Safe Hearts (Amish Safe House, Book 3) (9 page)

“
I promised you ladies an
update today,” Beckie said cheerfully, “Honestly I was beside
myself waiting for the meeting. But I just couldn't find a minute
to get away. Jeremiah has eaten like a horse since he got
home.”

The ladies laughed. It was a small
consolation that all Amish women appeared to be naturals at
everything domestic. Apparently these ladies were the elite force
of the crafting and culinary arts - and information gathering
skills.

“
Come now, we’re here to
knit,” Maria scolded them as she waved a knobby finger. The women
tried their best to look chastised, but then they were soon smiling
and whispering amongst each other.

“
Kate,
denki
again,” Beckie said gratefully.
“I know you have your own reasons for being here. It does my heart
good that you went out of your way for my Jeremiah.”

“
I didn't do anything
special; I'm just happy that he's home.” Kate picked up a needle,
and started to measure out some thread.

“
As we all are.” Beckie
beamed. Esther nodded from her rocking chair as she regarded Kate
and Beckie with a smile. It was probably the warmest the elderly
woman had been to her since she got here. Esther was always polite,
but she never seemed to approve of Kate vacationing here while she
was recovering. At least up until today. It seemed her little chat
with Ryan had won over the ninety year old lady.

Kate glanced over at the table, seeing
Lillian and Nancy both practically cheek to cheek as they poured
over the dessert table. They were whispering something excitedly,
though Kate could not hear what they were discussing with such
energy. It was likely some juicy gossip they didn't want a scolding
for. Maria seemed to suspect as much too, as she kept her eye on
them like a mother preparing to guide her wayward
children.

Kate smiled as she suppressed a guilty
twinge. These ladies were unlike anyone she had ever
met.

“
When it's time for me to
go, they'll be the first I'll tell the truth to. They deserve that
much for helping me keep my sanity
.” Kate
looked down at the bright blue cloth in her hands. She'd gone
undercover before for a case, but she had never felt so anxious and
fearful of revealing her identity. Would they resent her for lying
to them all these months? Would they understand the necessity? Or
would she end up shunned for tricking them for all this time, as
they had shared everything with her without reservation?

Proverbs 25:
26.
Like a muddied spring or a
polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the
wicked.

Chapter Ten.

Kate tugged at the stubborn weeds that
sprouted amongst the roots of the various plants in the garden. On
her knees in the dirt, she worked tirelessly under the warm glow of
the sun as the morning dragged on. After finishing up one of the
rows of plants, she pulled herself up and brushed off the muck that
clung to her clothing. She then walked over to the work shed in
order to refill the watering can, when all of a sudden, the sound
of a horse pulling a buggy up the road set her nerves on
edge.

Kate quickly turned around and saw
Beckie and Jeremiah waving enthusiastically. As the buggy drew
closer, she could see the happiness clearly stamped all over their
faces. When the horse came to a stop, Kate placed the watering can
down and walked over to greet the pair.

“
Good morning!”

Jeremiah was the first to jump down
from the buggy. He then turned to his cousin and assisted her down
the moderately steep drop. Beckie looked up at Kate with a broad
smile. “Good morning! It certainly is.”

“
Yes, it’s so nice to be
free again. I would never speak ill of anyone, but places like that
are not meant for humanity. They try to strip you of your identity,
but I refused to allow it. Fortunately, you and Beckie were amongst
several who helped seek my freedom. For that, I am truly thankful.”
Jeremiah smiled as he spoke, and then locked eyes with Kate. She
could sense the sincerity and appreciation in his words, and
despite his unfair incarceration, it was apparent to her that he
held no resentment.

“
We all knew from the very
beginning that their claims and charges against you were false.
Beckie’s been the driving force in everything that’s happened to
free you, though.” Kate glanced over at Beckie and grinned. “She’s
the reason truth and faith overcame its obstacles to set you
free.”

Beckie nodded and smiled. “We all had
an equal part in inspiring the truth to be heard. Let’s not forget
Ryan and his role in all of his as well. Please send him our
gratitude if you should happen to see him before we have the
chance.”

