by Nancy Mehl
“I heard you were in town,” I said, smiling. “Sounds like your plans are public knowledge now.”
His warm laugh highlighted the kindness in his face. Eric’s dark, wavy hair brought out his light blue eyes and perfect white teeth. “Yes, I’m afraid the cat’s out of the bag. I discovered that Harmony residents aren’t a shy bunch. Nor are they willing to let a stranger keep any secrets.”
I nodded. “I could have told you that.” I patted Sam’s shoulder. “Eric, this is Sam Goodrich. I guess you two haven’t met yet.”
Eric held out his hand and Sam shook it. “No,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think I have. You must not come to town much.”
“Haven’t lately,” Sam replied. “Been kind of busy at my place. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too, Sam. I suppose you both know Rand McAllister.”
He motioned toward the other man sitting at the table, who glowered at us but didn’t say anything.
“Yes,” Sam said, ignoring Rand’s obvious distaste for our presence. “Nice to see you again, Rand.”
Sam’s greeting was acknowledged with a grunt.
I ignored the ill-mannered man and directed my attention to Eric. “So is the town meeting still on for tonight?”
He nodded. “Yes. Six o’clock in the empty building next to the hardware store. I’m renting it as a kind of base of operation while I’m here. The church down the street is loaning us some chairs, so we should have plenty of room for everyone who wants to come. I’m just trying to hash out the final details with Rand. Hopefully we’ll have everything settled before the meeting.”
There was a slight hesitation in Eric’s voice that caused me to glance at Rand. As far as I knew, the deal had been agreed upon weeks ago. What still needed to be “settled”? The look I got back was toxic. I pulled once again on Sam’s arm.
“Excuse us, Eric,” I said, ignoring Rand, who’d fastened his beady eyes on me. “I’m starving. If we don’t eat soon, I might pass out right here. We’ll see you tonight. If you need any help…”
“Thanks, Gracie,” he said. “But I’m set. I used the flyers you made to announce the meeting, and I think the whole town knows about it. We should have a great turnout.”
I told him good-bye, not even bothering to acknowledge Rand. I was beginning to think Sweetie had described the man pretty accurately. I said the same to Sam when we sat down. We were well enough away from Eric and his unpleasant luncheon companion that I was confident we couldn’t be overheard.
“I agree he’s not a very nice person,” Sam said. “I have no idea why he acts that way, but he’s been contrary from the first day he arrived. I think someone in his family left him some land, and he felt he had to move his family here. He’s not a farmer, even though he makes a halfhearted attempt to grow wheat. Almost every year some of the other farmers have to help him harvest it. Rand always has some kind of injury, you know. Something that keeps him from doing his own work.”
“Why do people help him if they know he’s just lazy?”
“Because he has a wife and daughter. You know how people are around here, always looking out for each other. His wife and daughter go through enough just living with the man. No one wants to see them go hungry.”
The front door of the restaurant slammed shut loudly, and I turned to see Sheriff Pat Taylor saunter into the room. His gaze swung around until it rested on me. My stomach knotted. He watched me for several seconds. Then he ambled over to an empty table and sat down.
“Sheriff Taylor is here,” I whispered to Sam. He started to turn his head to look. “Don’t look,” I hissed. “I don’t want him to think I care one way or the other.”
“No, we wouldn’t want him to think he has any effect on you.” Sam’s exaggerated tone made me feel a little silly.
“He has every right to be here, I know that. It’s just that…I don’t know…I feel like I’m under surveillance.”
Sam raised his right eyebrow. “So you think the sheriff of Morris County drove all the way to Harmony for lunch because he’s interested in you?”
I started to say something when Sam shook his head. “I will admit it’s a little strange. He hasn’t been around here for months. Now suddenly he stops you on the highway then shows up in town the next day.”
“Well, now I am worried. I thought you were going to tell me I’m imagining things.”
“I’d love to, but to be honest, that guy makes me nervous. There’s something…not right about him.”
