by Jenny Moews
Hannah screamed and fell to her knees. Quinn knelt beside her. “Go ahead, Hannah, scream all you want get it all out.” Quinn stayed with Hannah like that for several minutes until a small voice cried out from the dimly lit porch.
“Momma, I scared.” Ruth Anne stood on the porch in her cotton nightgown with her bare feet.
Hannah pulled herself together and went to her daughter. “It’s alright, my darling. We need to get dressed so we can take a ride into town with the Sheriff, okay?” Hannah wiped away the tears and calmed down for the sake of her daughter.
Within minutes, she got her herself and Ruth Anne fully clothed in their best Sunday blacks. The ride to town was a silent one. Hannah was numb and just did not know what to say. All she wanted was to fetch Timothy and to get back home as soon as possible. How will I make it without you, Eric? The one thought kept repeating itself in her head.
Hannah stood at her screen door and watched as the men from the church loaded the last of the church benches onto the bench wagon. After four solid days of having the community members come for the viewing of Eric’s body and then the funeral followed by a shared meal, Hannah was exhausted and weary. Some of the women offered to stay with Hannah to help with the children, but Hannah really wanted to be alone so she could just think. She’d had to identify Eric’s broken body from the back of the coroner’s car. Timothy had been found fast asleep in the buggy. He only remembered that his father had stopped to visit with some men at the town square and after a while he’d fallen asleep in the buggy. He did not know what had happened to his father and had no memory of leaving the town square or of stopping alongside the road on the way home. The strange thing was that all of the baked goods that Eric was supposed to deliver were still in the buggy. Everything was there except for Pattie Sue’s pie.
Of Hannah’s and Eric’s family only Eric’s father was still alive and he was living in a nursing home. It was one of the hardest things Hannah ever had to do when she went to tell her father-in-law of his only son’s death. In some ways it was a relief that the elder Mr. Hershberger suffered from dementia and had no idea what Hannah was talking about.
The funeral and wake were a blur. Hannah tried to stay strong throughout it all for her children While she was grateful for the gifts of food and offers to help her care for the children as she recovered, she looked forward to a time when all the friends and neighbors would finally stop dropping in every minute of every day. And after a few weeks Hannah found herself alone more and more as her grief gave way enough that she could get back to taking care of herself and her children.
Oh, my darling Eric. How can I raise our children without you? In the dead of the night this thought haunted Hannah as she lay on a cot next to Ruth Anne. There was no more money coming in. The last of the furniture Eric made had sold from the showroom and that money wouldn’t last long. Faced with the impossible, Hannah had no choice but to sell the farm. She could maybe rent a cheap place in town, and if she was frugal she could live off of the money from selling the farm until she could get her own bakery established.
She knew the Amish community would not be entirely favorable to her opening her own business, but what else could she do? Besides, Pattie Sue owned the Amish Mercantile. Sure, she’d inherited it from her late husband. But if Pattie Sue could own and run her own business then why couldn’t Hannah? The question bore merit. She would take it up with Bishop Miller and the church deacons. Surely they would understand and maybe even help her. After making these decisions Hannah finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep with a small measure of hope that maybe she and her children would be all right.
Quinn Ramsey sat at his desk in the small town of Heaven, Oklahoma’s Sheriff’s office. Eric Hershberger’s file lay open in front of him. This case was far from closed as far as he was concerned. There were too many unanswered questions. The coroner’s report ruled death by blunt force trauma to the head, but did not rule out the possibility of homicide. Eric’s body was found at the bottom of a ravine near his horse and buggy. That did not explain the pool of blood Quinn found on the ground next to the buggy and now with the reports on samples he sent in he had confirmation that the blood on the ground was indeed Eric’s.
As much as he was loath to do it, he had to talk to Hannah again. She was the only one who could tell him exactly what Eric was doing in town that night. He also wanted to talk to Timothy some more. Maybe the boy remembered more than he’d already shared. Either way Quinn needed some answers to burning questions. He put his taupe colored Stetson over his dark closely cropped hair, stretched out his tall lanky frame, and headed out the door.
