A Sister's Secret (2 page)

“Not a problem. As long as you didn’t ruin this baby, no harm was done.” The man lifted his camera. “She’s my bread and butter these days.”

Cleon stood, letting the man’s words sink in. “Are you a newspaper reporter?”

“Nope. I’m a freelance photographer and reporter, and I’ve written for several publications.” He smiled, revealing a set of straight, pearly white teeth. “The pictures I submit often bring in more money than my articles.”

Cleon gave a quick nod; then he started to turn away.

“Say, I was wondering if you’d be willing to give me a quick interview. I’m trying to find out some information about the Amish in this area, and—”

“Sorry, not interested.” Cleon hurried down the steps and onto the sidewalk. The last thing he wanted was for the Englisher to start plying him with a lot of questions about the Amish way of life. He’d read a couple of articles about his people in the newspaper recently, and none of them had been accurate. Cleon rushed around back to the parking lot, untied his horse from the hitching rail, and climbed into the buggy. If he hurried, he might catch up with Grace and Ruth on their way home.

Chapter 2

As Cleon headed down the road in his open buggy, all he could think about was Grace and how much he wanted to see her. He was excited to tell her about the latest contacts he’d made with some gift stores in Sugarcreek and Berlin, and if he didn’t spot her buggy on the road, he would stop by her folks’ place before going home.

The horse arched its neck and trotted proudly as Cleon allowed his thoughts to wander back to the day he’d first seen Grace Hostettler. It was almost four years ago—the day after he and his family had moved here from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He’d met Grace during a preaching service that was held at her folks’ house. She’d seemed kind of quiet and shy back then, but after a while, they’d become friends and were soon a courting couple.

He’d wanted to ask her to marry him sooner but had waited until his beekeeping business was going strong enough to help support a wife and family. Besides, Grace hadn’t seemed ready for marriage until a year ago. She had told him that she’d been gone from the Amish faith for a time before joining the church and that she’d only been back in Holmes County a few months before they’d met. Cleon had tried a couple of times to ask about her rumschpringe years, but Grace didn’t seem to want to talk about them, so he’d never pressed the issue. What Grace had done during her running around years was her business, and if she wanted to discuss it, he figured she would.

A horn honked from behind, pulling Cleon’s thoughts back to the present, and he slowed his horse, steering the buggy closer to the shoulder of the road to let the motorist pass. He gritted his teeth. At this rate, he would never catch up to Grace’s carriage.

Once the car had passed, Cleon pulled back onto the road and snapped the reins to get the horse moving faster. The gelding flicked his ears and stepped into a fast trot, and several minutes later, Cleon caught sight of a black, closed-in buggy. Since no cars were in the oncoming lane, he eased his horse out and pulled up beside the other buggy. He saw Grace through the window on the left side, in the passenger’s seat, and Ruth on the right, in the driver’s seat.

“Pull over to the side of the road, would ya?”

Ruth did as he asked, and Cleon pulled in behind her rig. He climbed out of his buggy, sprinted around to the side of the Hostettler buggy where Grace sat, and opened the door. “I went by the restaurant hoping to see you, and when Sarah said you’d already left, I headed down the road, hoping to catch up with you.”

Grace offered him a smile, but it appeared to be forced. Wasn’t she glad to see him?

“I was hoping I could give you a ride home so we could talk.”

Her face blanched, and she drew in a shaky breath. “Talk about what?”

“About us and our upcoming wedding.”

“Wh–what about it?”

Cleon squinted as he reached up to rub his chin. “What’s wrong, Grace? Why are you acting so
naerfich?
”

“I–I’m not nervous, just tired from working all day.”

“She’s been acting a bit strange ever since I picked her up in the restaurant parking lot,” Ruth put in from the driver’s seat. She leaned over and peered around Grace so she was looking right at Cleon. “If you want my opinion, I think my big sister’s feeling anxious about the wedding.”

