A Heart Made New (42 page)

She stopped halfway down the stairs. Her mouth gaped open, then abruptly snapped shut.

“Logan is here.” Annie almost laughed at how silly that obvious statement sounded. “He wanted to speak with Charisma.”

“Speak with Charisma? That’s a gun.”

“Yeah, it’s a gun. I’m sorry, ma’am.” He waved it toward Annie and the other women. “Get over there with them…please.”

Something about Leah and her bossiness seemed to have reached Logan. He took a step back. Leah passed in front of him, her gaze glued to Annie’s. Annie put her arms out to take one of the babies. Leah shook her head, her face white. Annie understood. At a time like this, Leah needed to keep her children close.

“Are William and Joseph asleep still?” Annie asked.

“Jah, they’re sleeping.” Leah whispered. Her grip on the girls tightened and Martha whimpered. Leah rocked her back and forth on one hip. “I pray to God they don’t wake up to this. They’ll be—”

“Shut up. Everyone just shut up!” Logan paced the length of the room. “I need to think.”

“I only wanted to help,” Annie whispered. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Nobody could’ve known he would do this.” Leah’s voice quivered, but she sniffed and kissed little Esther’s curly hair. “No one. What kind of man does this?”

Emma squeezed between them and put an arm around Leah and then Annie. “Whatever happens, God is with us. He has a plan.”

The words were as comforting as her sister’s presence. After everything Emma had been through she still had a rock-solid faith. Annie clung to that thought as she sought out Miriam’s gaze. They’d already been through so much together. “How are you, Miriam?”

Miriam smiled. “No matter what happens, we’ll be all right. God is with us.”

Annie smiled back. “God is with us.”

Seemingly oblivious to their whispering, Logan paced the floor. He plowed to a stop in front of the window. “Where are all the men? Why aren’t there any men in here?”

David snatched his hat from his head and flapped it in front of his sweaty face. The morning breeze had given way to a breathless still. He wiped perspiration from his fuzz-covered head, wishing it would rain and be done with it. No work could be done in the fields today, anyway. “It’s time to start having these services in the cellar.”

“I reckon the one in two weeks at the Blounts’ will be in their cellar. Lot cooler down there, but more crowded.” Thomas shoved another bench on the back of the wagon. “I could sure use a glass of iced tea to wet my whistle.”

“I’m surprised the women haven’t been out with some already.” Luke wiped his face with a sodden handkerchief. “Mark, go up to the house and see what they’re doing. They’re probably so busy gabbing they forgot to take care of their share of the work.”

“Taking care of us, you mean?” Grinning, Mark hopped down from the wagon. “Maybe they can bring out some more cookies too.”

“You must have a hollow leg.” David had personally seen Luke’s little brother eat at least six cookies, maybe more. That after a full plate of pulled pork on a bun, potato salad, coleslaw, and barbecued beans. “You eat enough for four men.”

“He’s growing.” Luke laughed and slapped Mark on the back. His laugh trailed away. “Who’s that coming?”

David followed his gaze out to the dirt road that wound its way from the highway through the Shiracks’ wheat, corn, and alfalfa fields to the barn and on to the house. A black and white car with the words B
LISS
C
REEK
P
OLICE
painted on the side sped toward them, dust billowing behind it. The car moved much too fast for the pitted dirt road. It bounced and swerved around a curve.

Something about its urgency sent an uneasy ripple through David. He started toward the road. “That’s Sergeant Parker from the police department, isn’t it?”

“What’s he doing here on a Sunday afternoon?” Luke didn’t sound too concerned. The Plain people had few dealings with law enforcement, and they liked it that way. “Logan McKee’s trial was over almost two weeks ago.”

Josiah tossed aside the sliver of grass he’d been chewing on. “Maybe Charisma did something when she was in town getting gas.”

“I doubt that. She’s a little off, but not that off.” Luke started toward the open area next to the corral where buggies parked. “She has children to think about.”

Luke was right. David followed him to the edge of the corral. The car slid to a stop, its bumper just shy of the fence. Sergeant Parker shoved his door open and flew out. “Y’all have company?” he barked without so much as a howdy. “Did he show up?”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

Officer Bingham hobbled around the back end of the car. Blood had dried around his nose and upper lip. One hand wrapped around his arm, he limped toward them, looking like he’d fought a bear and lost. “Logan McKee—”

A crack of a single shot and the sound of shattering glass stopped the officer’s explanation dead. He spun around and started toward the house.

“Never mind. He’s here.”

A
nnie struggled free from Emma’s grasp. She hurled herself toward the row of windows.

“No!” Leah gasped. “Annie, no! Stay back!”

Annie didn’t look back. She couldn’t. She’d brought this into Leah’s house. Her sister-in-law only wanted a peaceful, Plain home for her children. For William, Joseph, Esther, and Martha. And now a little unborn bobbeli.
Please God, please, protect them.
And protect our men out there.
It could be Luke. Josiah. Thomas. It could be David. Or Mark. Family. Friends. Through the broken glass she could see Mark cowering on the ground. Had he been hit
? Oh, God, please put Your arms around him and hold him tight.
“Don’t shoot. That’s my little brother. Please. He won’t hurt you!”