Before I could respond, a woman’s voice rang out, interrupting our conversation.
“Well, there you are!” I looked up to see Mary Whittenbauer standing next to our booth, holding two glasses of water. “I’ve been wondering when you’d stop in.” Her wide smile quelled any fear that there was still some animosity between us.
Mary had once considered herself to be engaged to Sam, even though Sam wasn’t certain just how their “engagement” happened. Her negative reaction to me when I first came to Harmony only deepened as Sam and I became closer. However, a few months ago, Sam and Mary had finally talked honestly to each other. It had become clear to both of them that their relationship had no future. From that point on, Mary and I had started to mend our broken fences. The letter she sent to me in Wichita expressed her heartfelt desire to be friends. Although I’d forged a relationship with Sarah Ketterling, I really wanted a friend who was a little more like me. Someone I could talk to about everything. There were things I hesitated to bring up to Sarah because of her Old Order lifestyle.
“Got in last night,” I said, smiling back at her. “A little later than I’d planned.”
“I’m so glad you’re back.” Mary’s sweet, heart-shaped face lit up. “I know just how to celebrate. Lunch is on me. Anything on the menu. The both of you.”
Sam and I thanked her profusely and placed our order.
“Boy,” Sam said after she left, “she sure has done a one-eighty.” He sighed with relief. “Must be God.”
“She’s probably come to her senses and figured out she missed a bullet when she dumped you.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Dumped me? She didn’t dump me; I—”
“Save it, Romeo.” I grinned at him. “Men and their egos.”
He chuckled while I glanced toward the sheriff. Although he seemed to be perusing the menu, his eyes kept darting my way. I started to say something about it to Sam when the sound of a chair hitting the floor, followed by a string of shouted obscenities, got my attention. I turned around to see Rand standing over Eric like he was getting ready to hit him. The chair he’d been sitting in lay on its side.
“You’d better come up with what I asked you for, or you ain’t gettin’ nothin’ from me,” he snarled. “And don’t you come ‘round my place again, botherin’ me with your highfalutin ways. You hear me, boy?”
Sam got up and walked slowly toward the table where Eric still sat. “That’s enough, Rand,” he said in a calm voice. “I think you need to leave. Maybe you and Eric should take this up again after you’ve settled down some.”
I glanced over at Pat Taylor, who watched the confrontation with an amused look on his face. Why wasn’t he intervening? Why allow Sam to put himself in the middle of this tense situation?
Rand took a step toward Sam, his hand knotted in a tight fist. “Don’t you poke your nose in my affairs, Sam Goody-goody-rich. Everyone knows you ain’t nothin’ special. You ain’t even got a real daddy.”
I could see Sam’s shoulders tense through his shirt, but he held his temper. Mary came out from behind the counter and advanced toward the two men. As if he sensed her, Sam held his hand up. She stopped where she was.
“I’m asking you nicely to leave,” Sam said again, his voice steady. “If you refuse, we can take this a step further.”
I guess the sheriff had finally had enough, because he hauled himself out of his chair and stood between the enraged man and Sam. “I believe this man invited you to vacate the premise
s,” he said to Rand. “Isn’t that correct?”
I couldn’t see his face, but whatever Rand saw in the sheriff’s expression made him take a step back. After glaring at him for several seconds, Rand finally grabbed his coat and scurried toward the door. It slammed loudly behind him.
I hurried over and stood next to Sam. His face was tight with anger. I was shocked to see the fury in Pat Taylor’s expression. No wonder Rand had run out the door. I put my hand on Sam’s arm.
Eric stood up and shook Sam’s hand and thanked him profusely, his relief evident. He turned toward the sheriff and stuck out his hand, but Sheriff Taylor abruptly turned on his heel and walked back to his table, completely ignoring all of us. Eric watched him for a moment then shrugged.
