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Amish Redemption
Patricia Davids


An Amish HomecomingJoshua Bowman is ready to go home. After spending time in prison for a crime he didn't commit, he's putting everything behind him and reconciling with his fractured family. When a devastating tornado throws him unexpectedly into the path of Mary Kaufman and her daughter, Hannah, he feels the first spark of life after months. But Mary's adoptive dad is the Englisch sheriff–and he'd never trust her care to a man with Joshua's past. Plus the lovely single mom has a secret of her own, one that she's spent years running from. Together they survived the storm, but are they strong enough to shed the shadows of their past?Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.







An Amish Homecoming

Joshua Bowman is ready to go home. After spending time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s putting everything behind him and reconciling with his fractured family. When a devastating tornado throws him unexpectedly into the path of Mary Kaufman and her daughter, Hannah, he feels the first spark of life after months. But Mary’s adoptive dad is the Englisch sheriff—and he’d never trust her care to a man with Joshua’s past. Plus the lovely single mom has a secret of her own, one that she’s spent years running from. Together they survived the storm, but are they strong enough to shed the shadows of their past?



Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.


“This must be hard for you,” Joshua said.

Mary ducked her head. How could he possibly know how confused and excited she felt when he was near? “Why would seeing you again be hard for me?”

“I meant it must be hard for you to see your community in ruins.”

She felt like a fool. “It is sad, but look how everyone is working together. Friends are helping friends. Strangers are helping strangers. It will take a lot of work, but we’ll get through this.”

“I was wondering if your grandmother’s offer of a place to stay was still open? If not, I’m sure I can find another family to put me up.”

“Ada and Hannah will be happy to have you stay.”

“And you, Mary? Will you be happy if I do?” His voice was low enough that only she could hear him.

She wasn’t sure. She was excited at the prospect, and that gave her pause. She already liked him too much. Her track record with liking and trusting the wrong men made her leery of repeating those mistakes.


After thirty-five years as a nurse, PATRICIA DAVIDS hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long-overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her online at patriciadavids.com (http://patriciadavids.com).


Amish Redemption

Patricia Davids






www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

—Psalms 142:6–7


The book is lovingly dedicated

to all my readers. Thanks for

making my writing dreams come true.


Contents

Cover (#u4f6e057d-ec80-536d-82b1-8b845c3e4f2d)

Back Cover Text (#u4a13e41c-0821-5ae6-8fad-ca37cdcd6c74)

Introduction (#ub805bea6-07df-54d0-8691-8c6bb942902e)

About the Author (#u584d5a84-3308-5db8-ab91-3fa6b3ec1919)

Title Page (#u9ff9b895-15e1-5996-983d-7345ffd73514)

Bible Verse (#uf6e2eeb5-e498-52bd-9758-9c3ae10eaf91)

Dedication (#u44875961-42d7-5371-b6e7-b6af0717b418)

Chapter One (#ulink_d4aa773b-3640-56c8-b00f-36a3863f4c69)

Chapter Two (#ulink_df1ab9e3-7a53-5397-a77b-52eb7347ed54)

Chapter Three (#ulink_17bfb498-b808-549f-9a5e-2b945ffa0016)

Chapter Four (#ulink_4af7b0d6-62a9-58f0-aee1-89d909ff4277)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Readers (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)


Chapter One (#ulink_c72984f4-c4a1-5070-95ed-9e31401bb942)

Joshua Bowman’s parole officer turned the squad car off the highway and onto the dirt lane. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “You want me to drive to the house or do you want to walk from here?”

The immaculate farmstead with the two-story white house, white rail fences and big red barn at the end of the lane had never looked so beautiful. It was like many Amish farms that dotted the countryside around Berlin, Ohio, but this one was special. It was home.

Joshua cleared his throat. “I’d rather walk.”

It was kind of Officer Oliver Merlin to allow Joshua’s family reunion to take place in private. It was about the only kindness he had received from the Englisch justice system. He struggled to put that bitterness behind him. It was time for a new start.

Officer Merlin leveled a hard look at him. “You understand how this works. I’ll be back to meet with you in two weeks.”

“I’ll be here.”

“After that, we’ll meet once a month until the end of your sentence, but I can drop in anytime. Deliberately miss a meeting with me and you’ll find yourself back in prison. I don’t take kindly to making long trips for nothing.” The man’s stern tone left no doubt that he meant what he said.

“I’m never going back there. Never.” Joshua voiced the conviction in his heart as he met the officer’s gaze without flinching.

“Obey the law and you won’t.” Getting out of the car, Officer Merlin came around to Joshua’s door. There were no handles on the inside. Even though he was on his way home, he was still a prisoner. The moment the door opened, he drew his first free breath in six months.

Freedom beckoned, but he hesitated. What kind of welcome would he find in his father’s house?

Officer Merlin’s face softened. “I know this is hard, but you can do it, kid.”

At twenty-one, Joshua was not a kid, but he appreciated the man’s sympathy. He stepped out clutching a brown paper bag that contained his few personal possessions. A soft breeze caressed his cheeks, carrying with it the smells of spring, of the warming earth and fresh green grass. He closed his eyes, raised his face to the morning sun and thanked God for his deliverance.

“See you in two weeks.” Officer Merlin closed the door behind Joshua, walked around the vehicle, got in and drove away.

Joshua immediately sat down in the grass at the edge of the road and pulled off his boots and socks. Rising, he wiggled his toes, letting his bare feet relish the cool softness beneath him. Every summer of his life, he had worked and played barefoot along this lane and through these fields. Somehow, it felt right to come home this way. Picking up his bag and carrying his boots in his other hand, he started toward the house.

Set a little way back from the highway stood his father’s woodworking shop and the small store where his mother sold homemade candy, jams, jellies, the occasional quilt and the furniture his father and brothers made. The closed sign still hung in the window. His mother would be down to open it as soon as her chores were done.

Joshua had painted the blue-and-white sign on the side of the building when he was fifteen: Bowmans Crossing Amish-Made Gifts and Furniture. At the time, his father thought it was too fancy, but Joshua’s mother liked it. The bishop of their congregation hadn’t objected, so it stayed. The blue paint was fading. He would find time to touch it up soon. Right now, he had to face his family.

Joshua was a dozen yards from the house when he saw his brothers come out of the barn. Timothy led a pair of draft horses harnessed and ready for working the fields. Noah, the youngest brother, walked beside Timothy. Both big gray horses raised their heads and perked up their ears at the sight of Joshua. One whinnied. His brothers looked to see what had caught their attention.

Joshua stopped. In his heart, he believed he would be welcomed, but his time among the Englisch had taught him not to trust in the goodness of others.

Timothy gave a whoop of joy. He looped the reins over the nearby fence and began running toward Joshua with Noah close on his heels. Their shouts brought their oldest brother, Samuel, and their father to the barn door. Samuel broke into a run, too. Before he knew it, Joshua was caught up in bear hugs by first one brother and then the others. Relief made him giddy with happiness, and he laughed out loud.

The commotion brought their mother out of the house to see what was going on. She shrieked with joy and ran down the steps with her white apron clutched in her hands and the ribbons of her Amish prayer kapp streaming behind her. She reached her husband’s side and grasped his arm. Together they waited.

Joshua fended off his brothers and they fell silent as he walked toward his parents. He stopped a few feet in front of them and braced himself. “I know that I have brought shame and heartache to you both. I humbly ask your forgiveness. May I come home?”

He watched his father’s face as he struggled with some great emotion. Tall and sparse with a flowing gray beard, Isaac Bowman was a man of few words. His straw hat, identical to the ones his sons wore, shaded his eyes, but Joshua caught the glint of moisture in them before his father wiped it away. Tears in his father’s eyes were something Joshua had never seen before. His mother began weeping openly.

“Willkomme home, mein sohn.”

Joshua’s knees almost buckled, but he managed to stay upright and clasp his father’s offered hand. “Danki, Father. I will never shame you again.”

“There is no shame in what you did. You tried to help your brother. Many of our ancestors suffered unjust imprisonments as you did. It was God’s will.” He pulled Joshua forward and kissed him on both cheeks.

When he stepped back, Joshua’s mother threw her arms around him. He breathed in the scent of pine cleaner and lemon. Not a day went by that she wasn’t scrubbing some surface of her home in an effort to make it clean and welcoming. She had no idea how good she smelled.

