Dangerous Amish Inheritance (Love Inspired Suspense)

by Debby Giusti

  She offered her son a weak smile. “How did you get so wise, Simon?”

  He shrugged. “Perhaps it was the pizza.”

  In spite of the boy’s serious expression, they all chuckled.

  Ruthie turned to Noah. “Simon is right. We need to let law enforcement know about this driver and the harm he could cause.”

  The sheriff’s office was located on the corner of the next block. She swallowed hard as Noah opened the door and motioned them inside. A bench sat on the right just inside the door.

  “Boys, sit there while Noah and I talk to the clerk.”

  The man at the front desk beckoned them forward. Ruthie gave her name and address. “I need to report a number of things that have happened.”

  The clerk reached for a tablet and pen. “What type of things?”

  “I received threatening notes that said I needed to leave the area or my children and I would be harmed. Then someone started a fire in my woodpile and attacked me when I raced outside to put out the fire. The man returned the next night. I believe the same person ran his car onto the curb not far from here and almost struck all of us.”

  The clerk wrote down the information she provided. “Could I speak to the sheriff?” she asked.

  “He’s out of town, but one of the deputies is available.”

  “That will be fine.”

  The clerk took the paper on which he had been writing and motioned them forward. “I’ll take you to the deputy’s office. There’s a bench in the hallway where the boys can wait for you, if you like. You’ll be able to see them.”

  She glanced at Noah, who nodded his approval.

  “Mr. Schlabach will be with me. He is a neighbor and has witnessed everything I mentioned.”

  “That will be fine, ma’am. Step this way.”

  The clerk pointed to a bench for the boys and then ushered Ruthie and Noah into a small office directly across the hall. He gave the paper he carried to the man behind the desk. Ruthie looked back to ensure she could see the boys. They opened their library books and started to read.

  The sheriff’s deputy was middle-aged with a sagging jaw and warm gaze. He rose and stuck out his hand. “I’m Deputy Sam Warren.”

  Noah introduced himself and Ruthie.

  “Please sit down, Mrs. Eicher and Mr. Schlabach. How can I help you folks?”

  Ruthie went over everything she had told the clerk and then explained about the man who had questioned Simon near the river. She also mentioned the man at the library.

  “Let’s start with the person at the river. Can your son give a description of the man?” the deputy asked.

  “Simon said the man was shadowed by overhanging branches so he could not see his face.”

  “What about you, Mrs. Eicher?”

  “He wore a woman’s stocking over his face. A knit cap covered his hair. His eyes were dark, but that does not offer much help.”

  “Have you seen a doctor since the attack?”

  She shook her head. “My bones did not break, so I will mend on my own.”

  “That’s good to hear, ma’am. What about the boys?” He glanced into the hallway where the boys sat. “How are they doing?”

  “They remain inquisitive about nature and the outdoors, but I am concerned for their safety.”

  “And, no doubt, your own safety, as well.” He dropped his gaze to the paper the clerk had given him. “What about the car that ran onto the curb? Did either of you see the driver?”

  Noah shook his head. “He drove a black sedan with tinted windows. I couldn’t see the driver and tried to catch the license-plate number, but the plate was caked with mud and unreadable.”

  “Convenient for anyone who doesn’t want to be identified,” the deputy mused.

  “We pushed the children out of the way,” Ruthie explained. “If not—”

  The thought of what could have happened returned to haunt her.

  “Is there any other information you can provide about the man who attacked you that would be beneficial?” Deputy Warren asked.

  “Tattoos.”

  The deputy picked up his pen. “What type and where on his body?”

  “I do not know the type of tattoos.” She pointed to her left arm. “His shirtsleeve came up at one point, and I saw the marks covering his skin from his wrist up.”

  “All the way up his arm?” Warren asked.

  “I saw only as far as the shirtsleeve was raised. About midway to his elbow, so I cannot say about the rest of his arm.”

  “What about the colors of the tattoo and the design? Did anything stand out?”

  “I feared he would strike me. I saw only the marks and nothing that I recognized.”

  “Tattoos that cover the entire arm are called sleeves, Mrs. Eicher. Often the various details in the design have a common theme. Did you see anything you could identify? And did he have tattoos on his other arm?”

  “As I said, I do not recall seeing anything except swirls of color on his left arm. Yellow, red, blue.” She shrugged. “I saw nothing on his right arm.”

  “Anything else?”

  “As I mentioned, he was tall and muscular.” She glanced at Noah. “Somewhat like Mr. Schlabach.”

  The deputy stared at Noah for a long moment. “What were you doing at the time of the attacks, Mr. Schlabach?”

  “I was at my house just across the river from Mrs. Eicher’s home.”

  “Did you see the suspect either time?”

  “I saw a man dressed in dark clothing running from her house last night.”

  “You saw him from your house all the way across the river?”

  Noah shook his head. “I had checked Mrs. Eicher’s property and then decided to return to talk to her.”

  “About what, Mr. Schlabach?”

  “Why did I want to talk to her again?” Noah asked.

  The deputy nodded.

  “To tell her not to worry.”

  “Yet the man was accosting her at that very moment.”

