Accused (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society #3) Read online

  Ettie pushed her lips tightly together. Emma knew that Ettie was not convinced that there was no connection, particularly when no one knew the connection of the witness and the dead man until very recently.

  When the detective left Ettie said to Silvie, “Onto a happier subject. Elsa-May and I have a surprise for you, Silvie.”

  “For me?” Silvie smiled brightly. “What is it?”

  “Bailey is coming to stay nearby for two days next week. He called us today to let us know. Since you have no phone he would’ve arrived before a letter reached you.”

  Silvie clasped her hands together. “He is? He’s coming?”

  “Jah, and I’d say he’s only coming to see you. He said to be sure and tell you. He was going to keep it as a surprise, but he only has two days here and he didn’t want you to be off doing something else when he got here.”

  Silvie’s face beamed for the remainder of the evening.

  “Who’s Bailey?” Angela asked.

  “Bailey is Ettie and Elsa-May’s nephew; he’s a detective,” Emma said.

  “Ach, jah, I’ve heard about him from Elsa-May,” Angela said.

  “He’s not a relative of yours too, Angela?” Maureen asked.

  “Nee, I’m related to Elsa-May’s late husband.”

  Emma continued to explain who Bailey was. “Bailey stayed with Wil months ago when he was working undercover. He was pretending he wanted to become Amish and he fell in love with Silvie.”

  “That’s romantic,” Angela said.

  “Well, it wasn’t too romantic when I found out that he wasn’t who he said he was,” Silvie said. “I know it was his job and everything, but it was still deceiving people.”

  Emma said, “He was sorry about it. He didn’t intend to hurt anyone. Now, he might even come and join the community.”

  “Really?” Elsa-May and Ettie chimed together.

  “He said that again, just recently?” Elsa-May asked.

  Angela frowned at Emma. “Emma. That was something private I told you.”

  Emma’s hand flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry, Silvie. I forgot. I was just excited about it.”

  Silvie looked at both Ettie and Elsa-May. “I didn’t want to tell anyone his thoughts unless they didn’t happen.”

  “That would be wunderbaar if he joined the community,” Ettie said. “It would be a real answer to prayer.”

  “We’ll have to wait and see. No gut getting excited about something that might not ever happen,” Elsa-May said.

  “But it might happen, Elsa-May. Why can’t you ever let me be happy about anything?” Ettie asked.

  The other ladies looked at each other and smiled; they were used to Elsa-May and Ettie getting under each other’s skin.

  “You can be happy about whatever you want, Ettie. I’m just saying that he might not join us. Why get excited about something that might never happen? It doesn’t make sense. He only said that he might, and he only told Silvie in private. He likely doesn’t want anyone to know his private thoughts, only Silvie.”

  Ettie lowered her head. “I won’t say anything to anyone, Silvie.”

  Emma said, “Nee, we’ll all keep quiet about it. Sorry for mentioning it, Silvie; I was just happy for you.”

  “No harm done,” Silvie said.

  Elsa-May turned her attention to Angela. “Angela, I had a call from Robert just before everyone arrived just now. He wanted to know if he could call on you tomorrow morning at Emma’s haus.”

  Angela gasped and drew both hands to her mouth. “What did you say?”

  “I said jah, of course.”

  Maureen said, “Angela, you seem to like Robert quite a bit.”

  “I do like him, but he just probably wants to know what I’ve found out so far.”

  “Nee, he asked me questions. He wants to see you, plain and simple,” Elsa-May said. Elsa-May and Ettie had a telephone in a shanty outside their haus. Elsa-May also kept a cell-phone for emergencies that very few people knew about as it would be very much frowned upon to have such a modern convenience.

  Angela’s face glowed just as Silvie’s glowed.

  “I’m feeling all left out now,” Maureen said. “Everyone’s got menner but me.” She looked at Elsa-May and Ettie. “Do you have gut news for me? Has any mann called you for me?”

  Everyone laughed except Elsa-May, who looked quite serious. “Ettie and I don’t have anyone,” she said.

  “You two don’t want anyone, do you?” Emma asked.

  Ettie chuckled, “I’m too old now. I might have been interested years ago.”

  “I’m too old and set in my ways now,” Elsa-May said.

  Silvie asked, “What happened with Bob Pluver, Maureen?”

  Emma shivered at Bob Pluver’s name. She found him an odd character.

  “I went to dinner with him a few months ago.” Maureen’s mouth turned down at the sides. “He hardly said a word.”

  “He never says much, Maureen. You never know what’s going on in his head. That’s what unnerves me about the man.” Emma bit her lip. She often spoke without thinking and this was one of those times. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to be unkind.”

  “It’s hard to get to know someone if they don’t speak,” Maureen said.

  “Do you like him?” Ettie asked Maureen.

  Maureen gave a little shrug of her shoulders. “I think I do, a little.”

  “He might need a little encouragement. I heard his daed was hard on him and used to beat him. Spare the rod and spoil the child was his saying. I heard he didn’t spare the rod at all. That has to have affected him and made him unsure of himself,” Elsa-May said.

  “I need a mann who’ll look after me. I don’t want to be a mudder to a mann,” Maureen said.