Leaning back, she smiled at him. “Come inside. There’s cinnamon cake and a fresh pot of kaffi on the stove.”

“We’ll be in in a minute, Mother,” Isaac said.

She glanced from her husband to her sons and nodded. “It’s so goot to have you back.”

When she returned to the house, his father began walking toward the barn. Joshua and his three brothers followed him. “Do you bring us news of your brother Luke?”

“He is doing as well as can be expected. I pray that they parole him early, too.” It was Luke’s second arrest on drug charges, and the judge had given him a longer sentence.

Samuel laid a hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “We never believed what they said about you.”

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. My mistake was thinking that the Englisch police would believe me. I thought justice was on the side of the innocent. It’s not.”

“Do you regret going to Cincinnati to find Luke?” Noah asked.

“Nee, I had to try and convince him to come back. I know you said it was his decision, Father, but I thought I could persuade him to give up that wretched life and return with me. We were close once.”

In the city, Joshua had discovered his brother had moved from using drugs to making and selling them. Joshua stayed for two days and tried to reason with him, but his pleas had fallen on deaf ears. He’d been ready to accept defeat and return home when the drug raid went down. In a very short time, Joshua found himself in prison alongside his brother. His sentence for a first offense was harsh because his brother had been living near a school.

His father regarded him with sad eyes. “The justice we seek is not of this world, sohn. God knows an innocent heart. It is His judgment we must fear.”

“Do you think this time in prison will change Luke?” Timothy asked softly.

Prison changed any man who entered those walls, but not always for the better. Joshua shrugged.

His father hooked his thumbs through his suspenders. “You are home now, and for that we must all give thanks. Timothy, Noah, Samuel, the ground will not prepare itself for planting.”

Joshua smiled. That was Daed—give thanks that his son was home for five minutes and then make everyone get to work.

Joshua’s brothers slapped him on the back and started toward the waiting team. Timothy looked over his shoulder. “I want to hear all about the gangsters in the big house tonight.”

“I didn’t meet any,” Joshua called after him, wondering where his brother had picked up such terms.

“Not even one?” Noah’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

“Nope.” Joshua grinned at his little brother’s crestfallen expression. Joshua had no intention of sharing the sights he’d seen in that inhuman world.

“Come. Your mother is anxious to spoil you. She deserves her happiness today.”

Joshua followed his father inside. Nothing had changed in the months Joshua had been away. The kitchen was spotless and smelled of cinnamon, fresh-baked bread and stout coffee. Standing with his eyes closed, he let the smells of home wash away the lingering scent of his prison cell. He was truly home at last.

“Sit,” his mother insisted.

He opened his eyes and smiled at her. She wasn’t happy unless she was feeding someone. She bustled about the kitchen getting cups and plates and dishing up thick slices of coffee cake. He took a seat at the table, but his father remained by the desk in the corner. He picked up a long white envelope. Turning to Joshua, he said, “Mother’s onkel Marvin passed away a few months ago.”

Joshua frowned. “I don’t remember him.”

His mother set a plate on the table. “You never met him. He left the Amish as a young man and never spoke to my family again.”

“It seems Mother has inherited his property over by Hope Springs.” His father tapped the letter against his palm.

“I didn’t even know where he lived. His lawyer said he was fond of me because I was such a happy child. Strange, don’t you think? Would you like kaffi or milk?” she asked with a beaming smile on her face.

“Coffee. What kind of property did he leave you?”

“Forty acres with a house and barn,” his father replied. “But the lawyer says the property is in poor repair. I was going to go to Hope Springs the day after tomorrow to look it over, but you know how I hate long buggy trips. Besides, I need to get the ground worked so we can plant. Joshua, why don’t you go instead? It would take a load off me, and it would give you a little time to enjoy yourself before getting behind a planter again.”

Hope Springs was a day’s buggy ride from the farm. The idea of traveling wasn’t as appealing as it had once been, but doing something for his father was. “I’d be glad to go for you.”

His mother’s smile faded. “But Joshua has only just gotten home, Isaac.”

Joshua rose to his feet and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You have two whole days to spoil me with your wunderbar cooking before then. I’ll check out your property, and then I’ll be home for good.”

“Do you promise?” she asked softly.

He cupped her face in his palms. “I promise.”

* * *

“Mary, I have just the mann for you.”

Resisting the urge to bang her head on the cupboard door in front of her, Mary Kaufman continued mixing the lemon cake batter in the bowl she held. “I don’t want a man, Ada.”

Don’t want one. Don’t need one. How many ways can I say it before you believe me?

Except for her adopted father, Nick Bradley, most of the men in Mary’s life had brought her pain and grief. However, the prospect of finding her a husband was her adopted grandmother’s favorite subject. As much as Mary loved Ada, this got old.

“Balderdish! Every Amish woman needs a goot Amish husband.” Ada opened the oven door.

“The word is balderdash.”

Ada pulled a cake out using the folded corner of her black apron and dropped it on the stove top with a clatter. “Mein Englisch is goot. Do not change the subject. You will be nineteen in a few weeks. Do you want people to call you an alt maedel?”

“I’ll be twenty, and I don’t care if people call me an old maid or not.”

Ada frowned at her. “Zvansich?”

“Ja. Hannah just turned four. That means I’ll be twenty.” Mary smiled at her daughter playing with an empty bowl and wooden spoon on the floor. She was showing her dog, Bella, how to make a cake. The yellow Lab lay watching intently, her big head resting on her paws. Mary could almost believe the dog was memorizing the instructions.

Ada turned to the child. “Hannah, how old are you?”

Grinning at her great-grandmother, Hannah held up four fingers. “This many.”

Patting her chest rapidly, Ada faced Mary. “Ach! Then there is no time to lose. Delbert Miller is coming the day after tomorrow to fix the chicken haus. You must be nice to him.”

Mary slapped one hand to her cheek. “You’re right. There’s no time to lose. I’ll marry him straightaway. If he doesn’t fall through that rickety roof and squish all our chickens.”

She shook her head and began stirring again. “Go out with Delbert Miller? Not in a hundred years.”

“I know he is en adlichah grohsah mann, but you should not hold that against him.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “A fairly big man? Nee, he is a very big man.”

“And are you such a prize that you can judge him harshly?”

Mary stopped stirring and stared at the cuffs of her long sleeves. No matter how hot it got in the summer, she never rolled them up. They covered the scars on her wrists. The jagged white lines in her flesh were indisputable evidence that she had attempted suicide, the ultimate sin. Shame washed over her. “Nee, I’m not a prize.”

A second later, she was smothered in a hug that threatened to coat her in batter. “Forgive me, child. That is not what I meant. You know that. You are the light in this old woman’s heart and your dear dochder is the sun and the stars.”

Mary closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

God spared my life. He has forgiven my sins. I am loved and treasured by the new family He gave me. Bad things happened years ago, but those things gave me my beautiful child. She is happy here, as I dreamed she would be. I will not dwell in that dark place again. We are safe and that evil man is locked away. He can never find us here.

Hannah came to join the group, tugging on Mary’s skirt and lifting her arms for a hug, too. Mary set her bowl on the counter and picked up her daughter. “You are the sun and the stars, aren’t you?”

“Ja, I am.” Hannah gave a big nod.

“You are indeed.” Ada kissed Hannah’s cheek and Mary’s cheek in turn. “You had better hurry or you will be late for the quilting bee. I’ll finish that batter. Are you taking Hannah?”

“I am. She enjoys playing with Katie Sutter’s little ones.” Mary glanced at the clock in the corner. It was nearly four. The quilting bee was being held at Katie’s home. They were finishing a quilt as a wedding gift for Katie’s friend Sally Yoder. Sally planned to wed in the fall.

“Who else is coming?”

“Rebecca Troyer, Faith Lapp, Joann Weaver and Sarah Beachy. Betsy Barkman will be there, of course, and I think all her sisters will be, too.”

Betsy Barkman was Mary’s dearest friend. They were both still single and neither of them was in a hurry to marry—something few people in their Amish community of Hope Springs understood. Especially Betsy’s sisters. Lizzie, Clara and Greta had all found husbands. They were impatiently waiting for their youngest sister to do the same. Betsy had been going out with Alvin Stutzman for over a year, but she wasn’t ready to be tied down.

“Sounds like you’ll have a wonderful time. Make sure you bring me all the latest gossip.”

“We don’t gossip.” Mary winked at her grandmother.

