A Sister's Test Read online

  “You’re right. I don’t need two jobs. I’d much rather spend my free time with Martin—and of course little Esta, who still needs extra encouragement.”

  “Speaking of which, is the pup doing okay?”

  “Seems to be.”

  “I’m glad.” Martha motioned to the Schrocks’ house. “Guess I’d better go see what Irene has to say about me helping her.”

  Ruth gave Martha a hug. “See you this evening.”

  “Jah. Have a good day.” Ruth climbed back in her buggy, feeling good about things. Martha would be earning some extra money, Esta was getting along well with Winkie, and Martin was definitely showing interest. This was the beginning of a very good day.

  One early summer morning, Grace entered the barn to look for Martha. She drew in a deep breath, enjoying the pleasant, prickly aroma of fresh hay as she leaned against one of the wooden beams. She felt the baby kick and placed one hand against her bulging stomach. “I wonder if you’re a buwe or a maedel.”

  “Are you talking to yourself or me?”

  Grace turned and saw Martha heading toward her. “I was talking to my boppli, wondering if it’s a boy or a girl.”

  Martha grinned. “I think Anna’s hoping for a maedel.”

  “Jah, and speaking of Anna, I was wondering if you could watch her so Mom and I can go to town to get some material for baby things.”

  “What time will you be back?”

  “Soon after lunch, I expect.”

  Martha nodded. “That should be okay, since I don’t have to be at Irene’s until three o’clock.”

  “I’d forgotten about your new job. Would you prefer that we take Anna with us?”

  “I’m sure you’ll be back in plenty of time. Besides, I enjoy spending time with Anna. It’ll be better than being out here alone, fretting over my failing business.”

  “Things aren’t going so well with your plans to raise dogs, are they?”

  Martha shook her head and handed Grace a breeders magazine. “I was reading this and spotted an ad about trading dogs to strengthen the breeding lines. I might consider doing such a thing if I had some extra dogs to trade.”

  “I’m sorry Flo still isn’t pregnant.”

  “I may allow Heidi to get pregnant again soon,” Martha confided, “since she did so well with her first batch of puppies.”

  “She did okay giving birth, but things went a bit sour after that.”

  “You mean with the one puppy dying?”

  “Jah.”

  “That was too bad, especially since you had just said Anna could have the pup.”

  “Hopefully nothing like that will happen again,” Grace said firmly.

  “I’m sure everything will work out.”

  Grace touched Martha’s arm. “I’d better head back to the house. As soon as Mom’s ready to leave for town, I’ll send Anna to the barn.”

  Martha held up the magazine in her hand. “Thought I’d sit on a bale of straw and thumb through the rest of this. Then I need to get busy and clean out the kennels. Maybe Anna can help.”

  Grace started for the door but turned back. “We’ll probably stop by the bakeshop and see Ruth while we’re in town. Is there anything special you’d like me to bring home as a thank-you for watching Anna?”

  Martha shook her head. “No payment’s needed. But if you’re stopping at the bakeshop, I wouldn’t turn down a couple of lemon-filled doughnuts.”

  Grace chuckled. “Consider it done.”

  Martha had just started cleaning Heidi’s cage when Anna darted into the barn. “Mama said I get to spend the morning helping you!”

  Martha smiled. “It’s a good thing, too, because there’s lots of work to be done. I’m in need of a big helper like you.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “All the cages need to be hosed out.”

  Anna’s forehead wrinkled. “That’s a dirty, smelly job, and Mama wouldn’t like it if I got wet.”

  “How about if I do the hosing? When I’m done, you can put clean straw in the dogs’ beds.”

  “Okay.”

  Martha motioned to a bale of straw. “If you’d like to have a seat over there, we can visit while I work.”

  “I hope Heidi has some more puppies soon. I liked playing with ’em,” Anna said as she flopped onto the straw.

  “You can play with Esta’s puppy whenever you go over to the Wengerds’.”

  Crack! The window shattered, and a small canister crashed to the floor. Anna screamed, and a terrible odor permeated the barn.