“Hey, Jess, I’m going out to the Hershberger farm. I’ll have my cell on me ’case you need something,” he yelled out to his deputy and walked out to his patrol car.
It took about twenty minutes to reach Hannah’s little farm by car, but Quinn was struck by how remote the place was. It bothered him that Hannah was out here all alone with two small children and no neighbors nearby. He figured she was at least an hour from any other human contact with only a horse and a buggy to get there. It was a good thing she had a phone. He still had a few of the old Amish families even more isolated than Hannah under his jurisdiction that refused any modern amenities like phones. He shook his head. While he respected the Amish way of life he sure didn’t understand it.
Hannah was in the side yard hanging out wet laundry when Quinn pulled up. Her long blonde hair had come loose from her prayer cap and whipped around her slender form in the strong spring winds and Quinn was struck by what a lovely woman Hannah was. The fact that she was an awesome cook as well made for a deadly combination for Quinn. He had to remind himself that not only was Hannah a grieving widow, she was Amish, and clearly not for him. Even if that weren’t enough, Quinn had sworn off any complications of the female kind many months ago, so if Hannah was safe with any man, it was him as far as Quinn was concerned.
Hannah turned and waved at Quinn as he exited the car. She was glad to see someone for change. Quinn brought no social pressures with him and she hoped he would have some answers as to how Eric could have come to such an end. Everyone kept calling Eric’s death an accident but Hannah had a gut feeling there was more to it. It was unbearable to think of anything more sinister happening, but still there was that nagging thought in the back of her head. Hopefully Quinn could put her fears to rest and she could move on as best she could for the sake of Ruth Anne and Timothy.
“Sheriff Ramsey, I’m happy to see you. Won’t you come inside and I’ll fix you a cup of coffee, and I have some apple strudel fresh out of the oven.”
“I’d like that very much, Hannah. I need to ask you a few questions anyway.”
“Of course, come on in.” Hannah left her clothes to finish drying on the line and led Quinn into the house.
Timothy watched his mother and the sheriff from the inside of the barn. He quietly closed the barn door and looked for a place to hide. He did not want to talk to the Sheriff again. He’d told the man all he was going to tell. Timothy was the man of the house now and he would do everything he could to protect his mother and sister. He owed his father that much. And protecting them from the prying questions of the Sheriff was a priority. It was the Amish way.
Quinn sat across the finely crafted oak table from Hannah. The old farmhouse was neat as a pin and filled with handsome handmade furniture. “Eric must have been quite good with wood. I must say your furniture is beautiful.”
“Yes, Eric learned the craft from his father. Some of the older pieces we have were made by Eric and his father.”
Finishing off his strudel Quinn thought again of what an awesome cook Hannah was. “You can add a batch of that strudel to my order for this week.”
“Great, I’ll do that. I need to get out this week anyway. I have plans to sell the farm and move into town as soon as possible. I’d like to start my own bakery. Of course I need to talk to my Bishop and the church deacons first. If Eric or I had any fa
mily nearby I would be expected to turn to them, but as it is I’ve only a few distant cousins living up north.”
“I must say that I’m relieved to hear that you’ll be moving closer to town. It must feel like you’re completely isolated out here.”
“No, I’ll miss the solitude, but I can’t run a farm and raise two children by myself. I feel like I’m giving up on Eric and his dreams, but I also feel selfish for wanting to stay out here. I have to find a way to support my children.”
“I understand. I’ll ask around town to see if anyone has a place for rent and if you go see Ida Mae at the Sunland Realty I’m sure she could find you a buyer for the farm. Lots of folks are moving into the area searching for a place with land. So selling shouldn’t be a problem.
“Oh, Sheriff, I’d appreciate the help very much, but the community will help us.”
