He placed a hand under Elizabeth’s elbow. “I will do my best to keep an eye on things at the farm the best I can and I will try to keep Elizabeth and Mary safe.”
“Gut.” The bishop nodded. “I will speak with the others and get back with you shortly. Elizabeth, if there are any problems, ring the porch triangle and we will all kumm running.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Bishop.”
“Meanwhile, stay safe. Go about your business. Prepare for your repentance and baptism. Let us pray about what the next move should be. And let me know immediately if there are any more letters.”
“Denki. I feel better already.”
Thomas helped both women into the buggy, then went around to the other side. After nodding goodbye to the bishop, he clicked the reins and guided the horse back toward the main road.
“See, Elizabeth,” Mary said. “The bishop will know what to do. Everything will be all right.”
They’d traveled about a quarter of a mile when Thomas spoke. “I thought the meeting went well. I told you the bishop would not ask you to leave.”
“It’s not that. I knew Bishop Schwartz would allow me to stay. He has known me and my family since I was born.”
“Then what is it?”
“The danger is real, Thomas. I am not afraid for myself, but what have I brought to the community?”
Thomas placed his hand over hers. A pleasant tingling sensation raced up her arms. Even now, she could still be affected by the mere touch of his hand.
“We will keep you safe, Elizabeth. The whole community will be watching for strangers and things that are out of place.”
“I know.” A pounding headache formed in the sinus area above her eyes. “But what if it isn’t enough? What if he hurts someone?”
“Maybe we will find what he wants in that box in your car. We will give it to him and he will go back to Philadelphia.”
“Do you really believe he will take the box and leave?”
“If he wanted you dead, he had the few extra minutes to do it in the barn before I could reach you.”
Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face as she realized the truth of his words. He could have killed her in the barn. Almost did. But a sense of dread filled her. What if he was lying? What if he had no intention of letting her live once he’d gotten what he came for? She’d seen his face. She was a witness to his crime. She’d lived in the Englisch world long enough to know criminals didn’t leave witnesses behind.
“What you have is more important to him right now than you dead.”
The truth of his words gave her a little inner peace.
“What do you think Hannah put in the box?” he asked.
“That’s just it, Thomas, I don’t know. And I’m scared to death to find out.”
* * *
The steady clopping of the horse’s hooves was the only sound for several more miles as Thomas pondered the day’s events. He’d make sure Elizabeth and Mary were settled in and then he’d have to head home. His former in-laws would be bringing the kinner home soon.
A smile bowed his lips at the mental image of his two precious children. Gott had blessed him with two precious gifts—his smile widened—even if one of those gifts was perpetually drawn to dirt and mire.
His smile didn’t last. How was he going to keep Elizabeth and Mary safe when he was miles away on his own farm?
He couldn’t and that was unacceptable. He had to find a way to protect them daily. But how?
“You’re awfully quiet, Thomas. Is something wrong?” Elizabeth studied him closely.
Something wrong? Everything’s wrong.
When he woke this morning his only thought was getting his chores finished for Mary in time to get back home to take care of his own farm and his kinner. He’d never expected his world to be turned upside down. But the unexpected events in this life reminded him that he was not in control, Gott was.
“Nothing’s wrong, Elizabeth. Just thinking through the day’s events,” Thomas replied.
When Elizabeth smiled at him, his heart skipped a beat. After all these years she could still stir deep feelings in him and, for a moment, he hated himself for that weakness.
“It’s been a crazy day,” she admitted.
“Ja.”
“Denki, Thomas.”
He glanced her way and for an instant was lost in the sky-blue depths of her eyes.
“I know you weren’t expecting to see me,” she said. “And...well, I am grateful for all you have done. Helping my mother on the farm. Taking me to see the bishop. You didn’t have to do any of it and I want you to know I appreciate it.”
Thomas nodded. “Many things have passed between us, Elizabeth, and many years. But not so many that we can’t consider each other a friend.”
Did her smile dim when he called her a friend? Was it possible she harbored deeper feelings, too? No. His mind played games with his hopes. If she’d cared for him as he’d cared for her, she would never have left.
She twisted her hands in her lap and gazed off in the distance.
“Elizabeth?”
She sighed deeply. “I’m sorry. I can’t stop thinking about the note.”
“The note is keeping you safe,” Mary said. “It’s giving you time to find out what this mystery item is. There is nothing to worry about. Gott will protect us.”
“Mary’s right,” Thomas said. “I’d say the man got what he wanted for now. He frightened you. He put you on edge. He has you looking over your shoulder at every shadow and jumping at every sound.”
Thomas clicked the reins and the horse broke into a trot as their buggy turned onto the dirt path leading to the house.
“This will be over soon, Elizabeth,” Thomas assured her. “The first thing we need to do is search the box.” He pulled the buggy in front of the porch and helped both women down. Mary climbed the steps to the house, while Elizabeth almost ran toward the barn.
Thomas tied the reins to the porch railing then walked toward the barn, where Elizabeth had disappeared only moments before. Could the words he’d offered her for comfort turn out true? Would it be that easy? Give the man what he wants and he’ll leave them alone? What could be so important it was worth killing an innocent woman to get? His curiosity grew with each step as he neared the barn.
Mary cried out. “Thomas. Elizabeth. Kumm quickly.”
Thomas spun back toward the house and ran. He burst inside. The older woman was pressed against
