When Secrets Strike

by Marta Perry

  He’d been left to go over and over it in his mind. Sarah had nearly been killed. If he’d been faster, if he’d been smarter, if he’d understood what was going on...

  Well, he still didn’t really understand. He’d picked up bits and pieces, leaving him even more confused. A reporter for the local newspaper had actually turned up at the farm right at suppertime, to be sent away with no information, but a slice of Mamm’s cherry pie. He’d seemed satisfied enough, come to think of it.

  Aaron walked across the field to the Bitler house that evening, his eagerness to see Sarah mixed with his apprehension over what he would say to her. But Mac had sent a message that he’d meet Aaron there to wrap up details. Ready or not, he must face Sarah.

  The sun was slipping behind the ridge as he approached the house, and the farm was settling down for the evening. The stalks of corn were soft to the touch, coming back after the recent rains. The wild raspberries along the bank had begun to turn a rich purple black. It felt as if nature, as well as humankind, was returning to normal.

  Mac’s police car came down the lane as he approached, so Aaron waited until Mac got out and joined him. The lawman looked tired but satisfied, his official face relaxed into that of a friend again.

  “You okay?” He elbowed Aaron as they mounted the steps. “No repercussions from the bishop for getting involved in helping the police?”

  “I’m not worried.” True, the Leit generally steered clear of involvement with the authorities if possible, but they were expected to do their duty to what was right. It was sometimes a difficult balancing act, but he had no worries on that score.

  No, his worries were much more personal, and they were centered on Sarah. He had come so close to failing her. A moment or two later, and she might have died. Aaron couldn’t stop thinking about it.

  As always seemed to happen, they gathered around the kitchen table. He suspected Mac would feel as odd about it as he would if they were ever ushered into the living room. The Bitler kitchen table had felt like home for a long time.

  Aaron studied Sarah as her mother fussed around, trying to feed them as always. Sarah’s face had regained much of the serenity that was such a part of her, though her blue eyes looked a little strained, as if she had a headache. It would be no wonder if she did. The bruise on her jaw where Harvey had struck her was turning purple, and from what her mother said, they’d had to put a couple stitches in her head. When he’d picked her up, she hadn’t even seemed to be aware of the blood that stained her dress. All her attention had been on making sure Julia was all right.

  Sarah seemed to feel his gaze on her, and she gave him a slow, sweet smile that stirred his heart. She would forgive him for his failure. Probably she already had. But he didn’t think he could forgive himself.

  “Well, you look like you’ve been through the wars, Sarah, but I’m glad you’re going to be all right.” Mac accepted the mug of coffee Hannah was handing him. “Julia’s even better, as far as I can tell.”

  “Are you sure? They didn’t let her go home alone, did they?” Concern filled Sarah’s voice.

  Mac grinned. “It was an interesting battle between her and the doctor, but she finally agreed to let them call the woman who’s been helping out with the house. She’s going to stay the night, just in case, but I doubt Julia will need her. She’s a tough old bird.”

  Hannah gave him the kind of “mother look” that all mothers seemed to perfect, his own included.

  “What?” Mac said innocently. “It’s a compliment.”

  “I’m wonderful glad she’s all right.” Sarah shuddered a little. “When I saw Donna with that needle...”

  Hannah patted her shoulder. “You don’t need to think about it anymore. It’s over.”

  “I know. But I must think about it, Mammi. Mac will need me to read and sign my statement.” She glanced at him, a question in her eyes. “Are they...are they both in jail?”

  Mac nodded. “Locked up until and unless the judge decides to grant bail, which I’d say is unlikely. After all, you witnessed Donna attempt to kill Julia. We recovered the syringe. It was loaded with insulin. Apparently Donna’s on insulin for diabetes, and she must have emptied every vial she had into that syringe.”

