The Gift

by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Neil chuckled. “One of my new bosses at Horse Cave Salvage tries to reach ten thousand a day.”

  “That’s the goal.” After they walked past a lunchroom, he spoke again. “Susanna, Hazel told me you came in looking for my deputy? Do you know Eddie?”

  “Yes. I met him a couple of weeks ago. I had a buggy accident.”

  “It was just after Thanksgiving,” Neil added.

  “I remember that.” He looked at her more closely. “So it was you?”

  “Jah. Deputy Beck came to help me.”

  “I was there, too,” Neil said. “I also know Deputy Beck slightly, because of his wife, Lora.”

  As they walked into the office, the sheriff whistled low. “That was quite a night. Eddie told me that his heart just about stopped when he saw you lying on the pavement. You’re lucky to be alive.”

  Susanna nodded. “It was a scary night, for sure,” she said as she looked around the spacious room. Right away, she noticed all the photos of the sheriff and his wife and family near his desk. There was also a rod and reel in a glass case hanging on the wall and a couple of plaques that looked like awards.

  The furniture was dark wood and polished to a bright sheen. There were also two leather chairs with burgundy-colored seat cushions and a massive desk.

  Folding his arms across his chest, he said, “Now. How can I help you both?”

  Susanna looked at Neil pensively. Did he want to do the talking?

  But he shook his head. “You go first. You’re the reason we’re here today, after all.”

  She was glad that he gave her that. It made her feel empowered and a little stronger. Releasing a breath, she said, “I should probably tell you about that buggy accident first. You see, I heard shots being fired. I had thought at first it was merely hunters . . . but the shots got closer. I felt pretty sure that someone was shooting at me.”

  Sheriff Brewer looked at her solemnly. “I see.”

  “Please don’t tell me I was being foolish.”

  “I’m here to listen, Susanna. Now, did you tell Deputy Beck about your suspicions?”

  “I didn’t. At first, I was too hurt. Then, when I woke up, I thought it must have just been my imagination. But then some other things have happened.”

  He picked up a pencil. “Like what?”

  “Well, next, part of the fence on our land was broken. Shattered into splinters. We don’t have any cows or sheep or anything, but it was obvious someone did it just to cause damage.”

  “Did you have any idea about who might have done it?”

  After looking warily at Neil, she nodded slowly. “Well, you see . . . at first we thought it might be Neil’s family or our neighbors the Kaufmanns.”

  “Why?”

  Just as she was about to attempt to explain, the sheriff’s door opened and Deputy Beck entered. “Hi,” he said with a polite smile. “Hazel told me y’all came looking for me?”

  “Yes, but come in and join us.”

  “All right.” As he sat down, he smiled at Neil. “Hey, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived.”

  “It’s all right. I heard you were over seeing Lora.”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. “I could give you some kind of excuse, but the truth is we’re newlyweds.”

  “That’s what your receptionist said.”

  “Hazel would. She’s a talker.” While they laughed, he stared at Susanna. “I know you, too.”

  “Jah. You helped me during my accident.”

  “Glad you’re better,” he said as he took a seat. “Sorry again for interrupting.”

  “Susanna here was just telling me about some damage that had been done to her property . . . and how her family had at one time suspected Neil’s family of having something to do with it.”

  While the two officers stared at her and Neil Vance sat next to her stoically, Susanna was sure she had never been more mortified in her life.

  Honestly, could she be handling this meeting any worse?

  CHAPTER 19

  Tuesday, December 19

  Sitting in the reception area watching Hazel eat jelly beans and work on her computer was more painful than watching paint dry. Amanda was starting to feel fidgety. Beside her, Dale looked like he was feeling the same way. In the last two minutes, he’d shifted positions twice and was starting to look like he was regretting his offer to go with them.

  She kind of was. She wanted to be there for her sister, of course. But waiting for Susanna to come out of a back room didn’t seem all that supportive. She could have waited at home.

  When the phone rang and the receptionist started asking the caller about all kinds of personal things, Amanda felt even more awkward. Overhearing someone’s grievances with someone else’s children made her feel like the worst sort of eavesdropper.

  Unable to watch another jelly bean be consumed, Amanda leaned closer to Dale. “I know it’s cold out, but would you like to go stand outside for a bit? I’m getting a little warm.”

  “I would. Standing outside sounds like a great idea.” After informing Hazel of their plans, Dale held the door open for Amanda.

  Luckily, the sun was out. Standing against the wall, which blocked the wind, made the area feel comfortable. Almost warm.

  “This is a hundred percent better than watching Hazel work,” Dale said.

  Amanda had been kind of thinking that Hazel did a lot less working and a lot more chewing and talking than one might expect. Smiling at him, she said, “I couldn’t agree more. Time never went so slow.”

  “How do you think their meeting is going?”

  Amanda shrugged. “I hope okay. My sister isn’t one to do things like this, so I imagine she’s pretty nervous.”

  “Neil will look after her, if she needs looking after,” he reassured her. “He doesn’t get riled up about much.”

  “That’s good. Susanna no doubt appreciates his support.”