“I am not.” Grace’s forehead wrinkled as she nudged Ruth’s arm with her elbow. “If you don’t mind, I think I will ride home in Cleon’s buggy.”

Ruth shrugged. “Makes no never mind to me, so I’ll see you at home.”

***

As Grace climbed into Cleon’s buggy, her stomach twisted as though it were tied in knots. Had Cleon met Gary while he was in town? Could Gary have told him things about her past? Is that why Cleon wanted to speak with her? Maybe he’d decided to call off their wedding.

“Are you okay?” Cleon reached across the seat and touched Grace’s arm. “You don’t seem like yourself today.”

“I’m fine. What did you want to say to me concerning our wedding?”

“I wanted you to know that I lined up a few more honey customers today, and if my business keeps growing, eventually I’ll be able to stop farming for my
daed.
” Cleon smiled. “Once we’re married, you can quit your job.”

A feeling of relief swept over Grace. Cleon must not have spoken to Gary or learned anything about her past, or he wouldn’t be talking about her quitting her job after they were married.

He picked up the reins and got the horse moving down the road.

Grace pushed her weight against the back of the leather seat and tried to relax. Everything was okay—at least for now.

They rode in silence for a while. Grace listened to the steady
clip-clop
of the horse’s hooves as the buggy jostled up and down the hilly road, while she thought about Cleon’s attributes. He was strong and quiet, and ever since she’d met him, she’d appreciated his even temper and subtle sense of humor. He was the opposite of Wade, whose witty jesting and boyish charm she’d found appealing. But Wade had never seemed settled, which could have accounted for the fact that he’d worked as a cook for five different restaurants during the time they’d been together.

As they passed an Amish farmer’s field, the rustle of corn blowing in the wind brought her thoughts back to the present, and she sighed.

“You sure you’re okay?” Worry lines formed above Cleon’s brows. “We’re almost at your house, and you haven’t said more than a few words along the way.”

In an effort to keep him from knowing how upset she was over Gary coming to town, Grace forced a smile. “I was thinking how lucky I am to be betrothed to someone as
wunderbaar
as you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” he said, reaching over to gently touch her arm. “And it’s you who’s wonderful, my blessed gift.”

If Cleon knew the secret I’m keeping, would he still think I’m wonderful?

Cleon turned the horse to the right and guided it up the graveled driveway past her father’s woodworking shop. A few minutes later, her folks’ white, two-story house came into view. He pulled back on the reins and halted the horse and buggy in front of the hitching rail near the barn. “Here we are.”

“Would you like to stay for supper?” she asked. “I’m sure that, whatever Mom is fixing, we’ll have more than enough to go around.”

He gave her a dimpled smile, and the flecks of gold in his brown eyes seemed brighter than usual. “I’d be happy to join you for supper. Afterwards, maybe we can sit on the porch awhile and talk about our wedding.”

***

Grace glanced around the kitchen table. Ruth sat to her right, with their younger sister, Martha, on the left. Mom’s seat was at the end of the table closest to the stove, Dad sat at the opposite end, and Cleon was seated across the table from Grace and her sisters.

Grace was pleased that she’d invited Cleon to stay for supper. The conversation and joke telling around the table had helped her feel a little more relaxed, and it was nice to see how well Cleon got along with her family. Dad had said several times that he was happy with Grace’s choice for a husband, but she wondered what he and Mom would have thought about Wade. She was sure they wouldn’t have approved of the way he hopped from job to job, but they might have enjoyed his lighthearted banter and playfulness.

Those qualities of Wade had attracted Grace from the moment he had showed up to interview for a position as cook at the restaurant where she’d worked in Cincinnati. If her parents had known Grace had once been married to an Englisher, she was sure they would have been upset.

“How are things with your woodworking business, Roman?” Cleon asked Grace’s father.

Dad reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes and smiled. “Been real busy here lately.”

“Guess it’s a good thing you hired Luke Friesen as your helper, then.”’