“Ja, and a rooster doesn’t crow.”

Shifting her daughter to her hip, Mary crossed the room and gathered their traveling bonnets from beside the door. She stood Hannah on a chair to tie the large black hat over her daughter’s silky blond crown of braids. As she did, she heard the distant rumble of thunder.

Ada leaned toward the kitchen window to peer out. “There’s a storm brewing, from the looks of those clouds. The paper said we should expect strong storms today. You’d better hurry. If it’s bad, stay with the Sutters until it passes.”

“I will.”

“And you will be nice to Delbert when he visits.”

“I’ll be nice to him. Unless he squashes any of our chickens,” Mary said with a cheeky grin.

“Bothersome child. Get before I take a switch to your backside.” Ada shook the spoon at Mary. Speckles of batter went everywhere much to Bella’s delight. The dog quickly licked the floor clean and sat with her hopeful gaze fixed on Ada.

Laughing, Mary scooped up her daughter and headed out the door. Bella tried to follow, but Mary shook her head. “You stay with Mammi. We’ll be back soon.”

Bella gave her a reproachful look, but turned around and headed to her favorite spot beside the stove.

Mary soon had her good-natured mare harnessed and climbed in the buggy with Hannah. She glanced at the rapidly approaching storm clouds. They did look threatening. The sky held an odd greenish cast that usually meant hail. Should she go, or should she stay home? She hated to miss an afternoon of fun with her friends.

She decided to go. She would be traveling ahead of it on her way to the Sutter farm and Tilly was a fast trotter.

Mary wasted no time getting the mare up to speed once they reached the highway at the end of her grandmother’s lane. She glanced back several times in the small rearview mirror on the side of her buggy. The clouds had become an ominous dark shroud, turning the May afternoon sky into twilight. Streaks of lightning were followed by growing rumbles of thunder.

Hannah edged closer to her. “I don’t like storms.”

She slipped an arm around her daughter. “Don’t worry. We’ll be at Katie’s house before the rain catches us.”

It turned out she was wrong. Big raindrops began hitting her windshield a few minutes later. A strong gust of wind shook the buggy and blew dust across the road. The sky grew darker by the minute. Mary urged Tilly to a faster pace. She should have stayed home.

A red car flew past her with the driver laying on the horn. Tilly shied and nearly dragged the buggy into the fence along the side of the road. Mary managed to right her. “Foolish Englischers. Have they no sense? We are over as far as we can get.”

The rumble of thunder became a steady roar behind them. Tilly broke into a run. Startled, Mary tried to pull her back but the mare struggled against the bit.

“Tilly, what’s wrong with you?” She sawed on the reins, trying to slow the animal.

Hannah began screaming. Mary glanced back and her heart stopped. A tornado had dropped from the clouds and was bearing down on them, chewing up everything in its path. Dust and debris flew out from the wide base as the roar grew louder. Mary loosened the reins and gave Tilly her head, but she knew even the former racehorse wouldn’t be able to outrun it. They had to find cover.

The lessons she learned at school came tumbling back into her mind: get underground in a cellar or lie flat in a ditch.

There weren’t any houses nearby. She scanned the fences lining each side of the road. The ditches were shallow to nonexistent. The roar grew louder. Hannah kept screaming.

Dear God, help me save my baby. What do I do?

She saw an intersection up ahead.

Travel away from a tornado at a right angle. Don’t try to outrun it.

Bracing her legs against the dash, she pulled back on the lines, trying to slow Tilly enough to make the corner without overturning. The mare seemed to sense the plan. She slowed and made the turn with the buggy tilting on two wheels. Mary grabbed Hannah and held on to her. Swerving wildly behind the horse, the buggy finally came back onto all four wheels. Before the mare could gather speed again, a man jumped into the road, waving his arms. He grabbed Tilly’s bridle as she plunged past and pulled her to a stop.

Shouting, he pointed toward an abandoned farmhouse that Mary hadn’t seen back in the trees. “There’s a cellar on the south side.”

Mary jumped out of the buggy and pulled Hannah into her arms. The man was already unhitching Tilly, so Mary ran toward the ramshackle structure with boarded-over windows and overgrown trees hugging the walls. The wind threatened to pull her off her feet. The trees and even the grass were straining toward the approaching tornado. Dirt and leaves pelted her face, but fear for Hannah pushed her forward. She reached the old cellar door, but couldn’t lift it against the force of the wind. She was about to lie on the ground on top of Hannah when the man appeared at her side. Together, they were able to lift the door.

Mary glanced back and saw her buggy flying up into the air in slow motion. The sight was so mesmerizing that she froze.

A second later, she was pushed down the steps into darkness.


Chapter Two (#ulink_143e9cb8-c1e8-5932-bcdc-1b8ebc8913bf)

Pummeled by debris in the wind, Joshua hustled the woman and her child down the old stone steps in the hope of finding safety below. He had discovered the cellar that afternoon while investigating the derelict property for his father. He hadn’t explored the basement because the crumbling house with its sagging roof and tilted walls didn’t look safe. He couldn’t believe anyone had lived in it until a few months ago. Now its shelter was their only hope.

The wind tore at his clothes and tried to suck him backward. His hat flew off and out of the steep stairwell to disappear in the roiling darkness overhead. The roar of the funnel was deafening. The cellar door banged shut, narrowly missing his head and then flew open again. A sheet of newspaper settled on the step in front of him and opened gently as if waiting to be read. A second later, the cellar door dropped closed with a heavy thud, plunging him into total darkness.

He stumbled slightly when his feet hit the floor instead of another step. The little girl kept screaming but he barely heard her over the howling storm. It sounded as if he were lying under a train. A loud crash overhead followed by choking dust raining down on them changed the girl’s screaming into a coughing fit. Joshua knew the house had taken a direct hit. It could cave in on them and become their tomb instead of their haven.

He pressed the woman and her child against the rough stone wall and forced them to crouch near the floor as he huddled over the pair, offering what protection he could with his body. It wouldn’t be much if the floors above them gave way. He heard the woman praying, and he joined in asking for God’s protection and mercy. Another crash overhead sent more dust down on them. Choked by the dirt, he couldn’t see, but he felt her hand on his face and realized she was offering the edge of her apron for him to cover his nose and mouth. He clutched it gratefully, amazed that she could think of his comfort when they were all in peril. She wasn’t screaming or crying as many women would. She was bravely facing the worst and praying.

He kept one arm around her and the child. They both trembled with fear. His actions had helped them escape the funnel itself, but the danger was far from over. She had no idea how perilous their cover was, but he did.

He’d put his horse and buggy in the barn after he arrived late yesterday evening. One look at the ramshackle house made him decide to sleep in the backseat of his buggy while his horse, Oscar, occupied a nearby stall. The barn, although old and dirty, was still sound with a good roof and plenty of hay in the loft. His great-uncle had taken better care of his animals than he had of himself.

Joshua hoped Oscar was okay, but he had no way of knowing if the barn had been spared. Right now, he was more worried that the old house over their heads wouldn’t be. Had he brought this woman and her child into a death trap?

* * *

Terrified, Mary held Hannah close and prayed. She couldn’t get the sight of her buggy being lifted into the sky out of her mind. What if they had still been inside? What if her rescuer hadn’t appeared when he did? Was today the day she was to meet God face-to-face? Was she ready?

Please, Father, I beg You to spare us. If this is my time to come home to You, I pray You spare my baby’s life. But if You must take Hannah, take me, too, for I couldn’t bear to be parted from her again.

The roar was so loud and the pressure so intense that Mary wanted to cover her aching ears, but she couldn’t let go of Hannah or the apron she was using to cover their faces. The horrible howling went on and on.

Make it stop, God! Please, make it stop.

In spite of having her face buried in the cloth, thick dust got in her eyes and her nose with every breath. Hannah’s small body trembled against her. Her screams had turned to whimpers as her arms tightened around Mary’s neck. The roar grew so loud that Mary thought she couldn’t take it another moment. Her body shook with the need to run, to escape, to get away.

As soon as the thought formed, the sound lessened and quickly moved on. Was it over? Were they safe?

Thanks be to God.

Mary tried to stand, but the man held her down. “Not yet.”

She could hear the wind shrieking and lashing the trees outside, but the horrible pressure in her ears was gone and the roar was fading. In its place, groaning, cracking and thumps reverberated overhead. A thunderous crash shook the ceiling over them and the old timbers moaned. Hannah clutched Mary’s neck again. Mary glanced up fearfully. She couldn’t see anything for the darkness and the man leaning over her.