  Dale stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Tell me about you. Are you going to get a job here? Or do you help out at home?”

  “I used to babysit a lot in Berlin.” Amanda felt her shoulders tense. She was proud of the work she’d done, but she knew some people didn’t count babysitting as actual work.

  “Really? Babies or little kids?”

  “Any age. I like babies and children. It was fun. I knew a lot of people in the area, too, so I was plenty busy.”

  “You going to start doing that here?”

  So glad that he really did seem interested in her work, she weighed her answer with care. “I thought I would, but now I don’t know. I’ll probably help out my parents as much as I can until things settle down.”

  “All these accidents have really shaken you up, haven’t they?”

  “Jah, it surely does have me rattled. Then, too, we live on a big farm now. It’s a big house and a lot of land. Mamm and Daed might need my help.”

  “Will your father be hiring some men to help plow the fields?”

  “I think so.” Looking at Dale, she decided to share some more secrets. “We’ve never had a lot of money or a big farm before.”

  “But I heard that your father was a farmer. Was that not correct?”

  “He is a farmer, but not on our land. He managed a big farm about an hour from us. He was gone most of the week, working for an Englisher while we lived in our duplex with Mamm back in Berlin.”

  “I’m surprised. I think Neil’s family was under the impression that y’all were rich.” He winced. “Sorry, I know I sound rude.”

  Maybe he was rude to be sharing that, but Amanda would take honesty over secrets any day. “I’d rather you knew the real me.” Glancing at him, she said, “Are you disappointed?”

  “About what? That your family ain’t rich?”

  “Jah. And the other things, too,” she said hesitantly.

  “Everything I’m discovering makes me happy that we met. I’m delighted that your father really does know how to farm and that you enjoy babysitting, too.” The look he was sen
ding her way was warm and kind. “No, I’m not disappointed in what I’m finding out at all.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I’ll talk to my father, but maybe he and I can lend your father a hand with the fields come spring.”

  “That’s kind of you. But won’t Neil be upset about that?” Of course, the moment she said it, Amanda wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Here, they were finally getting to know each other and she was bringing up something bad.

  “You know? I don’t think Neil would be upset anymore.” Looking aggrieved, he said, “Now, his brother and father might be a different story.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “It is. And . . . I probably shouldn’t have said anything about that.” He shook his head. “This is awkward, isn’t it?”

  Amanda couldn’t disagree. “I hope Susanna and Neil and the sheriff figure out what happened with that bridge—and who is going to so much trouble to make us feel so unwelcome. All I want to do is just get ready for Christmas.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. This might be too bold, Amanda. But I am looking forward to seeing you under other circumstances.”

  “I feel the same way.” Glancing at the entrance to the building, she said, “Let’s hope and pray that they are making good progress in the sheriff’s office.”

  “WE’LL DO OUR best, but I’m not sure I can make you any promises that we’re going to be able to do much right now,” Deputy Beck said as he led Susanna and Neil back through the maze of hallways to the reception area. “We’ll ask around, but without any real concrete evidence, there’s not a whole lot we can do at this time.”

  Susanna tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she’d taken such a chance by trusting the authorities and still nothing happened.

  Neil simply nodded. “I appreciate your honesty, Eddie.”

  “You should remain vigilant, though. Keep a continued lookout. Watch for strangers or for anyone being where you don’t think they should be. And if you happen to see something that points to any person in particular, let us know and we’ll go from there,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. Then, after glancing Susanna’s way, obviously to make sure she realized he wasn’t excluding her, he said, “If you encounter anything suspicious, anything at all, come back and talk to me.”

  Neil nodded, as if everything Deputy Beck was saying made perfect sense. “I’ll do that.”

  The deputy paused. “Susanna, are you okay with this plan?”

  She was disappointed, but it didn’t seem like she had much of a choice in the matter. “I guess so.”

  “Feel free to come talk to me, even if Neil isn’t with you. I’ll tell Hazel to make sure she gets me right away if you come in.”

  “That is kind of you. Thank you.”

  Neil gave her a disbelieving look before they started walking again. She pretended she didn’t notice that.

  Because the truth was, she was pretty upset. It was her sister who had fallen through that bridge. Her sister who could have drowned. And that was only the bridge, never mind those gunshots and her buggy.

  She was anxious about whatever was going to happen to them next. But the whole time she’d been sharing her suspicions, she’d felt as if the sheriff and Deputy Beck had only pretended to take her seriously. She’d felt like they were secretly thinking that she was exaggerating things. That she’d put two and two together and gotten sixteen.

  They hadn’t even been all that concerned about the cut in the board. Even after Neil said that his family had helped build the bridge, they also pointed out that there was no way of knowing when it could have been made, and that someone could have been upset with someone in either Neil’s or Dale’s family years ago.

  Or, it could have simply been a coincidence.

  Now good manners meant that she was supposed to thank them for their time when actually they hadn’t done much but waste hers. And though that sounded pretty harsh, that was how it felt.

  When they arrived back at the reception area, Hazel was talking to a pair of police officers. “Men are here from Bowling Green, Deputy.”

  “Thanks, Hazel.” Shifting, he looked at Susanna and Neil again. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, shaking both of their hands.