  “I agree with you,” Emma said.

  “He might have potential in the future,” Maureen said.

  “If he changes?” Emma asked.

  “Jah,” Maureen agreed.

  Silvie put her arm around Maureen’s shoulder. “You never know who Gott’s got for you.”

  “His ways are not our ways,” Ettie said with a smile.

  Maureen smiled and nodded.

  * * *

  Robert said he’d be there at 10 a.m. the very next day. Angela had been ready and waiting since 9 a.m. She was excited to spend time with Robert. Jacob would be in skul so they would have no distractions. Angela wondered where they would go.

  “Excited I see?” Emma said.

  “Jah. It’s been a while since I’ve had the interest of a man. My heart keeps beating fast.” Angela put her hand lightly over her heart.

  “I suppose you don’t know where he’s taking you?”

  “Elsa-May didn’t say. Maybe he’s taking me back to his haus to talk some more.”

  “I’m glad you’ve come to stay with me. It’s been nice having someone else around. Someone else in the haus besides Growler.”

  “I’ve never lived alone, always with mamm and daed. I’ve got three cats at home. I’ve an old white fluffy one, a ginger tabby kitten and a black cat. The white one is the only one allowed in the haus. The other two are happy to prowl around and catch mice.”

  “I never liked cats until I got Growler. He’s not friendly, but he’s gut company for me.”

  Angela laughed. “Cats can be moody sometimes.”

  Emma nodded her head. “Ach, sounds like that might be Robert.”

  Angela dashed to the window. “Jah, it is.” Angela smoothed down the apron that covered most of her dress and touched her prayer kapp to be sure it sat properly on her head. “See you later today, Emma.”

  “Goodbye.” Emma stayed inside the haus and watched them drive away. The look on Robert’s face as Angela walked toward the buggy confirmed Emma’s suspicions that Robert liked Angela very much.

  Emma hurried to Elsa-May haus as early that same morning Wil had delivered a message that Emma was to go to Elsa-May’s haus as soon as Angela left. Emma knew that meant that an urgent widows’
meeting had been called.

  Chapter 11.

  And whatever things you ask in prayer,

  believing, you will receive

  Matthew 21:22

  As soon as they were clear of Emma’s haus, Angela glanced at Robert’s face and he caught her eye and smiled.

  “I read all your letters last night,” Robert said.

  Angela’s face lighted up. “You did? I didn’t realize that Jacob would’ve kept them all.”

  “He did, and he presented them to me last night.”

  Angela lowered her head and looked at the floor of the buggy. “Ach, now I’m embarrassed.”

  “No need to be embarrassed, you wrote from your heart with honesty. That’s commendable.”

  Angela put her fingertips to her eyes. “I wish you hadn’t read them.”

  “They were addressed to me and they were my letters.” He turned to her and said softly, “I’m glad I read them. I know you much better now.”

  “Not fair. You know me better now than I know you. You should write me forty letters to catch up.”

  Robert chuckled. “While you’re here, I would like to get to know you better and have you get to know me.”

  Angela swallowed hard which turned into almost a gulp; she hoped he hadn’t heard it over the clip clop of the horse’s hooves. “I’d like that.”

  He looked over at her and smiled. The warmth of his face sent pulses through her body like she’d never known before.

  “Jacob must have written to you in a mature manner for you to think a grown man penned the letters.”

  “I can show you my letters. I’ve got them at Emma’s place. He wrote well. I had no idea, no idea at all. He spoke of mature things. Jacob has a gut insight on life. He must care for you deeply to be hunting for a fraa for you.”

  “Angela, I’m glad that he wrote to you and had you come to visit. I know what he did was wrong, but I would never have written back to someone. If I got that first letter from you I most likely would have written back telling you that I was too busy to write or some such thing. It worked out well that Jacob replied to you.”

  Angela remained silent because she did not know how to respond to his candid admission of interest in her. Should she appear keen? She had already shown how keen she was to get married by writing to a mann whom she did not know. If she said that she was interested in him too, that might appear as if she were desperate to marry a mann – any mann.

  Robert took his eyes off the road and glanced at Angela again. “Forgive me, I always say what’s on my mind. I think that’s always the best way. You are a lovely woman.”

  A giggle escaped Angela’s lips, which released the tension she felt just seconds before.

  “Any mann would be pleased to have you as his fraa.”

  Angela searched her mind for a reply. Any reply would be better than remaining silent yet, she was not accustomed to speaking to menner, especially not ones as handsome as Robert.

  “In your letters you mentioned that you were looking to marry,” Robert said.

  Angela nodded knowing that she could admit to wanting marriage as all the girls in the community wanted a happy familye. “I am. I’m looking for a gut mann to marry and raise a familye with. What about you?” Angela silently reprimanded herself for her blunt question. She might have been better off to remain silent after all.

  “I’d like nothing more to have a fraa and kinner, but I need to get Jacob settled first. I’ve taken on Jacob as my responsibility. I’d like to clear his daed’s name and then I would feel free to live my life and find a fraa.”

