Simple Secrets (The Harmony Series 1)

by Nancy Mehl

  “I know it’s early, but I’m plumb tuckered out,” she said yawning. “If you two don’t mind, I’m gonna take a bath and watch a little TV in my room till I nod off.” She pointed her index finger at Sam. “You gotta help me in the orchard tomorrow, boy. We gotta repair the irrigation lines. Them rabbits been chewin’ on ’em again.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he said. “I’ll be up at the crack of dawn.” He leaned over and gave his aunt a kiss on the cheek. She reached up and put her arms around his neck, giving him a quick hug. “You’re my blessin’, you know,” she whispered. “The good Lord mighta been sleepin’ when my daddy died, but when He woke up He felt bad and sent you to me.” With that she turned on her heel and headed for the door.

  “Sweetie,” Sam said before she had a chance to make her escape, “you shouldn’t have worried that I’d be ashamed of you, you know. That would never happen. Never.”

  The elderly woman didn’t respond. Nor did she turn around. She hesitated for a moment and then walked out of the room.

  “Wow,” I said when the study door closed.

  “Yeah, wow,” Sam echoed.

  “I know where the money came from.”

  Sam gaped at me. “How could you know?”

  I told him about the church member who died and left some land to the church when Angstadt was still running things. “Emily wondered what had happened to the money. It never showed up. Now we know.”

  He nodded. “And we also know what Glick had on Angstadt.”

  We stood for a moment staring at the door as if Sweetie was going to burst in at any moment with some new revelation. Finally, Sam shook his head and suggested we sit out on the back porch. After stopping by the kitchen for some iced tea, we made our way to the porch. Sam sat beside me in a wicker love seat that looked almost exactly like Emily’s. We watched the sunset for a while without speaking. I wasn’t certain what he was thinking, but I kept trying to process Sweetie’s surprising disclosure with all the other information we’d managed to gather.

  Finally, Sam broke the silence. “So now what?”

  I shook my head. “I wish I knew. Frankly, I don’t think anything’s changed. Just because Glick’s killer didn’t take the letter, we’re still dealing with someone who doesn’t want me to uncover the truth.”

  “Has it occurred to you that stealing that vase from Ruth’s in broad daylight was really risky?” Sam asked with a deep frown. “He could have easily been caught.”

  “Yes, I thought about that. It smacks of desperation.”

  He nodded slowly. “It certainly does. It also means that whoever did it was watching us in town yesterday. He knew you’d been to Ruth’s.”

  “And he knew I’d be back to pick up my purchases. How could anyone possibly know that?”

  “I have no idea.” Sam let out a deep sigh. “I’m still processing the fact that Sweetie had your letter and has been keeping twenty thousand dollars in a hidden safe.”

  I placed my hand on his arm. “She’s still the same person she was before she told you about the letter and the money.” I stared out the window at the remnants of the sun as it slipped behind the reddish-bronze horizon. “I can’t stop thinking about the pain she’s been through. If I had to watch my father die...”

  “You know, you and Sweetie both know what it’s like to have to fight for your father. You two have a lot in common.”

  His words jarred me. Sweetie seemed so odd—so different than me. Yet when it came down to our hearts, we were a lot alike. I tried to put myself in her place. Would I have made the same decision she had? I wasn’t certain and prayed I’d never have to find out.

  “At least we know who didn’t kill Glick,” I said slowly. “Now we just have to figure out who did. Sounds like the entire town of Harmony is suspect.”

  Sam chuckled. “This is starting to remind me of a mystery novel I read once. A man was killed by an entire group of people on a train. Each one struck a blow that could have been the fatal one so no one would know who the actual murderer was.”

  “Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie,” I said. “Great book. Great writer.”

  “Yes, she was,” he agreed. “Do you remember how Hercule Poirot figured it out?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “Me either.”

  We both laughed, and Sam scooted closer to me. A chill ran up my spine along with a message of caution. The light in the room grew dim and with it, my resistance.

  “You do realize that Sweetie knows exactly where Glick is buried, don’t you?” Sam said.

  “Yes, but until we find out how he got there, I don’t want to know where he is. It’s too creepy.”

  Sam didn’t answer. Somehow talking about the location of Glick’s grave made everything seem way too real.

  “I sure hope we find out something useful from Levi,” Sam said after a long pause.

  “Me, too. If he can’t help us...”

  “We might be out of options. At least he doesn’t have a dog in this hunt.”

  “A dog in this hunt?” I said with a smirk. “Is that some kind of colloquial farm boy saying?”

  He laughed. “Sorry. I forget you city girls don’t understand our country phrases.”

  “I’m starting to learn some of them, and I have to admit it worries me.”

  Sam chuckled again. “Well, don’t get too concerned. I’m pretty sure it takes a lot to drive the city out of someone like you.”

  “Not as much as you might think,” I said softly.

