Abandon the Dark

by Marta Perry

  “Yes.”

  The wail of a siren sounded, growing louder by the moment.

  “That sounds like the township fire truck. Good. They’ll be able to get you down.”

  Lainey could only hope they didn’t expect her to climb down any ladders. With the best will in the world, she didn’t think she could.

  She heard the voices below, the exclamations, Jake’s terse explanations. And then, almost before she had a chance to say she was sorry, but she really couldn’t climb down a ladder, one had appeared next to her, and in another moment a helmeted figure was on it.

  “You just take it easy, now.” The man put a large hand on her back. “I don’t want you to move at all. I’m going to put a harness on you, but I’ll do all the work. Don’t try to help yourself.”

  “Her arm is injured,” Jake said, his voice strained. “She can’t—”

  “I see that.” The fireman’s voice was steady. “Why don’t you just climb on down now, Jake? We’ve got this.”

  “No chance,” Jake said. “Lainey, I’ll be right here with you. Just do as Tom says. You might not know it to look at him, but he’s really a pretty smart guy.”

  “Same to you, buddy.” The harness seemed to slip around her effortlessly. “Okay, now, Lainey, is it?”

  She managed to nod.

  “You don’t need to hang on so tight now. The harness will hold you. Can you let go of the bracket?”

  She considered. She might tell her muscles to relax, but she didn’t think they’d obey. “I don’t think so.”

  “Okay, then, I’m going to take your hand and just ease your arm back. You can hang on to me, and we’ll have you down at ground level in two shakes.”

  Several excruciating minutes later she was free of the bracket, dangling from the harness with the fireman’s hand steadying her.

  “Now we’re just going down together,” he said. “And old Jakey’s heading down, too, so he’ll be at the bottom when you are. Nice and slow, now.”

  She wasn’t sure whether that directive was intended for her or someone else, but they started slowly down. If not for his hand on her waist, she’d have probably been spinning in the air like a top.

  Down and down, getting dizzy despite her efforts to focus. Surely she must be at the bottom soon—and then she felt Jake’s arms go around her. She turned her face to his chest and held on, letting everything else slip away.

  * * *

  “THEY MIGHT AS well just reserve a room in the hospital for the Stoltzfuses and kin,” Jake said as he took the chair next to her bed. “You’ve been giving them a lot of business lately.”

  “I don’t see why I have to stay overnight,” Lainey said, trying to prop herself up on the pillows.

  Meredith came to her aid, raising the bed and adjusting the pillows. Either she or Rachel had been with Lainey constantly since the ambulance had brought her in.

  “The doctor just wants to be sure you’re all right,” she soothed. “Be glad you’re here. The reporters are buzzing around the entrance like so many bees.” Meredith glanced at Jake. “I think while Jake is here, I’ll run out and get a cup of coffee.” She vanished before Lainey could suggest that she just go on home.

  “She doesn’t need to stay with me,” she said, but Jake just smiled.

  “I don’t think you’re going to convince her of that. And she’s just being tactful about the coffee. She wanted to leave us alone.”

  Lainey wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Maybe it was better if she didn’t. “Is someone with Aunt Rebecca? She’ll be fretting over me.”

  “Your cousin Katie is with her, and I stopped by and told her the whole story.” He paused. “Well, I might have left out some of the bad parts, but I don’t think she was fooled. Anyway, she’s fine, and you can see her tomorrow and show off your cast.”

  Lainey glanced down at the cast that kept her forearm immobile. It was remarkably uncomfortable, but the nurses assured her she’d get used to it.

  “I’ve never had a broken bone before,” she said.

  “You’re lucky it wasn’t your head. When I saw what Jeannette was doing—” He stopped. “I promised myself I wouldn’t make you relive it again.”

  “I don’t think I’m likely to forget very soon,” she said. “Do I have to talk to Chief Burkhalter again?”

  “Just to do a formal statement once you’re better.” Jake took control of her free hand. “I’ll be with you every minute.”

  He’d been there earlier, when Burkhalter had insisted on questioning her. In fact, Jake had come as close to losing his temper as she’d ever seen.

  “Burkhalter couldn’t believe someone he’d known all her life could have done such things.” Lainey could understand his feelings. Even though she’d barely known Jeannette, she’d hardly been able to take in the depth of her...what? Obsession? Evil? She didn’t know.

  “Jeannette managed to fool a lot of people,” he said. “Fortunately, her actions at the end were fairly self-explanatory. And Thomas is finally talking.”

