An Amish Christmas. Patricia Davids

Something in the tone of his voice made her suspect he hadn’t. “The bed was not to your liking?”

      He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “It wasn’t that.”

      “Then what was it?”

      “Anna mentioned that Jacob thinks your family might get in trouble for having me here.”

      Turning around, she folded her arms and stated as firmly as she could, “You were invited into this house. There is nothing wrong in that.”

      “Are you sure? Because I got the feeling your father wasn’t happy to see me, either.”

      “Papa has agreed that you may stay.”

      It had taken some persuading, but Karen had been able to convince her father that having an outsider with them for a short period of time would not be harmful. She was sure her father didn’t suspect the depths of her interest in John Doe. If he did he would never allow him to stay.

      To change the subject, she asked, “How do you like your eggs?”

      “Scrambled.”

      She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Is that a thing you remember?”

      “I don’t know. It’s just the first thing that came to mind.”

      Using a fork, she whipped the eggs quickly and added them to the skillet. “What is it that you would like to do today?”

      “I need to discover why I was in this area.”

      Wrapping the corner of her apron around the coffeepot handle, she carried it to the table. “If the sheriff could not discover the reason, what makes you think you can?”

      He waited until she had finished filling his cup. After taking a sip, he said, “I don’t know if I can do better or not, but I have the most at stake. I have to try.”

      Karen returned the coffeepot to the stove and stirred the eggs. “It seems a simple thing. If you were on this road, then you must have been on your way to, or coming from, one of the farms along this road.”

      “It’s a simple thing if I was on this road in the first place because I wanted to be.”

      She glanced at him and frowned. “What you mean?”

      “The sheriff is going on the assumption that I was robbed and my car was stolen along with my wallet and any personal effects. I could’ve been dumped here by someone who was attempting to hide my body.”

      She shook her head. “There are much better places to hide a body than on our farm lane.”

      “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

      She dished the eggs onto a plate. After carrying it to the table, she got a second mug, filled it with coffee and sat down across from him. “Will you then visit every farm along this road?”

      “That is the only plan I can come up with. What do you think?”

      “It makes sense, but it may not be easy.” She hesitated not knowing exactly how to phrase her words.

      “What do you mean?”

      “There are over forty farms along Pleasant View road. Most belong to Amish farmers.”

      “And?”

      “They may not be comfortable talking to an outsider.”

      Picking up a spoon, he stirred his coffee slowly. After a moment he looked directly into her eyes. “Will you help me?”

      She glanced out the window toward the barn. Papa would not like her getting involved. It troubled her that she was considering helping this man against her father’s wishes. But she was.

      John must have sensed her reluctance. He said, “If you aren’t comfortable with helping me, I understand. You don’t know anything about me.”

      Tipping her head in his direction, she arched one eyebrow. “You don’t know much about you, either.”

      That brought a ghost of a smile to his face. “True.”

      Crossing her arms on the table she stared at him. “I know that you like scrambled eggs and that you don’t want to cause me trouble. I will do what I can to help you, but I am afraid it may not be much.”

      Rising to her feet, Karen said, “Finish your breakfast. I have much work I must do today, but tomorrow I will drive you to some of our neighbors’ farms.”

      “Are you sure we can’t get started today?”

      She scowled at him. “Who will bake my bread? Who will mend the clothes my brothers must wear? Who will cook lunch for my father and our evening meal? These things I must do and many more. Tomorrow, I will make time for you. Besides, you need a day of rest. I see it in your eyes.”

      He looked ready to protest, but finally nodded. “You’re right. One more day won’t make a difference. You rented me a house, you didn’t sign on to be my driver.”

      “Goot, and you will rest, ja?”

      “I’ll try. Does Hope Springs have a public library?”

      “Yes. It is across from the English school on Maple Street. Why?”

      “I need internet access. There is a national website for missing persons called NamUs. If anyone in the country reports a man of my description missing, the information will be posted there. I know Sheriff Bradley is doing all he can, but he doesn’t have much manpower to devote to my case. I must help myself.”

      “Tomorrow, we can go there first thing.”

      “No, I’d like to start questioning people first.”

      “As you wish. Now you must finish your breakfast and get out from under my foot so I may wash the kitchen floor.”

      He quickly finished his plate, swigged the rest of his coffee and carried everything to the sink. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

      “Ja. Would you go to the barn and check on Dat?”

      “Your dad?”

      She nodded. “I’m worried about him. He is trying to do too much too soon. He broke his arm five weeks ago when a neighbor’s horse kicked him. He wants to get back to work, but the doctor says no. The broken bone damaged a nerve and he has lost feeling in his hand.”

      “I’ll be happy to check on him.”

       “Danki.”

      He eyed her intently. “And that means?”

      “It means, thank you.”

      “How do you say, you’re welcome?”

       “Du bischt wilkumm.”

      He repeated the phrase and she was surprised by his almost perfect pronunciation. “Goot. Now, out, or you will find yourself with a mop in hand.”

      She was smiling as he walked out, but her grin faded quickly. She had chosen to remain with her family and care for her younger brothers and sisters after their mother was killed. She had given up her chance to marry and have a family of her own because she had been needed here.

      At twenty-five, she was considered an old maid by many in the community. She considered herself too old and too wise for a youthful infatuation, but that was exactly the way she felt around John.

      He was handsome in his English way, but he was not Plain. So why did a smile on his face make her heart beat faster? It was wrong to think of him in such a way. To forget that would be to bring heartache to all her family. They had suffered enough already. She would not bring them more pain.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      Stepping