  Sam was silent for a moment. Before I realized what was happening, he leaned over and kissed me. Just like the time in the truck, I didn’t have the power to fight back. My mind told me to stop, but my heart urged me on. After a long, sweet kiss, he leaned back.

  “Sometimes I’m almost grateful to Jacob Glick,” he whispered.

  “Grateful? To that awful man? Wh–what are you saying?” The soft light of sunset highlighted Sam’s strong profile. I had the strangest urge to touch his face—to run my fingers across the stubble on his firm chin.

  “I’m not grateful for the evil he did, but I’m grateful he’s kept you here so I could get to know you.”

  “It—it would have been better if I’d come here for another reason, b–but I know what you mean. I—I wouldn’t trade the time we’ve had together for anything.” My voice had an odd squeak to it that I couldn’t seem to control.

  He started to lean toward me again, but I held my hand up to his chest to stop him. “I—I think we need to get back to planning our next step. It would be easy to get sidetracked, and we can’t afford that right now.”

  He let out a ragged breath. “You’re always the voice of reason, aren’t you? Just so you know, it’s really beginning to get on my nerves.”

  I couldn’t hold back a giggle. “Sorry, but someone’s got to keep us grounded. You certainly don’t seem capable of it.”

  “You got that right.” He leaned across me, his hair brushing against my face. The musky smell of his shampoo made me almost forget my former admonition. I started to protest his attempt to kiss me again, but a small click and a flash of light confirmed that his target had been the lamp next to me. It provided just enough light to chase away the darkness but kept the warm ambience created by the soft glow of dusk. As he moved back to his side of the seat, I fought the urge to grab him and throw caution to the wind. The depth of my feelings toward this man didn’t make sense. What was happening to me?

  “I’m supposed to be at Ida’s tomorrow at one o’clock,” I managed to croak out.

  “I’ll meet you there at two. After I fix the irrigation system.”

  “From the attack of the vicious bunnies?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, and the vicious mice. There are quite a few wild animals that like to nibble on our irrigation lines. Fixing them is a constant chore.”

  “Do you think Ida might have any information that could help us?” I asked, guiding the subject away from crazed crunching critters.

/>   Sam stretched his legs out in front of him and yawned. “Maybe. You don’t plan to tell her about Glick do you?”

  “No. Levi’s it unless we’re pointed specifically to someone who might know the whole truth.”

  “Except the person who knows the whole truth might just be the killer. I doubt seriously that whoever it was ran around sharing that information with anyone else in town.”

  “You’ve got a point. Should we talk to Levi after we leave Ida’s tomorrow?”

  “I’ll call him. See if he can meet with us around five.” He grunted. “I’d suggest we all go to the café for dinner, but I may never be able to set foot in there again.”

  “That’s not practical, Sam. Maybe you should give Mary a chance to react normally to you. You two can’t avoid each other forever. Harmony’s too small for that. Besides, you have just as much right to eat in the café as anyone else.”

  He sighed. “You might be right, but I want to give her some time to settle down. She’s way too upset right now.”

  The look Mary had given me this afternoon made me wonder if he wasn’t making a wise choice after all. “Why don’t we get some sandwiches and dessert from Mr. Menlo? We could meet Levi in the park. I’d love to spend some time there. It’s so beautiful.”

  “Yes it is,” he agreed. “The churches keep it up.”

  “Together?”

  He grinned. “Yes, together. I told you Harmony is a special place. The churches get along great. In fact, Abel and Marcus are good friends.”

  “It is a special place,” I said quietly. “In more ways than one.”

  Sam started to say something but then hesitated.

  I looked at him questioningly. “What?”

  “Well, you may think this sounds crazy.”

  I shook my head. “Listen, Sam. With what I’ve been through the past few days, nothing sounds crazy.”

  “Okay, here goes.” He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Harmony is almost like a person, you know? With its own personality. But it’s been hiding something. A secret. When you came to town, it’s like the town ... like the town decided to use you to uncover those secrets. You know, so it could heal. I feel like you were meant to come here. Meant to find that letter. Meant to finally bring the truth to light.” He turned toward me. “Does that sound nuts?”

  Although he tried to keep his tone light, I knew he was dead serious. And the funny thing was that the same odd thought had been flying around in my mind lately, trying to find a place to roost.

  We said good night and went off to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling for quite a while, wondering if God really had led me here. If what was happening was more than coincidence. If my life and the small Kansas town of Harmony were tied together in some kind of divine destiny. Finally, with Buddy curled up next to me, I drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I awoke to a cloudy, overcast morning. A quick glance at the clock told me I’d slept later than I’d planned. I roused Buddy, found my slippers, and headed downstairs to a silent kitchen. A note on the table told me that Sam and Sweetie were already out in the orchards and that Sweetie had left breakfast for me in the fridge. Sure enough, I found a plate with scrambled eggs, ham, and a couple of biscuits covered with plastic wrap. I popped it into the microwave and checked the coffee. It was still hot. I poured a cup while I waited for my breakfast to heat up. The trick is to heat food up slowly in a microwave. That way it doesn’t taste like it’s been nuked. Years of living alone had forced me to learn the intricacies of microwave cooking. Not really something to be proud of.

