Read Online A Simple Shaker Murder by Deborah Woodworth - Free Book Online

“I must agree with our pious friend,” he said. The tautness of his wiry body belied his casual, conciliatory tone. “We have much in common with our Shaker hosts, and a great deal to learn from them. I believe, too, that we have some strengths we can share with them.” He looked out over the audience, lingering on the faces of the two young brethren, Archibald and Matthew.
    â€œYea, indeed,” Wilhelm boomed so powerfully that Gilbert flinched. “We will be glad to learn from thee as well, during thy brief visit.”
    Gilbert turned as if to engage Wilhelm in private, friendly conversation. “I’d be more than happy to take some time right now, as we are all gathered—”
    â€œDuring worship,” Wilhelm said, “it is our habit to worship.”
    â€œNaturally. I only thought, because you’d asked us to be together . . .”
    â€œI asked us to be together for the sake of worship.” Wilhelm’s voice was dipping dangerously low, a warning to those who knew him. He fixed Gilbert with a fierce stare. Several moments passed in silence.
    â€œAh,” said Gilbert, his tone still light but with a new undercurrent of authority. “But you see, we New-Owenites do not worship, even to say farewell to a friend. Perhaps we had not made that clear. We understand your need to do so, of course, but we have no need of such a . . . comforting fantasy. We understand human nature and what it takes to make a man happy and good. We have—”
    â€œThis is worship!” Wilhelm roared.
    This time Gilbert did not flinch; instead, his smug smile implied he had won a point in the debate. “Of course, Wilhelm. We are sorry for the misunderstanding, and we will leave immediately.”He bowed slightly, turned, and nodded at the other New-Owenites to follow him out the door. The tall man named Earl Weston watched one of the sisters as he left the room. Rose saw three Believers squirm and bob, as if tempted to leave with the New-Owenites. Two were brethren, Archibald and Matthew. She could not immediately recognize the third, since she could see only the back of her white-capped head in the front row on the sisters’ side. As the sister’s head swiveled to watch the visitors exit, Rose saw that the apparent sympathizer was Gretchen, the young Laundry deaconess.
    Rose twitched under her blanket, unable to fall asleep yet unwilling to leave the warm comfort of her bed. She was still edgy from the tense worship service that evening. She was beginning to understand that both Wilhelm and the New-Owenites had come to their cooperation with hidden purposes, only now coming to the surface. The possibilities alarmed her.
    She tossed off her covers and reached for her bedside clock. Eleven P.M. —not late by the world’s standards, but well along into the night for the Shakers, who were out of bed by 5:30 in the fall and winter months. Well, if she couldn’t sleep, she might as well be up and doing something useful.
    Now that she was eldress, Rose shared the Ministry House, occupying the entire second floor, while Wilhelm lived on the ground floor. A century earlier, when North Homage had peaked at two hundred Believers, two elders and two eldresses had lived in the Ministry House, eating their meals together in the small dining room, where they discussed the spiritual and often practical direction of the village. Now, for fewer than forty Believers, it was not really necessary to have both an elder and an eldress, but Rose was glad to provide a balance to the powerful, zealous Wilhelm. At times, though, she grew weary of the constant struggle. This promised to be one of those times.
    During the past few months, Rose had been setting up a workshop for herself in the empty room on her floor. She rarely used it since she had very little time alone, but it was helpful for a sleepless night. She pulled a workdress over hernightgown for extra warmth