  Martha’s eyes began to water. She grabbed Anna’s hand and ushered her quickly out the door.

  “How come the window broke? And what was that awful smell?” Anna asked, rubbing her eyes.

  Martha glanced around the yard. No one was in sight. “I think it was a homemade stink bomb. We’d better let Cleon and your grandpa know about this right away.”

  Cleon had just begun to sand a new chair when the door to Roman’s shop flew open. Martha and Anna rushed into the room.

  “I think the attacks are beginning again! Someone just threw a stink bomb through one of the barn windows!” Martha panted.

  Roman looked up from the hunk of wood he’d been sanding. “Are you sure about that?”

  “Of course I’m sure. I heard the window break and saw the cylinder hit the floor, and Anna and I definitely smelled the putrid stench.”

  Anna nodded vigorously. “It smelled like rotten eggs, and it made my eyes water.”

  Cleon dropped the sandpaper he’d been using and rushed across the room. “Are you all right?”

  “She’s fine. It just took us by surprise,” Martha replied before Anna could respond.

  “Did you see anyone?” Roman asked, moving over to Martha.

  Martha shook her head.

  “It was probably some prankster. I heard some English kids have been fooling around the area again, doing all sorts of goofy things.”

  “I don’t know. I think maybe. . .” Martha’s voice trailed off when she noticed Anna’s wide-eyed expression. “I’d better go back to the barn and get things aired out.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” Roman said before he rushed out the door.

  Cleon picked Anna up and seated her in the chair behind Roman’s desk. “Why don’t you draw awhile?” He handed Anna a tablet and pencil, then moved toward the door and motioned Martha to follow.

  “I think it would be best if we didn’t say anything to Grace about this,” he whispered. “With her expecting our first boppli this fall, I don’t want her getting upset or worrying that this could be another attack on her family.”

  “I won’t mention it, but Anna might blab.”

  “I’ll have a talk with her,” Cleon said with a nod.

  Martha’s fingers curled around the doorknob. “Guess I’d better go talk to my daed and make sure he doesn’t say anything, either.”

  Ruth had just finished waiting on an English woman when Mom and Grace showed up at the bakeshop, chattering about the baby things they had bought that morning.

  “Anna’s excited about being the baby’s big sister,” Grace said as she stepped up to the bakery counter, wearing a smile that stretched ear to ear. “I think she’s hoping for a maedel.”

  “Not Cleon, though,” Mom put in. “He told your daed that he’d like it to be a buwe.”

  Grace stroked her stomach. “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a boy or a girl. I just want it to be born healthy.”

  “We’re all praying for that,” Mom agreed.

  Ruth smiled despite the pang of jealousy she fought. She wished she was starting a family. If Luke hadn’t been so undependable and secretive, she might be planning a fall wedding right now. Instead, she was in the early stages of courtship with Martin, and it could be another year or two before he proposed, if at all.

  “Do you have any lemon-filled doughnuts?” Grace asked, breaking into Ruth’s thoughts. “I promised to bring some home for Martha.�
�

  Ruth pointed to the section in the bakery case where the doughnuts were kept. “Still have half a dozen lemon ones left.”

  “I’ll take them all,” Grace said with a wink in Mom’s direction. “That way there’ll be enough for our menfolk to have some.”

  Mom chuckled. “Better give the doughnuts to the men before Martha gets her hands on the tasty treats, or there might not be any left.”

  Ruth reached into the case and removed the last of the lemon-filled doughnuts, placed them inside a small cardboard box, and handed it to Mom. She’d just put the money into the cash register when the bell above the door jangled and a red-haired English man stepped into the room.

  “Hello, ladies,” Gary Walker said, stepping between Grace and Mom. “Have you come for some sweets to make you sweeter?”

  Mom blinked a couple of times, and Grace grabbed the side of the counter, as if needing it for support. “Wh–what are you doing here?” she rasped. “I thought you had left Holmes County for good.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “I did go to Pennsylvania for a while, Gracie, but I decided with all the interesting people here, I needed to come back and do a few more stories.”

