The Healing Quilt Page 10

  HAPTER 15

  Noreen yawned and pulled the pillow over her head, hoping to drown out the sound of the neighbor’s yappy dog. But the terrier kept barking, and the pillow did little to diffuse the irritating sound. Ever since her neighbor had purchased the puppy last week, Noreen had begun to lose sleep. That dog’s yipping had probably scared every bird away, too.

  Despite Noreen’s irritation, she felt sorry for the mutt. It was a cute little pup, not much bigger than a rabbit. Didn’t those neighbors know they shouldn’t leave an animal that young alone in the yard? What if it found a way under the fence and ventured off their property? If the dog got out, it could get hit by a car or someone might steal it. Worse yet, what if an alligator got it? Noreen shivered, remembering the Millers’ incident with the gator.

  I may have to approach those people if their dog continues to bark and whine all the time, Noreen told herself. She didn’t know the middle-aged couple on that side of her house very well, but she hoped they were reasonable people and would see the importance of keeping their puppy safe, even if they weren’t concerned about the dog’s barking.

  With an exasperated sigh, she threw the covers aside and crawled out of bed. Stopping in front of her dresser to look at herself in the mirror, she frowned. Today was Tuesday, and it had been three days since she’d colored her hair. In spite of several washings, it was still just as dark as it had been on Saturday.

  Self-conscious about the way she looked Noreen had skipped church Sunday morning and remained in her house all day yesterday, too. She certainly couldn’t keep hiding from the world, however. Noreen liked to keep busy and enjoyed her freedom to go someplace whenever she felt like it.

  Unless I plan to stay here indefinitely, guess I’d better find an appropriate hat or scarf to cover my head.

  Noreen thought about Emma Miller and the stiff white head covering she wore. If I had a hat like that to wear, I could sprinkle a little cornstarch in the front of my hair, to resemble the gray that used to be there, and no one would be any the wiser.

  She chuckled, her dour mood briefly dispelled as she pictured what she would look like wearing an Amish woman’s hat. I’d have to find an Amish dress to wear, too, or I’d really look ridiculous.

  Dismissing that thought, Noreen opened one of her dresser drawers and rifled through some colorful scarves. She tried on a few, but none covered her hair adequately. Next, she opened her closet door and took down all the hats on the shelf. After trying each of them on, she determined that nothing looked good enough to wear. Her only option was to go shopping for a new hat or scarf. If she found something that covered her hair sufficiently, she would wear it to the quilting class this Saturday. Since the school reunion was still a few weeks away, her hair would hopefully look better by then. If not, she may forget about going. Noreen stuck her tongue out at her reflection in the mirror. Too bad it’s not a Halloween party instead of a quilting class, because I’d certainly fit in.

  Knowing she had to be at work at noon, Kim had decided to get up early and take Maddie for a romp on the beach. The dog had spent the last hour running up and down, kicking up the sand and chasing seagulls, while Kim looked for shells. On one of her days off, she hoped to drive down to Venice to look for sharks’ teeth. She’d heard they were there in abundance and thought it would be fun.

  Too bad I don’t have anyone to go with me, she thought. It would be more fun that way. Guess I’ll put the idea on hold for now.

  Kim kicked off her sandals and squatted beside a clump of broken shells. The shimmery white sand felt cool as her toes wiggled below the surface. While looking up every once in a while to watch Maddie play, Kim sifted through the sand, hoping to find some good shells that weren’t broken. She was happy to have found a few, and then, digging deeper, her fingers touched something smooth and round.

  “What’s this?” she murmured, pulling the item up through the sand.

  Turning it over in her hand, she soon realized it was a man’s ring. Continuing to look it over, she saw the initials B.W. engraved on the inside of the gold band. A black onyx stone was mounted in the middle of the setting, and it had some sort of an emblem on one of the sides, with what looked like the inscription of a year on the other.

  I’ll bet this is someone’s high school class ring, Kim thought as she examined it closer. The ring was a bit worn, so it was hard to tell what the lettering was around the insignia. Kim couldn’t make out the year, either, but she was fairly sure it was a school ring.

