A Shining Light (27 page)

I shook my head and tried to wrench free from his grasp. “We need to ring the village bell and sound an alarm. Everyone will come running to help us find Lukas.”

He continued to hold tight. “No! That's the last thing we are going to do, Mrs. Wilson. Ringing that bell will place your son in more danger. I have a feeling your husband knows something is amiss and he's attempting to get out of town.”

I ceased my attempts to get free of his hold. “Why would Lukas be in more danger? How would Fred know he's in any danger?”

“Your son saw me in the dining hall. I have a strong suspicion he told Fred of my presence. I should have stopped him before he left the room.”

Who did this man think he was? Under different circumstances, I would have taken him to task. However, the only thing I cared about at the moment was finding Lukas.

“If your husband is attempting to flee and has the boy with him, the bell will signal the discovery of their disappearance. Criminals take more chances if they believe their captor is closing in. Given your husband's medical problems, he will depend heavily upon
the boy to help him. We don't want your husband to become frantic and subject the boy to further danger, do we? What if he decided to use your son as a shield to protect himself?” He took a backward step and made a sweeping gesture toward the waiting room chairs. “Shall we sit down and discuss our plan of action?”

I nodded and sat down in the chair facing the window. I wanted to have a clear view if Lukas should appear.

Mr. Shaw seemed to care little about watching out the window. No doubt, he was certain neither Lukas nor Fred would reappear in the near future. “I want you to think about any place your husband and son might have gone. Anywhere they've mentioned that might be a good place to hide.”

The question had barely passed the detective's lips when Dirk appeared outside the doctor's office. Mr. Shaw's face crinkled into a disapproving frown when I stood and gestured for Dirk to come inside.

Dirk nodded to Mr. Shaw and sat down beside me. Concern filled his eyes. The detective attempted to interrupt me while I explained he was a Pinkerton agent who had been sent to apprehend Fred, but I was undeterred by his endeavor.

I nodded toward Fred's room. “Both Fred and Lukas are missing. Mr. Shaw asked if I know anywhere they might be hiding. I can't think of any place they might have gone.” Before Dirk could suggest ringing the village bell, I explained why the detective advised against it.

“Ja, well that sounds like wise thinking.” Dirk rubbed his jaw. “Has the doctor released Fred to go outdoors?”

No doubt Dirk was remembering that Fred and Lukas had gone on walks before he injured himself in the woods. “Only far enough to sit outside the office, so they wouldn't have gone for a walk.” I glanced outside. “Has Lukas ever mentioned—”

“The barn!” Dirk jumped to his feet. “Come on.”

Dirk waved for us to follow, but Mr. Shaw remained in his chair. “What barn? There are a lot of barns in this village.” He gestured for Dirk to slow down. “Don't go running off half-cocked. We need to think things through and move carefully so the boy doesn't get hurt.”

Dirk stopped, but his hand remained poised on the metal door latch. “The barn on the Neumann farmstead. The land that belonged to Sister Andrea's parents. Lukas told me that he and Fred tried to walk there one time.”

Lukas had never told me of such an incident. I wanted to quiz Dirk, but there wasn't time. We needed to go and look before nightfall was fully upon us. “I think Brother Dirk is right. We should look there first.”

He stood and looked at Dirk. “You got a weapon you can bring with you?”

My breath caught and I shook my head. “Please, no weapons. My son is with him.”

“We do not believe in taking up arms against our fellowman, Mr. Shaw. You will locate no weapons in the village.”

Mr. Shaw patted his side. “There's at least one weapon in this village, and if I know Fred Wilson, there's more than the one that's holstered to my side.”

Terror seized me. If Fred had a gun, Lukas was in grave danger. Fred wouldn't hesitate to use Lukas as a shield. I had to protect my son.

Dirk took the lead, with Mr. Shaw close on his heels. I followed behind, my shorter legs and long skirt proving a hindrance. “Slow down!” My lungs screamed for air as I hollered at the men.

Mr. Shaw slowed his pace and glanced over his shoulder. “Maybe you shouldn't go any further, Mrs. Wilson.”

When I shouted my objection to the suggestion, both men came to a halt. “It is my son we are looking for, Mr. Shaw. You will not keep me away.”