  Aaron hadn’t known Donna Edwards was diabetic, but Sarah was nodding. “They won’t let Harvey out of jail, will they?” She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Her mother moved a little closer, and Aaron had to suppress the urge to go and put his arms around her.

  “I don’t think so.” Mac frowned. “He’s lawyered up now, so we won’t get anything else out of him, but Donna is willing to tell anyone and everyone how he was behind it all. And that he got rid of Gus because Gus knew. And I think it’s telling that he locked the door after himself when he came in. He didn’t want anyone walking in on him while he was mopping up witnesses.”

  “But what was it all about?” Eli had sat silent until now, but he obviously couldn’t contain himself any longer. “I don’t understand why they did it at all.”

  “Greed,” Mac said succinctly. “Everybody knows Harvey lost a lot in his divorce last year. According to Donna, Harvey found out that the medical center is thinking of building a medical research site in this area. He figured he could buy up the most desirable land, put it together in a package and sell it for a fancy payoff. But he couldn’t let anyone know what was happening without messing up the whole deal.”

  “So the land he wanted ran from Julia’s property to Ben Stoltzfus’s to Matthew Gibson’s.” Eli’s expression made it clear he didn’t think much of that use of good agricultural land. “It seems chancy. They might have decided to build on another piece of land.”

  “I know. Harvey was desperate, I think. He wanted to make a big killing and get out of the area before anyone caught on.”

  “He got involved with Donna thinking she could influence Julia to sell,” Sarah said. “I heard them say that. Paying Gus to set the fires was her job, and Gus wasn’t supposed to know Harvey was behind it, but he found out.”

  Mac nodded. “Harvey’s scheme started falling apart. Donna, not willing to wait for her money, took some things she thought Julia would never miss, but thanks to Sarah, she was found out. And Gus couldn’t be relied on to follow orders. He set unnecessary fires and went after Sarah.” Mac’s face sobered. “He thought she knew something about him.”

  “The guilty flee where no man pursues,” Eli said, his tone solemn.

  Aaron stirred in his chair. “Was Harvey responsible for Matthew Gibson’s death?”

  “Good question.” Mac’s jaw tightened. “He’s morally responsible, if not physically, but whether we can prove anything is another story. In any event, he’ll be going to jail for a good long time. The DA seems inclined to go after him for Gus’s death, feeling he can make a stronger argument there.”

  “It’s up to the law now,” Eli said. “You have done the best you can.”

  “Will the hospital still try to take over land here?” Hannah looked dismayed at the thought, and Aaron felt the same. Their lives would be forever changed if that happened.

  Mac shrugged. “I’m no expert, but I’d guess the directors won’t want to do anything that reminds people of this case once the whole thing is made public. They’ll find some other site. But unfortunately the Gibson property will probably be locked up in litigation for years as the courts try to figure that one out.”

  Aaron wasn’t as upset by that news as he might have been. Julia had spoken to him at the hospital while he was waiting for news of Sarah. She’d decided to sell the property, and she wanted him to have it. The price she had named was ridiculously low, but she’d insisted that it was fair since he’d have to spend a lot to get the place back into farming condition.

  So that was one piece of his future settled. As for the rest... He looked at Sarah, unable to suppress t
he longing that welled up in him. Why had it taken so long for him to understand what he felt for her?

  Now—well, now it was too late. He’d let her down. He’d promised himself he would never let another woman rely on his love to keep her safe, and he’d been right.

  * * *

  SARAH SIGNED HER name at the bottom of the typed statement of her words and prayed that she would not have to testify at a trial. Perhaps Harvey and Donna would repent, tell the truth and accept the consequences, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe it. Well, if she had to testify, she would, and no doubt Aaron would do the same.

  She looked across the table at him as he signed the bottom of his own statement. He looked so solemn. It was a serious thing, of course, but he hadn’t smiled since he came in the door, it seemed to her. And he’d avoided her gaze.