  I wonder how long this has been buried in the sand.

  Hearing a shrill whistle, Kim looked up and saw a tall, bearded man with shaggy brown hair, wearing jeans and a biker’s vest, and with a leather band around his head. He appeared to be heading her way. Oh great. I wonder what he wants, she thought, standing as she slipped the ring into the pocket of her shorts.

  “Do you know who that dog over there belongs to?” he asked, pointing at Maddie, who’d just darted into the surf.

  “She’s mine. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, she’s got something in her mouth, and I don’t think she oughta be running free on the beach. Don’t you have a leash for her?”

  Irritation welled in Kim’s chest. Just who did this guy think he was talking to her like that? He didn’t even know her and had no right to say anything about her dog.

  “Maddie is fine; she’s just having fun. Probably found a piece of driftwood to play with,” she countered.

  The biker took off his sunglasses and placed them on top of his head. “I think it’s a bird—probably a gull.”

  Kim gasped. “Is—is it dead?”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Beats me. But if I were you, I’d go find out.”

  Kim hesitated a minute, then tromped to the edge of the water. “Maddie, come here, right now! And let that bird go!”

  To Kim’s relief, Maddie plodded out of the water and did as she was told, dropping the gull at her feet. The bird, although shaken, appeared to be unharmed and eventually flew off toward the sea.

  “So your dog’s name is Maddie, huh?”

  Kim glanced over her shoulder and saw the burly man moving closer to her. Oh great. Now what? I wish he’d go away.

  “Did you hear what I said? I asked if the dog’s name is—”

  “I heard, and yes, her name is Maddie.”

  When the guy squatted down and reached out to stroke Maddie’s head, Kim noticed he had the word Bunny tattooed on his arm. She was tempted to ask him about it but didn’t want to prolong this conversation.

  “I’ve got a German shepherd, too,” he said. “Fact is, my dog, Brutus, could probably pass for your dog’s twin brother.”

  “Where is your dog?” Kim asked, clipping Maddie’s leash to her collar.

  “He’s in Shipshe. My friend Terry’s takin’ care of Brutus while I’m gone, which suits me fine ’cause they really get along.”

  Kim tipped her head as she pushed a pile of sand back and forth with her big toe. “Shipshe?”

  “Yeah, Shipshewana, Indiana. That’s where I live. Took some time off work to come down here so I could visit some friends and spend a little time on the beach.” He thrust out his hand. “The name’s Jan. Jan Sweet.”

  Kim fought the urge to laugh out loud but kept her frown in place. She’d never heard Jan for a guy’s name before. It sure didn’t fit this big brawny fellow. He’d probably had a hard time living with a name like that and most likely been teased about it.

  Jan could tell by her pinched expression that the cute little blond was miffed at him. Maybe she wasn’t used to some stranger barging in and asking about her dog. Maybe she thought he was coming on to her and using the dog as an excuse to make conversation. Or she could be thinking I’m just a nosey fellow who oughta mind his own business. Guess these days one can’t be too careful, though.

  When the pretty lady didn’t accept Jan’s friendly gesture or offer her name, he lowered his hand and began petting the dog again. “How old is
she, and how long have you had her?” he asked.

  “She’s six years old. I got her at the pound a month ago. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get going ’cause I’m scheduled to work at noon, and I don’t wanna be late.” Clutching the dog’s leash, she marched off in the opposite direction, leaving Jan by himself.

  He watched her walk away and grinned when she glanced back at him briefly before heading off the beach. Seeing the German shepherd made Jan feel a bit homesick. He’d only been gone two days and had arrived in Sarasota early this morning. Already, he missed Brutus. Even more so, he missed Star and wished she could have come along with him. Traveling on the open road, just him and his Harley, was usually pure pleasure. Not this time, though. During the two days he’d spent traveling, all he’d thought about was his daughter and how he missed riding with her. At one point, Jan had been tempted to turn around and head back home but decided against it because he really wanted to see Emma and Lamar and find out how they were doing. Besides, for the last several months, he’d put in long hours with roofing jobs and really needed a break not only from the work, but from the cold weather they’d had recently in northeastern Indiana.