“Actually, it's your husband that I'm after. The boy may not even be with him. Perhaps he went off to play with some of his friends. If there's violence, it would be better if you weren't there.” He wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “Besides, you're slowing us down.”

Dirk grasped Mr. Shaw's arm. “We should slow our pace. I know Sister Andrea will not be left behind.”

Mr. Shaw sighed. “Come along, then. I suppose we'll have to move slower. If she arrives after us and makes a great deal of noise, she'll alert Fred if he's in there.”

“
She
can hear every word you're saying, Mr. Shaw. I'm not some absent third party.” The man's ability to annoy me momentarily overshadowed my concern for Lukas. “I suggest we move on. The barn is ahead and to the left.”

After Mr. Shaw had advised Dirk and me that we should keep talk to a minimum, the three of us tramped through the high grass and overgrown weeds until we were near the rear of the barn.

Mr. Shaw motioned for us to gather close. “Dirk and I will go around to the front of the barn and try to sneak in and see if anyone is there. You stay out here. With Fred's injuries, he shouldn't be able to run very fast. If the boy is in there, I'll send him out to you as soon as I can.”

“But I . . .”

Dirk grasped my hand. “Listen to what he says, Andrea. You must remain out here and pray for the safety of all of us.” He looked deep into my eyes. “If Lukas is inside, I will protect him with my own life. You know that, ja?”

My voice caught. “I know.”

“Come, Dirk.” Mr. Shaw bent low and disappeared around the corner of the barn.

I squeezed Dirk's hand. “I will be praying—for all of you.” I leaned against the rough barn boards and bowed my head. I prayed the Lord would protect all who might be injured during any possible encounter—but most of all I prayed the barn would be empty.

As darkening skies cast eerie shadows, birds fluttered through the trees to nest for the night. Barren tree limbs swayed in the chilly evening breeze, and I let out a muffled yelp when dead
weeds brushed against the hem of my skirt. Hopefully, no one had heard me.

I swallowed hard and wiped my perspiring palms down the front of my dress as I continued to pray silently. Would this waiting never end? Surely they had reached the front of the barn by now. What was taking so long? Maybe I should at least move to the side of the barn.

I'd taken only a few steps when I heard Lukas shout. “Papa! Papa! Someone's coming in the barn.” A brief silence followed. “Did you hear me, Pa? I think someone came in.”

“Hush up, boy!” Even from a distance, Fred's command seethed with anger.

“Lukas! Come to me.” Immediately I recognized Dirk's voice, but Lukas didn't reply.

Mr. Shaw had been adamant that I remain outside the barn, but I couldn't bear not knowing what was happening inside. Maybe Lukas would come to me if I called. I edged around the corner and moved toward the front of the barn. The door stood ajar and I picked my way closer, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lukas.

“I know you're in here, Wilson! Come on out and there won't be any trouble. You don't want that boy of yours to be hurt, do you?” Mr. Shaw's voice boomed through the yawning expanse. “Send him out the door so we can settle all this trouble like grown men.” In the distance I heard a whimper. I tensed and peered around the edge of the door. Lukas must have been hiding in one of the stalls. “C'mon, Fred, your boy is scared. Be a man and do the right thing.”

“Who are you?”

At the sound of Fred's voice, I looked up toward the loft. He and Lukas weren't together, yet Lukas hadn't run to Dirk. He could easily make it from the stall to the space where Dirk and Mr. Shaw had positioned themselves.

“Edward Shaw. I'm a Pinkerton agent sent here to take you back to Baltimore. We both know you can't stay up in that loft forever. I'd like to make this easy for all of us, so why don't you come down and turn yourself in.”

“Ha! You'd like that, wouldn't ya? What'd ya pay John Calvert to give me up? That dirty scumbag.”

“Every man has his price, and Calvert was tired of waiting on you. Truth is, he figured you were playing him for a fool. He thought you were lying about sending him money.”

“Well, you can go on back to Baltimore and tell him he's the fool.” A shot rang out, and when Dirk and Mr. Shaw dropped to the floor, I followed their lead and fell to the ground.

