She folded her hands together again and braced herself. “Hannah wasn’t ill, Mamm. She was murdered.”
Neither Mary nor Thomas spoke, they simply glanced at each other then back at Elizabeth and waited.
Her thoughts did a somersault through her mind. How much should she tell them? How much was their right to know versus her desire to dump this heavy burden on other shoulders, too? With every passing second she was certain it had been selfish to come home and bring a potential danger with her. What had she been thinking?
She hadn’t been thinking. She’d simply known the Amish community always took care of their own, and her love of that community, her need for their guidance and their help, had brought her home.
“Tell us what happened.” Thomas’s calm tone soothed her. His strength gave her courage.
“Hannah and I had just rented a condo together. I was helping move some of her things. I came in the back door and—and...”
Mary reached over and clasped Elizabeth’s hand.
Elizabeth glanced back and forth between her mother and Thomas. She only saw empathy and kindness looking back. She inhaled deeply then continued the story. “I saw Hannah lying motionless on the floor of the kitchen. A man was bent over her, his hands around her throat.”
Mary cried out and offered a quick prayer.
“Go on, Elizabeth.” Thomas’s entire demeanor offered her encouragement and strength.
“I screamed when I saw what was happening. The man stood up and raced toward me. I turned and ran as fast as I could. He almost caught up with me but I got away.”
“How?” Mary asked.
“I learned how to drive while I was gone, Mamm. I jumped in my car and drove away.”
“And Hannah?” Mary asked.
“I called the police and then doubled back to the complex. Shortly after I got back, I saw them carry her body out on a gurney to the coroner’s van. There was nothing more I could do for her so...” She threw a glance between them. “I came home.”
Mary got up and threw her arms around her daughter. “As you should have.” She tilted Elizabeth’s chin to look at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I should have,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m sorry, Mamm.”
“Now I understand.” Thomas’s voice caught both women’s attention. “The man who attacked you in the barn. He murdered Hannah and he followed you here.”
Elizabeth nodded.
Mary gasped again. “Is that who you were looking out the window for this morning?”
Elizabeth hugged her mother tightly. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I never should have come home.”
“Nonsense.”
“You don’t understand, Mamm. I have brought danger home to you, to this community.” Elizabeth sprang to her feet. “I need to leave.”
Mary caught her hand and stopped her. “Leave? Where would you go? What would you do? You cannot face this terrible thing alone.”
“Mary is right.” Thomas gestured to the seat Elizabeth had vacated. “Sit. Have another cup of coffee. We’ll talk and together we’ll decide what the right thing is to do.”
“Thomas.” Elizabeth’s eyes pooled with tears. “The man knows I can identify him. He can’t afford to let me get away.”
“What do you think he will do?” Mary asked. “Do you think he will try to kill you, again?”
“Ja, Mamm.” Elizabeth lowered herself back into her chair. “And anyone else who tries to help me. That’s why I have to go. I was wrong to come and it would be wrong to stay.”
“It is wrong to leave.” The iron steeliness crept back into Thomas’s voice. “Running is not the answer to problems. I would have hoped you’d have learned that lesson by now.”
A heated flush painted her cheeks. She knew his words had a double meaning. She hadn’t run away before. She had chosen to leave. For him. For his happiness. But she knew he couldn’t know that.
“I won’t be able to live with myself if anyone gets hurt because of me.” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand.
“No one will get hurt. The Amish community takes care of its own and you are still one of us, Elizabeth. We will talk to the bishop and ask his guidance. Everything will be all right.”
“Thomas is right. The bishop will have sound advice.” Mary sat down again. “Don’t worry. Gott will protect us.”
“He didn’t protect Hannah.” Elizabeth regretted the words the moment they left her lips.
“You must not question Gott,” Mary said, reprimanding her. “It was His will that Hannah be called home. And we must place this problem in His hands. He loves us. He has a plan for our lives. Whatever happens it will be His will. Trust Him, Elizabeth, always.”
She lowered her eyes in chagrin. “I do, Mamm. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”
“Finish your coffee.” Thomas gestured to her mug. “Tell us everything. We will make a plan to keep you safe.” Thomas’s resolve remained solid and steady.
Elizabeth dared to relax a moment, to allow someone else to help her carry the burden. The ghost of a smile crossed her lips as she looked at Thomas. He had always been there for her. He was there for her now. But she couldn’t miss his thundercloud expression as he said one more thing.
“This plan, Elizabeth, will not include running away.”
Elizabeth moved quickly through the barn toward the rear exit.
“Where are you going?” Thomas stepped out of the shadows.
She startled and spun in his direction. “Don’t creep up on me. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“You’re too young for a heart attack. And I’m not the one who appears to be creeping around.”
“Don’t be foolish. I’m not creeping anywhere.”
“I thought you’d be in the kitchen helping Mary clean up,” Thomas said.
“And I thought you’d left for home.”
“I was leaving.” He came closer. “But I remembered one of the horses has a sore on his leg and I wanted to take a second look at it.” He grinned. “Your turn. What are you doing scampering through the barn?”
“I don’t scamper.”
He raised an eyebrow and grinned. The Elizabeth he had known all his life never walked if she could avoid it. She scampered, scurried, skipped and frolicked through life. It did his heart good to see that some things about her hadn’t changed.
“I was going to check on my car.” She waved her hand toward the rear barn doors. “I’ve got it under a tarp behind the barn.”
“And you think one of the livestock took it for a joyride?”
Elizabeth laughed at his foolishness, which was exactly what he wanted. He’d always tried to make her happy and her life carefree. He knew she needed a heavy dose of that now. Besides, he had always loved to hear the tinkling sound of her giggles and was not disappointed to hear them now.
“That is a ridiculous notion and you know it.” But she covered her mouth to stop a giggle anyway and he smiled. “If I am going to stay, I have to get the car shipshape and ready to sell.”
“If