  Putting his sunglasses back on, Jan stared out at the sparkling blue water, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face and arms. It was a far cry from the frigid temperatures back home. The sounds were different here, too.

  Closing his eyes, Jan listened as the waves splashed against the shore, while seagulls cried in unison as they flew overhead. Some of their calls sounded like high-pitched laughing. In the distance, Jan could have sworn he heard a ship’s horn.

  He opened his eyes, and looking across the water, he saw no sign of any ships. Maybe he’d just imagined it.

  Jan breathed deeply, enjoying the smell of the salty air and hearing some kids’ laughter as they played along the shore. It seemed like everyone he saw here wore smiles. It made Jan feel carefree, like he was a kid again. He’d have to put on his shorts or swimsuit and come back soon so he could swim or just lie around on the beach. Right now, though, he was anxious to head over to the Millers’ and see how they were doing.

  C

  HAPTER 16

  Emma had just started making ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch, when a knock sounded on the front door. Since Lamar was in the backyard picking some lemons, she set the bread aside and went to answer the door.

  Fully expecting to see one of her neighbors, Emma was shocked when she discovered Jan Sweet on their porch.

  “Surprise!” Jan said with a twinkle in his blue eyes. “Bet you never expected to see me here in Pinecraft, did you?”

  Emma reached out and gave Jan a hug. “No, I surely didn’t. When did you get here, and how long can you stay?” She motioned to Jan’s motorcycle, parked in the driveway. “Now don’t tell me you rode that all the way from Shipshewana.”

  He chuckled. “One question at a time please, Emma.”

  Holding the door open for him, she smiled, feeling her cheeks warm. “Come inside, and I’ll start over with the questions. Have you had lunch yet? I was just getting ready to fix ham and cheese sandwiches for Lamar and me, and we’d love to have you join us,” she said, leading the way to the kitchen. “Lamar’s out back right now, picking lemons, but oh my, is he ever going to be surprised to see you, Jan. In fact, I can’t get over it myself.”

  “I don’t want you to go to any trouble on my account,” Jan said, leaning against the counter near the sink, “but a sandwich does sound pretty good about now.”

  “It’s no bother at all; there’s plenty of ham and cheese.” She motioned to the table. “Take a seat, and we can visit while I finish making the sandwiches.”

  Jan did as Emma suggested, and a few seconds later, Lamar came in through the back door. He took a few steps, halted, and his face broke into a wide smile. “Well, look who’s here! This is sure a surprise. What brings you to Sarasota, Jan?”

  Jan stood and shook Lamar’s hand. “Came to see you and Emma, of course. Thought it’d be nice to get a little sunshine, too,” he added with a grin.

  “Sure can’t blame you for that,” Lamar said, handing two fat lemons to Emma. “Can you stay and join us for lunch, Jan? We’ve got some catching up to do.”

  “I already invited him,” Emma said.

  “She didn’t have to twist my arm too hard, either.” Jan seated himself at the table again.

  “How long are you here for?” Lamar questioned.

  “A couple of weeks. Star will be joining me then, and we’ll stay for a week or so after that. She would have ridden down with me on her bike, but she had to fill in for someone at work and couldn’t get the time off.”

  “Oh, my, I hope she’s not planning to ride down here on her motorcycle all by herself,” Emma said, feeling concern. She knew that some English folks thought it was dangerous for the Amish to use horses and buggies for their main mode of transportation, but she thought it would be a lot more dangerous to ride a motorcycle.

  Jan shook his head. “Star will be catching a plane when she comes down to Florida, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  Emma blew out her breath, while slathering some mayonnaise on the bread. “That’s a relief. It’s just not safe for a young woman to be traveling alone these days—especially on the open road.”

  “Do you have a place to stay while you’re in Sarasota?” Lamar asked, looking at Jan.

  “Not yet, but I thought I’d look for a cheap hotel. Since I’m gonna be here awhile, I don’t want anything too expensive.”

