Read Online Three Can Keep a Secret by Judy Clemens - Free Book Online Page A

before being asked to stand again. The musicians sat, and, several a cappella hymns later, we were finally told to turn to number 118, to what’s thought of as the Mennonite Anthem. Known all over the country as “606,” the hymn’s number in the former Mennonite Hymnal, it’s a rousing tune able to shake the proverbial rafters. I was thankful not only that it was the last song of the night, but that it was okay to put away the now-leaden hymnal, since everyone knows the song by heart:
    Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
    praise him all creatures, here below,
    praise him all creatures here below.
    Praise him above, praise him above,
    Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts…
    The song rose in volume and speed until we reached the “Hallelujah, amens,” and I dropped out because the notes were clearly out of my range and league. When the hymn was finally over I sank down to the bench and took a deep breath.
    “You all right?” Abe sat beside me, scooting behind Ma while she talked to friends in the row ahead.
    “I will be. Now that I can sit.”
    He smiled. “Ma coerced you into coming?”
    “She took care of Lucy all day. It was the least I could do.”
    Abe gestured to the aisle. “Shall we?”
    We threaded our way through the people-crammed aisle to the foyer, where several tables were set up displaying plates of desserts. The MYF—the Mennonite Youth Fellowship, consisting of the church’s high schoolers—was offering delicious snacks for a small donation, which would land in the coffer for their trip to the nationwide Mennonite youth convention the next summer.
    “Stella! Uncle Abe!” Zach gestured wildly from his table, and we wandered his way.
    “So what are these?” I asked him. “They look incredible, but sinful.”
    “Squares of shortbread with chocolate, caramel, and nuts melted over the top.” Zach smiled and puffed up his chest. “Homemade turtle cookies. Mom didn’t even help.”
    “You’re amazing. And the calorie content of these miracles?”
    His face fell. “You care about that?”
    “Gosh, no. Just wanted to see your face when I asked.”
    He grinned. “So how many do you want?”
    I dug in my pocket and pulled out a rumpled dollar bill. “This is all I’ve got. What will it get me?”
    Abe put his hand over my money and gently pushed it down. “We’ll take two plates.”
    Zach lit up. “You mean it?”
    Abe handed him a ten.
    “Geez,” I said to Abe. “Your pockets are much more productive than mine.”
    Zach shoved the ten into his donation can. “Pick the ones you want.”
    Abe scrunched his forehead. “Stella?”
    “I don’t care. They all look good to me.”
    “Making lots of money, I see.” Willie Alderfer stepped up to the table, laying his arm across Zach’s shoulders. He’d been an MYF sponsor for at least five years and was as proud of the teenagers as any parent.
    Zach peered up at him slyly. “Bet I’ve made more than anyone else so far.”
    Willie laughed. “Good going. I’d better grab one of those before Abe takes them all.” He dropped some coins into Zach’s tin and picked a cookie, popping it directly into his mouth. “Oh, wow.”
    “Told you,” Zach said.
    Willie slapped his back and moved on to the next table while Zach called to other church members to come check out his merchandise.
    Abe picked a couple plates of the turtles while I searched the room. I finally spotted Lucy and Tess in the corner surrounded by Grangers, so I figured she was as safe from prying questions as she was going to get.
    “So what do you think of her so far?” Abe asked, following the direction of my eyes.
    I hesitated. “She’s a great worker.”
    “But?”
    I sighed with exasperation. “It’s so stupid. And something I’d usually ignore. But it’s my farm….”
    “What?” Abe’s voice sounded alarmed.
    “Nothing that will endanger me,” I said. “I promise. It’s just…her husband died a year and a half ago, and there’s some question,