Читать книгу Lost in Plain Sight - Marta Perry - Страница 8

Leah managed a weak smile, shaking her head as Geneva pushed another jumble cookie toward her. Geneva was a good friend, but eating cookies at Geneva’s kitchen table wouldn’t cure the trouble she was in.

“Sugar is good for shock,” Geneva declared briskly. “And don’t bother telling me you’re not shaken by that woman’s accusation, because I won’t believe it.”

It was easier to give in than to argue with Geneva’s kindness. She accepted the cookie, giving a tentative sideways glance at Josiah. He had his hands wrapped around a glass of tea, his normally friendly, open face now looking solemn.

“Ja, I am feeling shaky inside,” she admitted. “But mostly I just can’t believe this is happening. Mrs. Grayson has never been friendly, exactly, but she didn’t find any fault with my work.”

“What about her husband?” Josiah asked. “He seemed to be on your side.”

Leah nodded. “Ja, he did, didn’t he?” She felt a sense of gratitude. “Maybe he’ll convince his wife that she is mistaken.”

But she doubted it even as she said the words.

Geneva gave the short little nod that was characteristic of her. “We’ll hope so. But to tell the truth, I’ve seldom met a more determined woman than Angela Grayson.”

Josiah’s frown lightened a little as he looked at Geneva. Small wonder. Most people in the township had reason to be grateful to the Morgans for their kindness. “I don’t remember them at all.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Geneva said. “They haven’t lived in Springville for more than a few years. He opened a real estate office here, and they both threw themselves into civic work. He was elected to the school board two years ago, and Angela is involved in all sorts of civic committees.”

She sounded a little vague, and Leah hid a smile. Geneva’s kindnesses weren’t the kind that involved going to lunches and talking about helping people. She’d more likely be found washing dishes or holding a fussy baby. Maybe that was why she got along so well with the Amish.

“This ring the woman was talking about…” Josiah turned back to Leah. “Did you ever see it?”

“Ja, last Wednesday.” Leah frowned, trying to fix it in her mind. “Mrs. Grayson was a bit fussed in the morning, because she was entertaining one of her committees that afternoon. She wanted me to get on with the cleaning, but Mr. Grayson was still there, talking on the phone, and she said he was in the way.” Truth to tell, Leah hadn’t thought much of the way the woman talked to her husband. “Anyway, she had me start in the bedroom instead of the family room because he was on the phone, and she got out the ring and showed it to me.”

“Did she have it locked away?” Geneva asked.

Leah shook her head. “Just in the box on her dresser. She was going to wear it for her meeting. Show it off, she said.” That was so un-Amish an attitude that Leah had trouble understanding it. “It seemed like she wanted the other ladies to envy her.”

Josiah shook his head, as if he didn’t understand it, either. “Well, I don’t suppose one of them would take it. Most likely the woman lost the ring herself. One thing’s sure. We know Leah didn’t take it.”

The confidence in Josiah’s voice warmed her heart. He might never think of her as more than a little sister, but at least he trusted her.

Geneva’s face grew thoughtful. “Do you think she lost it, Leah?”

She nodded, the warmth seeping away too quickly. “I guess so. But if she did lose it, how could I ever prove I didn’t take it?”

“They might find it,” Josiah said, but she could tell that he didn’t really believe that would happen.

“Maybe.” Geneva’s face was thoughtful. “But there have been some break-ins lately, mostly at isolated farmhouses. The thieves might be getting braver.”

“Isaiah Stoltzfus’s house was broken into a few weeks ago while the family was away visiting. But the thieves ransacked the whole house.” Much as she’d like to believe in that solution, she couldn’t quite manage it. “Would they just take a ring?”

“Ja, how would they know where it was kept?” Josiah saw the flaws in that as well as she did.

“Someone might have told them.” Geneva obviously didn’t want to give up on her idea. “Maybe someone mentioned it in all innocence, and the thieves overheard the conversation.”

“Really?” That seemed unlikely.

Geneva smiled suddenly, as if laughing at herself. “I know that sounds silly. But there has to be some way of figuring out what happened. You know, maybe it would be for the best if she did go to the police.”