He said, “Stay close to the wall. It’s the safest place.”

She knew what he meant. It was the safest place if the floor above them came down. She huddled against the cold stones, pressing herself and Hannah into as small a space as possible, and waited, praying for herself, her child and the stranger trying to protect them. After several long minutes, she knew God had heard her prayers. The old boards above them stayed intact.

“Is the bad thing gone, Mamm?” Hannah loosened her stranglehold on Mary’s neck. Her small voice shook with fear.

Mary stroked her hair and kissed her cheek to soothe her. Somewhere in their mad dash, Hannah had lost her bonnet and her braids hung loose. “Ja, the bad storm is gone, but keep your face covered. The dust is very thick.”

Hannah was only quiet for a moment. “Can we go outside? I don’t like it in here.”

Mary didn’t like it, either. “In a minute, my heart. Now hush.”

“We must let the storm pass first,” the man said. His voice was deep and soothing. Who was he? In her brief glimpse of him, she had noticed his Amish dress and little else beyond the fact that he was a young man without a beard. That meant he was single, but she didn’t recognize him from the area. He was a stranger to her. A Good Samaritan sent by God to aid her in her moment of need. She wished she could see his face.

“Is Tilly okay, Mamm?”

“I don’t know, dear. I hope so.” Mary hadn’t spared a thought for her poor horse.

“Who is Tilly?” he asked.

“Our horse,” Hannah replied without hesitation, surprising Mary.

Hannah rarely spoke to someone she didn’t know. The current situation seemed to have erased her daughter’s fear of strange men, or at least this man. It was an anxiety Mary knew she compounded with her own distrust of strangers. She tried to accept people at face value, as good, the way her faith required her to do, but her dealings with men in the past had left scars on her ability to trust as well as on her wrists. Not everyone who gave aid did so without an ulterior motive.

“I think your horse is safe. I saw her running away across the field. Without the buggy to pull, she may have gotten out of the way.” There was less tension in his voice. Mary began to relax. The worst was over and they were still alive.

“But Tilly will be lost if she runs off.” Hannah’s voice quivered.

“Nee, a goot horse will go home to its own barn,” he assured her. “Is she a goot horse?”

Mary felt Hannah nod vigorously, although she doubted the stranger could see. “She’s a wunderbar horse,” Hannah declared.

“Then she’ll likely be home before you.”

Hannah tipped her head to peer at the man. “Did your horse run off, too?”

“Oscar is in the barn. He should be okay in there.”

Mary heard the worry underneath his words. In a storm like this, nowhere aboveground was safe.

Hannah rested her head on Mary’s shoulder. “Are Mammi Ada and Bella okay?”

“They are in God’s hands, Hannah. He will protect them.” The twister had come up behind them. Mary had no idea if it had touched down before or after it passed over the farm. She prayed for her dear grandmother.

“I want to go home. I want to see Mammi Ada and Bella.”

“Is Bella your sister?” the man asked.

“She’s my wunderbar dog.”

He chuckled. It was a warm, friendly sound. “Have you a wunderbar cat, as well?”

“I don’t. Bella doesn’t like cats. She’s going to be worried about me. We should go home now, Mamm.” Mary hoped they had a house waiting for them.

“We’ll get you home as soon as the storm has moved on,” the young man said as he stepped back.

Mary’s eyes were adjusting to the gloom. She could see he was of medium height with dark hair, but little else. She knew that without his help things could have been much worse. He could have taken shelter without risking his life to help them. She had his bravery and quick action to thank for getting them out of her buggy before it’d become airborne. Just thinking about what that ride would have been like caused a shiver to rattle her teeth.

He gave her an awkward pat on her shoulder. “I think the worst is over.”

She tried not to flinch from his touch. Her common sense said he wasn’t a threat, but trusting didn’t come easily to her. “We are grateful for your assistance. God was merciful to send you when He did.”

He gave a dry bark of laughter. “This time I was in the right place at the right time.”

What could he find funny in this horrible situation?

* * *

Joshua was amazed at how God had placed him exactly where he needed to be today to save this woman and child, and yet six months ago the Lord had put him in a position that sent him to prison for no good reason. Who could fathom the ways of God? Not he.

“I am Mary Kaufman and this is my daughter, Hannah.”

He heard the hesitation in her words and wondered at it. “I’m Joshua Bowman.”

“Thank you again, Joshua. Do you think it is safe to venture out?”

A loud clap of thunder rattled the structure over them. “I think we should wait awhile longer.”

The thunder was followed by the steady ping of hail against some metal object outside and the drone of hard rain. The tornado had passed but the thunderstorm had plenty of steam left.

“I reckon you’re right.” Abruptly, she moved away from him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be overly familiar.” Close contact between unmarried members of the opposite sex wasn’t permitted in Amish society. Circumstances had forced him to cross that boundary, but it couldn’t continue.

“You were protecting us.” She moved a few more steps away.

She was uncomfortable being alone with him. He couldn’t blame her. She had no idea who he was. How could he put her at ease? Maybe by not hovering over her. He sat down with his back against the old stone wall, refusing to think about the creepy-crawly occupants who were surely in here with them.

She relaxed slightly. “Do you live here?”

“I don’t, but my great-uncle did until he died a few months ago.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Danki, but I never knew him. He was Englisch. He left the family years ago and never contacted them again. Everyone was surprised to learn he had willed the property to my mother. She is only one of his many nieces.”

“He must have cherished a fondness for her.”

“So it would seem. My father sent me to check out the place, as the letter from the attorney said it was in rough shape. Daed wants to find out what will be needed to get it ready to farm, rent out or sell. Unfortunately, it’s in much worse condition than we expected.”

That was an understatement. His father would have to invest heavily in this farm to get it in working order, and the family didn’t have that kind of money. They would need to sell it.

“From the sounds of things, it will need even more repair after the storm passes.”

He chuckled at her wry tone. “Ja. I think the good Lord may have done us a favor by tearing down the old house. I just wish He had waited until we were out of the way.”

His eyes had grown accustomed to the gloom. He could make out Mary’s white apron and the pale oval of her face framed by her black traveling bonnet. She sat down, too, pulling her child into her lap. Together, they waited side by side in the darkness. At least she seemed less afraid of him now.

The thunder continued to rumble, punctuating the sound of the wind and the steady rain. They sat in tense silence. Even the child was quiet. After a while, the thunder grew less violent but the rain continued. Was it going to storm all night? If so, he might as well find out what was left of the property and see if he could get this young mother and daughter home.

He rose to his feet. “Stay here until I’m sure it’s safe to go out.”

She stood, too, holding her little girl in her arms. “Be careful.”

He made his way to the cellar door and pushed up on it. It wouldn’t budge.

He pushed harder. It still didn’t move. Something heavy was blocking it. He worked to control the panic rising in his chest. He couldn’t be trapped. Not in such a small place. It was like being in prison all over again. His palms grew damp and his heart began to pound.

“What’s wrong?” Mary asked.

The last thing he wanted was to scare her again, but she would soon find out what was going on. He worked to keep his tone calm. There was no point in frightening her more than she already was. “Something is blocking the door. I can’t move it. Can you give me a hand?”

He sounded almost normal and was pleased with himself. If she knew differently, she didn’t let on. Having someone else to worry about was helping to keep his panic under control.

“Hannah, stay right here,” Mary said, then made her way up the steps until she was beside him. She braced her arms against the overhead door. “On three.”

She counted off and they both pushed. Nothing. It could have been nailed shut for all their efforts accomplished. He moved a step higher and braced his back against the old boards. He pushed with all his might, straining to move whatever held it. Mary pushed, too, but still the door refused to budge.

This can’t be happening.

“Help! Help, we’re down here,” she yelled, and beat on the door with her fists. He wanted to do the same.

Don’t think of yourself. Think of her. Think of her child.They need you to be calm.

He drew a steadying breath. “There isn’t anyone around to hear you. This farm has been deserted for months.”

“There must be another way out.”

He heard the rising panic in her voice. He forced himself to relax and speak casually. “There should be a staircase to the inside of the house. Hopefully, it isn’t blocked.”

“Of course. Let’s find it. I don’t want to stay down here any longer than I must. All this dust isn’t good for Hannah.”