  Her heart hurt—an actual physical pain in her chest. Aaron was turning away from her. He would shut her out, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Nothing? Something inside her rebelled at the thought. She’d believed that once before, and she’d ended up handing Aaron over to Mary Ann. Had she learned nothing since then?

  If she planned to do something, she’d best do it soon. Mac and Aaron were already standing, saying their goodbyes as they moved to the door.

  With an energy she thought had fled, Sarah shot to her feet and went after them. They were about to go down the steps as the screen door closed behind her.

  “Aaron, wait.” They both turned. “I’d like to talk to you, if you can stay a bit.”

  He didn’t speak for a moment, and Mac gave him a nudge. “You heard her, Aaron. Sarah needs to talk.” He grinned at her and went quickly to his car. “See you both later.”

  “You should rest.” Aaron seemed to find his voice. “If it can wait—”

  “No, it can’t.”

  Her own boldness startled her, but she did wait until Mac was safely on his way. Behind her, she could hear Mamm hustling her father into the living room, with Daad objecting, not understanding. Finally their voices faded away, and Sarah was alone with Aaron.

  She sucked in a breath, straightening her shoulders. She could do this. She had to, or be forever unhappy.

  “Aaron, once before I failed to let you know how I felt. I’m not going to do it again. You must know what I’m feeling. I love you. If you don’t feel the same, I can accept it, but I can’t pretend anymore. I’ll always be your friend, but I want to be more.”

  Her courage faltered in the face of his failure to respond. She’d thought that if only she could say the words, surely he would answer. But he didn’t, and she felt the blood drain from her face.

  “Don’t you care for me at all?” Her words came out as little more than a whisper. Her heart hurt so much that she put her hand against her chest, as if that would ease the pain.

  Aaron’s face twisted. “Sarah. My Sarah. I let you down. How can I say I love you when I let you down? You could have died.”

  My Sarah. The words seemed to sing in her ears, telling her all she needed to know.

  “When will you stop being so foolish?” She grasped his arms, feeling she’d shake some sense into him if she had to. “You’re not to blame for what happened. I stumbled into trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but God used it for good. I was there to save Julia. And you were there to save me.”

  His eyes were stormy, with hope seeming to battle with pain. “We almost weren’t. Another couple of minutes—”

  “You were in time. That’s the important thing. And even if you hadn’t been...” She looked at him steadily. She loved him with all her heart, and it was important to get this right. “Even if you and Mac hadn’t been in time, it wouldn’t have been your fault. You are not God, Aaron. You couldn’t save Mary Ann. If it had been my time, you couldn’t have saved me. We can’t work miracles for those we love. All we can do is love them.”

  She felt as if she’d forgotten to breathe. She watched the realization dawn in his eyes, saw hope and love replace the despair, and love flooded through her, exultant.

  “Ach, Sarah. How did you get so wise?” His smile shook a little as he clasped her shoulders, drawing her toward him.

  “Not wise. Just a little braver than I used to be.” One day she’d tell him about that conversation she’d had with Mary Ann, but not now. Now belonged to them.

  “I love you, Sarah.” His voice was strong and sure. “When I was young and foolish I didn’t even understand what love is. But now I do. I love you, and I want you to be my wife. I want us to be the family God intends for us to be.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “We will be,” she said, knowing she was at last where she belonged.

  Aaron bent his face to hers, and she gave herself up to his kiss, holding him close, rejoicing in the solid feel of his arms around her, his body against hers.

  Happiness flooded her, bubbling through every cell in her body, filling her with life and strength and hope. No more regretting the past. This time their lives had worked out the way they should.

  EPILOGUE

  SARAH STOOD IN the lobby of the old theater, watching with satisfaction as people passed through the door to the display area. It was hard to believe that just six weeks ago she’d been standing here, trying to decide where displays should go. Now the Laurel Ridge Quilt Festival was in full swing, and by any measure, it was a success.

