“You sure you want to do that? You would be charged with theft. This dog belongs to Glenn Yoder.”
“Then what was he doing on my property in the middle of the night? He killed one of my lambs. Do you understand? My flock is my livelihood.”
My heart was beating triple time. Ach, everything was happening so quickly that I’d forgotten to tether Autumn, who was grazing on weeds and grasses at the side of the road. I hurried over to her and grabbed the reins. Heath bounded after me and licked my hand. Then he jumped into the buggy.
The Englisch man shook his fist as Stephen backstepped toward the buggy.
“That dog bit me and killed one of my lambs. I’m calling animal control and the police.”
The man trailed Stephen, who seemed unfazed.
Stephen came to a halt. “Where’s your proof he killed the lamb? In fact, where is this dead animal?”
“You insinuating I’m lying?” He balled his fist.
Stephen seemed to grow in stature. He glanced my way. “You still driving, Eva? Better get in the buggy.”
“Yah, but I wish we had your pickup to rely on.” My face must have been white, drained of blood.
“You want me to drive?”
“Nee, I can manage.” My hands shook as I hoisted myself into the buggy.
“Let’s get out of here before that guy really goes ballistic.” Stephen climbed in next to Heath. “One thing for sure, Eva. I can safely tell Glenn you know how to drive a buggy.”
“But I forgot to tether Autumn.”
“When you meet Glenn, you are welcome to relate that tidbit, but as far as I’m concerned, you did the best you could under the circumstances. He will be delighted to get his dog back.”
As I steered Autumn toward the nursery, Stephen wrapped his left arm over the dog’s back. “I wonder what brought him down here to begin with.”
The same thought was weaving through my mind. “Do you think that man snuck into the café last night?”
“I can’t imagine why he would. Unless he bears a grudge against Glenn for some reason.”
“If he did, where did he get a key?” I looked out the back window to make sure he wasn’t following us in a car or truck.
“That’s a missing piece of the puzzle. In any case, I don’t want to tangle with him again.”
“He could have hurt you. I’m thankful you and Heath are okay.” I wanted to ask Stephen where he’d learned to fight so well, but he answered before I could speak.
“I grew up in foster care and on the streets in Philly until age thirteen. Then a Mennonite couple adopted me and brought me to New Holland.”
“How about your parents?”
“My mother told me she didn’t know who my father was. A one-night stand, and she never got his name or saw him again.”
“Where does she live?”
“In the state penitentiary. I tried visiting her a few times, but it was no good. She wants nothing to do with me. I consider my adoptive parents my real parents.” He swiped his mouth. “I bet they would not have approved of that tussle I just had.”
“Yah, I suspect not if they’re Mennonite. But he could have killed you.”
He stroked Heath. “I never thought I’d have to defend myself again.”
I noticed a buggy approaching, pulled by a black horse resembling Jake’s father’s standardbred. The driver, his chin cleanly shaven, wore a baseball hat and sat next to a young Englisch woman. As we neared, I pulled the reins to slow Autumn and take a good look at the driver. Was it Jake, or was my imagination tricking me?
As we passed each other, his gaze locked onto mine. Then, in an instant, he was gone.
FIFTEEN
When Stephen and I returned to the nursery, Beatrice, Mark, and several other employees stood waiting for us. They gushed over Heath while Stephen and I were pummeled with questions. Stephen deflected their concerns and complimented me on my skill as a buggy driver.
“What’s this?” Beatrice pointed out a drop of blood on the ground and a two-inch tear in Heath’s back leg. “Looks as though Heath got caught in barbed wire.”
“He may need stitches. I’d better run him to the veterinarian’s office.” Stephen clicked on Heath’s leash. “I didn’t notice under all that mud.”
“You should call first to make sure they’re still open,” Beatrice said.
While Mark washed off Heath’s leg, Stephen called the local vet, who told him to take the dog to the emergency veterinarian’s office in Gordonville.
I unhitched Autumn and gave her the other carrot I’d stashed in my pocket. “Here you go, girl.” She chomped into it.
I had thoroughly enjoyed driving her, and my confidence in my driving abilities had been confirmed. Still, visions of Stephen and that Englisch man fighting, Heath biting the man’s arm, and then spotting Jake driving his dat’s buggy barraged my mind. More than ever I was determined to visit the Millers on Sunday to see him and to find out how his father was recovering. I figured my mamm had already dropped by to leave food and offer assurance.
Beatrice strutted over to me. “Looks as though you’ve had quite a time of it.”
“Our ride was more than I’d expected.” Because Stephen hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t mention Stephen’s scuffle with the Englischer or the man’s accusations against Heath.
“I wonder why Heath ran away,” Beatrice said. “He never has before.”
“Maybe to chase the vandal?” Mark said. He unhitched the buggy.
Stephen said, “Or something as simple as following the scent of a female dog in heat.”
Mark chortled and then swiped the smirk off his mouth.
I was grateful Stephen didn’t invite me to go with him. I’d never hear the end of it from Beatrice.
I stepped into the barn to look after Autumn. I offered her fresh water and fed her a scoop of grain to compensate for all her exercise. She munched into it, and I searched for and found a
