Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries Box Set 6 Read online

  Eventually, Nell asked, “What do you mean, Titus? Why was it your fault?”

  “Sit down, Titus. Keep your mouth shut. I’m an old man. It doesn’t matter so much. You’ve got a family.”

  “I can’t keep quiet. I need to unburden my soul. The next day, Salisbury came looking for Jedidiah again. I was there with Jedidiah, so was Moses, and also Edgar.”

  Everyone looked at Moses and he looked down at the floorboards.

  Titus continued, “I told Salisbury to stay away. That Jedidiah wouldn’t sell no matter what.”

  “It was my fault,” Moses said. “I angered Salisbury by something I said. I told him he would never amount to anything. I taunted him for selling the key to his potential fortune— Rose Cottage. I must’ve hit a nerve; he pulled out a gun …”

  Jedidiah said, “He pointed it at Moses and I thought he’d shoot. I grabbed the nearest thing I could. It was an instinctive thing. I did not remember my commandments.”

  “Don’t lie for me, Jedidiah. It was the other way around.” Edgar turned to Kelly. “You know the Amish wouldn’t raise a hand to anyone.”

  Kelly nodded. “What happened?”

  “Jedidiah struck him in the back of the legs with the wood in his hands. When Salisbury was down, he twisted and pointed the gun at Jedidiah. I grabbed a hammer and struck him on the head. I knew he’d shoot. And, that’s how it happened. Jedidiah knew I’d go to jail and he was trying to protect me.”

  “So, what I’m hearing is self-defence.” The detective looked up at Jedidiah. “Why did you run?”

  “I didn’t mean to go for so long, just a few weeks until we could come up with a plan. When everything calmed down, I was going to come back. I didn’t know someone had buried the body right at Rose Cottage. Titus told me that later. No one knew Salisbury was dead, just missing. It made sense that I stay missing too.”

  “Titus! You knew where he was this whole time?” Jennifer asked.

  Titus kept his head down and nodded. “I’m sorry,” he uttered. “It was his choice to make.”

  “If Mamm and Dat were alive they’d be so ashamed of you, Titus.” Jennifer then glared at Nell.

  “I asked him to keep quiet,” Jedidiah said. “Don’t blame him, Jennifer. We were all so young back then. We didn’t make the best choices.”

  “What did Abraham know about this?” Jennifer asked.

  Nell gasped at what her sister said. “He wouldn’t have known a thing.”

  Moses said, “Abraham wasn’t there and Nell is right. He didn’t know any of this.”

  Jennifer said, “Why was he so adamant that no one disturb the rose garden?”

  Titus shrugged. “I can’t say.”

  Jennifer turned to Nell, “You said yourself he’d never let anyone work on the building.”

  Nell sniffed back tears.

  Titus said, “I can tell you right now that Abraham didn’t know a thing about any of this.”

  “I can’t believe all these secrets were kept.” Nell looked up at Jedidiah. “I can’t believe you left me.”

  “It was the last, the very last thing I wanted to do. I was left with no choice. It was the honorable thing to do. In honor preferring one another. That’s what the word says. I was putting others before my happiness. If the police came asking about Arnold, I couldn’t lie, and then Edgar, who’d been good enough to give me so much work, would’ve gone to jail for life.”

  “Or worse, with my record,” Edgar called out.

  “Jedidiah, did their happiness mean more than mine? You also sacrificed mine.”

  He sighed. “I know how you must be feeling and it’s torn me apart over the years. That was wrong of me. I didn’t think it would turn out the way it did. I never meant to be gone for so long. The longer I was gone the harder it became to return. Then I heard you’d become close to Abraham. Then I knew I could never come back.”

  Elsa-May said, “I can see how you felt, Jedidiah. Any way you turned or any decision you made was going to hurt someone.”

  He nodded. “The best thing I could do was to continue along the path I’d chosen.”

  Abraham’s brother, Simon, jumped to his feet. “I’ve had enough for one night. Denke, Ettie.” He nodded his head to Elsa-May instead of saying goodbye.