  “Why don’t you stay here with us?” Emma and Lamar said in unison.

  Emma chortled. “It seems that my husband and I are thinking alike. You know, Jan, we have an extra bedroom, and we’d love to have you as our guest.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but that’s too much to ask.”

  “No, it’s not,” Emma said, vigorously shaking her head. “We’d enjoy having you stay with us, and we’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

  “Emma’s right.” Lamar agreed. “It’ll give us a chance to get caught up with each other’s lives and find out how things are going back home.”

  Emma put the finishing touch on the sandwiches. “It’s all settled then. As soon as we’re done eating, you can bring your things into the house.”

  “Now, how can I refuse an offer like that?” Jan gave them a wide smile. “Once Star gets here, I’ll find us a hotel.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Emma was quick to say. “Our living-room couch pulls out into a bed, so one of you can sleep right there.”

  “We’re gonna bow for silent prayer now,” Lamar said when Emma set the platter of sandwiches on the table and took a seat. “But if you’d rather pray out loud, Jan, that’s fine with us, too.”

  Jan shook his head. “Naw, that’s okay. I’m a believer, and I go to church whenever I can, but I ain’t really comfortable prayin’ out loud. So I’ll just bow my head and say a silent prayer with you and Emma.”

  “That’ll be just fine,” Lamar said, casting Emma a smile.

  All heads bowed, and when they’d finished praying, Emma jumped up and said, “Oh dear, I forgot the iced tea.” She hurried across the room and returned a few minutes later with a tray that held a pitcher of iced tea, three glasses, and several lemon slices. She also placed a bag of potato chips on the table.

  “I don’t really need those.” Lamar thumped his stomach. “Just a sandwich and the tea will be enough for me.”

  Emma sat down and scooted the bag of chips close to Jan’s plate. “I’ll bet you’d like some, though, right?”

  With an eager expression, he grabbed a handful of chips. “It sure is great to see you folks again. How have you been anyways? Are you happy being here for the winter?”

  “We sure are,” Lamar said. “I love spending time on the beach, and the warm weather has been good for my aches and pains.”

  “That’s great news.” Jan grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. “So what do y
ou enjoy about Sarasota, Emma? Do you also like to spend time on the beach?”

  “It is nice,” she admitted, “but I think Lamar enjoys it more than I do.”

  “Don’t forget to tell Jan about the excitement we had here not long ago,” Lamar said, stirring a slice of lemon around in his tea.

  “Oh Jan, wait till you hear this.” Emma leaned forward, eager to share with Jan. “You won’t believe it, but we had an alligator in our backyard. Lamar should probably be the one to tell you about it, though, since he was out back when the gator was discovered.”

  Jan’s eyes widened. “Wow, really? What happened?”

  Emma watched Jan’s expression as Lamar described the incident, including that he’d been thinking it was a robbery in progress. Hearing about that morning all over again made her feel as though it had happened to someone else instead of right in their own yard. Emma smiled as Lamar ended his story by telling how Jake and Rusty captured and relocated animals for a living.

  “I’ll give it to those two men,” Lamar said, shaking his head, “because they sure knew what they were doing and handled the situation with ease. I could never have done that.”

  “Wow!” Jan exclaimed. “You were lucky those guys showed up when they did, and doubly fortunate it wasn’t a robbery.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more,” Emma said. “Everything turned out fine for all of us. Even for the alligator, since it was removed safely and relocated.”

  “You’ll have to show me where the alligator was,” Jan said. “I’d like to go out and look at your fruit trees, too. Never saw a lemon tree before.”

  “Neither had we till we came to Florida, and we have an orange tree, too.” Emma took a handful of chips and placed them on her plate. “Oh, and that’s not all the excitement, either. The other day one of our neighbors told us that the robbers had been caught, so that was a big relief.”

  “I’m glad you’re both safe,” Jan said, gulping down the rest of his tea.

  “So are we,” Emma agreed.

  “We’ll take a walk outside after lunch,” Lamar said. “So, what’s new in Shipshe, Jan?”