“We can’t find her.”
“Perhaps she’s gone to play with some other friends. Where might she be?”
“She doesn’t know many of the children her age yet.”
Eva turned off her oven. “We should ask the neighbors if they have seen her.”
“I don’t mean to scare you. It’s just not like her to wander off.”
“I’m not scared, Willis. Concerned, yes, but Maddie is with God wherever she goes. He is her protection. Let me make sure she isn’t here in the house.”
“I will double-check the school.” He went out.
Eva made a quick room-by-room search of her house and came up empty. She stepped outside and saw Otto and Harley near the trees. Harley had something black in his hands. They both came running up to Willis. Harley handed him a small black kapp. “I found it snagged on a tree branch a few yards into the woods. We yelled for her but she didn’t answer.”
Willis wadded the fabric into a tight ball in his hands. “She isn’t supposed to go into the woods. She knows that.”
Eva pressed a hand to her lips. “I asked her if she wanted to go with me when I went looking for Otto. She said no but she might have changed her mind after I was gone. I thought I heard someone calling my name once, but it wasn’t repeated so I went on. What if she was trying to follow me?”
It was growing late. Eva’s heart started racing. Maddie could have followed her into the woods. Why had she invited the child to go with her? “She wouldn’t leave the path, would she?”
“She could easily lose her way,” Harley said. “There is a second path that cuts across it and leads down to the river where some people go fishing.”
Eva remembered the spot. “I almost went that way myself. What should we do?”
Willis handed the kapp to Eva and faced his brothers. “Harley, you and Otto take the path to the farm and keep calling for her but remember to stop and listen, too. Take it slow. Eva, you and I will drive over to the farm and see if she is there and check with our neighbors along the way to find out if anyone has seen her. I’ll hitch up your cart.”
“I have two flashlights in my kitchen. The batteries are brand-new. The boys should take them. It will be dark before long.”
“Get them. I’ll get your horse.” Willis ran back to his property.
Eva fetched the flashlights and handed one to each of the boys. Their eyes were wide with fear. She tried to reassure them. “I’m sure she is fine. Stick together. If you get off the path in the dark stay where you are. We will find you.”
They took off and she hurried down to Willis’s barn. He was backing Dodger between the shafts of the cart. Eva went around the horse and quickly attached her side of the harness. She climbed up to the seat.
Willis handed her the lines. “If she is there we will wait for the boys.”
“If she isn’t?”
“I will follow the path to the river while you bring the boys home. I pray one of us finds her along the way and she will spin us a story about how Bubble led her into the woods.” He tried to smile.
Eva saw the effort it took and her heart ached for him. “Have faith.”
“I’m trying.” He climbed up beside her, lifted the reins and urged Dodger to a quick trot out onto the roadway.
* * *
Willis was grateful for Eva’s calm presence beside him. He should have kept a better eye on his sister. He had no one to blame but himself. Maddie was too little to run wild the way he had allowed the boys to. Something would have to change.
When he reached the first house along the road, Eva hopped down and hurried to the door. She spoke to the man who answered her knock and then hurried back to the cart.
“They haven’t seen her. They are going to call the warden service to get a search started. If we find her they’ll let the warden know. They are going to head over to the farm in case more people are needed for the search.”
“I don’t even know them. They aren’t Amish.”
“There are goot people everywhere who are willing to help. Not all of them wear plain clothing, bonnets and straw hats.”
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget that.”
A small smile curved her lips. “From time to time, I will remind you.”
He looked at the remarkable woman beside him and thanked God she had chosen to come to Maine. He realized just how much he had grown to like Eva and how much her friendship meant to him. There wasn’t anyone else he wanted with him during this crisis.
The car from the previous house went around them on the narrow road. Willis saw their taillights disappear over the hill. For the first time since he was a teenager he wished he had a car instead of a horse to get him where he needed to be quickly.
The next farm along the road belonged to a new Amish family in the community. The husband, wife and four grown sons were sitting down to supper when Willis pulled up. Ezekiel Fisher came out. “Good evening, Willis Gingrich. What brings you here?”
“My Maddie’s missing. Have you seen her today?”
“Nee, I have not.” He spoke to his wife and sons who had come to stand behind him. He turned back to Willis. “None have seen the child. We will help look.”
“Danki. She was headed to the Arnett farm.”
“We will search the woods between here and there in case she came this way.”
Willis set the horse in motion. The sound of the animal’s rapid hoofbeats on the pavement and the jingle of the harness were the only sounds as he urged Dodger to a faster pace.
Eva sat silently beside him. At last the Arnett farm lane came into view. The English couple from the first house and Mrs. Arnett were out on the stoop waiting for him. There was no sign of Maddie.
Mrs. Arnett stepped up beside the cart. “I’ve already called the sheriff department and the warden service. I also called a friend who is a neighbor to your bishop. He has gone to let the Schultz family know what has happened. The sheriff wants everyone to meet at the school and set up a search from there. Jacques Dubois and his wife will drive you back. You can leave the cart and the horse here.”