She started to move past him, but he caught her arm. “You could get hurt stumbling around in the dark. Stay here with your daughter. I’ll go look. I’ve got a lighter, but I’m not sure how much fuel is left in it. Shout if you hear anything outside. No one will be looking for me, but your family will be looking for you, right?”

“They will, but not soon.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Maybe someone will see your buggy out there and come to investigate.”

“My buggy isn’t out there. Didn’t you see it get sucked up and carried away?”

“I didn’t. I had my eyes fixed on you.”

“No one is going to know where to look for us, are they?” Her voice trembled.

“It won’t matter once I find a way out. I’ll be back as quick as I can.” It was an assurance he didn’t really feel.

He tried to remember the layout of the building he had surveyed for his father. Although he had looked in through the windows that hadn’t been boarded over, he hadn’t ventured inside to explore thoroughly since his father was more interested in the land and its potential. Joshua didn’t remember seeing a door that might be an inside entrance to the cellar. Some older houses only had outside entrances. The most logical place for the stairs would be near the kitchen at the other end of the house.

As it continued to rain, water began pouring through cracks in the floorboards overhead. That wasn’t good. It meant a part of the house had been torn open, allowing the rain to come in. How sound was what remained? The steady rumble of thunder promised more rain. Would the saturated wood give way and finish what the tornado had started? He looked over his shoulder. “Mary, stay near the wall or in the stairwell, okay?”

“I will.”

Joshua surveyed what he could in the darkness. The cellar itself wasn’t empty. The only clear place seemed to be where they were standing. The cavernous space was piled high with odds and ends of lumber, boxes, old tires and discarded household items. His great-uncle, it seemed, had been a hoarder as well as a recluse.

Joshua had put a lighter in his pocket before leaving the farm in case he ended up camping out. It had come in handy last night and now he pulled it out, clicked it on and held it over his head. Gray cobwebs waved from every surface in the flickering light that did little to pierce the gloom. He couldn’t keep the lighter on for long before he burned his fingers, so he quickly identified a path and let the light go out.

Stepping around a pair of broken chairs, he pushed aside wooden boxes of unknown items. When his shin hit something, he flicked on the lighter again. A set of box springs blocked his way. Most of the cloth covering had rotted away. Mice had made off with more. Skirting it as best he could without stepping on the springs, he continued along the cellar wall. A set of shelves on the far side was lined with dust-covered cans, jars and crocks, but he saw no stairs. He finished the circuit and moved back toward where Mary was standing. He flicked on his light.

“Have you discovered a way out?” Her voice shook only slightly, but he saw the worry in her eyes.

They weren’t going anywhere until someone found them. He had no idea how long that might take. They could be down here for hours, days even. The thought was chilling. He stopped a few feet away from her and let the light go out. How did he tell a frightened woman she was trapped in a cellar with a man who’d spent the past six months in prison?

* * *

When Joshua didn’t answer her question, Mary’s heart sank. She knew he hadn’t found an exit. She bit her thumbnail as she considered their predicament. Her friends would be concerned when she didn’t arrive at the quilting bee, but they might assume she had stayed home to wait out the storm. When she didn’t return home this evening, Ada would become concerned, but she might think Mary had decided to spend the night at the Sutter farm. Ada might not even know about the tornado if it had formed this side of the farm.

Mary hoped that was the case. Ada had a bad heart and didn’t need such worry. It could be morning before she became concerned about them and perhaps as late as noon before she realized they were missing.

Mary’s adoptive parents, Nick and Miriam Bradley would begin looking for them as soon as their absence was noted. Miriam stopped at the farm every morning and Nick dropped by every evening on his way home from work without fail. He would know about the tornado. He would stop by the farm this evening to make sure she and Hannah were safe. Would he go to the Sutter farm to check on them when he found they weren’t home? She had no way of knowing, but she prayed that he would.

It might take a while, but Nick would find them. Mary had no doubt of that. But would he find them before dark? Or was she going to have to spend the night with this stranger?


Chapter Three (#ulink_1135728a-95fc-5c73-8a4a-1df791c32f8d)

Mary shivered as she looked around the old cellar. If she had to spend the night in here, she wouldn’t like it, but she could do it. She would depend on God for His protection and comfort. In the meantime, she had to be brave for her child and make the best of a bad situation for Joshua’s sake, too. He was trying to hide his fear, but she saw it in his eyes.

“I noticed an old lantern hanging from a nail by the cellar steps. We should check and see if it has any kerosene in it.” She spoke calmly, surprised to find her voice sounded matter of fact.

“Good idea. I’ll see if I can find an ax or something useful to chop open or pry up the door.” Joshua flicked his lighter on. He located the lantern, took it down from the nail and shook it. A faint sloshing sound gave Mary hope.

Hannah tugged on her skirt. “I’m hungry. Can we go home now?”

Joshua leaned toward her. “You mean you want to go home before our adventure has ended?”

Hannah gave him a perplexed look. “What adventure?”

“Why, our treasure hunt.” He raised the glass chimney of the lantern and held his lighter to the wick. It flickered feebly for a second and then caught. He lowered the glass, wiped it free of dust with his sleeve and turned up the wick. The lamp cast a golden glow over their surroundings. It was amazing how much better Mary felt now that she could see.

“What kind of treasure hunt?” Hannah sounded intrigued by the idea.

“We’re all going to hunt for some useful things,” Mary said.

Joshua nodded. “That’s right. Let’s pretend that we are going to make this cellar into a home. What do we need first?”

“Chairs and a table,” Hannah said.

“Then help me look for some on our pretend shopping trip.” He glanced at Mary. She nodded and he held out his hand to Hannah. “I think I saw some chairs over this way. Don’t you like to go shopping? I do. This storekeeper needs to sweep out his store, though. This place is as dirty as a rainbow.”

Hannah scowled at him. “Rainbows aren’t dirty. They’re pretty and clean.”

He held his lantern higher. “Are they? Well, this place isn’t. It’s as dirty as a star.”

“Stars aren’t dirty, Joshua. They twinkle.”

“Then you tell me what is dirty.”

“A pigpen.”

“Yup, that is dirty, all right, but this place is worse than a pigpen. What else is dirty?”

“Your face.”

Mary choked on her laugh. Hannah was right. His face was covered in dirt. There were cobwebs on his clothes and bits of leaves and grass in his dark brown hair. It was then she realized how short his hair was. It wasn’t the style worn by Amish men. Joshua must still be in his rumspringa.

Mary had left her running-around years behind a few short weeks after Hannah was born. She had been baptized into the Amish faith at the age of sixteen, the time when most Amish teens were just beginning to test the waters of the English world.

Joshua seemed to notice she was staring at him. He rubbed a hand over his head in a self-conscious gesture and shook free some of the clinging grime.

Mary looked away. She wiped down her sleeves and brushed off her bonnet, knowing she couldn’t look much better. Oddly, she wished she had a mirror to make sure her face was clean. It wasn’t like her to be concerned with her looks, but she did wonder what Joshua thought of her.

That was silly. He would think she was a married woman with a child, and that was a good thing. She glanced at him again.

He wiped his face with both hands but it didn’t do much good. He spoke to Hannah. “This isn’t dirt. It’s flour. I was going to bake a cake.”

Hannah giggled at his silliness. “It is not flour.”

“Okay, but this is a table and we need one.” He held his find aloft. The ancient rocker was missing a few spindles in the back, but the seat was intact.

Hannah planted her hands on her hips. “That’s a chair.”

“It’s a good thing I have you to help me shop. I’d never find the right stuff on my own. Let’s go look for a donkey.”

Hannah giggled again. “Joshua, we don’t need a donkey in our house.”

“We don’t? I’m so glad. I don’t know where it would sleep tonight.”

His foolishness made Mary smile. He was distracting and entertaining Hannah. For that, she was grateful. Mary turned her attention to finding something to collect the rainwater. She had no idea how long they might be down here, but Hannah was sure to be thirsty soon.

She found a metal tub hanging from a post near the center of the room. It had probably been a washtub at one time. Using her apron, she wiped it out and positioned it under the worst of the dripping. Next, she found an empty glass canning jar and rinsed it out the same way. She put it in the center of the tub. Once the jar was full, the overflow would accumulate in the tub and leave her something to wash with later.

The plink, plink, plink of the water hitting the bottom of the jar was annoying, but they would be grateful for the bounty before morning. She refused to think they might be down here more than one night.

