him wanting to deny everything John was telling him.

  Surely this couldn’t be happening. Surely Jayne misunderstood. Got the details wrong.

  But what if she was right? What if he lost Ella now, just when he was realizing how important she was to him?

  “Can we go to where it was?” Mattie asked, her voice hoarse.

  John blinked. “Of course. Let’s go.”

  As the truck raced down the highway, Loyal noticed Mattie was shaking. “Are you all right?”

  Turning her head, she looked at him and frowned. “Nee, I don’t think I am,” she said slowly. “All of a sudden I’m realizing that I’ve taken so many things for granted, Loyal. And worse . . . I think I took Ella for granted.”

  She bit her lip. “Why didn’t I spend more time with her? I knew her mother had just passed on. I knew it hurt her to lose her farm. But instead of being there for her, I stayed in my own little world, scared that my cancer was returning.”

  John stayed silent as he continued to speed down the highway, but Loyal couldn’t help commenting on what Mattie said. “I feel the same way. She’s lived next to us for as long as I can remember, but I never reached out to her. I thought she was boring. Not exciting. All last year, I’m afraid I was just hoping for her to put the farm up for auction. If you took her for granted . . . what kind of person am I? Surely the very worst sort.”

  “I feel so guilty,” Mattie said.

  John braked as the street curved, then gradually his speed increased as he passed a white sedan. “I hate to disrupt your pity party,” he said, “but I think you’re both being too hard on yourselves.”