  Grace’s face turned paler than goat’s milk as she swayed unsteadily. Ruth feared her sister might pass out, so she skirted around the counter and slipped one arm around Grace’s waist. “There’s a stool in the back room. Would you like to sit awhile?”

  Grace shook her head and moved toward the door. “I’ll be fine. I just need some fresh air.”

  Mom scurried to the door and was about to open it, but Gary beat her to it. “May I help you outside to your buggy?” he asked, looking at Grace.

  “I can make it on my own,” she mumbled.

  Gary looked her up and down. His gaze came to rest on her stomach. “Well, well,” he said with a smirk. “When’s the blessed event?”

  Grace hurried out the door behind Mom.

  Gary lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug as he turned to look at Ruth. “That sister of yours sure is testy.”

  Ruth clenched her fingers into tight balls and moved back to the bakery counter. “May I help you with something?”

  He sauntered over to the counter and glanced at the baked goods, then looked back at her. “Nothing looks quite as good as the one selling these sweet treats. How’d you like to have supper with me after you get off work?”

  Gary’s piercing gaze sent shivers up Ruth’s back, and she shook her head.

  “Ah, come on, Ruthie. I just want to get to know you a little better.” Gary leaned across the counter, and the spicy scent of his aftershave caused Ruth to pull back, feeling like a turtle being poked with a sharp stick.

  “You’re sure jumpy,” he said with a smirk. “I don’t bite, you know.”

  Ruth’s face heated up. “If you don’t want anything, then—”

  “Oh, I want something, all right, but it’s not one of these,” he said, motioning to the pastries.

  Ruth swallowed against the bitter taste of bile rising in her throat. This man frightened her. No wonder Grace got so upset whenever Gary came around. She clasped her hands tightly behind her back to keep them from shaking.

  Just then, Jake Clemons stepped out of the back room, where he and his wife did the baking. “Is there a problem here, Ruth?”

  Before Ruth could reply, Gary looked at Jake and shook his head. “Nope. No problem at all. I just came in to get something for my sweet tooth.” He pointed to a layer of maple bars. “I’ll take two of those.”

  Ruth released a sigh and quickly filled the man’s order. When Gary left the store, she turned to Jake with a grateful smile. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. That man makes me nervous.”

  Jake skimmed his fingers along his temples and into his receding blond hair. “If he ever bothers you again, please let me know.”

  “I will.”

  When Jake returned to the other room, Ruth leaned on the counter and closed her eyes. Dear Lord, please don’t let Gary Walker stay in town.

  How’s it going in here?” Martha asked her father when she stepped into the barn and found him holding a spray can in one hand.

  “I sprayed some of your mamm’s room deodorizer around and opened all the windows. I think the smell will be gone before she and Grace get back from town.” Dad’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown. “I think it’s best if they don’t know about this. No point in causing them to worry for nothing.”

  “I’m in agreement with that, but I don’t think this is nothing.” Martha motioned to the shattered window across the room. “Someone deliberately threw that stink bomb into the barn. If it’s the same person who did the other things to us, then we have every reason to be worried.”

  Dad set the can of deodorizer on a shelf. “Regardless of who’s responsible for this, I don’t want the rest of the family getting all upset. Especially not your mamm. She’s been through enough these past several months.”

  “I don’t think the attacks affected Mom nearly as much as they did Grace,” Martha said. “With her being in a family way, it wouldn’t be good for her to have more stress added.”

  Dad nodded solemnly. “Unfortunately, most of Grace’s upsets have been of her own doing.”

  Martha didn’t argue. She had a hunch Dad hadn’t completely forgiven Grace for leaving home when she was a teenager or for keeping her previous marriage and the birth of her daughter a secret for so long.

  “How’s that new job you’ve got with Irene Schrock working out?” Dad asked, redirecting their conversation.

  “It’s okay.” Martha nodded toward the back of the barn, where the inside section of her dog kennels had been built. “With summer being here, more tour buses are scheduling dinners at the Schrocks’. Even though Carolyn’s able to help again, Irene asked if I would continue to work for her. So once I get enough money saved up, I’m going to buy a few more dogs. Maybe a couple of poodles this time.”

