Treasuring Emma (31 page)

Behind her, Magdalena banged on her high chair. Clara turned around and smiled at her daughter. After talking with Peter last night, hope had blossomed inside her. She dried her hands on the kitchen towel and picked up her daughter, hugging her close.

Junior and Melvin were outside, supposedly raking leaves. When Clara peeked out the window, they were throwing handfuls of them at each other instead of forming them into neat piles. She started to reprimand them but changed her mind. So what if the leaves didn’t get done right now? Later she would go outside while Magdalena napped and they would rake them together. Maybe Peter would be back by then and they could do the chore as a family.

Except for Mark. She hadn’t seen him since last night. He’d left before she and Peter got up this morning. Perhaps he was on another of his long walks. She frowned and kissed Magdalena’s tiny clenched fist. She still wasn’t sure Peter was right about Mark leaving so soon. Yet her husband had a point. His cousin hadn’t done much work since he’d been here, hadn’t offered to pay for any food, and his interest in Emma seemed erratic.

Suddenly she had begun to see the man with new eyes. Worry touched her heart. She’d been the one to encourage them to get together. What if she had been wrong about Mark all along?

She turned to leave the kitchen and take Magdalena upstairs to change into her dress and tiny
kapp
when she heard a knock. A tall, thin young woman with nearly transparent blond hair stood on the front porch.

Clara didn’t recognize her, or her style of clothing. The hem of her dress reached her ankles instead of midcalf, the way women in Middlefield wore them. More pleats in the skirt, a
kapp
shaped just a bit differently. The girl was plainly Amish, but from some other community, a place more conservative, more in keeping with the Old Order.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Mark King.” The girl seemed to be in her early twenties. She might have initially seemed shy, but she looked Clara directly in the eyes and spoke plainly. “I understand he is staying here.”

“He is, but he’s not here right now.” Magdalena made a little cooing noise. Clara cuddled her closer to her chest. She glanced down and noticed a suitcase beside the woman’s feet. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”

“I can wait for him.”

Clara’s brow lifted. “Why don’t you come inside.”

The woman picked up her suitcase and followed. As the door closed behind her, she set the case on the floor. “You are sure Mark King is staying here,
ya
?”

“As I said, I don’t know where he went this morning, or when he’s coming back,” Clara repeated. Was the girl addled? She was definitely unusual. “You’re welcome to wait if you want. Or if you have someplace else to
geh
, I can let him know you’ve come to visit him.”

“I will wait.” She stood near the front door, her thin fingers clasped together in front of her navy blue coat. An apron the same color as the dress peeked out from beneath the hem.

Magdalena’s changing would have to wait. “Come into the kitchen and sit down. Would you like some coffee?”

“I would like to sit down, but
nee
coffee.” She followed Clara into the kitchen and sat down in one of the chairs at the table.

Clara sat across from her, holding her daughter in her lap. “I’m Clara King.”

“Laura Stutzman. From Etheridge, Tennessee.”

Clara remembered Mark mentioning he’d spent time in Tennessee. “Is that where you met Mark?”

Her full lips set in an angry line. “
Ya
. But I wish I never had.”

Laura’s words took Clara aback. Clara herself had never been one to shy away from expressing her irritation, yet this woman— this stranger—didn’t seem to care who knew how angry she was with Mark. “Are you sure you don’t want any coffee? I have some leftover pancakes from breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry. But I appreciate the hospitality.” Dark shadows underscored Laura’s light brown eyes. She looked exhausted.

“Maybe you would like to lie down while you’re waiting?” Clara suggested.

“
Nee
. I wish to speak to Mark. Hopefully he will return soon.”

An uncertain dread filled Clara, and suddenly she wished Peter were here. She cuddled Magdalena in her lap. If Laura could be direct, so could Clara. “Is Mark in trouble?”

Laura locked gazes with Clara, her eyes filled with resentment. “
Ya
. He is in trouble with me.”

“May I ask what happened?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.” Laura looked away for an instant, then faced Clara again. “Mark King is a despicable human being. He’s a liar and a thief. He is not to be trusted.”

“You can’t say that about a member of
mei familye
without an explanation, Laura.”

“I cannot give you an explanation.”

She
wouldn’t
give Clara an explanation. That much was clear. “How did you find us?”

“Through
freinds
of Mark’s family. They suspected he might be spending time with his cousin Peter King in Middlefield.”

“How did you get here?”

“By bus. And taxi.” She folded her hands in her lap. “That’s all I will say until I see Mark.”

Dozens of scenarios went through Clara’s mind, none of them good. Coupled with Peter’s growing suspicions of Mark . . .

Dread gathered inside Clara.

Junior and Melvin suddenly stormed through the back door. “We’re
hungerich
!”

“You just had breakfast.” She looked at her boys sternly. “I see throwing leaves at each other has built up your appetites.”

“We’re growing
buwe
.” Junior grinned, using his father’s common phrase.

“Have a couple of leftover pancakes. Wash your hands first.”

The boys dashed out of the kitchen to the bathroom. Clara looked at Laura. She’d had no reaction to any of the children. That increased her alarm. Whatever Mark did to Laura and her family had devastated her. And this wisp of a girl was no match for him.

When Junior and Melvin burst into the kitchen again, she made a quick decision and rose from her chair. “Junior, Melvin, grab one pancake apiece. We’re going to Julia’s.”