“I have no idea what got into Rand,” he said to Sam. “We were talking about closing our deal, and he suddenly doubled the price we’d agreed on.” His wide eyes shifted back and forth between Sam and me. Then he ran a hand through his hair and stared at the door Rand had slammed shut when he left. Eric was obviously shaken by the strange little man’s outburst. “We’ve already offered him much more than it’s worth. It’s a fair deal. Honestly.”
Several people had left their tables and were watching us with interest. Dan and Dale Scheidler, two brothers who owned the farm implements store, stood peering over the top of their booth. A family I didn’t know had also turned around to observe the proceedings.
Mary stepped up to the table then turned to look at her surprised customers. “You folks go on back to your food. There’s nothing more to see.”
Harold Price, an elderly man who ate most of his meals in the diner, called out from a table where he sat alone. “Another satisfied customer, Mary?”
His comment broke the tension and several people laughed, including Mary. “I guess that’s it, Harold. Funny thing is, he ordered the same thing you’re eatin’.”
Laughter broke out once again, and all the diners went back to minding their own business. Sheriff Taylor seemed content to drink his coffee and ignore everyone.
“What happened here?” Mary asked Sam quietly. “I don’t allow fighting in my restaurant.”
“It was Rand,” he said, trying to keep his voice down. “Seems he tried to improve his deal with Eric.”
Mary grimaced. “He’s not gonna blow this deal for the whole town, is he? Truth is, I would love to get some new customers. We get by here, but sometimes it’s just by the skin of our teeth. Bringing in some of these well-to-do retirees and their families could really help. I might actually be able to buy some new equipment. My grill is on its last legs, and the refrigerator is making noises no appliance should ever make.”
Eric sighed. His encounter with Rand seemed to have shaken him up. His usual ruddy complexion had paled somewhat. “I think it’s a last-minute attempt to blackmail me. I’ll just have to let him know it won’t work.”
“Maybe you’d better wait awhile,” Sam said. “Don’t confront him now. Let him cool down. I don’t trust him.”
“Thanks, you’re probably right. I’m going to finish this delicious cheeseburger and these fabulous fries before I go looking for him.” He slapped Sam on the back. “Thanks again for coming to my rescue. Guess I just froze. His reaction completely took me by surprise. He’s been real easy to work with up until today.”
Mary chuckled. “Rand McAllister? Easy to work with? He must have a twin, then. That man never has a kind word for anyone.” She smiled at Eric. “He was nice to you because you offered him money. Now he’s figured out he might be able to milk you for a little more.”
Eric sat down slowly. “Well, he can’t. I have investors, but between this and another project we’re involved in, the group is spread pretty thin. To be honest, if Rand acts up too much, I’m afraid they’ll walk away.”
“I sure hope that doesn’t happen,” Mary said. “People in this town are really counting on this boost to our economy. Lots o small towns dry up and blow away without the kind of help you’re offering. Not only will your retirees want to shop and buy here, but what better place to send the grandkids for some swimming or fishing?”
Eric bobbed his head toward the table where the sheriff sat. “What’s his deal? I appreciate his help, but he acts like I did something to offend him.”
“It’s not just you,” Sam said. “It’s everyone. To be honest, I’m surprised he bothered to get involved at all.” He noticed Eric’s puzzled expression. “He has a problem with Harmony. Thinks it’s full of religious nuts.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Eric, you’re still planning to hold the meeting tonight, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Yes.” He shrugged. “I’ll get it straightened out by tonight. Like I said, when Rand figures out I won’t give in to his demands, he’ll cave. If that doesn’t work, I know someone I can call. He’ll pony up a little more. It’s not what Rand asked for, but maybe if he feels he got one over on me, he’ll sign the contract. He’d be stupid not to, since he stands to make a lot of money free and clear.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “I hope he does, Eric. If you need anything, please let us know. Sam and I will do whatever we can to help.”
He reached up and grabbed my hand. “Thanks, Gracie,” he said earnestly. “I really appreciate it.”
I let go of his hand and headed back toward our booth. Sam said something else to Eric that I couldn’t hear and then followed after me.
“Wow,” I said when he slid into the other side. “Rand put on quite a show. You don’t think he’s really dangerous, do you?”