“Hannah, I would appreciate it very much if you would call me Quinn, okay? I have some questions for you about the night Eric went into town. Do you feel up to talking about it?”
Quinn pulled out a small note pad and Hannah realized how at ease she felt with Quinn. She’d never been alone with any other English man before, but instead of feeling uncomfortable she felt at peace. “Yes, I think I’m ready.”
With a nod of his head Quinn went over his notes. “Can you tell me what exactly Eric went into town for that night?”
“Well, we needed some supplies mostly feed for the horses, and he was going to make some last minute deliveries of baked goods for me. But I guess he never got to make those deliveries because all the food was still in the buggy when you found him.”
“Hmmm, what about the supplies and the horse feed?”
“No, I guess he didn’t get those things either. Timothy said he visited with some of the menfolk in the town square and then he must’ve just headed home. Oh, but he had to have stopped by Pattie Sue’s place because the pie I made her was not in the buggy.”
“So, did Pattie Sue order a pie?”
“Uh, no not really, I made her the pie as a gift. She didn’t know about it, but Eric promised me he would take it to her first.”
“I wonder if he took her the pie before or after he stopped at the town square.”
“I’m not sure. Let me call Timothy in so you can ask him, but first I need to check on Ruth Anne.”
“Oh, sure go right ahead.” Quinn jotted down some more notes and wondered about Timothy. He’d not seen the boy since the day he’d brought him home with his mother from the office. The boy had been withdrawn and tight lipped. Which, given the fact that he’d just lost his father, was understandable. It seemed to Quinn that the boy was putting on a brave front. For a boy so young to lose his father, it must have been incredibly hard for him.
Hannah returned from upstairs and went to the back door where she called out for Timothy. A few moments went by and when no answer came, she called out to him in that sing song voice that all mothers use when calling their children home. More minutes passed, and Hannah called out again, this time more urgently.
“Timothy Eric Hershberger, you answer your mother this instant.” Still no answer and Hannah started to worry. “Sheriff, I mean, Quinn, I’m going to head out to the barn to look for my son. Will you excuse me?”
“Let me come with you.” Quinn followed Hannah out to the barn as she continued to call out for Timothy.
Soon an hour passed with no sign of Timothy. Tears started to well up in Hannah’s eyes. “Where can he be? Doesn’t he hear us? He couldn’t have gone far. It’s not like him to go missing like this. Something has to have happened to him.” Hannah paced the inside of the barn. Quinn put a comforting arm around her.
“Don’t worry. He’s probably just hiding out somewhere. He did just lose his father. We’ll find him soon I’m sure of it.”
A loud voice yelled out “Take your hands off my mother, right now!” Then Timothy appeared at the top of the ladder to the loft. He was shaking with fury.
“Timothy, you get down here this instant. Why didn’t you answer me? I’ve been calling you for an hour.”
“I’m not talking to him, Ma, you can’t make me.” Timothy jumped down from the loft and ran into the house, leaving his bewildered mother and Quinn in his wake.
A Dark Amish Night
Chapter Three
Quinn said his goodbyes with a promise from Hannah that she would bring in Timothy to the office the next day, as she had to come into town anyway to talk to the Bishop and the church deacons. Hannah waved to him until his tail lights disappeared down the dirt road.
She then went straight to Timothy’s room and knocked on the door before she went in. Her heart was broken for her son. Of all three of them she worried for her son the most. Timothy worshipped the ground his father walked on. It must have been particularly hard for him to be coping with such a loss.
“Timothy, we have to talk. I understand you’re hurting son, but you can’t behave in such a manner. Sheriff Ramsey needs to ask you some questions and you have to answer him truthfully. He is the law, and we must obey.”
“Even if he puts me in jail I won’t talk to him. He’s English, and the English don’t understand our ways.”