  Ruthie’s stomach rolled. The deputy was implying Noah was involved.

  “The door to her house was shut,” Noah said. “I didn’t realize what was occurring inside until I saw the door open and the man run away.”

  “Did you follow him?”

  “No, I...” Noah glanced at her. “I was concerned about Mrs. Eicher’s well-being and entered the house to check on her.”

  “I see.” The deputy wrote something on the paper.

  Ruthie glanced at Noah. His gaze was dark. He seemed as surprised by the deputy’s line of questioning as she was.

  The deputy pursed his lips and turned back to Ruthie. “Did you have the feeling at any time either night that Mr. Schlabach could be the attacker?”

  She laughed nervously. “No. No thought like that entered my mind. Noah is an old friend who has helped me since he returned to the mountain. The other man is hateful. His heart is hardened and he needs to be stopped.”

  “Amish Mountain is a distance from town, Mrs. Eicher. If you were Englisch, I would advise you to call me as soon as you see anything that seems questionable, but I presume you do not have a phone.”

  “That is correct.”

  “Do you have access to a phone?”

  She thought of Noah’s cell. “For the next few days. After that time, I will have no means to communicate with your office.”

  “Living high on the mountain could be difficult, especially if the man returns to do you harm.”

  “Yah, I am all too aware of what could happen. That is why I need you to protect me.”

  “I’ll have a car patrol the mountain each night, but I can’t do more than that.”

  “Do you know of new people in town who fit his description?” she asked.

  “Ma’am, the description you provided cou
ld fit a lot of men in town. Tall, muscular. Since he wore a stocking over his head, would you be able to recognize him in a lineup?”

  She shook her head. “I saw someone in the pizza parlor and wondered if he could be the man, but it is too hard to know.”

  “You mentioned a man at the library.”

  “I had dropped a letter and he returned it to me.”

  “Was he tall and muscular?” the deputy asked.

  She nodded. “And dressed in dark clothing.”

  “Did he have tattoos?”

  “It is a cool day. He was wearing a long-sleeve shirt. I collected my mail at the post office and hurried toward the library.” She explained about hiding in the florist shop and then bumping into the man when she entered the library. “After he gave me the dropped envelope, he hurried outside, crossed the street and went into the woods.”

  The deputy nodded. “There’s a vagrant who set up camp in that area. We’ll bring him in for questioning.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Could I see the envelope he gave you?”

  “Two notes have been stuck under my door. Both were written in green ink and the script was the same as on the mailed envelope the man gave me today.”

  As Ruthie dug into the plastic bag of mail, the deputy asked, “Has the man given you any indication of why he wants to do you harm, Mrs. Eicher?”

  “He wants me to leave my property.” She told him what had been written on the first two notes and then held up the envelope in question. “The man who lives in the woods handed this to me.”

  Tearing open the flap, she glanced at the deputy and then pulled out the folded paper.

  “Might be a good idea if I handle this one, ma’am.” The deputy drew a plastic bag from a lower desk drawer along with a pair of tweezers. Using the tweezers, he opened the letter and read it, then placed it in the plastic and sealed it shut. “He’s giving you until the end of the week.”

  “Does he say what he will do then?” Noah asked.

  “He’ll make you regret staying on the land.” The deputy scratched his jaw. “Sounds as if he wants your property. Any idea why he wants your land, Mrs. Eicher?”

  She shrugged. “The setting is lovely with a river that runs between my property and Noah’s. Perhaps he wants a mountain home.”

  “Mr. Schlabach, the man has not come after you?” the deputy asked.

  “I have received no threats or attacks to my person. Although a real-estate agent contacted me some weeks ago about selling my property. Prescott Construction is interested in the land.”

  “So both of you own mountain land that two different people or groups want?”

  They nodded.

  “Do you know about the movie studio that’s on the other side of the mountain?” the deputy asked.

  “I’ve only recently returned to town,” Noah said. “Why would there be a movie studio in such a remote spot?”

  “Low taxes. Pristine scenery.”

  “Could the movie-industry people want to film on the land?” Noah asked.

  “Or perhaps build mountain homes for their executives,” the deputy added. “I’ll talk to the Montcliff Studio folks. We had some problems with them early on. Things have changed for the better.” He shrugged. “Still, I’ll let you know if I find out anything.”

  He turned to Ruthie. “Mrs. Eicher, if you see someone who looks like the man, let me know. There are a lot of new folks in town these days. Seems Willkommen is growing faster than anyone expected. New housing areas attract city people looking for a country home.”

  “Do you mean city people from Willkommen?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No, ma’am, from farther south. I was referring to Atlanta.”

  “They are moving to this area of Georgia?”

  “’Fraid so. Our peace and quiet might be a thing of the past.”

  “Hopefully they will not come to the mountain.”

  “Looks like someone is already there stirring up trouble. Lock your doors and keep an eye on the boys when they’re outside.”

  “You are scaring me, Deputy.”

  “Ma’am, I’m just speaking the truth.”

  * * *

  Upon leaving the sheriff’s office, Noah turned to Ruthie. “You don’t look satisfied.”

  “I had hoped the deputy would know names and already have possible suspects in mind.”