  “He is?” She’d nearly forgotten about poor Thomas. “Is he all right? Does he remember?”

  “He’s bounced back a lot faster than you will, probably. He’s out of the hospital already, and he insisted on seeing Rebecca. He said he had to tell her the truth.”

  “Defying his grandfather? Thomas is braver than I thought.”

  “I suspect he’s done some growing up over this whole situation. Much to Zeb’s discomfort, Thomas confessed that Zeb had him slip in and out of the house to keep tabs on what you were doing.”

  That explained how the cat kept getting in. “So Aunt Rebecca knows about it.” All her efforts to keep peace in the family might be slipping away.

  “Oddly enough, your aunt seems to feel partially responsible for Zeb’s sins. She told me she should have signed the farm over to him years ago.”

  “So Zeb will get what he wanted.” Somehow it didn’t seem fair after all he’d done. “I guess if Aunt Rebecca can forgive him, I’ll have to.”

  “I persuaded her to let Colin negotiate a fair price with him rather than making it a gift.” Jake grinned. “I didn’t think Zeb should get off scot-free.”

  She nodded, satisfied to let it go. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with Zeb. “Does Thomas know who hit him?”

  Jake nodded, holding her hand in both of his. “Jeannette was behind that whole business of Thomas thinking you were a witch. I suppose she thought it might encourage you to leave town.”

  “She was behind the anonymous letters and calls. Apparently she kept tabs on me from the moment she heard I was coming to Deer Run.”

  “I’m not surprised. The longer you stayed, the greater the chance that you were going to remember what really happened the night Aaron Mast died.”

  Lainey moved her head restlessly on the pillow. “I’m not sure I know even now. It’s all mixed up—what Jeannette said, what I saw, what I dreamed.”

  “Maybe it’s a good thing there’s not going to be a trial.” His tone was somber. “It would have been a messy case, and I’m not sure they’d have gotten a conviction. Laura may know the truth, but whether she’d talk and how much anyone would believe is up in the air.”

  “Poor Laura. Her only crime was to fall in love with the wrong person. I think she might have been trying to tell me, or warn me about Jeannette, these last few days. Has she had to go back to the hospital?”

  “Surprisingly, having the truth come out seems to have helped her.” Jake shook his head. “Strange. I don’t pretend to understand the workings of her mind.”

  “You do understand the importance of the truth,” she said. “That seems to be the bottom line.”

  “It’s important.” He held her hand between his, studying it as if it held a secret. “But I think Rebecca would say that love is even more important. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did.”

  He didn’t need to explain what reaction he was talking about. She knew. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell
you myself sooner.”

  “We’re even, then, wouldn’t you say?” He smiled, and her heart seemed to turn over.

  “I think so.” She couldn’t seem to manage more than a whisper.

  He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, his touch sending heat along every nerve ending.

  “So we can start again? You’re not going to run away, are you?” He couldn’t quite hide the anxiety in his eyes.

  “No, I don’t think I’ll be doing any more running. I think I’ve found what I’ve been looking for all this time.”

  “In that case, I’m going to risk the wrath of any nurses that might look in and kiss you.” Jake leaned across the bed, planting his hands on either side of her. “Here’s to no more running,” he said, and his lips found hers.

  The room shrank to the small circle that was her and Jake. She had found what she’d been looking for, and she was home at last.

  EPILOGUE

  PEOPLE SWIRLED THROUGH the central hallway and two front rooms of Rachel’s place, and it seemed to Lainey that most of Deer Run must be present. Amish and Englisch had all come to celebrate Rachel and Colin’s marriage.

  The small, private ceremony had taken place earlier at the church. Both Rachel and Colin had felt no need for a big, splashy wedding—they wanted to keep things simple for the sake of Rachel’s Amish relatives.

  “They have the important parts of any wedding,” Meredith said from Lainey’s side, as if she’d been reading her thoughts. “They love each other, and all the people they love are here to wish them well.”

  Across the room, Mandy was standing with Colin’s father, holding his hand confidently. Even at her age, she seemed to understand that crowds bothered him, and she was quick to take on the responsibility of making him comfortable. As for Colin’s dad, he had long since accepted Mandy as a cherished granddaughter. Their relationship was a lovely thing to see.

  Lainey nodded. “I’ve never seen Rachel look so happy. Or so beautiful.” Rachel had declined the idea of a gown and veil and settled instead on a simple blue dress, but her radiance easily outshone anything she might wear.