“I honestly don’t know. I haven’t spent enough time around him to have much of an opinion. I sincerely hope not, but that temper of his…”
“Should we be worried?”
“I told Eric I’d go with him to see Rand if he wanted me to. He thinks it will be okay, but he promised that if he felt uncomfortable about it, he’d call me.”
I smiled at him. “That was very nice of you. You know, you really can be a rather pleasant fellow.”
“Well, thank you, ma’am,” he drawled.
Mary suddenly appeared next to us, carrying two large platters, which she plopped down in front of us, a big grin on her face.
“I’m pretty sure I know what a chicken salad sandwich looks like,” I said. “And this isn’t it. It looks more like steak to me.”
She chuckled. “Look, you guys, I appreciate that you both ordered something cheap after I told you lunch was on me, but I really wanted to fix you a nice meal. I know you both love my rib eyes, so I took it upon myself to change your orders.” She whirled around on her heels. “I’ve got two large Caesar salads along with some buttery garlic bread in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”
Two huge sizzling steaks sat in front of us, covered with mounds of sautéed mushrooms. On the edge of each plate, stuck into whatever room was left, was a gigantic baked potato slathered in butter, sour cream, and chives.
“Wow!” Sam said, his face glowing with the promise of enough food to feed a family of four. “That was such a nice thing for Mary to do.” He gave me a silly, sloppy, sideways smile. I recognized it. Sam had slipped into meat utopia, a place where men live in ecstasy and women live in fear of never fitting into their jeans again.
“I appreciate the sentiment,” I whispered, “but I’m not looking to welcome back that ten pounds I lost.”
“Whatever you can’t finish…”
I waved my fork at him. “No way. I don’t want to have to roll you out of here.”
Sam laughed and then prayed over our food. With a big smile, he speared his steak with his fork and cut off a big chunk with his knife. After stuffing it into his mouth, he closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath.
“You look ridiculous,” I told him in a tone that should have brought conviction. However, my first bite completely explained his reaction. Mary’s cook, Hector, sure knew how to grill a steak. I’d taken my third bite by the time Mary returned with our salads an
d hot garlic bread.
“Now you two enjoy yourselves,” she said, covering every open surface left on our tabletop with food. “And for dessert—”
“Whoa.” I shook my head. “I doubt I can get all this down. As generous as your offer is, nothing with sugar or chocolate will pass through these lips today.”
“What kind of dessert?” Sam asked, happily smacking his mouth.
I started to chastise him when I noticed that Eric was heading for the door.
“Hey,” I said softly, “he’s leaving. Should you ask him again if he wants you to tag along when he talks to Rand?”
Sam quickly wiped his face with his napkin and hurried over to catch Eric right before he pushed the front door open. Mary and I stared at them, but we couldn’t really make out what they were saying. The radio was playing the Marty Robbins song “El Paso.” All I could hear was something about “a handsome young stranger lying dead on the floor.” A chill ran through my body.
“Does Sam really think Rand might hurt Eric?” Mary asked.
“I don’t know. Most people don’t really know Rand, and they’re not sure just what he’s capable of.”
Mary nodded. “He’s eaten here quite a bit. Sometimes with his family. Sometimes alone. I can’t get him to talk. I gave up a long time ago. I just take his order and bring him his food.” She leaned over close to me. “He doesn’t tip,” she said softly, shaking her head.
“Why is it I don’t find that the least bit surprising?”
Harold’s loud voice interrupted Mary’s response. “Hey, Mary. Could I get another cup of coffee sometime in this century?”
“Just keep your shirt on, Harold,” she shot back. “I have some real customers here.”
The elderly man laughed loudly.
“Better get going,” Mary said with a smile. “Hey, after you’ve gotten settled in, why don’t we get together for dinner?” She waved her hand in a semicircle. “I’ll close early and we’ll have the whole place to ourselves. I’m a pretty good cook. While we eat, we can visit and get to know each other a little better.”