“Luke’s a good-enough worker,” Dad said with a nod. “Unfortunately, the two of us have butted heads a few times.”

“About what?” Ruth asked in a tone of concern. She and Luke had only been courting a few months, and Grace was certain her sister didn’t want to hear anything negative about him.

Dad shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, daughter. Luke just needs to learn who the boss is and what I will and won’t tolerate.”

Ruth opened her mouth as if to say something more, but Martha spoke first.

“Say, Dad, I was thinking that if you’re too busy to build a kennel for my dogs, I could see if Luke would have the time.”

Dad frowned at Martha and shook his head. “Luke’s got plenty of other work he needs to do, but I’ll get your kennel built as soon as I can.”

“If you need any help with that, I might be able to lend a hand,” Cleon spoke up.

“This is a busy time of year, what with the harvest and all,” Dad said. “I’m sure between helping your daed and
bruders
on the farm, working with those bees of yours, and trying to get your and Grace’s new house done, you’ve got your hands plenty full right now.”

“You’ve got a point.” Cleon glanced over at Grace. “I’m hoping to have our house done by the time we’re married, but with everyone being too busy to help me right now, I’m concerned that it won’t get done on time.”

“Would you rather postpone the wedding?” she asked as a feeling of dread crept into her soul. If she and Cleon didn’t get married in December because the house wasn’t finished, would they have to wait until next fall? Most Amish couples in their community got married in October, November, or December when the harvest was done. Grace didn’t think she could stand waiting another year to become Cleon’s wife.

“Not to worry. You and Cleon can live here after you’re married and stay as long as it takes to complete the house.” Dad smiled across the table at Mom and gave his full brown beard a couple of pulls. “Isn’t that right, Judith?”

“Oh, jah, that won’t be a problem at all,” she said. “And since their new house is being built on the backside of our property, it will be easy for both you and Cleon to work on it during whatever free time you have.”

Grace glanced back at Cleon to gauge his reaction and was relieved when he smiled and said, “That’s just fine by me.”

Chapter 3

Despite the pleasant evening she’d had with Cleon the night before, Grace awoke the following morning feeling tired and out of sorts. She’d had trouble sleeping, unable to get Gary out of her mind. All during breakfast, she fretted over his sudden appearance, wondering how long he would remain in Holmes County, questioning if he was really a freelance reporter, and worrying that he wouldn’t keep quiet about her past. By the time they’d finished eating and Dad had gone out to his shop, Grace had developed a headache. She dreaded going to work for fear of seeing Gary again and hoped no one she knew would have an opportunity to speak with him.

“Are you feeling all right this morning, Grace?” Mom asked as she ambled across the room with a pile of dirty dishes. “You were so quiet during breakfast and hardly ate a thing.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night, and now I’ve got a splitting headache, which has my stomach feeling kind of queasy.” Grace filled the sink with hot water and took the plates from her mother’s hands.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mom said with a worried expression.

“Why don’t you let me wash the dishes?” Ruth suggested, stepping up beside Grace. “Martha can dry while you sit at the table with Mom and have a cup of tea. Maybe by the time we’re ready to leave for work, your headache will be gone.”

Grace glanced across the room to Martha, who was sweeping the floor. “Would you like me to take over so you can help Ruth with the dishes?”

Martha shook her head. “That’s okay. I’m almost done. You’d better do as Ruth suggested and have a cup of tea.”

“All right.” Grace headed to the stove to get the simmering teakettle, but her mother got there first. As Mom lifted the teakettle, Grace removed two cups from the cupboard, grabbed a box of chamomile tea and a bottle of aspirin, then took a seat at the table.

While Ruth and Martha did the dishes, Martha chattered about her dogs and how she couldn’t wait for Heidi, the female sheltie, to give birth to her first batch of puppies. Grace sipped her tea and tried to tune out her sister’s prattle but was unsuccessful.