Taking off her bonnet, she laid it aside. Then she held the cleanest corner of her apron under a neighboring drip until it was wet and unobtrusively used it to scrub her face.

At the end of their shopping trip, Joshua and Hannah came back with two barely usable chairs, a small wooden crate for a third seat and another washtub with a hole in the side for a table, but no ax or tools. Joshua set the furniture up in their corner, allowing Hannah to arrange and rearrange them to her satisfaction in her imaginary house.

While her daughter was busy, Mary spoke quietly to Joshua. “I will be fine until we are rescued, but Hannah will be hungry soon. Do you have anything to eat?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry. Everything I have is out in my buggy in the barn. There are some cans and jars on the shelf back there. Want me to take a look?”

“Nee, you’re doing a wonderful job keeping Hannah occupied. I’ll go look.” Normally leery of strangers, Mary didn’t feel her usual disquiet with Joshua. She assumed their current circumstances made him seem like less of a stranger and more like a friend in need.

He pulled a candle stub from his pocket. “I found this along with a couple of others in a pan. It was the best one.” He lit it, dripped a small amount of wax on the overturned washtub and stuck the butt in it to hold the candle upright. Then he handed Mary the lantern.

“Someone was probably saving them to melt down to reuse.” She didn’t have a mold to form a new candle, but she could make one by dipping a wick in the melted wax. A strip of cotton cloth from her apron or from her kapp ribbon would make an adequate wick. She would work on that before the lantern ran out of fuel. Sitting in the dark was the last thing she wanted to do.

Hannah began jumping up and down. “I hear a siren. Do you hear it? It’s Papa Nick!”

Mary’s spirits rose until the welcome sound faded away. Nick wasn’t coming for them. He had no idea where she was. It might not even have been him. How much damage had been done by the tornado? Were others in need of rescue?

A few moments later, she heard the sound of another siren on the highway. Were they ambulances rushing to help people injured by the twister? She had been praying so hard for herself and for Hannah that she had forgotten about others in the area. This part of the county was dotted with English and Amish farms and businesses. How many had been destroyed? How many people had lost their lives? She prayed now for all the people she knew beyond the stone walls keeping her prisoner. It was the only thing she could do to help.

Lifting the lantern, she moved across the crowded room to the shelves Joshua had indicated and searched through the contents. She glanced back to see him placing the tub as Hannah instructed in her imaginary house. The lantern flickered and Mary turned up the wick. She hated being trapped, but at least she didn’t have to face the situation alone.

A dozen times in the next half hour the eerie wailing of sirens rose and fell as they passed by on the highway a quarter of a mile away from the house. Each time, Mary’s hopes sprang to life and then ebbed away with the sound. She met Joshua’s eyes. They both knew it was a bad sign.

* * *

Joshua noticed the growing look of concern on Mary’s face. It didn’t surprise him. He was concerned, too. He had no idea when rescue would come. Would anyone think to search an old house that had been abandoned for months? Why would they? He racked his brain for a way to signal that they were here, but came up empty. Someone would have to come close enough to hear them shouting.

Hannah came to stand in front of him with her hands on her hips. “Joshua, we need a stove and a bed now. Take me shopping again.”

She looked and sounded like a miniature version of her mother. He had to smile. “You are a bossy woman. Does your mother boss your daed that way?”

Hannah shook her head. “He died a long time ago. I don’t remember him. But I have Papa Nick.”

At first, Joshua had assumed Papa Nick was Englisch because Hannah connected him to the siren she heard. However, the siren could have belonged to one of the many Amish volunteer fire department crews that dotted the area. Was Papa Nick her new father, perhaps? He glanced to where Mary was searching the shelves and asked quietly, “Who is Nick?”

“He’s my papa Nick,” the child said, as if that explained everything.

“Is he your mother’s husband?”

“Nee.” She laughed at the idea.

He glanced at Mary with a new spark of interest. She wasn’t married, as he had assumed. It was surprising. Why would the men in this community overlook such a prize? Perhaps she was still mourning her husband. Joshua rubbed his chin. He noticed a bit of cobweb dangling from his fingers and shook it off. He needed to concentrate on getting out of this cellar, not on his interest in Hannah’s mother.

He patted Hannah’s head. “We will go shopping as soon as your mamm returns. Let’s wait and see if she brings us any treasures.”

“Okay.” Hannah sat on her makeshift chair, put her elbows on her knees and propped her chin in her hands. “I wish Bella was here.”

Joshua sat gingerly in the chair with a broken arm. He sighed with relief when it held his weight. Remembering the black-and-white mutt that had been his inseparable companion when he was only a little bit older than Hannah, he asked, “What kind of dog is she?”

“She’s a yellow dog.”

Joshua smothered a grin and managed to say, “They’re the best kind.”

“Yup. She was Mammi Miriam’s dog, but when I was born, Bella wanted to belong to me.”

Mary returned with several jars in her hand. “These pears are still sealed and the rings were taken off so they aren’t rusty. If worst comes to worst, we can try them, but they are nearly three years old from what I can read of the labels.”

He grimaced. “Three-year-old pears don’t sound appetizing.”

“I wasn’t suggesting they were, but I’ve known people to eat home-canned food that was older than this.”

“Really? How can you tell if it’s bad?”

“If the seal is intact, if the food looks good and smells okay, it should be okay...” Her voice trailed off.

He folded his arms over his chest. “You go first.”

She rolled her eyes and he smiled. He could have been trapped with a much less enjoyable companion. “Come on, Hannah. We’re going shopping for a bed. I think I saw one earlier that might go with our decor.”

“What’s decor?” Hannah asked, jumping off her chair.

He gestured toward his clothing. “It means style.”

“What is your style?” Mary asked with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

“Cobwebs and dust. What’s yours?” He leaned toward her. “How did you get your face clean?”

She blushed and looked down. “There is plenty of water dripping in on the other side. You could wash up if you’d like.”

“Good idea. Come on, Hannah. Let’s get some of this decor off of us.”

“Ja, it’s yucky.”

Mary stopped Hannah. She lifted the girl’s apron off over her head, tore it in two and handed him the pieces. “Use this to wash and dry with. It’s the cleanest thing you’ll find down here.”

“Danki.” As he took it from her, his fingers brushed against hers, sending a tiny thrill across his skin. She immediately thrust her hands in the pockets of her dress and her blush deepened.

She was a pretty woman. He liked the way wisps of her blond hair had come loose from beneath her kapp and curled around her face. He liked her smile, too. Would he have noticed her if they hadn’t been forced together? In truth, he wouldn’t have looked twice if he saw her with a child. He realized he was staring and turned away. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable.

After washing Hannah’s face and his own, Joshua returned to find Mary had put the candle stubs he’d seen in a small jar. She was melting them over the flame of the candle on the tub. Hannah had found a worn-out broom with a broken handle. She began using it to sweep the floor of her house. “We didn’t find a stove, Mamm.”

Joshua gestured toward Mary’s jar. “Are you going to make me eat wax for supper because I don’t want your ancient pears?”

Using a piece of broken glass, she cut the ribbons off her kapp. “Nee, I’m making more candles.”

“Smart thinking.” The lantern had been flickering. It would go out soon and he hadn’t found more kerosene.

She flashed him a shy smile before looking down. “I have my moments.”

He noticed she had opened one of the jars of fruit. “Did you eat some of that?”

She nodded. “If I don’t get sick, it should be fine for the two of you.”

“I’m not sure that was smart thinking. Were they good?”

“As sweet as the day they were canned, but kind of mushy. Would you like some?”

“I’ll pass. I might have to take care of you if you get sick. Besides, I’m not hungry.”

She glanced up. “I feel fine. Did you find a bed for Hannah?”

He sat down in the chair. “Just some rusty box springs and a pile of burlap sacks. I’ll bring them over later. It’s not much, but it will have to do. I’m sorry I couldn’t find anything for you.”

“The rocker will suit me fine.” She dipped her ribbon in the melted wax and pulled it out. Letting it harden, she waited a little while and then dipped it again. Each time she pulled it out, the candle grew fatter. Hannah came over and Mary allowed her to start her own candle.

It was pleasant watching them work by lantern light. Mary was patient with her daughter, teaching her by showing her what to do and praising her when she did well. Outside, the sound of rain faded away. The storm was over. Would someone find them soon?