“Not again.” Melvin’s whiny pitch sounded like rust grinding against rust. “We’re always going to Julia’s.”

“I promise I’ll bring you a special treat.” Clara had no idea what it would be, but the urgency to get her family and Laura out of the house grew. “Let’s
geh
.” She touched Laura on the shoulder.

“I will wait on Mark.”

Clara lowered her voice. “You’re coming with me. I’m dropping
mei kinner
off next door. Then we will
geh
somewhere Mark won’t expect you to be.”

Laura looked up at her, fire sparking in her eyes. “You can’t protect him. I will get what he stole from
mei familye
. Even if I have to call the police.”

“Laura.” Clara leaned close and whispered, “I’m not protecting him. I’m protecting you.”

C
HAPTER
26

Adam had just finished raking and burning several piles of leaves. His clothes reeked of smoke. He’d raked the remaining leaves into a big pile and looked in Emma’s barn for trash bags. Not finding any, he headed for his barn, knowing where his father kept a good supply.

As he crossed his yard, he saw Clara and another woman walking up the driveway. What did Clara want now? Lately whenever they were in the same place she looked at him like he was a bug squashed on the bottom of her shoe. He didn’t think so highly of her either. Not when she was so eager to get Mark and Emma together.

Clara and the young woman stopped at his truck. Adam met them there. “What can I do for you, Clara?” He didn’t care for her, but she was Emma’s sister, and he’d be polite.

“We need your help.”

Those were the last words he expected out of her mouth. “
Mei
help?”

“Ya.”
She pointed to the woman. “This is Laura Stutzman. She’s from Tennessee.”

“Nice to meet you.” Still confused, he turned to Clara. “What’s going on?”

“Laura needs a place to stay.”

“
Nee
. What I need is to see Mark.”

Adam had to respect the stubborn tilt of Laura’s chin. She was a slender thing, and looked like a strong wind would blow her down the road. Still, he got the impression he wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.

“Laura,” Clara said, with more patience than Adam had ever seen her possess. “As I explained, you’ll get a chance to see Mark. As soon as Peter comes home, he and I will bring Mark here. Then you can talk to him.”

“I want to talk to him alone.”

“That’s not a
gut
idea.”

“Clara?”

Adam turned at Emma’s voice. She walked toward them, the ribbons of her
kapp
streaming down her back. As she neared, he thought about their earlier conversation. Wished it would have gone better. But he hid his emotions, much as she seemed to be hiding hers. She didn’t look at him, but at Clara.

Clara repeated what she’d told Adam. Emma frowned, her brows forming that cute V shape they did when she was confused. “Why can’t she stay at your
haus
?” Emma asked.

“I . . . I don’t think it’s safe.”

“You don’t think Mark is safe?” Emma walked toward her. “You’re the one who wanted the two of us together.”

“You don’t want to have anything to do with Mark.” Laura stepped between them. “He’ll do to you and your
familye
exactly what he did to us.”

“Which was?”

Adam held up his hand. It didn’t feel right, standing out here in the open. He wasn’t sure why, but something prodded him to get the women into his house. “Come on. Let’s
geh
inside.”

“Leona? Leona, wake up . . .”

Leona’s eyes flew open. Instant fear gripped her as Mark King leaned over her bed. How had he gotten in here?

She could see the fury building in his eyes. He stood, his hands behind his back, his sneer derisive. Leona’s soul called out to the Lord. For calm. For wisdom. Above all, for courage.

Leona moved to sit up, but Mark shook his head. “Don’t trouble yourself.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I thought you’d die in the hospital.” He paced back and forth at the foot of her bed. “Coughing up blood like that. Usually old ladies like you don’t survive being that sick.” He stopped. “Then again, you’re no ordinary old
fraa
.”

“I don’t think you mean that as a compliment.”

“You’re right. I don’t.” He walked over to the corner of the room. Took Ephraim’s rocker. Opened the bedroom door and placed it in the hallway.

Leona started to move again. Mark rushed to her, making her freeze. “Did you know Laura was coming?”

“I don’t know who Laura is.”

“The idiot
maedel
came back for her money. She’ll never get it.” He shot a look at Leona. “Unlike Emma, Laura has looks, but little brains.”

“She managed to find you.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Not yet. She’s only found Clara. But you’re right. She’s not the
dummkopf
I thought she was.”

Leona had never seen such cruelty in a man’s eyes. Heard such venom in his voice. She prayed for him, that whatever evil resided in him would flee.

“What about Adam and Emma?” he demanded.

“They’re not any business of yours.” Leona didn’t want Mark anywhere near them. “Although I’m glad you’ve finally realized that Emma isn’t the
fraa
for you.”

“Well, according to
mei vadder
, no woman is.” Mark steepled his fingers underneath his chin. “Especially Ella.”

He sat down next to Leona, his hip touching her side. “Did you know
mei vadder
is a bishop? Surprising, isn’t it? He calls me the devil’s seed.” Mark laughed. “That means he must be the devil,
ya
?”

His laughter stopped abruptly. “He refused to marry me and Ella. Even barred me from his
haus
. Then he shunned me from his church. Of course he told everyone I wanted to leave. And made Ella spread the word that she didn’t love me.” He looked at the blank, white wall above Leona’s bed. “But she did love me. I know she did.”