  Before Ettie reached the front door to open it, he’d done it himself and was halfway down the porch steps. “Simon.”

  He turned around. “Jah.”

  “Why are you upset?”

  “My bruder has just been buried. She couldn’t even wait.” He turned and walked away.

  Ettie could see his point of view, but Ettie knew that Nell also had a deep love for Abraham. Nell was an innocent victim in this conspiracy. There were no easy answers for her, either.

  She closed the door and walked back inside to hear Kelly say, “I’ll need statements from the four of you.” He pointed to Edgar, Moses, Titus, and Jedidiah.

  Almost everyone had now left the dinner gathering, except for Detective Kelly and the four men he wanted to question. And Nell was still there, too. She could not keep her eyes from Jedidiah. She didn’t want him to leave with the detective and the three men when the other two police officers came.

  “Where are you living?” she asked Jedidiah as the officers stood at the door waiting. All she wanted to do was reach out and touch him. It was still hard to believe he was there in front of her.

  “Arlington.”

  “Oh, that’s so far.”

  “I’m not going back there tonight. I’m going to be staying at a bed-and-breakfast not far from you. I’ll come to your place tomorrow and we’ll talk some more. If you want.”

  “Jah, of course I do. I’ll be waiting.”

  “I’ll be there early.” He reached out and grabbed her hand until the officers hurried him along.

  She sat and watched him walk out the door. Before he walked out, he had a last look over his shoulder at her, caught her eye and gave her a little wink that gave her butterflies.

  “How are you feeling?” Ettie asked as she sat down beside her.

  “Oh, Ettie. I’m so happy he’s alive. I can scarcely believe it. I also feel sad that he was gone for so long.” She rubbed her eyes. “So many things have happened. He’s coming to see me tomorrow. He lives in Arlington now.”

  Ettie nodded. “Are you two planning a future?”

  “I don’t know. We only talked for a few minutes alone. I hope so. If all goes well. You don’t think he’ll be charged by the police, do you?”

  “Nee,” Elsa-May said, now joining them and sitting in her usual chair. “It was the other man who wielded the hammer.”

  Ettie grimaced at her sister’s dreadfully descriptive words. “The detective did say it was self-defence.”

  “It seems he’s been gone for so long for no good reason. None that I can see.”

  “Back then, Edgar was involved in a lot of crime. They might not have believed him and the others might have gone to jail along with him. I believe he’s stayed out of trouble since, and that will help him.” Ettie hoped that none of them would get into trouble for concealing the body, as that was a crime in itself.

  “Would you like to stay here the night, Nell?”

  “Nee, I asked Gloria to collect me at nine thirty. What time is it now?”

  Ettie looked at the clock. “It’s twenty-five minutes past.”

  Nell looked around. “And where is Jennifer?”

  Elsa-May said, “She left not long after Simon.”

  “Oh. She’s very cross with both me and Titus. She’s probably gone to tell Sarah what happened here tonight.”

  When Nell left, Ettie and Elsa-May sat down, exhausted.

  “Well, it all turned out just as you hoped.”

  “Jah.” Ettie smiled. “I hope Nell and Jedidiah get their happy ending.”

  “I hope so, too. They’re still in love. I haven’t seen a couple look at each other like that in ages.”

  Chapter 24

  Tha
t night, Nell couldn’t sleep. She’d tossed and turned as all the pain of the past years flooded back to her. Even though she was pleased he was alive, why hadn’t he reached out and told her he had to leave? She might have gone with him and together they could’ve had a life somewhere else. There were so many things she hadn’t asked him. Was he married? Had he been married? One thing she knew for certain, if he was married she’d be devastated.

  When the light of the morning sun filled Nell’s room, she stretched her hands up and was glad the night was over. Today was the day she’d have all her questions answered. Then something gnawed in the pit of her stomach. What if he didn’t show? What if the police had locked him up?