A mixture of fear and anger welled in my chest, and I cupped my hands to my mouth. “Tell Lukas to come out of the barn before he's caught in your gunfire, Fred.”

“I shoulda known you'd be out there somewhere, Andrea. You can't wait to be rid of me, can ya? Well, Lukas and me, we're a team now. If you wanna see the boy alive, you best tell Shaw and your friend Dirk to get outta the barn. I got my gun trained on Lukas, and if they don't clear out by the time I count to five, I'll shoot the boy.”

I gasped and clutched my throat. “Let him leave, Fred, and I'll come in there and take his place. Please!”

“The boy ain't leavin'. You know me well enough to believe I'll hurt him, so you best tell them two to get outta the barn. And Lukas—you stay put in that stall. I can see you from up here.”

Bile rose in my throat as I screamed for Dirk and Mr. Shaw to come outside. Dirk scooted backward on his stomach, but Mr. Shaw remained in position. I hissed for him to retreat. Instead, he appeared to take aim with his gun.

“Fred, you don't want to do anything you'll regret. The boy's
done nothing. What kind of man would threaten harm to his son in order to save his own hide?”

Another bullet whizzed overhead. “The next one will be aimed at the kid. Now get outta the barn.”

Lukas's whimpers had risen to tearful sobbing, and I longed to run into the barn and comfort him. Dirk backed out of the barn and drew close to my side. “I'm sorry. I should have gone after him, but Mr. Shaw held me back.”

“Mr. Shaw is the one with a gun. He should have gone after Lukas, not you. It appears the only thing that interests him is getting Fred turned in for his reward.” Dirk pulled me back when I attempted to gain another peek inside. “I don't think Fred would shoot me if I went in there. I'll call out and tell him I just want to comfort Lukas.”

“I think you should stay here. Fred may tell you to come inside, but I do not believe you can trust him. Come with me; I have an idea.” Dirk took my hand and led me to the opposite side of the barn.

When we had rounded the far corner, he gestured to a door beneath the dilapidated overhang that had been used to protect the animals from bad weather. I tugged on his hand. “I think my father nailed that door shut years ago. We won't be able to get it open without making a great deal of noise.”

“We freed the door weeks ago when the elders talked about wintering some animals over here. If all goes well, we should be able to get inside without Fred hearing us. You can wait by the door, and I will sneak around the stalls and get Lukas.”

He reached for the door, but I grasped his arm. “Wait! What if Mr. Shaw thinks you are Fred and shoots? We should have told him what we were going to do.”

“If he thinks I am Fred, he is not a very gut Pinkerton agent.
He can see the ladder Fred must use to come down from the loft.” He waved toward the front of the barn. “If you want, you can go back and tell Mr. Shaw, but we are losing daylight and I am going in. The darkness will give Fred more protection and advantage.”

“And Lukas is going to become more and more frightened.” Even if I went to tell Mr. Shaw, Dirk would be inside before I could tell him the plan. “I'll follow you inside.”

Dirk held a warning finger in the air. “You stay here. Otherwise neither of us will go in. I want your promise that you will not follow me, Andrea.”

My heart thumped in my chest. I didn't want to promise. I wanted to go to my son. Yet I trusted Dirk and understood there was more chance of being detected if we both entered. “I promise.”

Without warning, he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “I have no right to kiss you, and kissing you on the forehead is not at all the kind of kiss I'd like to give you. But if something should happen to me, I need you to know I love you. I thank God every day that you and Lukas came into my life.”

He didn't give me a chance to respond before entering the barn. My insides quivered in a mixture of fear and delight. I held my breath and waited, my fear mounting by the minute. Surely the quiet meant no one had spotted Dirk.

“Please, Lord, keep Lukas and Dirk safe.” Over and over, I repeated that same prayer. I couldn't bring myself to pray for Fred or Mr. Shaw. They had created this dangerous situation and neither seemed to care that they had placed Lukas in harm's way. If they desired the Lord's help, they would need to pray for themselves.

My breathing eased a bit. By now, Dirk must have been with Lukas. I kept my gaze fixed on the door, certain Lukas would soon appear. Only moments later, I heard the tromping of feet and another shot rang out. I covered my mouth to squelch the
scream that threatened. No matter what, I must remain quiet. If Fred discovered I was along the side of the barn, he'd turn his attention back to Lukas.

