The Amish Widow (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 1) (5 page)

“What else?”

“At the funeral, Wil scolded the man and told him to leave me alone, but today when we were at the craft store I saw them across the road. They were speaking to each other real friendly.”

Maureen frowned and pouted her lips out in an exaggerated manner.

Emma continued, “Then later I saw them together in a coffee shop and they were having lunch together. What do you think of that? They were speaking as if they were great friends.”

Maureen placed her teacup back on the table and nibbled on a cookie. “It’s quite clear, actually. It would appear that the two of them are in cahoots.”

“Ca… what?”

“You know,
in it
together. Either they are trying to buy your property together or the short man has paid Wil, to encourage you to sell – like a spotter’s fee or something. There could be a number of scenarios.”

“
Nee
, Wil would never do anything like that.”

Maureen completely ignored Emma’s comment. “Or, maybe Wil is buying it and has instructed the short man to act as his agent so you won’t know it’s really Wil buying it.”

Emma considered what Maureen had said. “
Nee
, I can’t see that any of those things are possible. Wil wouldn’t deceive me. What reason would he have for doing that?”

“Think about it, Emma. You’ve a large piece of prime farmland and it joins on to Wil’s property. They’d both be worth a heck of a lot more together than they would as two single farms.”

Emma looked at Maureen’s beady eyes. “Would they?”

Maureen nodded enthusiastically. “It’s too much of a coincidence that Pluver has pulled the plug on the lease now too. Someone’s trying to force you off your land.”

A chill ran down Emma’s spine. She would definitely take the pitchfork up to her bedroom with her tonight. Emma recalled how Wil was always looking for opportunities to make money, but would he try and use
her
to make money; the widow of his best friend? She hoped it was not true.

“You were in the same friendship group as Wil and Levi growing up, weren’t you?” Emma had left her family and friends a hundred miles away to marry Levi. Emma had traveled to her cousin’s wedding and met Levi. She stayed on and married him. She had not grown up in the community, but Maureen had.

“
Jah
, I was.”

“Wil was trustworthy then, wasn’t he?”

“
Jah
, I definitely thought he was trustworthy, but people can change. There’s definitely something funny going on with your farm. I just know it. If something smells like a snake it usually is a snake.”

Emma nodded as she wondered what snakes smelled like.

“Oh golly. I promised John and his
fraa
that I’d go there for dinner. Anyway, you should tell the group next time we meet. They’re very good at figuring things out.”

“Really? I might do that.
Denke
for visiting me, Maureen. Emma rose to her feet to walk Maureen out to her buggy. “You brightened up my day.”

“Come and visit me. It’s much easier if you visit me. And watch out who you trust, it sounds like someone really wants your farm.”

“I will. I will on both counts, I will visit you and I will watch who I trust.”

Emma closed her front door and bolted it. She never bothered much with locks, but today she did not feel safe. In fact, when she went to the stores or the gathering together she rarely even locked her doors. Could she trust Wil? Yesterday she was sure she would be able to trust Wil with her life, but today she was not so certain. Her once perfect world seemed to be getting less so every minute. Ever since Levi died things seemed to get worse every single day.

She would not cook dinner tonight; she was not the slightest bit hungry. Emma pulled out the embroidery she’d bought earlier and the chocolate that she’d bought from the specialty chocolate store. She made herself comfortable on the lounge. Although she wasn’t hungry, the chocolate should sooth the sore throat she felt coming on. Emma got a sore throat every time the seasons changed. Chocolate was the only answer and she had a lot to get through. She pulled a rug over her knees to make herself cozy.

I’ll make a start on this sampler to keep myself busy. I wonder if I should ask Wil why he was talking to that man. Nee, I’ll just wait and see if he says anything to me.
At least she knew she wouldn’t have to wait long because Wil would visit again tomorrow, just as he did every day.

Emma popped her feet up on the coffee table, smoothed out the fluffy blanket and popped a soft, center strawberry chocolate into her mouth. As the chocolate melted softly in her mouth, she concentrated hard on the embroidery so she would not have to think about Wil and what possible reason he could have for speaking to the vulture man.

At the next widows’ meeting on the Wednesday night, Maureen encouraged Emma to tell the ladies what had gone on with Wil, the vulture and Pluver.

After Emma had explained the whole thing, with a little emphasis on certain points from Maureen, Emma said to the group, “So what do you all think of that?”

“Something stinks.” As usual Elsa-May was the first to speak. “Someone’s out to diddle you, girl.”

“You think so? But even if they did buy the land, I would make sure that I got a fair price. How would they diddle me?” Emma asked.

