A Sister's Test (39 page)

Martha was bent over a small table in the section of her father’s barn that had been turned into a kennel when she heard the barn door open and click shut.

“Is anyone here?”

Martha recognized her aunt’s voice immediately; Rosemary had been coming over once or twice a week ever since she’d returned to Holmes County.

“I’m back here by the kennels.”

“What are you up to?” Aunt Rosemary asked when she joined Martha.

Martha lifted Heidi’s left front paw. “I’ve been clipping my dog’s toenails.”

Aunt Rosemary reached over and stroked Heidi behind her ear. “How’s your business doing these days?”

“The female beagle I bought several weeks ago still isn’t pregnant, but I haven’t lost hope.”

Aunt Rosemary released a sigh and leaned against the table. “Wish I could say the same regarding your dad and me.”

“He still won’t talk to you?”

“No.”

“Dad can be real stubborn sometimes,” Martha said with a shake of her head. “Have you tried talking to Mom about this? Maybe she can make him listen to reason.”

“I just came from seeing her at the house—after I’d been to your dad’s shop and gotten nowhere.”

“Dad’s still working in the shop at this hour?”

Aunt Rosemary nodded. “I saw the lights on when I drove in, so I stopped there first and found him restoring an old chair. Then I went up to the house and saw your mother. I was tempted to tell her my story but decided it would be best if your dad heard it from me, not secondhand.” She sighed. “If I ever get him to listen, that is. He makes me feel so frustrated.”

“I know what you mean about frustration.” Martha placed Heidi back in her kennel and turned to face her aunt. “Nothing’s been the same around here since someone started attacking my family, and things are getting steadily worse.”

Aunt Rosemary’s eyebrows shot up. “What kind of attacks? No one’s mentioned anything about that to me.”

“Dad thinks it’s better if we don’t talk about it, and Mom pretty much agrees.”

“And what do you think, Martha?”

“I’d like to find out who’s behind the attacks and make them stop.” Martha grunted. “Of course, unless the sheriff does more than promise to keep an eye on our place, that’s not likely to happen.”

“You’ve spoken with the sheriff?”

“A couple of us have. He’s been out to our place a few times to ask questions and look around, too.”

“And he’s been patrolling the area?”

“That’s what he says. But the attacks have continued, and we have no idea why we’re being singled out.” She shrugged. “Of course, each
of us has our own idea about who could be responsible.”

“You mean you have a list of suspects?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Does the sheriff know this?”

“Yes. Dad has talked to him a few times.”

“Well, the man should be making every effort to do something about it.”

“I agree.”

“Maybe I’ll pay a call to the sheriff tomorrow morning. Would you like to accompany me?”

Martha nodded. Since Aunt Rosemary wasn’t Amish, maybe Sheriff Osborn would take her more seriously than he had the others.

Aunt Rosemary gave Martha a hug. “Until tomorrow, then.”

“What are you doing in
my
barn, talking to
my
daughter?” Dad shouted as he stepped out of the shadows.

Martha jumped. “We were just visiting,” she said before her aunt could respond.

“I wasn’t talking to you, daughter. I was talking to
her
.” Dad whirled toward Aunt Rosemary and scowled.

“Martha’s right; we were visiting.”

“Jah, well, you’re not welcome here. And I’ll thank you to stay away from my family.”

Martha’s mouth opened wide. “Dad, you can’t mean that.”

His forehead wrinkled as he gave one quick nod. “This woman is nothing but trouble. I don’t want her influencing you.”

“She’s not.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to defend me.” Aunt Rosemary gave Martha’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll be going now.”

As Martha watched her aunt walk out of the barn, a sense of despair washed over her. Would Aunt Rosemary be back tomorrow so they could see the sheriff together? Or would she be on the next plane headed for home?

T
hat man was no help at all,” Rosemary mumbled as she and Martha left the sheriff’s office the following day. “All we got for our troubles was the scent of smoke from his clothes.” She flapped her hand in front of her face. “Sheriff Osborn must be a chain smoker.”

Martha shrugged. “He did say he’s been patrolling our area whenever he can. I guess that’s something to feel good about.”

“Didn’t you get the feeling that he’s not very interested in finding out who’s behind the attacks on your family?”

Martha halted on the sidewalk and turned to face Rosemary. “What makes you think that?”

“He hasn’t found any suspects—not even for the accident that killed your brother-in-law.” Rosemary gritted her teeth. “Wouldn’t you think the sheriff would have investigated that incident thoroughly?”

“He said he did the best he could with the little bit of information he was given.”

“Puh!” Rosemary shook her head. “Did he try to gather evidence?”

“I don’t know. He questioned Ruth about what she saw that night, and she told him she’d seen a truck but couldn’t see the license plate and wasn’t sure of the color of the vehicle because it was dark and snowing.”

“Did he question the neighbors—someone who might have seen the vehicle?”

“No houses are in the area where they were hit. And no other cars on the road, I guess.”

“Hmm. . .”

“The other problem the sheriff mentioned is the fact that except for the buggy accident, he usually hasn’t heard about the attacks until several days later.” Martha frowned. “Dad didn’t like it when Sheriff Osborn showed up at his woodworking shop after one of the attacks and told him that he’d heard what had happened.”

“I wish there was something I could do about this,” Rosemary muttered. “If I could find out who’s responsible for attacking your family, maybe Roman would forgive me for being gone all those years and never contacting my family.”

“I’m sorry Dad’s not willing to accept your apology.”