“You mentioned you were here inspecting the property. Where is home?”

He gingerly settled back in his chair. “My family has a farm and a small business near a place called Bowmans Crossing. It’s north and west of Berlin.”

“Do you have a big family?” Hannah asked.

“Four brothers, so not very big.”

Hannah gave a weary sigh. “I want a brother and a sister, but Mamm says no.”

Joshua chuckled.

Mary refused to look at him. “You have Bella. That’s enough.”

He couldn’t resist teasing her. “Your mamm needs a husband first, Hannah.”

Hannah’s eyes widened and she held up a hand. “That’s what Mammi Ada says. She says Mamm will turn into an old maedel if we don’t find her a husband soon.”

Joshua tipped his head to the side as he regarded Mary’s crimson cheeks. “I think she has a few years yet. Tell your grandmother not to worry.”

“I wish you two would stop talking about me as if I weren’t here. Your candle is thick enough, Hannah. I think Joshua should make up a bed for you.”

Hannah looked at her in shock. “You mean we have to sleep here?”

Mary cupped her daughter’s cheek. “I’m afraid so.”

“I sure wish this adventure was over. Can I have supper now?”

Mary glanced at Joshua. He shrugged. “If you feel okay, I don’t see why not.”

Hannah enjoyed eating sticky pear halves with her fingers while Joshua fixed a makeshift bed for her. It wasn’t much, but it would keep her off the cold damp floor. She made a face as she crawled onto the burlap bags. Mary checked the edge of her apron and found it was dry now. She pulled it off and used it to cover Hannah. It wasn’t long before the child was asleep. The lamp died a few minutes later.

Joshua lit the candle that Mary had made and stuck it to the middle of the tub. It would burn out long before the night was over. Mary settled in the rocker, but he knew she didn’t sleep any better than he did. The long night crawled past. He had no way to tell time. He simply had to endure the darkness, as he had done in prison.

The distant rumble of thunder woke him some time later. He lifted his head and winced at the pain in his neck. Opening his eyes, he realized he was still in the cellar. It was dark, but he could make out Mary’s form in the other chair.

She sat forward and bent her neck slowly from side to side. “Is it morning?”

“I think so.”

“It’s raining again.”

“Ja.”

“I was dreaming about bacon and eggs.”

His stomach rumbled. “I was dreaming about three-year-old pears.”

“Really?”

“Nee, I wasn’t dreaming at all. If I was, I’d wake up and find I was at home in my own bed.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?”

They both stood and stretched. She looked at him. “What’s the plan for today?”

He rubbed his bristly cheeks with both hands. “I thought you had a plan.”

“I’m sure it’s your turn to come up with something. I thought of making the candles.”

He nudged the broken rocker with his boot. “Which was good, but I thought of finding furniture for our snug little home. It’s your turn to be brilliant.”

“I’ve never felt less brilliant in my life. What would you like for breakfast? I believe we have more three-year-old pears or some four-year-old peaches.”

“Peaches,” Hannah said, sitting up on her makeshift mattress.

“Peaches,” he agreed. “Provided they look safe.”

After their meal, they spent more time exploring for a way out without success. By noon, the rain had moved on and a few narrow beams of sunlight streamed through cracks in the floorboards overhead, allowing them to see their dismal surroundings a little better.

Joshua studied the cracks for a while. “I think I might be able to knock some of the floor planks loose if I can find something sturdy to reach them.”

“I knew you would have a plan.” Mary began to search through the piles of junk and he joined her.

The best thing he could come up with was a post about five feet long and two inches thick. He chose a spot overhead, wrapped some cloth around one end of the wood to prevent slivers and began thrusting it upward. Mary and Hannah stood nearby watching him. After half an hour, his arms were aching, the end of the post was beginning to splinter and the floorboard above him had only been displaced by an inch. It was something, but it wasn’t enough.

Mary reached for his battering ram. “Let me work on it for a while. Do you think we’d do better to try and knock a hole in the cellar door?”

He handed her the wooden post. “It’s reinforced with metal straps and I didn’t see any light shining in through it. There’s no telling what’s on top of it. I know it’s open above me here.”

They took turns working for several hours and had the ends of two planks above them loose when Mary suddenly grabbed his arm. “Wait. Stop. I hear a dog.”

The barking grew louder.

Hannah got up off the floor and began jumping. “I hear Bella.”

Joshua gave a mighty heave and the floorboard broke, leaving a narrow space open. They looked at each other. “Neither of us can fit through that,” he said, his excitement ebbing away.

“Hannah might be able to.”

The sunlight dimmed and Joshua looked up. The head of a large yellow dog was visible above him. The dog barked excitedly. Hannah rushed to Joshua’s side. “I knew I heard Bella.”

“I hear voices, too.” Mary began shouting. A few moments later, the dog was pushed aside.

An English woman with brown hair knelt down to look in. “Mary, is that you? Is Hannah with you?”

Tears of joy streamed down Mary’s face. “We’re okay, Miriam, but we can’t get the cellar door open.”

“Thank God you are safe. We’ll get you out. Don’t worry. Nick, I found them!” She disappeared from view. The dog came back to the opening. She lay down and woofed softly.

Mary threw her arms around Joshua in an impulsive hug. “I knew they would find us. I just knew it.”

Bella barked again. As if Mary realized what she was doing, she suddenly stepped away from Joshua and crossed her arms. “It’s Miriam and Nick, my adoptive parents. Nick will get us out of here.”

Joshua heard activity at the door and the sounds of something heavy being dragged aside. “Looks like our prayers have been answered.”

Mary picked up Hannah. Joshua followed them as they hurried to the stairwell.

From the other side, a man said, “Everyone stand clear.”

“We are, Nick.” Mary replied. The sound of an ax striking the portal was followed by splintering wood. A hole appeared in the top of the door and grew rapidly. Through it, Joshua could see the leaves and limbs of a large tree that must have been holding the door shut. Mary’s father was swinging the ax like a madman. Joshua ached to help, but he could only stand by and wait.

Finally, the top section of the door broke free and a man’s hands reached in. “Give me Hannah.”

Mary handed the child over and then waited until the opening was enlarged. Joshua boosted her up and then climbed out on his own. The sunshine and the fresh air was a blessed relief from their dark, dank room. He blinked in the brightness and focused on Hannah in the arms of a woman in her early thirties. Mary was in the embrace of a man in a brown uniform. It wasn’t until he released her that Joshua realized he was an Englisch lawman.

Mary turned to him with a bright smile, but he couldn’t smile back. “Joshua, this is my adopted father, Sheriff Nick Bradley.”

A knot formed in the pit of Joshua’s stomach as dread crawled up his spine.


Chapter Four (#ulink_1624ae24-ca95-5e2b-98bf-4491b7c396e9)

Mary’s father was the Englisch sheriff!

It was all Joshua could do to stand still. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but that hadn’t made any difference the last time he’d had a run-in with the law. Cold sweat began trickling down his back.

“The storm came up so suddenly. I didn’t know what to do when I saw the funnel cloud. Then Joshua stopped Tilly and pulled us into the cellar. God put him there to rescue us.” Mary was talking a mile a minute until she turned to look at the house. Her eyes widened.

Joshua turned, too. Only part of one wall had been left standing. The rest was a pile of jagged, splinted wood, broken tree limbs, scattered clothing and old appliances. A small round table sat in one corner of what must have been a bedroom. There was a book and a kerosene lamp still sitting on it. The remainder of the room had been obliterated.

Hannah reached for Nick. He took the child from Miriam, who promptly drew Mary into her embrace.

“We’re so thankful you’re safe. God bless you, Joshua.” Miriam smiled her thanks at him.

Hannah threw her arms around Nick’s neck. “I’m so happy to see you, Papa Nick.”

“I’m happy to see you, too, Hannah Banana,” he said, patting her back, his voice thick with emotion.

She drew back to frown at him. “I’m not a banana.”

He smiled and tweaked her nose. “You’re not? Are you sure?”

She giggled. “I’m a girl.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

It was apparently a running gag between the two, because they were both grinning. The sheriff put Hannah down and held out his hand to Joshua. “Pleased to meet you. My heartfelt thanks for keeping my girls safe.”

Joshua reluctantly shook the man’s hand and hoped the sheriff didn’t notice how sweaty his palms were. “No thanks are necessary.”

Nick’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You aren’t from around here, are you? I didn’t catch your last name.”