A painful stab jabbed Hannah in the chest. Timothy was so much like his father, not only in looks but in manners and opinions. “Yes, darling, the Sheriff is English, but even your father would tell you we must obey all the laws of the land we live in, even the English ones. That means you have to answer all of his questions and the Amish way is to always be truthful and to promote peace. We’ll have to go to the Sheriff’s office in the morning and I expect you to behave like the well brought up Amish lad you are. Can you do that for me, Timothy?”
Timothy nodded his head in compliance even though his heart was not in it. His mother could tell her son was conflicted. “So, after breakfast you’ll go out and hitch the horse to the buggy for me, right?”
Timothy’s face brightened a little. “Yes, Ma, I can do that.”
“There’s my good boy. Now, I need you to get ready for supper. I have some baking orders to finish before we go into to town tomorrow.”
“Momma, do you think Papa will be proud of me if I take good care of you and Ruth Anne?’
“Oh, yes. Your Papa will always be proud of you. Now, get ready for supper and bring your sister downstairs with you when you come, okay?” Hannah closed the bedroom door behind her and wiped at the hot tears that fell down her cheeks. She had to pull herself together. She was determined to keep her children feeling secure, and that meant they could not see her falling apart. No matter how heartbroken she was, she would carry on for her children.
The next morning, Hannah headed into town. Her buggy was loaded down with baked goods and her two children. The fresh spring air felt good on her cheeks and lifted her spirits. Timothy was still brooding but he had agreed to talk with Quinn. Ruth Anne sang songs and played with her doll on the seat next to Hannah.
When they got into town, it was no surprise to find Quinn waiting for them outside his office.
“Good morning, Hannah, and a good morning to you as well, Ruth Anne.”
Ruth Anne giggled and laughed at Quinn as he handed her a brand new Raggedy Ann doll. “A curly red-headed doll named Ann for a curly red-headed girl named Ruth Anne.”
“Quinn, you shouldn’t have. We are not to accept gifts from outsiders you know, but seeing as Ruth Anne is already in love I suppose we’ve no other choice.”
Quinn didn’t miss the smirk on Timothy’s face as he gave his sister the doll. “Well, what do you say you and I take a walk, Timothy? That way we can talk like men without the women hovering. Hannah you don’t mind, do you? What if I have him back here in say an hour?”
Hannah wasn’t all that sure about leaving Timothy. “Well, son, what do you think? I do need to meet with the bishop and the church deacons this morning. You think you’ll be okay on your own?”
Timothy shrugged. “I’ll be fine, Ma. Go on.”
“Okay, then.” Timothy pulled away from his mother when she bent to kiss him on the head, but rather than be offended, Hannah smiled. “I’ll be back for you here in one hour. Quinn, I’ll see you then too.”
Hannah loaded Ruth Anne and her new doll onto the buggy and headed for the church. She wasn’t sure what to expect from the church deacons, but was totally unprepared for what they expected from her.
“You want me to submit to an arranged marriage? Surely you must be joking?” Hannah was indignant, and not sure if she’d understood correctly.
“Hannah, it wouldn’t be like that. Think of your children and your farm. As it is that you have no other family that can take you in or lend you help, the church must help provide for you as a true widow of the faith. We are prepared to assist you financially and help run your farm until an appropriate suitor can be found for you, and of course you will choose the final candidate. A young woman with land such as yourself would have no problem finding a good man to care for you and your children. There would be an appropriate amount of time for you to grieve and then be properly courted of course.” Bishop Miller stood in front of Hannah as she addressed him and the church deacons.
“So, that’s it then. As a good woman of the plain folk I should submit to an arranged marriage instead of trying to support my family on my own with a business of my own. I don’t understand if the church wants to help support me financially then why won’t you help me start my own bakery? I suppose that if I were past childbearing years like Pattie Sue, we wouldn’t be having this ludicrous conversation.” This whole situation was becoming surreal to Hannah.
Her bold statement caused some rumblings from the church deacons. Bishop Miller left Hannah standing where she was and went to the circle of deacons to confer with them.