  She’d been glad they’d had the festival preparations to distract her in those days after the arrests. It had been a difficult time, and the curiosity of acquaintances and the questions of reporters had been hard to bear.

  But the story had faded from the newspapers as the legal machinery began to grind slowly through the process. Other preoccupations replaced it in the public mind, and people stopped asking questions she couldn’t or wouldn’t answer.

  Nodding to the volunteer who was manning the door, Sarah slipped into the main room. She’d felt apprehensive the first few times she’d come in, half expecting the lights to flicker off, but that fear had quickly vanished. She’d been too busy to pay attention to it. Now the room glowed with the bright and jewel-like colors of the quilts, displayed in rows, with a separate section holding those that were for display only, not for sale.

  Julia’s Baltimore album quilt had pride of place there, and it generated a lot of interest. Allison had put together a wonderful display, incorporating a family tree, with photos of the maker and a precious image of the woman whose bridal quilt it had been. Julia had spent most of the day lingering nearby, engaging people in conversation. Getting rid of the heavy cast had given her renewed energy, and her boundless enthusiasm was hard to keep up with.

  Sarah’s gaze searched the crowd until she saw Allison. Her partner was in her element, directing the proceedings with effortless grace.

  The diamond ring on Allison’s hand sparkled as she waved it, directing someone to the workshop area. She had succeeded in convincing Nick that she didn’t need time, and they planned to be married at Christmas.

  Becky hurried up to her, looking worried. “Sarah, are you sure you want me to do the workshop? I...I think I might be getting sick. My stomach feels all fluttery.”

  Sarah couldn’t help smiling. “That’s nerves, not sick. You’re going to be fine. I’ll come over when you’re ready to start, and if you run into any trouble, I’ll pitch in.” She pressed her hand reassuringly. “Talking to strangers is a challenge, but I know you can do it.”

  Some of the tension slid from Becky’s face. “Denke, Sarah. I know I can count on you.” She smiled. “Soon you’ll be my new sister. I can’t wait.”

  “I can’t, either.” She was filled with such happiness that she couldn’t hide it. It just seemed to bubble out. For a moment they grinned at each other. Then, with a glance at the clock, Becky scurried away.


  As if Sarah’s appearance in the room was a signal, several other people came up to her. She fielded questions, gave explanations and soothed ruffled feelings. Finally everyone seemed satisfied, and she had a moment’s respite.

  Sarah felt someone stop behind her and knew without turning that it was Aaron. The link between them grew stronger each day, and she prayed it would continue to grow all their days.

  “You aren’t nervous about being here again, are you?” His breath stirred the hair at the nape of her neck.

  She glanced briefly at the panel of switches on the side wall, where she’d cowered in such fear. “Not now. Just happy to see everything going so well. I think you’re going to be amazed at the amount we’ll donate to the fire company. This is beyond our hopes.”

  “And it’s thanks to you and Allison. You make good partners, ain’t so?”

  “We do.” Was he wondering how she felt about the changes that were coming? “Look at Becky, setting up for her workshop. She has so much more poise than I did at her age, and she loves the shop. She’ll be able to take over whenever I need her to.”

  “You know I don’t want you to give up something you love.”

  His tone was grave, and Sarah looked into his face, loving every line of it.

  “I won’t. But I’ll want to spend more time at home with our girls after November.”

  That was the traditional wedding month for their church, and they would be wed the first Thursday in November. The happiness bubbled up again. Already her family and friends were engrossed in plans for the wedding, and the house and barn would be filled to bursting that day as their community celebrated with them.

  “We have time to make up, the two of us,” he said softly, his eyes glowing with the love and warmth she cherished.

  She nodded, her hand pressing his for just an instant. “Things work out in God’s own time,” she said, needing to share the understanding that had been growing in her. “Because of Mary Ann, we have Anna and Lena to love. And because you married her, I had the shop, and I’ve grown so much from that experience. I think maybe our marriage will be all the stronger because of what we can bring to it now.”