Here it comes. Joshua braced himself. “Bowman. My family is from over by Berlin.”

“The name rings a bell. Who is your father?” Nick tilted his head slightly as he stared at Joshua intently.

“Isaac Bowman.” Joshua held his breath as he waited to be denounced as a criminal. What would Mary think of her rescuer then? He wasn’t sure why it mattered, but it did.

Miriam lifted Hannah into her arms. “Stop with the interrogation, Nicolas. Let’s get these children someplace safe. We still have a lot of work to do.”

“Is Ada okay?” Mary asked, looking to Miriam.

Nodding, Miriam said, “She’s fine except for being worried about you and Hannah. The house was only slightly damaged, but her corncribs were destroyed.”

“Oh, no. Who else was affected? We heard the sirens last evening.”

Miriam and Nick exchanged speaking glances. Nick said, “A lot of people. The Sutters’ house was damaged. Elam has minor injuries. Katie, the kids and the women who were gathered for the quilting bee are all okay. I’m sorry to tell you that Bishop Zook was seriously injured. They took him to the hospital last night and into surgery this morning. We’re still waiting for word about him. He lost his barn and his house was heavily damaged, but his wife is okay.”

“Oh, dear.” Mary’s eyes filled with tears. Miriam hugged her.

Nick cleared his throat. “The tornado went straight through the south end of Hope Springs. Ten blocks of the town were leveled. We’re only beginning to assess the full extent of the damage in the daylight. I need to get back there. We’ve still got a search-and-rescue effort underway. As of noon, we had seven people unaccounted for, but that goes down to five now that we’ve found you and Hannah.”

Mary took Hannah from Miriam. “How did you find us? We were supposed to be at the Sutter place.”

Nick said, “When Ada saw your mare come home without you, she got really worried. She walked to a neighbor’s house to use their phone to call me last night. We checked with Katie and learned you never arrived. Your buggy was found in Elam Sutter’s field at first light this morning. When we saw you weren’t in it, we picked up Bella in the hopes that she could locate you and tried to retrace your path. She led us here.”

“She must have heard us pounding. She couldn’t have followed our scent after all that rain,” Mary said.

“I don’t know how she knew, but she did.” Miriam patted the dog and then began walking toward the road, where a white SUV sat parked at the intersection with its red lights flashing. The sheriff followed her.

Grateful that he hadn’t been outed, Joshua caught Mary’s arm, silently asking her to remain a moment. She did. Their brief time together was over and he needed to get going. “I’m glad things turned out okay for you and Hannah.”

“Only by God’s grace and because you were here.”

“You were very brave, Mary. I want you to know how much I admire that. You’re a fine mother and a good example for your daughter. I’m pleased to have met you, even under these circumstances.”

She blushed and looked down. “I have been blessed to meet you, too, and I shall always count you among my friends.”

“I need to get going. My folks are expecting me home in a day or two. When they hear about this storm they’ll worry.” He took a step back.

Mary’s eyes grew round as she looked past him. “Oh, no.”

“What?” He turned and saw the barn hadn’t been spared. Half of it was missing and the rest was leaning precariously in hay-covered tatters. He’d been so shaken to see the sheriff that he had forgotten about his horse. He started toward what was left of the building at a run.

* * *

Mary was tempted to follow Joshua, but she knew he might need more help than she could provide. Instead, she ran after Nick. She caught up with him and quickly explained the situation.

Nick said, “I’ll help him. Let Miriam drive you and Hannah home and then she can come back for me.”

“Absolutely not,” Miriam said before Mary could answer. “I’m not leaving until you and that young man are both safe.”

He kissed her cheek. “That’s why I love you. You never do what I tell you. Call headquarters and let them know what’s going on. I don’t want them to think I’ve gone on vacation.”

“I will. Be careful.”

As Nick jogged toward the barn, Mary said, “I’m going to see what I can do.”

“No, the men can manage.”

“More hands will lighten the load.” Mary raced after Nick. When she reached the teetering edge of the barn, she hesitated. She couldn’t see what was holding it up as she slowly made her way inside the tangled beams and splintered wood. Everything was covered with hay that had spilled down from the loft. It could be hiding any number of hazards.

Once she reached the interior, she no longer had to scramble over broken wood, so the going was easier. She saw the flattened remains of Joshua’s buggy beneath a large beam. Ominous creaking came from overhead. Joshua and Nick were pulling debris away from one of the nearby stalls. A section of the hayloft had collapsed like a trapdoor, blocking their way. She reached Joshua’s side and joined him as he pulled at a stubbornly lodged board.

He stopped what he was doing and scowled at her. “Get out of here right now.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.” She yanked on the board and it came free. She tossed it behind her.

Joshua turned to Nick. “Tell her it isn’t safe.”

“It isn’t safe, Mary,” Nick said.

“It is safe enough for you two to be in here.” She lifted another piece of wood and threw it aside.

“See what I have to put up with, Joshua? None of the women in my family listen to me.”

Mary heard a soft whinny from inside the stall. “Your horse is still alive, Joshua.”

He said, “We’re coming, Oscar. Be calm, big fella.”

They all renewed their efforts and soon had a small opening cleared. The gap was only wide enough for Mary to slip through. Joshua’s horse limped toward her. He had a large cut across his rump and down his hip.

“Oh, you poor thing.” Mary stroked his face. He nuzzled her gently.

“How is he?” Joshua asked.

“He has a bad gash on his left hip, but the bleeding has stopped. How are we going to get him out of here?”

Nick said, “Even if we free him from the stall, he can’t climb over the debris to get out the way we came in.”

“Can you cut through the outside wall?” To her, it looked like the fastest way out.

“The silo came down on that side and left a few tons of bricks in the way.”

Looking around from inside the stall, Mary saw only one other likely path. “If you can get into the next stalls and pull down the walls between them and this one, we could lead him through to the outside door at the far end of the building.”

“It’s worth a look,” Nick said.

He and Joshua headed in that direction. She heard Joshua call to her. “Mary, if the upper level starts shifting, I want you to leave the horse and get out as fast as you can.”

“I will,” she called back. She patted Oscar’s dusty brown neck and said softly, “Don’t worry. We’ll get out of this together.”

The sound of her father’s ax smashing into wood told her they were starting. She looked up, ready to scurry through the gap if she had to.

She hadn’t been waiting long when the chopping stopped. She heard voices but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Oscar whinnied. From outside, more horses answered. The sound of a chain saw sent her spirits soaring. Someone had joined Nick and Joshua.

It took less than five minutes before she saw her new rescuer cutting through the adjoining stall. It was Ethan Gingerich, a local Amish logger. Oscar began shifting uneasily. She realized he was frightened by the sound and smell of the chain saw. He tried to rear in the small space with her. She barely had room to avoid his hooves.

“Ethan, wait! He’s too fearful.”

Ethan killed the saw’s engine. Oscar quieted, but he was still trembling. Mary patted his neck to reassure him and spoke soothingly.

“Use this to cover his eyes.” Ethan, a bear of a man, unbuttoned the dark vest he wore over his blue shirt, slipped it off and handed it to Joshua. Joshua climbed over the half wall with ease and quickly tucked the vest into Oscar’s halter, making sure the horse couldn’t see any light. Although the horse continued to tremble, he didn’t move. Without the roar of the saw, Mary could hear creaking and groaning from the remains of the hayloft.

Joshua kept his hold on Oscar and gave Mary a tired smile. “I’ve got him now. Thanks for your help. You would be doing me a great favor if you went outside.”

His shirt was soaked with sweat and covered with sawdust and bits of straw. He’d been working to the point of exhaustion to get to her, not just to his horse. She nodded and watched relief fill his eyes. “I reckon I can do that.”

He moved closer to the half wall and bent his knee. She stepped up and swung her leg over the wide boards. Nick caught her around the waist and lifted her down. She brushed off her skirt, straightened her kapp and went down the length of the barn through the openings they had cut. Behind her, she heard the chain saw roar to life again. She was tempted to stop and make sure all the men got out safely, but she knew they didn’t need her.

Outside, she saw Miriam standing a few yards away beside the team of huge draft horses that belonged to Ethan. She had Hannah by the hand. When Hannah saw her, she dropped Miriam’s hand and raced forward. “Mamm, Bella chased a rabbit into the field and she won’t come back. I called her and called her.”

“That naughty dog.” She swung Hannah up into her arms.




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