“He was planning to do that once his crops were harvested this fall. Making me the beneficiary of the trust was a safeguard in case he died before that happened. Sophie needs a transplant before she gets much older. Every year, her skin gets thicker and that makes the blue lights less effective at breaking down the toxic chemical in her blood. Even a simple cold can put her life in jeopardy or cause serious brain damage because the toxin builds up faster when she’s ill.”
Would he help her or was she wasting her breath? She couldn’t tell. She was exhausted and couldn’t think straight anymore.
Paul rubbed a hand over his chin. “Unless you want Ralph to come back here with the sheriff in a day or two, you’ll need to give me some idea of how long it will take you to move out.”
Her hopes sank. He didn’t care. “I told you I’m not moving.”
“I heard you but we need a way to stall Ralph. He sounded adamant about calling the sheriff on you. We don’t want that to happen and certainly not before I have his story checked out. I will insist on seeing a copy of the trust he claims to have and make sure it’s real. I have no idea how long that will take.”
Relief made her smile as she reached out and grasped his arm. “Then you believe me.”
* * *
Paul didn’t reply. His gaze remained fixed on her face. When she smiled, it changed her appearance drastically. The lines of fatigue and worry around her eyes eased, and she looked years younger. She was a pretty woman but more than that—she had a presence about her that was arresting and made a man look closer. She probably wasn’t much older than he was.
She let go of his arm and clasped both hands together as a faint blush stained her cheeks. He liked to flirt with women and make them smile but he knew Clara wasn’t in the mood to enjoy a little banter. He looked away and took several steps to put some distance between them.
It was surprising that he found her so attractive. She wasn’t the kind of woman he was normally interested in. He liked to go out with girls who knew how to have fun. A widow with two children didn’t make the list. He cleared his throat. “I believe you feel certain that you own the land. However, feelings aren’t proof.”
Her smile vanished. “At least you are willing to investigate Ralph’s claim. It’s a start. I’m not lying about Eli’s intentions. My uncle kept all his important papers in his desk. I’m sure the trust papers are there.”
Paul turned to face her. “You have them here?”
“I do. This way.”
Paul followed her down the hall to her uncle’s study at the rear of the house. The moment she opened the door, she stopped. “Someone has been in here.”
“Are you sure?”
She looked around. “Every piece of furniture in this room has been thoroughly dusted. Eli didn’t like me to clean in here and he wasn’t this neat.”
“I imagine the women of his church came to clean the house before the funeral.” It was a common custom among the Amish to prepare the home for the service.
Obviously feeling foolish, she avoided meeting his gaze. “Of course. I should have thought of that. You must think I’m crazy to suspect someone has tampered with my uncle’s possessions because the room is clean. The women wouldn’t have disturbed the papers in his desk.”
She opened the drawers one by one and went through them. Not finding what she was looking for, she went through each drawer again more slowly. “The trust document isn’t here.”
The trust wasn’t there because Ralph had it. Paul kept that thought to himself. Ralph had warned him not to believe her. He hated to think Ralph was telling the truth about Clara’s unbalanced state of mind.
She pressed a hand to her forehead. “What do I do now?”
She looked lost and desperate, as if she had reached the end of her strength. Paul fought the desire to put his arms around her and console her. It was highly unlikely that she would welcome such a move but he was compelled to offer a sliver of hope even if it was false hope. “Could your uncle have moved it?”
“I don’t know why he would.”
“If he wasn’t feeling well and you weren’t here, he might have given it to the bishop, his attorney or a friend for safekeeping so that someone would know what his final wishes were.”
“Perhaps.” She didn’t look convinced. “I’ll speak with the bishop and his friend Dan to see if they know anything about it. I don’t know who his attorney was.”
“I hate to suggest this but Ralph may be telling the truth. Your uncle might have changed his mind.”
She shook her head, making the ribbons of her kapp flutter. “I can’t believe that. Eli wouldn’t leave us with nothing. Besides Ralph and my mother, the children and I are Eli’s only family. He loved my children.”
“I’m sure he did.” She was vulnerable and sad. Paul wanted to comfort her but he didn’t know what else to say. He chose to retreat. “I need to look around the property if that’s okay with you.”
“It seems I have no right to stop you.” Her eyes filled with tears and one slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away.
Not tears. He hated to see a woman cry. He wanted her to smile again. He stepped closer. “Don’t give up. Things will work out. You’ll see. Maybe Ralph will have a change of heart and share the proceeds of the farm sale with you.”
Her weary expression changed to a look of fierce determination. She squared her shoulders and rose to her feet. “I’ll be very old and gray before that happens. Go and do my cousin’s evil bidding. Make an inventory. Find out how much this place is worth so I’ll know how much the two of you are stealing from my babies.”
“I’m not stealing anything.” Her sudden change of mood took him by surprise. Angry mama cat was back and spitting mad.
“You are if you help him! Get out!”
He made a hasty retreat to the front door and out onto the porch. He turned back to her, hoping to make her see reason. “I have a job to do.”
“Then do it without my blessing.” She slammed the door shut in his face.
* * *
Clara leaned her back against the closed door and took several deep calming breaths. Her heart hammered in her chest. She could feel the blood pounding in her temples. Allowing herself to become so upset served no purpose.
“What’s wrong, Mamm?” Toby asked from the living-room doorway.
“Nothing.” She moved to peek out the kitchen window. Paul was standing on the porch looking stunned. She wished she knew what he was thinking. One minute, he seemed compassionate and caring, tempting her to trust him. In the next breath, he said he was going to sell the property for Ralph as if that was the way things had to be.
It wasn’t. She would find a way to stop them.
Her actions today ran contrary to her Amish upbringing and she was ashamed of that, ashamed her children had witnessed her behaving like a shrew. She had made a serious accusation against Ralph that she couldn’t substantiate. Not unless she found the papers she knew had to exist.
Ralph possessed few, if any, scruples. This wasn’t the first time he’d tried to trick or cheat an Amish family member out of money. This time it wasn’t just about money; it was about Sophie’s life.
Eli had wanted Clara to sell the farm when he was gone and use the funds to help Sophie. He had been a dear, kind man and she missed him deeply. She folded her hands together and sent up a quick prayer that God would be merciful to her and her children and allow her to grant Eli his final wish.
She