“Ach, no!” Panic grabbed at Leah’s heart. “The police—what would my parents say, and the bishop, and the ministers? That would be terrible.”

Geneva reached across the worn pine tabletop to grasp her hand. “I know the idea of the police sounds scary. But Chief Adam Byler is a fair, sensible person. And if he were involved, Angela Grayson would have to answer his questions about the ring.”

“There must be another way.” Leah knew she sounded desperate, but she couldn’t help it. “I can’t have the whole church community know I’ve been called a thief.”

“It won’t come to that.” Josiah clasped her other hand, holding it warmly in his. “You are innocent, and God will protect you.”

“Of course He will,” Geneva said. “But it won’t hurt for us to take some action, too.”

“But what?” It was gut of Geneva to want to help, but the more Leah thought of it, the fewer options she saw. “Mrs. Grayson would never talk about it to me. That’s certain sure.”

“No, but she might talk to me once she calms down.” Geneva’s blue eyes sparkled, as if she’d thought of something that amused her. “I imagine Angela might already be regretting bursting into my house that way. She may be looking for an opportunity to apologize to me, so I could give her one.”

Leah mulled that over. Even though Geneva acted just like anyone else, the Morgans had been the most important family in the township for as long as anyone could remember. It was true that Mrs. Grayson might regret antagonizing her.

“Even if she wants to apologize, how will that help?”

“I’ll get her talking,” Geneva waved her hands in the air, as if about to produce an answer there. “Maybe she’ll let something slip that will help.” Her voice grew more enthusiastic as she talked. “Tomorrow morning is the Library Friends meeting. She’s sure to be there. Are you working tomorrow?”

“I’m supposed to work at the Reynolds house. But if Mrs. Reynolds hears…” She didn’t want to finish that, as she seemed to see all her jobs disappearing.

“If there’s a problem, you just come here instead,” Geneva said briskly. “And if not, come after work. You, too, Josiah. We’ll talk it over then.” She jumped up and came around the table to hug Leah. “In the meantime, try not to worry. Okay?”

“I will try.” That was easy to say. Leah had a feeling it would not be so easy to do.

Josiah spent the first part of the drive to the Miller farm trying to reassure Leah, but eventually he had to admit to himself that he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Leah didn’t seem inclined to talk, and soon the only sound was the clop of the mare’s hooves and the gentle creak of the buggy.

He stole a sideways glance at Leah’s face. Under the brim of her bonnet her expression was pensive, the corners of her soft lips drooping. She looked as if she’d given up already, and that made his heart hurt. Little Leah’s sorrows should be easily fixed, but this one… Despite Geneva Morgan’s optimism, he didn’t see a simple solution.

Leah’s lashes swept up, and she met his gaze. “Will you promise me something, Josiah?”

“If I can,” he said. Promises weren’t to be given unless he could be sure of keeping them.

Her lips firmed, as if she prepared to battle him over this, whatever it was. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. Not right away, anyway.”

What was in her mind? “What about your mamm and daad? And Abe?”

“Not yet,” she said, her gaze suddenly pleading. “They will be so upset. And maybe by tomorrow, Geneva will have found something out.”

“Surely you want to tell Abe. He’s your big brother.” Abe had always been especially close to Leah. “He’d want to know.”

“He’d want to fix it,” she corrected with a slight smile. “And he can’t. Besides, he has enough on his hands now with a brand-new boppli. I don’t want him worrying about me.”

The determination in her voice surprised him a bit, but Leah was growing up, wasn’t she? And she knew her brother. Abe would want to make her problem better.

“All right,” he said finally. “But you’ll have to tell them soon, before they hear it from someone else.”

“Ja. I know.”

He didn’t have the heart to push her further. But he didn’t really see a way this would be cleared up without folks knowing.

He concentrated on the turn into the farm lane, trying not to think what Abe would say if he knew Josiah had held this back from him.

The farmhouse came into view, as well as the barns and outbuildings beyond. No one was in sight.

“Mamm and Daad and the little ones went over to the sale at New Holland today,” Leah said, interpreting his look. “They should be back soon.”

He pulled the buggy to a stop at the back door, and Leah jumped down.