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 the wall, her knees nearly buckling.
“Mary?”
“Mamm?” Elizabeth whooshed through the doorway and came up short behind him. “Are you all right? What’s wrong?”
Mary lifted a trembling hand and pointed.
“Oh, no!” Elizabeth whispered as both of them looked in the direction Mary had indicated.
The house had been ransacked. The cushions of the sofa and chairs had been gutted with something sharp and stuffing covered every surface. The end tables were overturned, some broken.
The destruction spilled into the kitchen. Every cabinet door hung open. Every drawer was pulled out and emptied. Silverware and cooking utensils had been carelessly tossed across the linoleum. Canisters of flour and sugar were emptied onto the floor. Pots and pans had been thrown haphazardly into the messy concoction.
Every nook and cranny had been searched, every chance to destroy something had been taken.
“He was here,” Mary whispered. “That evil man was in our home.”
Elizabeth rushed to her mother’s side and wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, Mamm. We’re okay. We aren’t hurt. This is just stuff. We can fix stuff, right?”
Mary nodded, a stunned expression still deeply etched on her face.
Although Thomas knew Elizabeth was doing her best to comfort her mother and ease her fears, she couldn’t hide the tremor in her own voice from him. He knew her too well. She was terrified.
Both women looked at the destruction surrounding them and remained speechless.
Suddenly Mary headed toward the stairs. “He must have gone upstairs, too.”
Thomas stopped her before she could reach the bottom step. “I will kumm back and take care of whatever damage was done. Right now we have to leave.”
“Leave?” Elizabeth threw him a questioning glance. “Where will we go?”
“Home. With me.” Thomas shot Elizabeth a look that let her know he would not take no for an answer. “But not before we retrieve that box and take it with us. It’s time to see what is so important inside.”
Elizabeth couldn’t stop tapping her toe or fumbling with her fingers in her lap. The steady sound of the horse’s hooves clomping up the lane did little to calm her frayed nerves.
“It will be all right, Elizabeth.” Thomas smiled and she assumed he was trying to reassure her. “That man does not know where you are going. You and Mary will be safe with me.”
If he only knew. The stranger wasn’t what made her pulse race and her body tremble with nervous energy. It was seeing his family home, meeting his children. Witnessing a life she’d always wanted but couldn’t allow herself to hope for.
“I’m not afraid, Thomas. I know you will do your best to protect us.”