“Looks like you took a bullet, Mr. Shaw.” Fred's shout was followed by vile laughter. “You better try and get outta here 'fore ya bleed to death.”

A knot settled in my stomach as the minutes ticked by. Except for hooting owls and chirping locusts, silence reigned. I didn't know how much time elapsed, but I started when Fred shouted to Lukas.

“Get over and see if he's dead, boy. Don't be a coward. Do what yer pa says. He won't shoot ya. If he's alive, he knows I'm sendin' you over to check on him.”

I waited, holding my breath.

“Lukas! Get over there and see 'bout that Pinkerton agent or I'll aim this gun at your skinny little backside. Go on!”

I leaned close to the door and strained to listen. “I-I-I'm going, Pa. Don't shoot me.” Lukas's voice trembled with fear, and I wanted to thrash Fred. How dare he treat his son with such hateful disregard! A muffled sound of footsteps soon followed. “I-I-I think he's dead, Pa. He won't answer me.”

“Hold your hand near his nose and mouth and see if he's breathing,” Fred shouted.

“He's not breathing, Pa.”

“That tinsmith didn't come back in the barn, did he?”

“No, Pa. It's just you and me—and Mr. Shaw. I'm going back over to the stall. I don't want to stay beside a dead man.”

“You need to come up here and help me, Lukas. I don't want to hear no cryin' 'bout you're scared to climb the ladder. I'll be waitin' right up here and help you. See? I'm goin' over there right now to—”

A shot rang out and a strangled cry was followed by a loud thump. Lukas screamed. Dirk called to the boy as Mr. Shaw yelled for them to keep calm. I leaned against the barn, my heart pounding and palms perspiring.

I could keep quiet no longer. “Someone tell me what's going on!”

The door burst open and Lukas rushed into my arms. His body shuddered and I held him tight.

“I think Papa's dead.” His voice caught and he thrust his face against my shoulder as sobs racked his frame.

“You were very brave, Lukas.” Dirk appeared and stooped down beside the boy. “I know this is very hard for you, but you did the right thing.”

Lukas lifted his head from my shoulder. “Mr. Shaw said he wouldn't kill Pa, but he did.”

“Nein. Your Vater died because he fell from the loft and hit his head on the floor,” Dirk explained. “Mr. Shaw's bullet was not what caused his death. If your Vater would have come down like Mr. Shaw asked, he would still be alive. For sure, it is sad that he has died, but he made that choice—not you, or me, or Mr. Shaw.” Tears continued to stream down the boy's cheeks, and Dirk wiped them away with his handkerchief.

“Did you hear my pa say he was going to shoot at me?” Lukas's voice warbled into high pitch before he finished the question. He sniffed and looked at me. “Do you think he was really going to? I tried to do what he said, but he still didn't like me, did he?”

I cupped his cheeks between my palms. “You are a sweet and wonderful little boy, Lukas. And, no, I don't think your father would have shot at you. He thought that if he scared you, you would do what he said.”

“But I had to do what Mr. Shaw said 'cause he was right there beside me.” His eyes grew wide. “And he had a gun, too.”

Dirk leaned forward and took Lukas's hand. “But Mr. Shaw never said he would shoot at you, did he?”

“Nooo.” Brown curls fell across his forehead as he shook his head. “Mr. Shaw said Pa would quit shooting if I said he was dead. So that's what I did, but that was a lie.”

Dirk smiled. “This one time I think it is gut that you told the lie. Mr. Shaw wanted to keep all of us safe.”

Confusion flickered in Lukas's eyes. “But if Mr. Shaw would have gone away, Papa would still be alive.”

“Your father was involved in some very bad things back in Baltimore.” I inhaled a shallow breath, uncertain how much to tell the boy right now. “Mr. Shaw couldn't go away. It was his job to take your father back there.”

“I think you and your Mutter should go back to the village and ask one of the men to bring a wagon to the barn. Mr. Shaw and I will stay here.” Dirk stood and placed his hand on Lukas's shoulder. “Do you think you could do that for me?”