“Well, dear, perhaps they think that you don’t want to sell, so they have to find devious means to get what they want. They may not diddle you financially, but they may diddle you to encourage you to sell when you don’t want to.” Ettie was softly spoken and Emma had to make a special effort to hear what she said.

The other ladies made murmurs of agreement.

“What should I do? I kind of don’t feel safe with the vulture man coming to the
haus
and all, and now I’m worried about Wil.” Emma chewed on the end of her fingernail.

“More tea?” Ettie picked up the fine china teapot.

Emma nodded and held the teacup toward Ettie hoping Ettie would not spill the boiling tea on her with her shaky hands. “
Denke
, Ettie.”

While Ettie filled everyone’s nearly empty cups, Silvie said to the group, “What should we do about it? How will we get to the bottom of things?”

Elsa-May’s eyes narrowed. “You, Silvie, will go and pay the vulture a visit and pretend that you want to buy land in the area.”

Emma turned to look at Silvie thinking she would be horrified with the idea.

Instead, Silvie nodded enthusiastically. “
Jah,
and I’ll say my husband and I want to buy it, so he might believe it a bit more.”

Ettie added, “Wear makeup, so you’ll look pretty and be sure to make eyes at him.”

Emma gasped at Ettie’s words. Ettie was normally so quiet and so proper.

When Ettie noticed the look on Emma’s face, she said, “That means to flirt with him.”

“I know what it means; I’m shocked that you’d encourage Silvie to flirt.”

“It’ll help her get information, Emma,” Elsa-May said.

Silvie held her chin up high. “I know what to do.”

Emma swung around from looking open mouthed at Ettie to look open mouthed at sweet, little blonde-haired Silvie. Was she really going to go against the
Ordnung
to wear makeup – and flirt? “Should we go against the
Ordnung
?” Emma felt in her heart she would be just as guilty if she let Silvie go ahead with the plan.

Elsa-May’s loud voice boomed. “Would
Gott
want you to be ripped off?”

“
Nee
, but He does say in the Bible that vengeance is His,” Emma pointed out.

“Humph.” Elsa-May leaned her bottom jaw out as she said, “
Gott
gave us a brain, so we could use it.”

“We’re using a little more than our brain here though,” Emma said.
Yes, we are using our womanly ways, would Gott approve of that?

Everyone’s eyes flew to Emma.

“We just want to help you, Emma, that’s all,” Maureen said.

“
Jah
. You’re one of us now,” Silvie said.

“
Gott
put you in this group with us for a reason,” Elsa-May said. “Besides, the
Ordnung
changes all the time. The bishop’s allowing some people tractors now and others can have computers for their businesses. Think of it as, us being ahead of our time and
Gott
is not constrained by time; He is eternal.”

Ettie chimed in, “She’s right, Emma, and we’re not hurting anyone; we’re just trying to protect you.”

The others nodded and continued looking at Emma. Emma could feel everyone’s love and concern. Being protected is what she needed right now. Visions of her pitchfork and spade came to her mind. “All right then.
Denke
. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I am very grateful that you all want to help.”

“Okay, we’ll call it ‘Operation Vulture Takedown,’” Elsa-May said as she pulled out a yellow note pad and began to write.

Silvie giggled while Emma wondered what she had just agreed to.

Chapter 5.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

‘Operation Vulture Takedown’ was to begin tomorrow, according to the plan on Elsa-May’s notepad. The first step was for Silvie to visit the vulture’s office, flirt a little and see what she could find out.

Emma stepped out of Maureen’s buggy and thanked her for driving her to Elsa-May and Ettie’s
haus
for the widows’ meeting.

She stood on her doorstep and waved to Maureen as her buggy trotted up the driveway. She was grateful to be home and although she was lonely sometimes, at least it was a place in which she felt safe.

Emma was grateful to have some new friends who cared about her and her farmland. It was late at night and Emma hated nothing more than to come home to a cold dark
haus
. Next time she will leave a light on. She turned on the gas lantern just inside the front door and then turned the main gas light on in the center of the lounge room.

She hurried to the kitchen to boil some water, so she could take a hot-water bottle to bed with her. Maybe she would also sip some lemon tea. Emma did not think that she would be able to sleep. Normally she found it hard to sleep, but tonight with all the surprises at the widows’ meeting she was sure that sleep would evade her even more.

Emma had just passed Wil’s
haus
on the way back in Maureen’s buggy and the
haus
was in darkness. Never being out this late, Emma did not know if that was unusual or not for him. Farmers usually go to bed early, but Wil was not a farmer and Emma was not really sure how he made his money. Maybe he lived on the lease money from his farm as she did.