“Otto and Harley are coming this way on the path.”
Mrs. Arnett nodded. “I will get word to you if they show up with her.”
“I thought I would search the path that leads to the river.” Willis was reluctant to go back without Maddie. Somewhere she was lost, maybe hurt, frightened and depending on him to come and find her.
Eva laid a hand on his arm. “Maddie may already be home and wondering why no one is about.”
She was right. He got down and helped Eva out of the cart.
* * *
Eva got in the car and scooted over, making room for Willis. In a matter of minutes they were back at the school. Willis called for Maddie and went to check in the school. Eva made a quick search of her own home, calling for Maddie as she went from room to room. There was no trace of the child. When she stepped out onto her porch she saw Willis coming out of his house. The look on his face told her what she already suspected. Maddie hadn’t come home.
The sound of an approaching siren caused them to look toward the road. The siren stopped when the white pickup turned into the school driveway but the lights on top continued flashing. A tall man in a dark green uniform got out. “Are you the ones with a missing child?”
Willis stepped forward. “We are. Her name is Maddie and she is seven years old.”
“I’m Sergeant O’Connor of the warden service. I will be in charge of the search at this end. We have more local law enforcement on the way to help. It will be full dark soon. Is there somewhere we can set up a command center?”
“In the school,” Eva said, eager to help.
“I see that you folks are Amish. Is there electricity?”
“Nee.” She shook her head. “But we do have propane lighting in the building.”
“I have a generator,” Willis said. “Will that work?”
“Perfect.” Sgt. O’Connor looked toward the woods. “How much of the area has been searched?”
Willis gestured toward the trees. “My brothers are working their way through the woods on a path they often take to Mrs. Arnett’s farm. Mr. Fisher and his four sons are searching between their place and her farm in case Maddie wandered north.”
“And how far is this farm?”
“About half a mile as the crow flies,” Eva said.
Sgt. O’Connor turned to face her. “What makes you certain that she went into the woods and not to someone else’s house?”
Willis pulled Maddie’s kapp from his pocket. “The boys found this a little way into the woods along the path.”
“Do you think there could be someone with her?”
Willis shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so but I can’t be sure. Maddie has been told not to go into the woods alone.”
“Kids don’t always do what we tell them. Don’t worry. We’re going to find her.” Sgt O’Connor’s sense of confidence buoyed Eva’s spirits.
The clatter of galloping hooves on the road filled the evening air. A team of draft horses pulling a large wagon came charging into view from the valley below. The wagon was packed with Amish men, women and boys. Jesse Crump was driving. Bishop Schultz sat beside him, holding on to his hat. Jesse pulled the team to a halt. The passengers piled out.
The bishop walked up to the warden. “We are here to assist in any way we can.”
Sgt. O’Connor looked over the crowd of volunteers. “Every warm body is appreciated. We’re going to set up a command center in the school and plan out a grid search of the area. We have a K-9 search and rescue unit on the way, but it will be several hours before they can get here.”
Michael Shetler and a young Amish girl pushed their way through the crowd to stand beside the bishop. The dog Sadie stood at the little girl’s side with her tail wagging. The young girl gestured toward the dog. “This is Sadie. She can find Maddie.”
The warden looked skeptical. “And who are you?”
“I’m Jenny Martin.”
“Is your dog trained in search and rescue?”
“We didn’t train her. I think Gott did. She rescued me when I was buried in the snow the winter before last.”
Sgt. O’Connor smiled at her. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not about to send another child into the woods even if she has a wonder dog with her.”
“I understand your skepticism,” Michael said. “But I think it’s worth a try. The dog has proven tracking skills. I’ll go with them. Willis, do you have something that belongs to Maddie? Something she wore recently?”
Eva handed over the kapp. Michael looked at the sergeant. “Can we go?”
The officer sighed. “I may be making it harder for our own dog with more scent trails in the woods but okay. Come with me. I’ll get you a radio so you can keep in contact.”
Another car pulled in behind the officer’s truck. Lilly Arnett got out. Eva’s hopes rose but sank when she saw Lilly give a slight shake of her head. Otto and Harley got out of the car and raced to Willis. “Did you find her?” Harley asked.
“Nee. I want you to stay with Eva,” Willis said before joining Michael and Jenny at the officer’s pickup where they were being outfitted with a two-way radio. Otto and Harley moved to stand beside Eva in front of the school.
She took one look at their tear-stained faces. “Don’t worry. We’re going to find her.”
Neither of them spoke. She didn’t doubt Willis’s affection for his brothers, but they needed his comfort now, too. She wished she could hug them all. She walked over and touched his arm. When he looked at her she tipped her head toward the boys. “Your brothers are worried and scared.”
* * *
Willis had been so wrapped up in his need to find Maddie that he hadn’t given a thought to what his brothers were going through. It took Eva to point it out to him. She was better at looking after his family than he was. He touched her cheek briefly. “I’ll speak to them. Danki.”