  I took my coffee cup, stepped out into the enclosed porch, and looked out the windows for Sam and his aunt. Buddy ran to the door and whined to go out, so I opened it. I finally spotted Sam kneeling on the ground near the edge of the orchard and remembered Sweetie’s directive about repairing the irrigation lines. After Buddy finished his business, I watched as he ran over to Sam and enthusiastically jumped up on him. Sam put down his tools and hugged the little dog while Buddy licked his face.

  I didn’t see Sweetie anywhere and figured she was somewhere deep within the orchard. When I heard the microwave ding, I went back inside and took my plate out. Sweetie’s culinary skills translated very well to any meal, and this was no exception.

  After breakfast I took a shower, dressed, and bundled up my dirty clothes. I scouted around downstairs until I found the laundry room and tossed my dirty things in to wash. I’d just stepped out into the hall when I heard Sam call my name.

  “Back here,” I yelled. He came around the corner wearing a black T-shirt that highlighted his flaxen hair. When I looked into his eyes, I was reminded of prairie storm clouds. I felt my heart skip a beat or two.

  “Man, it’s about time. How late do you city girls sleep?”

  “Look you, I’m usually out of bed by six in the morning every weekday and in the office by eight. I suppose you get up earlier.”

  He leaned against the wall. “I get up by five, and I’m out in the orchards by seven. I imagine you’re still drinking coffee and putting on your makeup.”

  “Okay. You got me beat. So what are you doing now?”

  He pushed off the wall and turned toward the kitchen. “Came in to get another cup of coffee. Hope you didn’t drink it all.”

  “Nope. I’ll join you if it’s okay.” I followed him to the kitchen. “I’m washing some clothes. Hope Sweetie doesn’t mind if I use her washing machine.”

  Sam pointed at the kitchen table, so I sat down while he poured us both a cup of coffee. “She won’t mind. As long as you don’t break anything.”

  “I actually have washed clothes before. I think her appliances are safe.”

  “Then you should be okay.” He pushed my cup in front of me and sat down on the other side of the table. “So, yesterday was quite a day, huh?”

  “Yeah, that’s an understatement.” I stared through the window, making sure Sweetie wasn’t on her way back. “What do you really think about that money?” I kept my voice low just in case she was in the vicinity. “I mean, it belongs to the church, doesn’t it?”

  He shrugged. “You’re guessing about its origin. Truth is, we don’t really know where it came from. It’s in Angstadt’s house, so for now, it’s Angstadt’s. Of course, his being dead makes it a little difficult to return.”

  “Even though we can’t prove this money is the missing money Emily told me about, this house originally belonged to the church. Doesn’t that fact make it clear it should go to them?”

  Sam leaned forward, wrapped his hands around his cup, and stared into it. “I honestly don’t know,” he said after a brief hesitation. “I don’t think Sweetie would give it to them. I told you before that she doesn’t go to any church.” He sighed. “At least now I understand why.”

  “But Sam, she’s judging everyone by Amil Angstadt, and that’s not fair. I came to Harmony with a negative opinion of the Mennonite church here—but I was wrong. Dead wrong. Just because Angstadt was a bad apple, that doesn’t mean the whole barrel is rotten.”

  Sam cracked a smile. “Are you trying to put this into fruit terms so I’ll understand it?”

  I chuckled. “Not on purpose. Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”

  “You’re becoming fruitier?”

  “Sadly, that seems to be the case. But back to the money...”

  “Look, Grace,” he said, the smile leaving his face, “I’m not going to pressure my aunt about that money. I had no idea everything she’d been through. Now that I know, I’m going to let her decide what to do. I’m not Holy Spirit Jr. She and God are going to have to work it out between them. My job is to love her—and support her no matter what she does.”

  I didn’t argue with him; this wasn’t the time for it. Sam loved his aunt deeply, and finding out how Angstadt and Glick had tried to manipulate her had caused him pain.

  “Okay. Let’s just leave that alone for now.” I glanced at my wat
ch. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost noon. I have to be at Ida’s by one.”

  “I’ll make us some sandwiches.”

  “Oh my, no. I just finished breakfast. And Ida plans to stuff me with strawberry pie.”

  “You’re right,” Sam said, frowning. “Maybe I’ll just eat half a sandwich...”

  I laughed. “You’d better be careful. I would hate for you to drop over from starvation.”

  “Very funny.” He winked at me. “I’ll have you know I’m a growing boy.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t weigh five hundred pounds the way Sweetie cooks.”