Plain Protector Read online

  “That’s not my intent,” Sarah said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry. We’ll let you get back to work.”

  “Sarah,” Temperance called, “I know you’re doing the work you feel you need to do, but the Amish like to keep things within their own community.”

  “I understand and respect that,” Sarah said. “However, if someone chooses to come to me for help, I will not turn them away. And my intent is not to encourage them to leave the Amish faith, but rather heal within themselves so they can be the best person they can be, whether they choose to be baptized Amish or not.”

  Temperance seemed to wince. “I like you. I really do. I enjoy having you as a neighbor. But please be careful how you interact with the Amish.”

  “Do you know something, Mrs. Zook?” Nick asked. Something in her nervous mannerisms made him grow suspicious.

  “Neh. Not at all. Our family could use the extra finances from the rent, and I’d hate to see Sarah leave...or worse, get hurt.”

  “I’ll see that she’s kept safe,” Nick said.

  Sarah bowed her head, and red splotches appeared on her face.

  Suddenly, Mrs. Zook’s face lit up. “Perhaps we can let our dog come stay at the house. He makes a pretty good guard dog.” The woman was obviously ready to change the subject. “He’d probably lick an attacker to death, but at least his bark would alert you.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” But Nick still felt it advisable for Sarah to move out. She was too isolated out here, even with the Zooks next door. Several hundred feet across a vast field afforded a potential attacker the time and seclusion he needed to do whatever he desired.

  Nick tipped his head toward the boys working near the barn. “If your boys remember anything, you’ll let me know?” He realized he was grasping at straws. No way would Mrs. Zook contact him.

  “They’re gut,” she repeated.

  “Even the strongest kids have fallen prey to peer pressure,” Nick said evenly.

  “Peer pressure out here on the farm is different than whatever you experienced growing up in that big estate on Apple Creek Bluff. You can’t relate.” She hesitated a fraction. “Nor do we expect you to.”

  Nick forced a weary smile, deciding he’d catch the boys another time. Perhaps when he noticed them in town, away from the watchful eye of their parents. “If you see anything suspicious on your property, please let me know.”

  Temperance lifted her chin and gave him a subtle nod.

  When they returned to Sarah’s yard, she turned to Nick. “What did Temperance mean about you not being able to relate because of where you grew up?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, debating how much to tell her. Who he was and where he grew up weren’t secrets, but it seemed that once people found out he was one of the Jennings who grew up in the huge home sitting on the escarpment in Apple Creek, well, it colored their perception of him. Made them believe he was some rich boy playing at being a cop.

  He dropped his arm and smiled. If he wanted Sarah to trust him, he’d have to trust her. “My parents own Jennings Enterprises. They have a lot of money.” He left it at that. “I grew up pretty comfortable.”

  She studied him for a second, then shrugged. “No shame in that, but I can see some people might take issue with it.”

  “Mostly because they believe I can’t relate because I’ve never struggled with money issues.” He supported himself now. He was an adult, but he definitely had a leg up on getting to where he was today.

  “What do you make of our conversation with the Zooks?” Nick changed the subject.

  “The Zooks are a good family. I’m sure if they saw something, they would have told us.” Sarah slowed by the porch. “Temperance is feeling particularly vulnerable. Her sons are right at the age where they’ll be making the decision to be baptized and marry and join the Amish community for life. She’s undoubtedly afraid they’ll get caught up in something that might delay their entrance into the baptismal preparation classes.”

  Nick rocked back on his heels. “You’ve picked up on the local customs rather quickly. How long have you been in town?” He felt a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

  “Six months.” She smiled. Her whole face changed when she smiled. He didn’t think she could be more attractive. “My job sometimes involves counseling the Amish. Knowing about their culture helps me help them.”

  Nick nodded.

  “I hate dragging a good family into my mess. I don’t want to put them in danger.” Sarah bit her lip, indecision darkening her eyes.

  “They might know something.”

  “Maybe.” She sounded doubtful.

  “You really think it’s your old boyfriend.”

  “I’m worried.”

  “Let me protect you.”

  “I’d hardly think it’s appropriate for me to move in with you. Perhaps I’ll take Temperance up on her offer and have their dog keep me company.”

  It was Nick’s turn to smile.

  “Let me make a few phone calls. I can send extra patrols out here. What time will you be done with work today?”

  “Late afternoon.”

  “Meet me at the diner for dinner? We can come up with a plan.”

  “A plan other than packing up and moving again doesn’t sound practical.” She tipped her head from side to side as if easing out the kinks. “I don’t think so.”

  “You can’t keep running.”

  “I can if I want to live.”

  FIVE

  The memory of the smell of guts and decay made Sarah want to puke. Thankfully, Nick had donned yellow latex kitchen gloves and disposed of the snake before he left.

  Gross, gross, triple gross, ran over and over in her head as she scrubbed her kitchen table one more time for good measure, using almost a whole roll of paper towel. She took the garbage and tied it up in a plastic bag. Holding the bag as far away from her body as she could, she pushed through the screen door. She went around the side of the house, dumped it into the trash can. After securing the lid, she glanced around. Awareness prickled her skin.