  “And the same for Colin.” Meredith grinned. “Well, not beautiful. But obviously very happy. He finally got Rachel to set a date, thanks to you.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” Lainey protested. “Unless you call nearly getting killed a stimulus for marrying.”

  “You told her to put the important things first in life. To say nothing of helping her iron out her worries over running the bed-and-breakfast.”

  “That was the easy part. After all, I’m right next door. I can easily help out with the bed-and-breakfast so Rachel and Mandy can move in with Colin and his dad. And it gives me something I can do while I’m taking care of Aunt Rebecca.”

  Meredith nodded to where Thomas was helping Rebecca to a chair near the wall. “She’s making good progress, I see.”

  “Stronger every day, I think, but she still needs someone with her.”

  And that was a position Lainey was happy to fill. She’d settled into the routine of life in the old house that had sheltered her in the past, and she didn’t in the least mind giving up the apartment in St. Louis. That part of her life had ended entirely. Even the nasty letters had dwindled off to nothing in recent weeks.

  Zach Randal emerged from the group of men around Colin, his eyes seeking Meredith’s as they always seemed to. With a murmured excuse, Meredith slipped through the crowd toward him.

  “Ach, those two will be following Rachel and Colin’s example in no time at all, if I’m any judge.” Anna Miller was carrying a tray of small pastries, which she extended toward Lainey. “You’ll have one of my sausage rolls, ain’t so?”

  She could hardly refuse—just the aroma had her mouth watering. “Mmm, delicious,” she muttered around flaky pastry and spicy sausage and cheese. “I think you brought enough to feed the whole county, didn’t you?”

  “It’s nothing. Rachel’s Amish kin and friends wanted to do something to show our happiness. Fixing the food for the party was our pleasure.”

  “Rachel’s parents must regret that she wasn’t married in the church, don’t they?”

  Anna shrugged. “Maybe, but they knew it wasn’t to be. And they’re happy she and Colin found each other.” Anna’s bright, interested gaze took in Thomas, carrying a filled plate to Rebecca. “I suppose that’s your doing, enlisting Thomas to help your aunt. A fine idea, that’s certain sure.”

  “He was so eager to make up for trying to frighten me away that I thought it would make him feel better.” And besides, it was probably just as well to have him out from under his grandfather’s thumb once in a while.

  “It’s strange, all that’s happened since that summer Aaron died.” Anna seemed to gaze into the past. “I remember him so clearly the way he was then.”

  “I know,” Lainey said softly. “I do, too.” Aaron Mast, caught forever in the memories of those who loved him as he’d been then—forever kind, forever young, forever happy.

  So much evil had filed out of that simple young love, the product of a twisted mind that turned everything it touched into sorrow. But Jeannette was gone now. The terror she’d brought into Lainey’s life was already fading, replaced by the pleasures of ordinary days filled with people she loved.

  An arm slipped around her waist, and she felt Jake’s breath stir her hair as he pressed his cheek against hers. For an instant she let herself enjoy it.

  “I don’t think you should do that in public.” She withdrew a few inches, smiling.

  “Look at you, adopting small-town values,” Jake teased. “Anna doesn’t mind, do you, Anna?”

  “Ach, you can squeeze your sweetie all you want as far as I’m concerned.” Anna chuckled. “I must get back to passing these around, so you can be alone for your smooching.” She moved away, still smiling.

  “See? I have Anna’s permission to do some smooching.” Jake was clearly in high spirits.

  “You’re pretty happy about marrying off your best friend. No regrets for losing the last of the old gang to matrimony?”

  “Not a one. In fact, I envy him.” He drew her a little closer. “Maybe I can follow his lead before long.”

  “Maybe.” Her heart gave a little leap at the thought.

  “I’m not pushing,” he said, his eyes growing more serious. “I promise. As long as I know you’re not going wandering again, I can wait for the woman I love.”

  Lainey turned to him, knowing it was important to both of them to voice what she believed so strongly now. “I found a home here in Deer Run once, and I never forgot how it felt to be loved and accepted unconditionally. All the roaming I’ve done since then—well, I think now I was always looking for what I’d lost, even though I didn’t know it. Now...” She looked into Jake’s face, seeing the love shining in his eyes. “Now I’ve found it again. I love you, and I’m home to stay.”

  * * * * *

  ISBN-13: 9781460334607

  ABANDON THE DARK

  Copyright © 2014 by Martha Johnson

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