She filled up her hot water bottle and waited for the iron kettle to boil once more for her lemon tea. Emma hugged the hot-water bottle as she waited.
What would Levi think of all this intrigue? He would be glad I’ve made some gut friends, I guess.

With lemon tea in hand and hugging her hot water bottle, Emma made her way up the stairs to her bedroom. She set the tea on her nightstand and the hot-water bottle in the bed and went back downstairs to fetch her weapons. She remembered she had a hammer in the utility room; that would save her carrying the big pitchfork upstairs. Emma found the hammer and carried it back upstairs and placed it under her bed. She sent up a quick prayer to
Gott
asking Him to protect her through the night.

Emma was conscious of the empty space on the other side of her bed. The space had once been filled and now it lay empty. She still kept to her side of the bed even though she could have slept in the middle; somehow it felt right to stay sleeping on the same side. While she sat on the edge of her bed drinking the tea she moved the hot water bottle a little further under the blankets.

How did Maureen and Silvie cope, living alone? They still lived in the houses that they lived in with their husbands and they seemed to manage all right. Maureen had her
bruder
to help her with things, but Emma was not sure who helped Silvie.

That night she could not sleep. Every time she fell asleep she woke up after only a few minutes. She tossed and turned all night mainly due to the bad dream that the vulture was chasing her away from her
haus
and she couldn’t find her hammer anywhere. Emma woke up with a fast beating heart and her body covered in a layer of sweat.

She sat up in bed and noticed the teacup on the floor and realized that she’d left half a cup of tea in it from the night before, which was now spilled all over the floor. She must have knocked it to the floor during her bad dream. Emma slumped back under the covers. Somehow she felt safer in the daylight and in some way she managed to drag herself out of bed.

Elsa-May’s plan was that they would all meet at her
haus
again at three o’clock. Hopefully by then, Silvie would have some information after she had charmed Mr. McAllister, the vulture.

As Emma made herself some breakfast, she looked down at the floorboards. They needed cleaning, as did the rest of the
haus
. It had been sorely neglected since Levi had gone. She decided that she would spend the first part of the day cleaning the
haus,
starting with the kitchen.

On hearing a buggy approach, Emma dried her hands and went to the front door. It was Wil, which surprised her because he mostly walked to visit, since he lived so close.

“Hello, Wil.”

“I’m just on my way into town. Do you need anything?”

“
Nee
.” Emma had to stop herself from saying that she was there yesterday. “
Nee, denke
. I’m stocked up with all I’ll need for a while.”

Wil got out of his buggy and walked toward her. “Well, why don’t you come somewhere with me?”

Emma looked up at the handsome Wil. If she were ready for another
mann
she would have been delighted to be asked to go somewhere with him. But as it was the timing was totally off. “Why?”

“It’s not
gut
for you to stay in the
haus
all the time by yourself.”

“I visited yesterday; I had dinner last night at Elsa-May and Ettie’s
haus
. I
have
been out of the
haus
.”

Wil laughed. “You had dinner with Elsa-May and Ettie?”

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing at all. They are a funny pair and make me laugh, that’s all. I’m not being disrespectful.”

Emma knew what he meant. They were a couple of funny old dears.

He touched her shoulder lightly. “Come on Emma, come on a picnic with me?”

Emma hoped that Wil was not starting to like her as more than a friend. It was far too soon for her to entertain thoughts of another
mann.
Surely he can’t be interested in me; nee, surely not, but he has been over here an awful lot.
Maybe it’s just because he was such a gut friend of Levis he thinks he has to keep an eye on me,
Emma thought. “I can’t, I’ve got to...”

“Got to what?” Wil smiled widely and laid his hands casually at his hips.

“Clean the
haus
. It’s in a dreadful state.”

“A day will make no difference at all. Do it tomorrow. Let’s go on a picnic.”

Emma shook her head. “It would not look
gut
if someone saw us out together. I mean if someone saw me enjoying myself.”
Whoops, I’ve just admitted that I would enjoy myself with him. I hope he didn’t notice what I said.

“Just because Levi died doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself up forever. Levi wouldn’t have wanted that. He would want you to be happy. How about a compromise?”

Emma raised her eyebrows. She was beginning to like the sound of leaving the cleaning until the next day, but she had to be at Elsa-May’s at three o’clock; that’s what the plan was and she was not about to go against the plan that Elsa-May had written down.

“How about we go somewhere, where we won’t be seen? That way we won’t be gossiped about,” Wil said, in a half mocking tone.

Emma was wavering; maybe she would enjoy a picnic. “I’d have to be back, well before three.”

“We can do that – easily.”

Emma thought of the floorboards. They didn’t look that poorly;
maybe another day wouldn’t matter. “Don’t you have to go into town, Wil?”

