“Hello. I’m Eva Lapp.” I tried to appear composed.
A cigarette hung from her lower lip. “I’m Bill’s—er, wife.” She cinched her robe and leaned through the doorway. “Don’t pay no attention to Billy. I didn’t hear nothing last night or this morning.”
“What about Ralph? Do you know where he is?”
“I haven’t seen that bum since yesterday, and good riddance.”
“Did he have a dog with him?”
“He don’t own no dog.” She hacked but didn’t remove the cigarette.
“Do you know where he might be?” I was determined to pump her well dry for information.
She exhaled a puff of smoke. “Bill thinks Ralph often goes to a barn to sleep it off. Because he comes back with a hangover and covered with hay.”
“The one that got burnt down years ago and then rebuilt?”
“I wouldn’t know. Ralph could be anywhere. One thing we got plenty of around here is barns.”
Male voices expanded in volume as all the men except Bill returned, grumbling to each other.
“Well?” I stood. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you found.”
“Nothing. One lamb is missing, according to Bill, and no sign of Heath.” Stephen moved closer. “My hunch is a pack of coyotes dragged the lamb away.”
“Ach, that’s sad.” Thankfully, I hadn’t seen a lamb’s mangled carcass.
“Yep. If any of his story is true.”
“What about Ralph?” I looked to the front door, but Bill’s wife—or whatever her relationship to him was—had retreated into the house, leaving a trace of cigarette smoke as a witness to her presence. I assumed living with Bill was no picnic, but who was I to judge?
“I spoke to a woman who said she hadn’t seen him.”
“Bill’s wife?” Wayne asked. I figured he knew all the local gossip, so no need to fill him in on the couple’s questionable living arrangement.
“She said she hasn’t seen Ralph since yesterday,” I said. “And that he might be sleeping in a barn somewhere.”
Bill finally came around the corner of the house, but Stephen ignored him and aimed his words at Wayne. “So now we have a case of theft.”
“No way to prove Ralph stole Glenn’s dog.” Wayne stood akimbo. “Our trip was a waste of time.”
Stephen folded his arms. “I think Ralph broke into Glenn’s house and stole his dog. I want to press charges.”
“How you gonna prove that?” Bill’s tone was belligerent. “Any witnesses?”
On the drive back to the nursery, Stephen lowered his window and called Heath’s name. The sun was setting, the sky draining of color. When we finally arrived, I was surprised to find Jake’s borrowed car parked near my little abode.
THIRTY-ONE
What’s he doing here?” Stephen’s pent-up anger seemed to inflate the air pressure in the pickup’s cab.
I recognized the silhouette of Jake’s profile in the dim light, but I didn’t respond. I had no idea why he was here, but the sight of him sent a tingling buzz through me. Ach, I couldn’t help myself.
When Stephen turned off his engine, he made no move to get out or stop me. “Call me if Heath returns. Please tell Beatrice I’m still looking for him. Goodbye, Eva.” His farewell sounded final. Like the end of an era. I watched as he pulled away.
As I turned toward Jake’s car, he opened his door. He wore clean Englisch clothes and looked as though he’d just stepped out of the shower. His bangs hung longer, or maybe that was just me wishing he was intentionally growing them. He approached me slowly as I walked to the cabin.
“Wait up, my love.”
I whirled around. “Is this some kind of cruel joke? You said you might marry Brandy.”
“Nee, I want to spend my life with you.” He took hold of my elbow, but I jerked out of his grasp.
I cautioned myself to stay strong. “I don’t know what to believe, Jake.” A dreadful thought flooded my brain. “Is Amos worse? Did your mamm send you here?”
“Just one minute.” Jake’s handsome face transformed to a mask of indignation. “What about Stephen? Were you two just out on a date? Are you infatuated with him?”
If I claimed I wasn’t attracted to Stephen, I’d be lying. “None of your business.”
“I’d say it is. Don’t you still have feelings for me? I adore you.”
“But you told me you’re marrying Brandy.”
“A rash and foolish remark I regret. Although my heart goes out to her and her unborn child.”
“Yah, mine does too.” I wished I could assist her without forever losing Jake.
“There’s something you could do to help me right now, Jake. As a friend.”
“Yeah? What is it?” His blue eyes darkened, conveying distrust.
“Remember the barn that burned down?”
He ran his fingers through his bangs and then let them flop back across his forehead. “How could I ever forget?”
“Would you take me there?”
“To the barn? Right now? Are you ab im kopp?”
“Nee, I’m not crazy. I just—” I wasn’t ready to share my hunch with him or anyone. “Please, will you take me?”
He paused, as if weighing his options. “Yah, okay. In the car or on foot?”
“It’s close enough to walk, don’t you think? And quieter.”
“But why go there? I heard just a couple of mares are living in that barn now. And the owner’s stallion. Jeremiah Schmucker refuses to give up the horse even though it’s unruly.”
“The farmer doesn’t own dairy cows anymore?” I recalled his two dozen black-and-white Holsteins, but that was more than seven years ago.
“Jeremiah grew too old to milk the herd and had no sons to help him,” Jake said. “As it turns out, we rebuilt that barn for nothing.”
“You rebuilt it because it needed rebuilding. And I want to see it.”
“Evie, you don’t know how close I came to being charged for arson. I could be behind bars.” He shivered for effect. “Some people still think I’m guilty. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to get anywhere near that place.” He jingled the keys in his pocket, making me think he was about to take off.
“Jake, I’m walking over to the barn
