Read Online Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marta Perry
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as God’s will.
Andrea went to press her cheek against Emma’s, affection surging within her. Maybe she’d be a better person if she had a little of that kind of acceptance.
“Well, you tell Levi I was happy to see him, anyway.” She dismissed that flare of apprehension that hadgripped her when she’d seen him at the hutch. “Rachel was just reminding me of the big snowstorm, when we came to your house in the sleigh. Levi helped his father drive the horses, I remember.”
“Ach, I will tell him.” Emma beamed at the reminiscence, rubbing her hands on the full skirt of her plain, wine-colored dress. “He will remember that, he will.”
They’d all played together then—Amish and English—it hadn’t mattered to the children. Emma’s oldest daughter, Sarah, had been her exact age. She’d longed go to school with Sarah in the simple white schoolhouse down the road, instead of getting on the yellow school bus for the trip to the consolidated elementary.
“How is Sarah? Married, I know from my grandmother.”
“Married with six young ones of her own, and training to be a midwife, besides.” Emma’s pride was manifest, though she’d never admit it.
“Please greet her for me, too.” They’d all grown and gone their separate ways. Only Levi had remained, a child still, but in a man’s body. “I’m going to the hardware store with Cal to get some new lights and locks. I wondered if you needed anything.”
Emma’s plump face paled. “Locks? Why? Has something happened?”
She’d assumed Grams would have mentioned it, but possibly they hadn’t had a chance to talk before Grams set off for the hospital.
“We had a prowler last night.” She didn’t want to alarm Emma, but surely it was better that she know. “He tried to get into the old toolshed.”
“Did you—did you get a look at this person?” Emma’s hands twisted together under her apron.
She shook her head, sorry now that she’d mentioned it. She didn’t want to distress Emma. Probably she, like Grams, still thought of this area as perfectly safe.
“He ran away when he heard the dog and the sirens.” Maybe it was just as well not to mention her closer encounter with the man. “We’re going to put up brighter lighting in the grounds. Hopefully that will keep any troublemakers away.”
“Ja.” Emma pulled open the door under the sink, peering inside. “ Ja, maybe it will. I can’t think of anything that I need from the store.”
Andrea hesitated a moment, studying the tense lines of Emma’s shoulders under the dark dress, the averted face. The thought of a prowler had upset her more than expected, but Andrea didn’t know what to do to ease her mind.
“Don’t worry about it, please, Emma. I’m sure the lights will solve the problem. And if you’re concerned about walking back and forth to the farm, I’d be happy to drive you.”
“No, no.” Emma whisked that offer away with a sweeping gesture. “I am fine. No one will bother me.”
There didn’t seem to be anything else to say, but Andrea frowned as she walked to the door. They couldn’t afford to have Emma upset. Grams needed her more than she ever had.
They both did, if they were really going to open the inn on time, and though she could hardly believe it of herself, it seemed she was committed to this crazy venture.
From his perch on the stone wall that wound along the patio, Cal watched the black-clad figure vanish from sight around the barn. He and Levi had reached the point that Levi would sometimes speak to him, but today he’d rushed past without a word. Something had upset him, obviously.
Cal latched his hands around his knee. Andrea had said she’d meet him, and he’d guess she was the type to be on time. So he’d come a bit early, not wanting to give her a reason to say he’d kept her waiting.
Sure enough, she hurried out the back door, checking her watch as she did. She looked up, saw him and came toward him at a more deliberate
Andrea went to press her cheek against Emma’s, affection surging within her. Maybe she’d be a better person if she had a little of that kind of acceptance.
“Well, you tell Levi I was happy to see him, anyway.” She dismissed that flare of apprehension that hadgripped her when she’d seen him at the hutch. “Rachel was just reminding me of the big snowstorm, when we came to your house in the sleigh. Levi helped his father drive the horses, I remember.”
“Ach, I will tell him.” Emma beamed at the reminiscence, rubbing her hands on the full skirt of her plain, wine-colored dress. “He will remember that, he will.”
They’d all played together then—Amish and English—it hadn’t mattered to the children. Emma’s oldest daughter, Sarah, had been her exact age. She’d longed go to school with Sarah in the simple white schoolhouse down the road, instead of getting on the yellow school bus for the trip to the consolidated elementary.
“How is Sarah? Married, I know from my grandmother.”
“Married with six young ones of her own, and training to be a midwife, besides.” Emma’s pride was manifest, though she’d never admit it.
“Please greet her for me, too.” They’d all grown and gone their separate ways. Only Levi had remained, a child still, but in a man’s body. “I’m going to the hardware store with Cal to get some new lights and locks. I wondered if you needed anything.”
Emma’s plump face paled. “Locks? Why? Has something happened?”
She’d assumed Grams would have mentioned it, but possibly they hadn’t had a chance to talk before Grams set off for the hospital.
“We had a prowler last night.” She didn’t want to alarm Emma, but surely it was better that she know. “He tried to get into the old toolshed.”
“Did you—did you get a look at this person?” Emma’s hands twisted together under her apron.
She shook her head, sorry now that she’d mentioned it. She didn’t want to distress Emma. Probably she, like Grams, still thought of this area as perfectly safe.
“He ran away when he heard the dog and the sirens.” Maybe it was just as well not to mention her closer encounter with the man. “We’re going to put up brighter lighting in the grounds. Hopefully that will keep any troublemakers away.”
“Ja.” Emma pulled open the door under the sink, peering inside. “ Ja, maybe it will. I can’t think of anything that I need from the store.”
Andrea hesitated a moment, studying the tense lines of Emma’s shoulders under the dark dress, the averted face. The thought of a prowler had upset her more than expected, but Andrea didn’t know what to do to ease her mind.
“Don’t worry about it, please, Emma. I’m sure the lights will solve the problem. And if you’re concerned about walking back and forth to the farm, I’d be happy to drive you.”
“No, no.” Emma whisked that offer away with a sweeping gesture. “I am fine. No one will bother me.”
There didn’t seem to be anything else to say, but Andrea frowned as she walked to the door. They couldn’t afford to have Emma upset. Grams needed her more than she ever had.
They both did, if they were really going to open the inn on time, and though she could hardly believe it of herself, it seemed she was committed to this crazy venture.
From his perch on the stone wall that wound along the patio, Cal watched the black-clad figure vanish from sight around the barn. He and Levi had reached the point that Levi would sometimes speak to him, but today he’d rushed past without a word. Something had upset him, obviously.
Cal latched his hands around his knee. Andrea had said she’d meet him, and he’d guess she was the type to be on time. So he’d come a bit early, not wanting to give her a reason to say he’d kept her waiting.
Sure enough, she hurried out the back door, checking her watch as she did. She looked up, saw him and came toward him at a more deliberate
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