  She pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind, changed out of her nightdress and began the process of changing into her day clothes. As she did so, it occurred to her she was no longer the slim attractive young woman Jedidiah had fallen in love with, but there was little she could do about that.

  Once dressed, she headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. Her granddaughter always slept in until midmorning—a tardy habit her parents had allowed her. Still, Nell was grateful for the peace this morning, so she could think through things a little more before Jedidiah arrived. If indeed, he came like he’d said he would.

  Just as the teakettle had boiled, she saw Jedidiah walking toward the house. She turned off the flame, smoothed back her hair under her prayer kapp, straightened her dress and apron, and then hurried to the front door.

  She opened it and he stepped inside and pulled her toward him. She held him tight and relaxed into his chest and heard his heart beating. Then she remembered her prayer the day of Abraham’s funeral. She’d asked Gott to let her know what had happened to him and He'd answered her prayer.

  She stepped back, and whispered, “I have my grossdochder asleep upstairs. Come through to the kitchen.” They sat together at the table. “Have you eaten?”

  “Nee.”

  “Me either. I’ll fix us something.”

  “Not yet. Nell, will you say yes once more to marrying me?”

  That answered the question of whether he was married. “I’ve got so many questions. I don’t know who you are anymore.”

  “I’m the same Jedidiah you said you’d marry over forty years ago.”

  “A lot has happened since then. You never married?”

  “Nee. I kept to myself. I went to a church every Sunday, but I stayed away from the Amish in case I was recognized. Edgar and I became friends long before I left. He gave me work when no one else would, and we became friends. I knew about his past. I told him about Gott and he was trying to get his life right. Then the dreadful thing happened.”

  “Oh, Jedidiah, don’t you see? I could’ve come with you.”

  “I didn’t know I’d be gone long. No point in ruining both our lives.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t have taken you away from your family. You were so close with them all.”

  “Jedidiah, you would’ve been my family if we’d married.”

  He nodded. “It was probably the biggest mistake of my life.”

  “What happened last night with the police?”

  “Ah, it seems it will be okay. I’m in the clear, but the others might be in trouble for burying the body and covering up the incident.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “I’m going to visit the bishop today about returning to the community.”

  “He’ll be surprised to see you.”

  “He was surprised to see me yesterday.”

  Nell was glad to hear it. That meant he was serious about moving back. “You saw him yesterday?”

  “Jah. And I’m going back today to talk things over further.”

  “You’re going to move back?”

  “I am. And when you’re ready I’d like us to marry.” He raised his hands. “I know you’ll say it’s too quick and maybe it is, but how much time do we have at our stage of life?”

  “I’ve been married once, Jedidiah.”

  “Nell, I thought about you every day. I dreamed and prayed that one day I’d come back, but then I couldn’t when you married Abraham.”

  “I had to move on. I had to live my life.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I truly thought you were dead. That was the only reason I could think of for why you’d left me.”

  “I’m alive, Nell. We’ve each lived a separate life when we should’ve lived one together. Maybe this is what Gott planned for us. You and Abraham had a happy life, didn’t you?”

  “Did Titus tell you that?”

  A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. “Jah. He did. He said you and Abraham seemed very much in love.”

  “We were.”

  “I’m happy you were blessed with finding a man like Abraham.”

  “I can’t marry you now, Jedidiah. Now I feel hurt that you left me. I can’t push those feelings aside and find the feelings I had a long time ago.” She shook her head.

  His shoulders slumped. “Do you mind if I move back here, at least? To this community?”

  She smiled, pleased he was going to be close by. Half of her wanted to hold him and half of her wanted to hit him. “I don’t mind at all.”

  “Titus and Sarah said I could stay with them until I get my own place.”

  “That’s good.”

  “And how do you feel about living at Rose Cottage now with Arnold Salisbury having been buried so close?” He shook his head. “It never should’ve been that way. I had no part in that decision.”

  “It doesn’t bother me and we can’t turn back the clock, so it’s no use getting upset. It’s part of the history of this old place.” She looked around the room. “It could hold more mysteries for all we know.”