  “Investigations take time, Ruthie. The deputy is trying to be realistic.”

  “Maybe I ask too much.”

  “To raise your boys in safety is not asking too much. You’ve filed a report so now the sheriff’s office can act if they find someone questionable.”

  “I hope they find the man and lock him up,” Simon said, overhearing their conversation.

  “We don’t wish harm to come to the man,” Noah told the boy. “But we need to ensure he doesn’t hurt anyone else.”

  “Just so he does not hurt my boys,” Ruthie said. She glanced over her shoulder and tugged on Noah’s arm.

  He followed her gaze and saw a tall man in dark clothing. As Noah watched, the man turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

  Ruthie was imagining that any tall, muscular man she saw was out to hurt her and her sons.

  “Take a deep breath and try to relax,” Noah suggested. “The deputy will be on the lookout for the assailant. You must be careful but not unduly paranoid.”

  She didn’t seem interested in his advice.

  “I need to stop at the lumber store for some building supplies,” he explained. “Then we’ll get ice cream before we leave town.”

  She studied the sky. “The clouds in the distance are as dark as my current mood. I am ready to head home, but I do not want to ruin the end of the day for the boys.”

  “The supply store won’t take long. We’ll be riding up the mountain within the hour.”

  She nodded as if satisfied with his answer.

  “Climb in,” Noah told the boys when they arrived back at the buggy.

  He helped Ruthie to her seat and then scooted next to her. After a flick of the reins, Buttercup eased back onto the main street. The lumber store was on the south side of town. Ruthie kept her focus on the people and cars they passed, no doubt searching for her attacker.

  Noah hated that Ruthie was living in fear, but her children were in danger, and she would do anything to keep them safe.

  Once they arrived at the lumber store, Noah hopped to the ground and tethered Buttercup to the hitching rail. “I won’t be long if you want to stay in the buggy.”

  “We’ll go with you,” Ruthie replied quickly.

  “I know you’re worried about the boys, but from your frown, I also wonder if you’re upset with me, Ruthie. Did I do something wrong?”

  She shook her head. “You have been wonderful, Noah. I will never be able to thank you.”

  “The smiles on the boys’ faces are thanks enough, though I would feel better if you smiled, as well.”

  She nodded. “Ben always said I was much too serious.”

  “And determined. You set your mind to something and you keep at it until you succeed.”

  “Things came more easily to you, Noah. I had to work for any skill or knowledge in school.”

  “Yet you made everything look easy, Ruthie.”

  They hurried into the lumber store and Noah found what he needed. After checking out, he loaded the items into the rear of the buggy.

  Andrew tugged on Noah’s hand. “Are we going to get you-know-what?”

  Noah winked at Ruthie and then glanced down at Andrew. “I don’t know what you-know-what is.”

  The boy motioned for him to bend down. “Let me whisper in your ear.”

  Noah enjoyed the game and stooped down.

  Andrew cupped his small hand around Noah’s ear
and whispered, “Ice cream.”

  Straightening, he smiled. “That’s a great idea. Do you think your mother and Simon want some, as well?”

  Andrew nodded. He grabbed Simon’s hand and whispered in his ear.

  Simon’s eyes twinkled and he nodded to Noah. “Yah, please. That sounds very gut.”

  “Are you boys keeping secrets from your mother?” Ruthie rolled her eyes, acting playfully indignant.

  Andrew covered his mouth with his hand and giggled. “Close your eyes and we will take you there.”

  The boys guided her along the street and into the ice-cream shop, where she pretended to be surprised. Simon nodded to Noah and then motioned to Andrew, who was enjoying himself. Noah patted the older boy’s back, proud of him for joining in and not spoiling his younger brother’s fun.

  From what he’d seen so far, Simon had a good heart and a sincere concern for others. Pride swelled within Noah, though he couldn’t take credit for the boy. Ruthie had raised Simon. Her husband had, as well. Noah had done nothing for his child and couldn’t even buy him a new hat and a better-fitting pair of shoes. At least he could buy him ice cream.

  The boys ordered triple-scoop ice-cream cones with three different flavors and then tried to decide which they liked best.

  “I like them all,” Andrew said. He rapidly licked his cone as the ice cream melted.

  Ruthie had one scoop of chocolate, and Noah splurged on two scoops of mint chocolate chip.

  Once they finished the treat and wiped their hands and faces, they were ready to drive home. When they stepped outside, Noah eyed the dark clouds that hovered overhead and wished he had paid more attention to the weather instead of the fun he was having with Ruthie and her boys.

  As he rounded the corner to the rear of the supply store, where he’d parked the buggy, Noah saw a man standing near the rig. A tall, muscular man wearing dark clothing.

  The guy glanced at them, then turned and hurried down a back alley.

  Ruthie was talking to the boys and hadn’t noticed the man. Noah didn’t want to worry her, but having someone snooping around the buggy was a concern. After the boys climbed in and he helped her to the seat, he checked his purchases from the lumber supply, relieved to find everything in place. Ruthie’s mail looked undisturbed. He quickly inspected the wheels and the underside of the buggy. Nothing seemed amiss.