“I’ve been here over three months already, and still he won’t listen to me. It’s a good thing my husband left me with adequate funds, or I wouldn’t have been able to make this extended trip.”

“I wish you could stay with us.”

“Your dad would never allow that.” Rosemary touched Martha’s arm. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. Why don’t the two of us go somewhere for lunch?”

Martha smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

“Afterward, I think I’ll drop by Abe Wengerd’s house and see Ruth. Would you like to come along?”

“I’d better not. I’m working at Irene’s tonight, and I need to be home by three.”

“Maybe some other time we can go there together,” Rosemary said as they approached her car. “Today I’ll go alone.”

Ruth tiptoed out of Molly’s room, relieved that she’d finally gotten the little girl down for a nap. Molly had been fussy all morning, and Ruth had rocked her almost an hour before the child had fallen asleep. Since the other children were outside playing, Ruth thought this would be a good time for her to get some sewing done. The children were growing, and the older ones would be back in school soon. That meant several hemlines needed to be adjusted.

Ruth removed a needle and thread from her sewing basket and had just taken a seat on the sofa when Sadie stepped into the living room.

“Looks like you’re keeping busy.”

“I am. I’m surprised to see you here, though. Aren’t you working at the bakeshop?”

“Today’s my day off,” Sadie said as she dropped into the chair opposite Ruth. “I wanted to tell you my good news.”

“What news?”

“Toby and I are getting married in November.”

“What?” Ruth grimaced as she jabbed her finger with the needle.

“It’s true. We set the date last night, when Toby brought me home from supper at the Farmstead Restaurant.”

“I can’t believe he finally asked you to marry him,” Ruth said, dabbing the end of her finger with a tissue.

Sadie’s face flooded with color. “Actually, it was me who did the asking.”

Ruth’s mouth dropped open.

“Well, don’t look so surprised. I told you I might.”

Ruth shook her head. “No, you suggested that I ask Abe to marry me.”

Sadie chuckled. “And you said you would whenever I asked Toby.”

Ruth sucked in her breath. She had said something like that. But she’d never dreamed that her friend would put her to the test, or that Sadie would be bold enough to ask Toby to marry her.

Sadie left her chair and took a seat on the sofa beside Ruth. “I’d like you to be one of my
newehockers
. That is, if you’re not already married by November.”

Ruth’s forehead wrinkled. “Why would I be married? I’m not even betrothed.”

“But you might be if you ask Abe like you said you would.”

“I was only kidding, Sadie. I really didn’t think you would propose to Toby, or that—”

“Or what? That he would agree to marry me?” Sadie’s downcast eyes let Ruth know she’d hurt her feelings.

“That’s not what I meant.” Ruth touched Sadie’s hand. “I was going to say that I didn’t think you would really expect me to propose to Abe.” Her face grew warm. “I could never do that, Sadie. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Why not? Ruth in the Bible let Boaz know she wanted to be his wife by lying at his feet.”

Ruth covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. “Ach, I could never lie at Abe’s feet! What would he think of me if I did something like that?”

Sadie shook her head. “You wouldn’t have to lie at his feet, silly. I’m sure if you thought about it awhile, you could come up with something else to do that would let Abe know you’re interested in him and would like to be his wife.” She patted Ruth’s knee. “Think about it, okay?”

Ruth gave no reply.

“In the meantime, I’d like your answer about whether you’ll be one of the newehockers at my wedding.”

Ruth nodded slowly. “I’d be pleased to be your attendant.”

“Glad to hear it.” Sadie stood. “Be sure and let me know when you and Abe become betrothed.” She rushed out of the room before Ruth could say a word.

Ruth reached for her Bible, which she had tucked inside the sewing basket she’d brought from home. Turning to the book of Ruth, she found chapter 3, where Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, told Ruth that she should mark the place where Boaz would lie and then go there and lie at his feet.

Ruth couldn’t deny her attachment to Abe’s family. Truth was, she often found herself wishing his children were hers. But could she ask Abe to marry her as Sadie had suggested?
Oh, that would be so bold!

She closed her eyes.
Dear Lord, You know how much I long to be a mother. But I still love Martin, and I’m not sure I could be a good wife to Abe—if he would have me, that is.

Ruth’s prayer was interrupted when a knock sounded at the door. She went to answer it and was surprised to see her aunt standing on the front porch.

“What a nice surprise.”

Aunt Rosemary smiled. “I’ve been meaning to come by for some time, but I’ve been busy getting settled into my new home.”

“What new home?”

“It was too inconvenient to keep staying at the bed-and-breakfast
in Berlin, so I’ve rented a small house owned by your neighbors, Ray and Donna Larson. They said I could rent it on a month-to-month basis, since I don’t know how long I’ll be staying in Holmes County.”

Ruth’s mouth dropped open. “Is the house near here?”

“Just a mile or so down the road.”

“Why, that was the house Martin and I rented when we first got married.” Ruth stared at the toes of her sneakers. “After Martin died, my dad and Cleon went over to the rental and cleared out all of our things. I wasn’t up to going, and I haven’t been back to the house since the night Martin died.”

“I’m sure it would be a painful reminder,” Aunt Rosemary said.

Ruth nodded. Then, remembering her manners, she stepped aside. “Won’t you come in?”

Aunt Rosemary followed Ruth into the living room and took a seat on the sofa when Ruth motioned for her to do so. “It looks like you’ve been doing some sewing,” she said, gesturing to the pile of clothes lying on one end of the sofa.