  She smiled at him and he reached forward, held her hand and she didn’t pull away. “I won’t pressure you, Nell, but neither will I give up on making you my fraa as it should’ve been.”

  Nell stared and her heart was glad. As much as she was hurt that he left, she couldn’t be apart from him for too long. She’d say yes soon, but not too soon.

  It was weeks later when Kelly visited Ettie and Elsa-May.

  “Come in and tell us what’s happening,” Ettie said. They’d already heard a few things through Titus and Sarah.

  He sat down. “The prosecution isn’t recommending jail time. Looks like the three of them will be free, and put on probation for several years.”

  Elsa-May put her hand to her chest. “That’s a relief. And Jedidiah?”

  “He’s in the clear.”

  “He’s moved back here, you know,” Ettie told him.

  “Has he?”

  “Jah.”

  “Hmm, anything to do with Nell Graber?”

  Elsa-May chortled. “They’re getting married. I heard a whisper about it.”

  “We’ll have to wait and see how that goes. Now, how about a cup of hot tea?”

  “You have the time?” Ettie asked.

  “I do.”

  As Elsa-May got up to make the tea and find something to eat with it, Ettie asked him, “Are things still quiet in the station? Not enough people committing crimes?”

  “We’re busy enough. I’m just taking a little time out. There’s always something to do.”

  When Ettie heard a car, she pushed herself up and looked out the window. “We’ll have to find you something to do. Like do some detective work on those neighbors of ours.”

  Elsa-May came back into the room with a plate of sultana cake. “Oh, Ettie, will you leave the neighbors alone. You’re doing enough spying on them of your own.”

  When Kelly laughed, Ettie frowned at Elsa-May.

  Elsa-May couldn’t have cared less that she’d upset Ettie, and offered Detective Kelly some cake.

  He took a piece. “This looks good.”

  “I baked it myself. The tea won’t be long. Ettie, would you like a piece?”

  Ettie looked out at Greville. He was late leaving for work. What had made him late?

  “
Ettie!”

  Ettie swivelled her head away from the window. “Yes?”

  “Cake. Do you want any?”

  Ettie shook her head and then sat down to talk with Detective Kelly.

  No sooner had Detective Kelly left than Ettie and Elsa-May had more visitors. This time they were surprised to see Nell and Jedidiah.

  Ettie allowed the visitors to sit on the couch, and she sat on a wooden chair opposite while Elsa-May sat on her usual chair.

  “Would you like cake?” Elsa-May asked, lifting up the plate of leftover cake slices from Kelly’s visit.

  “Nee, denke. We’ve already eaten,” Jedidiah said.

  “And how are you getting along now that you’ve moved here?” Ettie asked Jedidiah.

  “Better than I could’ve hoped.” He smiled at Nell.

  “We’re here today to share some news with you.” Nell’s face beamed with excitement.

  Jedidiah cleared his throat, and said, “We wanted you to be the first people to find out.”

  Jedidiah and Nell smiled at each other again before Nell said, “We’re getting married.”

  Elsa-May squealed with joy and Ettie giggled. They already knew, but acted as though they knew nothing.

  “That’s wunderbaar news.” Ettie didn’t normally hug people, but she stood and hugged them both, and Elsa-May did the same.

  When they all sat down again, Nell asked, “You don’t think I’m silly?”

  Jedidiah said, “Why would it be silly?”

  “Nee, of course not,” Ettie said.

  “Don’t you think I’m too old to be marrying again?”

  “Nonsense,” Elsa-May said. “Gott blessed you with a second chance at love. You need to receive His blessings with a willing heart.”

  Nell’s face lit up. “Denke, Elsa-May. That makes me feel so much better.”

  “That’s what I told you,” Jedidiah said.

  “It sounds different when Elsa-May says it.”

  They all laughed.

  Jedidiah then cleared his throat. “I want to thank both of you for your part in getting me back here, back to my Nell.”