  Relax, you’re okay. Even Sarah knew that Jimmy was too much of a coward to attack her in broad daylight. The hallmark of his abuse included keeping it a secret and making everyone question her story. Not his.

  She strode back into the house and turned the lock on the door all the same. She said a silent prayer that this lock would be enough. Nick had found one of her windows unlocked, and they assumed this had been the point of entry. Now that it was secured, she should be safe.

  Please, Lord, let me be safe.

  After Nick had cleaned up the snake, he had bagged the phone for prints. Sarah doubted uncovering the intruder would be that easy.

  A little voice in her head, no doubt planted by Jimmy’s relentless barbs, told her she had brought all this upon herself. She should have never called her mom last night.

  But what about the incident at the church prior to that? What had she done to bring that on?

  Nothing. She had done nothing. But she knew what she had to do now. She washed her hands, changed her clothes and headed out on the walk to the center of town to Apple Creek Community Church.

  Normally she enjoyed the peaceful stroll along the quiet country road, the solace of it, but today it was too quiet. The wind rustling through the cornstalks lining both sides of the road unnerved her. Nick had told her to call him for a ride, but she needed to do this one thing before she lost her nerve.

  And she didn’t want Nick to be any more involved than he already was.

  She’d have to resign her position at the church and leave Apple Creek.

  Run away.

  Again.

  The memory of the phone call with her mother reverberated in her mind. She couldn’t go t
oo far. Her mother wasn’t doing well, despite her protests.

  The gravel on the berm of the road crunched under her tennis shoes as Sarah picked up her pace. The occasional truck and horse and buggy passed her, but mostly she was alone out here. She hated the feelings of being out of control. Afraid. Unprotected with only cornfields on either side of the road.

  Running away to Apple Creek had sent Sarah into a downward spiral, but now—even after all the precautions she had taken—it seemed Jimmy had found her. She fought off the pit of despair that tried to consume her.

  The dark emotions reminded her of when her father died. Her world had swirled out of control. Her father had been her protector. Her hero. And then he was gone.

  Leaving her and her mother as an incomplete family of two.

  After her father’s death, she had spent her early adulthood picking the wrong men. Perhaps looking for a father figure. Someone to love her. Someone to protect her. She thought she had found that in Jimmy Braeden. He had been so attentive. Affectionate.

  Abusive.

  But she didn’t realize the latter until it was far too late. Until Jimmy had her in his clutches and wouldn’t let go.

  The midmorning sun beat hot and steady on her head. She wished she had grabbed a hat before heading out the door. She ran a hand across her forehead. Don’t think about it. Keep walking.

  It had been next to impossible to leave Buffalo the first time. Now it would be difficult to move again. Sarah had grown accustomed to the quiet, and she’d miss her new friends, however few.

  The six months she lived in Apple Creek had been tranquil.

  Until yesterday.

  Now, with the events of the past twenty-four hours weighing on her shoulders, she arrived at the church. She jogged the last fifty feet, as if a burst of decisiveness wanted to outrun her indecision. And she longed for the wall of air-conditioning she knew would hit her as soon as she opened the door to the church basement.

  When Sarah reached the door handle, it made her think of home base in hide-and-seek, a game she had played with the neighborhood kids as a child. They’d run as fast as they could until they threw themselves at the tree, front porch or a square in the cement. Whatever arbitrary location the players had chosen as safe. And then they’d flop over, exhausted, relieved, knowing they were safe and some other sap would be “it.” But as an adult, she realized she no longer had a home base.

  No place was safe.

  Not anymore.

  Sarah yanked on the door handle, and the heavy blue door swung open. Pastor Mike had said they were a welcoming church. Locked doors would only create barriers to those who wanted to get closer to God. Or those who were seeking...something.

  She slipped inside, and the door slammed behind her and her nerves hummed to life. Anyone could be in the basement meeting room of the church. Yet another reason she had to leave. She’d gather a few of her personal things from her office and then tell Pastor Mike her plans.

  Sarah tried not to look at the plywood covering the broken window—had it been some reckless teenagers?

  Oh, but what about the snake on my kitchen table?

  Either way, she was grateful that someone had cleaned up the mess. She had already dealt with too much this morning. Sarah scrunched her nose, trying to dispel the horrid smell of the dead animal that still lingered, even if only in her memory. Focusing on the task at hand, she emptied a box of hymnals, figuring the pastor wouldn’t mind if she used the empty box to pack. She stacked the books neatly on a corner table. As she gathered her personal items, she heard the door open and then after a long silence, click closed. Sarah froze. Her decision to return without her personal protector suddenly didn’t seem like a good idea. What would they call her in one of those movies? Too stupid to live?

  “Hello.”

  Sarah’s heart soared. Miss Ellinor’s voice had never sounded sweeter. “You’re in the office early today. I noticed you jogging across the parking lot as if a wild hog was chasing you through the fields. Is everything okay?” Her words floated down the staircase as the older woman gripped the railing and descended each step gingerly.

  When she reached the bottom step, Miss Ellinor planted a fist on her hip. “Everything isn’t okay. What’s going on?”