  “I understand. Jacob’s very blessed to have someone who cares for him so deeply.” They sat next to each other in silence as the buggy clip clopped through the winding, narrow roads. Angela was at peace in Robert’s company. There was something about being with Robert that made her feel safe. As well as his obvious physical strength, she sensed that he also had an inner strength.

  “I’m taking you to my favorite place,” Robert said.

  “Where’s that?”

  Robert laughed. “There’s an old stone bridge not far up here. I used to play underneath the bridge when I was a child. I would fish from the top of it as well. I haven’t been there in a long time.”

  “I’d love to see it.”

  Robert pulled the buggy off the road and tied the horse in the shade. “It’s just down here.”

  Robert held Angela’s hand and helped her through the undergrowth. They walked a little further until the bridge came into view.

  “Is that it, Robert? It’s beautiful.”

  “That’s it all right.” As soon as they were on the bridge, Robert said, “It’s called a kissing bridge.” He glanced at Angela. “Don’t look worried. That’s what they’re called, but I didn’t know that until recently.”

  “Why’s it called a kissing bridge?”

  Robert looked over the edge of the bridge. “They’re romantic places to go, I’d guess.”

  Angela looked at the reflective surface of the water as it rippled its way underneath the bridge. The birds chirping and the rustle of the wind in the treetops made a perfect melody for their special time alone.

  It’s a perfect place for a first kiss, Angela thought. I wonder if that’s why he brought me here. She looked up at Robert. He took his eyes off the horizon and looked deeply into her eyes. He moved his body so it was directly in front of hers. He caressed the side of her face with his fingertips. Her body shuddered at his touch, however she did not move away.

  “Your skin is so smooth.” Robert’s words were whispered.

  She smiled at his compliment, but words escaped her. All she could think on was what his mouth would feel like against hers. Angela had never desired to be kissed by a man until that very moment.

  As if he sensed her longing, his gaze fell to her mouth. He lowered his head until his lips lingered over hers. Was he asking for her permission to touch her lips? She arched her back and moved her lips just a fraction until their lips met.

  All feeling left Angela’s body and her head began to swim. She was not aware that blackness had engulfed her until she woke with her body on the hard ground and her head cradled in Robert’s manly arms. She made to move.

  “Nee, stay still. You’ve fainted; it must be the heat.”

  Angela obeyed his command, closed her eyes and enjoyed being close to him, inhaling his manly aroma.

  Angela was aware that it was a hot day, but was that why she fainted? Surely it was the closeness of Robert’s hard, body and his soft lips against hers that caused her to loose consciousness. “I’m alright.”

  He lifted her head up a little.

  “I don’t know what happened,” Angela said.

  “Have you been unwell?”

  “Nee, I’m always in gut health.”

  “It’s a hot day. Stay here. I’ve got some water in the buggy.” Robert helped position Angela’s back against the side of the bridge.

  While Robert fetched the water, Angela recalled that she had not drank any water the entire day, when normally she drank quite a few glasses by this time of the day. Angela admired how caring and attentive Robert was. She touched her lips softly with her fingertips as she remembered their kiss.

  “Here you go.” He poured the water from a large container into a metal cup.

  She slowly drank two cups of water. “I remembered that I hadn’t drank any water at all today.”

  Robert sat down next to her. “I said that it was a kissing bridge, not a fainting bridge.”

  Angela smiled. “Did I dream that we kissed?”

  Robert whispered. “That was real.”

  His whispers sent tingles soaring down her back. They sat and talked for a time and they didn’t even notice that dark rain clouds had gathered overhead. Raindrops began to spatter down upon them in large droplets. They both looked upwards at the gray sky.

  “We’re going to get caught in the rain,” Robert said.

  “Moments ago it
was bright sunshine.”

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  Never had Angela dreamed it would be possible to have such a time with a man. She knew now what she had missed out on. Being quiet and shy had done her no favors in the past. But if she hadn’t kept away from menner she might be married to someone else by now and she would never have gotten to meet Robert.

  “Are you all right to stand?” Robert asked.

  “I’m sure I am.”

  Robert put his arm around her waist and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go.”

  Once they were both inside the buggy the rain began to pour down in shafts.

  “I made a picnic for us. I imagined we would sit in the sun on a grassy bank overlooking my bridge. How would you feel about eating here in the buggy?”

  “Jah, let’s have the picnic right here in the buggy.”

  Robert reached over to the backseat and unwrapped a package of ham and relish buns. “The weather’s not usually like this here. It usually stays as it starts out in the morning. We don’t normally get sudden downfalls of rain like this.”

  “I love the rain, especially at night. I love to hear it beating against the window pain and pouring down the pipes at the side of the haus,” Angela said.

  Chapter 12.

  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

  Psalms 23:6

  While Angela was with Robert, Emma was at the emergency widows’ meeting that had been called. Detective Crowley was to meet them again that afternoon.

  “I heard that Juliana took a different man home with her nearly every weekend. The particular weekend when that man was murdered, she had left the bar with the same man for the third Saturday in a row. It was a Saturday, wasn’t it, that the murder took place?” The widows all nodded so Ettie continued, “Why would she go for a walk on her own because she couldn’t sleep? What’s more, she was seen leaving with the man by more than one staff member of the bar.”