His body shielded by the living room wall, Logan peered out the broken window. “Get away! Get back now or I’ll blow your head off.”

Annie ducked around Logan.

“Go back to the barn, Mark,” she yelled. “He wants you to leave.”

Mark rolled up in a ball and stopped moving. Probably so scared he couldn’t.

Logan jerked Annie back and pulled the trigger again. The blast hurt Annie’s ears and the acrid smell of gun powder burned her nose. Leah dropped to the floor and covered the screaming twins with her
body, Emma close at her side. Miriam whimpered, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“What are you doing? Stop it! Stop it!” Charisma ran at Logan, her arms flailing. “You can’t shoot these people. They helped me. They took care of your baby.”

Logan tossed her away with the back of his free arm. She landed on the floor, sprawled like a rag doll. “I said get away from the house!” Logan pounded on the wall with his free hand. “Don’t you hear me?”

“Is someone hurt out there? Is it Luke?” Leah bounced up from the floor. “Is it Mark?”

“Get down. Now!” Logan glared at Leah. She backed away, but her expression said she’d like to take Logan to the woodshed. She knelt by the twins. Logan turned his back on the woman and gazed out the window, his gun ready. “Get out of here or I’ll shoot again!”

“It’s Mark. He’s too scared to run.” Annie clasped her hands tightly in front of her to keep them from trembling. Somehow she managed to get the words out without yelling. “He’s afraid. He’s just a boy.”

“It’s some kind of trick.” The gun dipped and swayed in Logan’s hand. “Come on, Charisma, get up. Get Gracie and the baby. They’ll be coming after me. Hurry!”

“I can’t do that. They’re babies. They’re safe here.” Charisma rolled up on her knees and raised her hands. “Can’t you see? This is bad, Logan. This is wrong. These are good people. They’ve taken care of us. They’ve provided for Luke David and Gracie and me. Please, please don’t do this.”

Movement in the yard caught the corner of Annie’s eye. She peeked over Logan’s shoulder. David sped across the open space between the barn and the house. He grabbed Mark under the arms and hoisted him to his feet. Together, they disappeared behind the corral fence.
Thank You, God.

Next to the corral fence sat a Bliss Creek police car. “They’re already here. Look. There’s Sergeant Parker’s car.”

Logan followed her gaze. “How did they know I’d come here?”

“Because they know you love your babies.” Charisma slapped a
hand to her cheek. “They know you couldn’t leave without the people you love.”

“That’s right. I love you, Charisma.” The gun sank to his side and dangled from his hand. “I love you.”

Charisma sat in the middle of the living room floor, her hands to her tear-soaked cheeks. “I know you do, babe, but you have to do the right thing. Don’t hurt these people. They’re the only good people I have in my life now. They showed me how to be a good mom. They showed me how God loves me, no matter how much I’ve screwed up. They showed me that it wasn’t my fault my dad was so mad all the time. Don’t you see?”

Calm stole over Annie. It had been worth it. God had provided for Charisma when she most needed His help. Now God would provide for them. She spoke up: “If you love Charisma and Luke David and Gracie, don’t do this.”

Emma’s hand sought Annie. She shook her head, and Annie tugged free. She moved closer to Logan. “This isn’t how you show love. You love people by keeping them safe, not by putting them in danger. By doing this, you’re making it so you’ll never get to be the father you want to be.”

“It’s the only way left. You, in the green dress, you go upstairs and bring down anyone left up there.” The gun reared up and pointed at Miriam. “I want my babies down here now. And anyone else who’s up there. You don’t come right back, and I’ll have to hurt someone down here.”

“No, the boys—” Leah’s stoic façade cracked a bit. Her voice quivered. “They’re just little boys. They’re sleeping. Leave them be.”

“No. Bring them.”

“Don’t worry, Leah. I’ll take care of them.” Her face the picture of calm, Miriam nodded reassuringly. “I’ll be right back. It’ll just take a second to wake the boys so don’t be nervous.”

Leah returned the nod, but her breathing took on a ragged sound.

Miriam scampered up the steps. No one moved. Annie wasn’t sure anyone breathed. After a few seconds, Leah scooted into the rocking
chair, but she didn’t rock the twins, who blessedly snuggled against her chest, their crying subsiding. It seemed years, but surely it was only a few minutes before Miriam reappeared, Luke David in her arms and Gracie and the boys clutching at her long skirt as she guided them down the stairs.

“Where’s Daed?” William rubbed his sleepy eyes with small fists. “Is it time to eat? I’m hungry.”

“Your daed is working.” Leah stood. “With me, boys, quickly now.”

“Daddy, Daddy!” Gracie crowed. She let go of Miriam’s skirt and nearly tumbled down the stairs. Annie caught her by the arms and lifted her to safety. She trotted toward Logan, but Charisma scooped up her daughter before she could reach him.

“No, baby, not now.”

“It’s okay, baby. Daddy loves you.” Logan held out a hand to Charisma. She took it and he hoisted her to her feet. “Everyone back to the kitchen. Move. We’ll go out the back door.”

David sank to the ground behind Sergeant Parker’s car. Each breath hurt his chest a little more. Mark dropped to his knees and huddled next to David. Bewilderment and fear mingled in the boy’s face. The smell of sweat permeated the air. David sucked in air. “Are you all right?