  Sarah stopped putting items into the box. “I was hoping to talk to you and Pastor Mike at the same time.”

  “He’s visiting a church member in the hospital. Poor Mrs. Mann fell and broke a hip.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Sarah admired how the pastor and his wife devoted their lives to their ministry. Helping people as a social worker was the best part of Sarah’s job, but lately she wondered how much more she could give to other people before she lost herself entirely.

  A pang of guilt pinged her insides. She felt selfish. People in Apple Creek had begun to count on her, and she was ready to run again, leaving them without an advocate when it came to receiving the services they required and deserved.

  Let someone else do it. I have my own problems.

  Selfish! But dying wasn’t going to help anyone.

  Miss Ellinor lowered herself into one of the rickety old wooden folding chairs that were probably manufactured circa 1960 and were ubiquitous in church basements. “You’re leaving us.” It was a statement, not a question.

  The look of disappointment on the older woman’s face slammed Sarah in the heart. Sarah grabbed a chair and propped it open. She sat next to Miss Ellinor. “I can’t thank you and the pastor enough for taking me in. For finding me a place to live. But I’m afraid—” she paused, unwilling to utter his name “—he knows where I am. I have to leave. I can’t risk anyone getting hurt on account of me.”

  Miss Ellinor folded her hands in her lap. “I thought the police found a few young men misbehaving in town?”

  “They did.” Sarah scratched her head and blinked away the image of the snake.

  Miss Ellinor pressed her palms together as if she were praying. “Then, there’s nothing to worry about. And now that you’ve gotten to know that nice handsome officer, he can protect you.”

  Sarah smiled, unwilling to be rude to the woman who had been so kind to her. She didn’t want to remind her that her last boyfriend—her current stalker—had been a police officer. And Nick was a deputy sheriff.

  “I’m not interested in dating.”

  Miss Ellinor squared her shoulders and pressed her lips together, the face she often made before she was ready to regale her with a story. “Now, that would be a shame. Nick is such a nice man, and his last girlfriend treated him like dirt. Broke his heart. I’d love to see a girl like you end up with a strong, handsome man like him. A man who treats you right.” She quickly shook her head, as if reading Sarah’s mind. “He’s tough on the outside, but that man has a heart of gold. Do you know his parents are the wealthy folks who have that fancy house up on the hill?” Nick had mentioned something about his parents’ wealth.

  “Nick could have walked right into his father’s business,” the pastor’s wife continued, “and have a fancy car and all, but he chose to first serve his country and then join the sheriff’s department here. Nothing glamorous about that,” she added, as if thinking aloud. “Only a good man would make a choice like that when he could have had almost anything he wanted.”

  Sarah could feel heat and shame pulsing through her veins. Part of her wanted to stop the woman from invading Nick’s privacy, the other half—the curious part—wanted to pepper her with a million questions.

  Someone broke Nick’s heart?

  Why didn’t he go into the family business?

  And he’s still single?

  Sarah shook the silly thoughts aside. It was totally none of her business, and poor Nick would probably be embarrassed if he knew Miss Ellinor was spilling his secrets.

  A cool knot twisted in he
r stomach. Had Miss Ellinor ever shared Sarah’s secrets? Secrets that could jeopardize her safety?

  “I’m not looking for a boyfriend,” Sarah said, her common sense winning out over her curiosity. Certainly not one who is a cop. “I don’t imagine Nick would like us talking about him.”

  Miss Ellinor waved her hand. “Oh, I’m not being gossipy. All of Apple Creek knows what happened to Nick. That girl was a fool for cheating on him. And when he was serving our country. Can you imagine that girl’s nerve? Some of the younger generation are so self-involved.”

  Miss Ellinor leaned forward and pulled Sarah’s hands in hers. Tears bit at the back of Sarah’s eyes as she stared at their clasped hands. She hadn’t realized how separate she had held herself here in Apple Creek. She had missed the simple comforts of a deep friendship. Of course, Sarah had become friendly with Mary Ruth, but out of necessity, Sarah kept a certain distance between them. A tear slipped out of the corner of Sarah’s eye and rolled down her cheek.

  “Oh, honey, it’s okay. Don’t cry. What can I do for you?” Miss Ellinor patted her hand.

  “I’m a grown woman and I’m crying because I miss my mom.” Her nose tingled and she had to swallow back a knot of emotion. “It’s silly, I know.”

  Miss Ellinor stood and bent over, hugging Sarah. “You aren’t silly at all. You’ve had a rough time of it. Of course you miss your mother. How does she seem in her letters?”

  “Her letters are all cheery. She’s putting on a brave face.” Sarah decided not to get into the prohibited phone call she had made last night. “I’m worried.”

  “We’ll keep her in our prayers.” Miss Ellinor patted her back and straightened. “Please don’t go. Apple Creek needs you.”

  Sarah bit her lip, considering. A little part of her wondered if Miss Ellinor had only said that out of pity.

  “I do like my work here.” She traced the flat edge of the rickety wooden folding chair.

  “Then stay.” Miss Ellinor held herself with an air of determination. “You’re running before you know what’s going on. Can you stay until you know you’re really in danger from that evil man?” She gave her a knowing glance.