Harley and Otto stood off to the side of the school, looking as dejected and as tearful as he felt. They needed him. He wasn’t used to being needed. He walked over to them, struggling to find the right thing to say. “This is not your fault.”
“You should be yelling at us.” Harley sniffled and his arms clasped tightly across his chest.
“Why?” Willis asked softly.
“Mamm always said we had to watch out for Maddie and keep a close eye on her. We didn’t.” Harley wiped his face on his sleeve.
Otto laid a hand on Harley’s shoulder. “Willis doesn’t yell. Haven’t you noticed that? Maddie is going to say that Bubble got her lost.”
Willis managed a wry smile. “I thought the same thing.”
He pulled the boys into a tight hug in spite of his desire to start searching. Eva was right. They needed comforting, too. “I don’t blame either of you. I’m the one who should have been keeping an eye on her. You are all my responsibility.”
He glanced up and saw Eva watching him with a look of approval. He drew away from the boys. “I know you want to come with us but I need to know you are both safe so I can focus on finding Maddie. Do you understand?”
They nodded. He smiled at them. “Bring the generator over for the Englisch officer to use and help however you can but stay here.”
Sgt. O’Connor, Michael and Jenny took Sadie to the place where the path came out of the woods. The dog cast about sniffing for a scent. Within a few seconds she gave a loud bark and strained at her leash. Willis joined them. Eva appeared at his side and handed him a flashlight.
She turned on the one she carried. “I’m coming with you. The bishop and his wife will look after the boys.”
He took hold of her hand and tried to share how much her presence meant to him with a gentle squeeze as they listened to Sgt. O’Connor.
“Let the dog go first. Try not to get ahead of her. She may not be on the right scent so I’m going to set up a grid and have other searchers comb through these woods systematically. Be careful. Stay within sight of each other if you can but spread out and look for any sign of her. I’ll stay in radio contact.” He headed back to the school.
Willis reluctantly released Eva’s hand, and their group began walking into the forest.
Chapter Seven
Eva missed the comfort of Willis’s touch as soon as he let go. She curled her fingers into her palm to hold on to the warmth he’d left behind. In spite of the short time Eva had known him, she was starting to care for him on a level deeper than that of friendship. Her practical side put it down to the unusual circumstances they had encountered together.
Ordinarily, it would have taken her weeks to get to know Willis and the children so well, but they had been together frequently since she had arrived. She didn’t dream that Willis returned her warmer feelings. She was standing by him as a friend because that was what he needed now.
She was happy if Willis found her presence comforting but to read anything else into his lingering touch just now was foolish on her part. She knew that. He wasn’t interested in more than friendship. She suspected his reliance on her had as much to do with his insecurity regarding the children as anything else. She’d never had to worry about keeping her emotions in check in the past, but she would have to in the future where Willis was concerned.
Praying that Maddie would be found soon, Eva plunged into the woods behind Willis. The dark shadows of the pine trees swallowed the searchers’ silhouettes within a few yards. All Eva could see were the bobbing flashlights of the people with her. The underbrush clawed at her clothes, and branches scratched at her face and hands as she trudged forward. Willis shouted for Maddie every few minutes, and Eva strained her ears to hear a reply.
They had been moving forward slowly for about thirty minutes when the light Jenny was holding danced wildly. “I found something,” she called out.
Eva and Willis moved to join Michael and Jenny in a small clearing. Sadie whined, clearly eager to forge on.
Jenny held a scrap of fabric in her hand. She looked at Willis. “What color dress was Maddie wearing?”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Eva shut her eyes and thought back to that morning. She remembered seeing the girl’s black kapp and apron as she sat on the swing. She opened her eyes. “Blue, her dress was royal blue with a black apron over it.”
It was hard to tell the color by flashlight, but Eva was sure it was the same material. “That’s from her dress.”
Willis grasped her hand and squeezed gently. “It means we’re on the right trail.”
The radio Michael carried crackled to life. “This is Sgt. O’Connor. Do you copy?”
“We hear you. Sadie is leading us away from the Arnett farm and down toward the river,” Michael said. “Over.”
“Do you think she is still on the trail of the child?” O’Connor asked.
“We do. Jenny found some torn material on a thornbush. Eva says it’s the same color Maddie was wearing. We seem to be following a game trail. It’s narrow and twisting. Between the darkness and the terrain, we are holding Sadie back. She could cover the distance much faster without us. Over.”
“She’s your dog. Will she stay with Maddie if she finds her?”
“She will,” Jenny said with confidence.
“Willis, what do you think?” Michael asked.
Willis rubbed a hand across his chin and turned to Eva. “What’s your opinion?”
“I think having Sadie with her will give Maddie comfort until we can reach her, but it’s your decision.”
Willis looked at Michael. “Let’s do it.”
Michael spoke into the radio. “We are going to send Sadie ahead. Over.”
“Understood. The radio you have is equipped with GPS. That means we can track it from here. Can you attach it to the dog?”
The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts Page 7