  Dad grunted. “Poodles are too prissy to suit me. Besides, they yap too much.”

  “Maybe I should get a pair of hunting dogs. From what I’ve read in the breeders magazine, they seem to have more puppies than some of the smaller breeds.”

  “Now that makes good sense.” Dad removed his straw hat and slapped the brim of it against his knee, sending sawdust blowing off his pants in every direction. “Why don’t you get some German shorthaired pointers? Then Cleon and I can do some pheasant hunting this fall.”

  “Since when have you ever gone hunting?”

  “Went all the time when I was a boy. Might be nice to try it again.”

  “I’d like to go hunting sometime,” Martha said.

  “Hunting’s for men, not girls.”

  “I’m not a girl, Dad. I turned nineteen a few months ago, remember?”

  He grunted. “That may be so, but you’ve never shot a gun. It wouldn’t be safe for you to hunt.”

  Martha’s defenses rose. Even though she’d never shot a gun, she didn’t think it would be too hard to learn. She couldn’t help but wonder if Dad was disappointed because he’d never had a son. Maybe that was why Dad and Cleon got along so well.

  “If Cleon doesn’t want to hunt, I could see if Abe would like to go,” Dad continued. “Might do Abe some good to get out in the fields and away from his harness shop awhile.”

  “Ruth mentioned that Abe’s been sleeping a lot. Do you think it’s to avoid thinking about his loss?”

  Dad nodded. “Everyone deals with grief in their own way, but it’s my job as Abe’s friend to help him.” He took a seat on a bale of straw, and Martha did the same.

  “That’s what friends are for,” she agreed. “To encourage each other and help during times of need.”

  Dad pulled a piece of straw from the bale he was sitting on and slipped it between his teeth. “Between your job at Irene’s and raising your dogs, I guess you’ll be plenty busy all summer.”

  “Jah.”

  “Doesn’t leave much time for soc
ializing.”

  Martha merely shrugged in reply.

  “A woman your age ought to be courting by now.” He eyed her curiously. “Have you got your sights set on any particular fellow?”

  Martha cringed. She did have an interest in someone, but she didn’t dare say so. Dad would have a conniption if he knew she’d come to care for Luke Friesen. Especially since he thought Luke might be the one responsible for the attacks against them.

  Dad nudged Martha’s arm. “Is there someone you’re interested in?”

  “I’m too busy with other things to be worried about having a boy-friend,” she said, carefully choosing her words.

  “Guess there’s still time for you to find the right man.”

  “Jah.”

  When Martha heard the rumble of buggy wheels outside, she stood. “Do you suppose that’s Mom and Grace back from town? If so, they didn’t stay very long. I figured they wouldn’t be back until this afternoon.”

  “Only one way to find out,” Dad said, rising to his feet. “Let’s go have a look-see.”

  As Grace climbed out of the buggy, her legs shook so hard she could barely stand. All the way home, she couldn’t stop thinking about Gary showing up in town. When he’d left a few months ago, she had hoped they’d seen the last of him. Her plans to treat Mom to lunch at the Farmstead Restaurant had been forgotten when Gary came into the bakeshop. All she’d wanted to do was go home.

  “I didn’t think you’d be back so early,” Martha said as she and Dad stepped out of the barn. “Figured you’d have lunch after you finished shopping.”

  “We ran into that reporter fellow at the bakeshop.” Mom took hold of Grace’s arm. “After that, Grace didn’t feel like eating.”

  Dad’s lips compressed into a thin line. “What’s that guy doing back in town? I thought he’d left Holmes County for good.”

  “He said he’s decided to do a few more stories on the Amish in our area.” Grace’s voice trembled as she spoke. It was all she could do to keep from crying. She’d been especially emotional lately and figured it had to do with her changing hormones. The distress she was dealing with right now, however, had nothing to do with her pregnancy. She was worried that Gary had come back to the area to fulfill his promise to get even with her for breaking up with him after they’d dated awhile during her rumschpringe years. Grace’s life was just getting back to normal, and she didn’t think she could deal with more attacks on her family.