  Practically before Susanna could say good-bye, he was talking to the other law enforcement men and walking down that long hallway again.

  “Your friends went outside to wait for you,” Hazel said.

  “Thanks.” Neil smiled gently down at her. “You ready, Susanna?”

  Nodding, she let him get the door for her and followed him outside. How was she ever going to be able to tell her sisters that they were still essentially on their own—at least until something worse happened?

  CHAPTER 20

  Thursday, December 21

  I’m glad you had time to meet for lunch today,” Dale said when he and Neil met outside Bill’s Diner two days after their visit to the sheriff’s office. “Yesterday, when I went for a walk with Amanda, she was still shaken up about our visit with Deputy Beck and Sheriff Brewer. Do you think Susanna feels better about everything?”

  “I couldn’t tell ya. I meant to stop by to see her yesterday evening, but I couldn’t get away,” Neil replied. “I do know that she was hoping that the sheriff was going to be shocked and upset about the bridge. I have to admit I felt the same way.”

  “I’m kind of surprised, too. Traci could have gotten really hurt.”

  “I’m trying to see things from the sheriff’s point of view, but it’s frustrating, you know?”

  “Jah. I find myself worrying that the person who is bothering them might be someone we know. Then, just as suddenly, I realize that no one we know would deliberately set out to hurt them.”

  But someone was doing such things, Neil knew. Plus, hurting other people and their property didn’t have to make sense to him. Thinking about the man who had been attacking women over in Munfordville recently, he said, “Some people are just twisted, though. There’s no understanding the why of it.”

  Dale nodded. “Do you still want to go grab something to eat?”

  “Sure.” Since his choice was to either go home and face his father, who was still mourning their new situation, or enjoy a sandwich at Bill’s before working an eight-hour shift, Neil knew there wasn’t really much of a choice.

  Soon after the hostess said hello, she placed them in Lora’s section. The entire diner was decorated in lights. On the outside there were flashing colored lights. Inside silver garland lined the walls and some truly ugly-looking snowmen made out of socks dangled from the ceiling.

  Dale frowned at the snowmen. “I don’t reckon securing them by the neck was the way to go. It looks like they all got hanged.”

  He laughed. “It kind of does, at that.”

  They were still chuckling about it when Lora came to take their order. “What has the two of you in such a good mood?”

  “Your hanging snowmen. They look a bit gruesome.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I know. I tried to tell May to not hang them by the neck, but she wouldn’t listen. I think they look more like Halloween decorations than Christmas.” She shrugged. “What can I get y’all?”

  After they ordered, Dale said, “Lora seems happy, doesn’t she?”

  “She really does.”

  “I was surprised when she came back to the area. But look what happened? She’s now English, working at a diner, and married to a sheriff’s deputy. She’s happy, too.”

  “I’m glad for her,” Neil said. “But is there a reason you’re making a point to tell me all that? Or are you just stating your surprise?”

  “I guess I was just thinking that Lora’s life is a gut reminder to me about the Lord giving each of us choices in our lives.”

  Neil gritted his teeth. “Just say what you want to say.”

  “Only that a lot happened to Lora that could have made her bitter and discouraged. But instead of her acting that way, she seems to have learned from it all.” Pla
ying with the corner of the napkin in front of him, Dale mumbled, “At least it seems that way to me.”

  “Are you suggesting there’s a lesson in there for me?”

  “Nee.” Flushing a bit, Dale shrugged. “Well, maybe.”

  Neil’s instant reaction was to tell Dale to mind his own business. He hadn’t just given up his farm, he’d had to change his whole way of life. Instead of rising early with his brother and father to milk cows and tend to their other livestock, he was now working at Horse Cave Salvage.

  Instead of tilling soil and planting crops on the same land that his grandfather had walked, he was working inside for a relative stranger.

  Furthermore, he was trying to ease his family’s financial burdens instead of simply assuming that his needs would be taken care of.

  Neil’s life was different in almost every way that counted. But maybe, he realized, Dale did have a point. Things were different, but he had adjusted. He’d also found happiness in his new job. And, well, if they hadn’t had to move, then Susanna wouldn’t have come to Horse Cave. Already he was having trouble imagining life without her.

  “You know better than most how hard these changes have been for me. But I’m getting better. So you may consider your point taken.”

  “Are you mad at me for trying to help you?”

  “Nee. I know you mean well,” he said as Lora returned with two hearty bowls of potato chowder and thick roast beef sandwiches.

  After silently offering a quick prayer of thanks, they dug in. Neil figured it was his turn to do a little digging of his own. “It looks like you and Amanda are getting along all right.”

  “Anyone would get along with her. She’s easy to talk to.”

  Intrigued, Neil smiled. “What have you been talking to her about?”

  “Her, mostly. I realized that I knew who she was, but next to nothing about what she was like.”

  “Did you find out anything interesting?”

  “I did.” His smile grew. “She used to babysit for several families back in Berlin.”

  “And?” Dale had a huge family but no one in need of a babysitter. It was kind of strange that he cared about Amanda’s babysitting jobs.