“I can do that later, or do it tomorrow. You stay right here and I’ll pick you up in ten minutes. I’ll go home and pack us a hamper.”

“Okay, I’ll bring some cheesecake.”

Ten minutes would be enough time for Emma to sweep the floor to stave off her guilt for not giving it and the rest of the
haus
a thorough cleaning.

Emma wondered whether she was doing the right thing. Maybe she should’ve put the picnic off until tomorrow and that way she would have had more information about the whole vulture situation. Now, she’d have to hold her tongue from telling him that she saw him speaking to the McAllister vulture.

Half an hour later they sat on a grassy hill overlooking a meadow. Emma considered that if she had been there with Levi it would have been very romantic. She had met Wil briefly before she had meet Levi and they had gotten on very well together, but then Levi burst onto the scene and he swept her off her feet. The bishop’s wife, Mary, had once told her in confidence that she was the only girl that Wil had ever been interested in;
by then she was betrothed to Levi and happily so.

“So what is it that you do for a living anyway, Wil? I’ve never really known.”

Wil took a mouthful of cider and as he placed the glass back on the blanket, he said, “Quite a few things. It’s too hard to explain.”

“Because I’m a woman?”

Wil smiled and looked at Emma. “
Nee
, I didn’t mean that.”

Emma loved the way that Wil smiled. She had to fight her attraction to him. She could not let herself think loving thoughts toward him. It was far too soon. “I don’t see why it would be hard to explain what you do.” Normally Emma would not push a point so far, but she had to find out what was going on. Why was he trying to hide what he did for his money?

“I lease the farm to Henry Pluver, as you know, and apart from that I have a few investments. Nothing to speak of really and then I have my inventions I work on.”

Emma did not know what more she could ask without him getting suspicious.

After talking and eating a lot of food, Emma was no closer to finding out why Wil had been speaking with Mr. McAllister. Maybe she should just ask him straight out.
Is he behind all this fuss of someone trying to force me off my land? Anyway, what was the purpose of the picnic? Maybe he’s keen on me. That must be the answer. If what the bishop’s wife said was true, maybe with Levi gone, he wants to court me.
Surely he would wait a respectable time and not rush things,
she thought.

“We’d better get you home.” Wil stood up and held out his hand. Emma looked at his strong, powerful outstretched arm. Of course, she wanted to be held in those strong arms of his. Was it loneliness that led her to want to be held in a
mann’s
arms once more, to feel strong arms around her waist? She had always felt safe when Levi put his arms around her. Maybe she just longed for that feeling of safety once more.

She put her hand in his and he helped her to her feet. She stumbled a little as the leg she had been sitting on had gone to sleep. He reached an arm behind her back and caught her. She could have easily pulled away, but instead she looked up into his deep, brown eyes and saw his gaze slowly move to her mouth before he pulled himself away.

“I’m sorry, Emma. I… are you all right?”

“My leg’s gone to sleep.”

“Sit for a while with your leg outstretched while I pack the buggy.” He helped her sit back down on the blanket.

Emma sat looking out over the fields. She was upset with herself that she was not the one to pull away first. What would Levi have thought of her? He had only just gone and she was craving another man’s touch.

Even though she was mad with herself, she could not stop wondering what would have happened if she pressed her body into him and touched her lips to his. She remembered that Levi once joked that Wil never married because he was in love with her. Surely he was just joking, but that, coupled with what the bishop’s
fraa
had told her years ago, gave Emma something to think about.

Maybe he had a little crush on her a long time ago. Even if Wil was in love with her, he was not the kind of man to move in so quickly after his best friend’s departure. That led her to another thought - if he had her best interests at heart surely he would not be deceiving her regarding her property. For all the time she had spent with Wil today, she was none the wiser of his motives regarding his possible interest in her or his talking to McAllister.

Once Wil had finished packing the buggy he returned to crouch beside her. “Better now?”

Emma moved her leg. “
Jah
, better.”

“Well, bring the blanket and let’s go.”

Ah,
Emma thought,
he’s not going to risk giving me his hand again. He does not want to be close to me again.
Emma bundled up the blanket and placed it in the back of Wil’s buggy. All the way back to her place she contemplated asking him about the vulture, but thought she was best to discuss it with the widows’ society before she did or said anything.

As they drew closer to Emma’s home, she saw three buggies pulling away from her drive. Emma was immediately worried, but tried not to act like it in front of Wil. “Looks like I’ve had visitors.”

There was one buggy in her driveway when she pulled up. As soon as Emma saw the distinctive brown and white markings of the bishop’s horse, she knew she could relax. She looked harder and saw the bishop’s wife, Mary, standing on her porch.