“
Of course; I’ll make sure
he knows how grateful you both are for his help.” Just then, Kate
heard a voice calling out from behind her. Kate turned to see Beth
coming down the steps of the porch.

Beth made her way toward them. “Good
morning!” she called out in a cheerful tone. “Would you all like to
come inside the house for some tea?”

“
Denki
,” Jeremiah responded. Beckie and Kate exchanged quick glances
and then nodded in agreement. Beth motioned for them to follow and
headed back toward the porch.

They made their way to the dining area
as Beth split off toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back; I just
need to get the tea.”

Kate walked around the table and
pulled out one of the chairs. She sank into the seat and then
looked up as Jeremiah and Beckie followed suit. She gazed around
the dining area, hoping Beth would join them soon. Suddenly,
Jeremiah broke the temporary silence.

“
I have never taken
anything in life for granted, but when your freedom is stolen from
you erroneously, a
mann
comes to the realization that life is even more precious than
we already believe it to be,” Jeremiah said in a solemn
tone.

Just as Kate was about to respond,
Beth came in with two large pitchers of iced meadow tea, one in
each hand. She filled the cups that sat before each of them and
then placed the pitchers in the center of the table. She sat next
to Kate and smiled. “Did I miss anything?”

Beckie grinned. “You’re just in
time!”

“
Yes. I was just beginning
to talk about my time spent caged up,” Jeremiah said. “I blame no
one for my incarceration, but that is no place for a good man.
Fortunately, I only had one confrontation with the others, and by
the end of that night, he seemed to be a changed man.”

Kate listened carefully as Jeremiah
spoke about his experience. She found solace in the strength and
willpower. She looked down to hide her smile as she made a
startling realization: if these people can be so strong and brave
in the face of adversity and fear on a constant basis and placed
their trust in God, who was she to be afraid or worried about a
former colleague who was sent to harm her?

“
We spoke long after he
tried to attack me,” Jeremiah said. “I was unsure of his motives,
but hostility seems to be a person’s only method of protection in
places like prison. The man grew frustrated and confused because I
would not show aggression toward him, despite his actions against
me. I would not fight back. He kept yelling, ‘Why aren’t you
defending yourself?’ My only response was that I forgave him. At
first, he grew even angrier each time I said the phrase, but then
he began to understand. Before that night ended, he was a changed
man.”

Kate looked back up as Jeremiah
continued his story, and right then, she made the decision to make
herself a promise. She would not let Glen Tryston, Victor Daxton,
or anyone else, fill her mind with fear and torment. She would
stand tall and have faith, no matter how dire the circumstances
might seem at that moment. Kate had always been accustomed to being
brave and fearless in her line of work, but this was the first time
that she was actually the target. If Jeremiah could stand like an
immovable tree through a raging storm of winds that threatened to
knock him down, she wanted to be able to find the strength in
herself to do the same.

Jeremiah smiled and sipped
his tea. “But that’s enough about my time spent in that place. I
want to move on from it and use my experiences to strengthen
myself. So, even though it was a trying and troublesome
time,
Gott
put me
there for a reason, and because of that, I will only allow it to
assist me, never to hinder.”

Beckie nodded. “I hope that man you
met there truly changes for the better and repents for his sins,”
she said in a soft tone.

“
I have faith that he will.
I watched the hatred leave his eyes as we spoke, and as our
conversation went on, he began to understand my rationale of
thinking much more clearly. His name was Arthur, and he confessed
to me that he had never spoken to an Amish person before, and that
his perception of us had been entirely incorrect. If anything that
has happened recently can be considered a positive occurrence, it
is most certainly that man’s change of heart. He was facing charges
of assault for seeking vengeance on someone that hurt his sister. I
helped him find the inner strength to forgive the person who hurt
her, and to forgive himself for not doing so sooner.”

Jeremiah turned to Kate. “Thank you,
for that, for your kind visit with Beckie, and for convincing Ryan
of my innocence. You encouraged him to get me released. Without
each of you,” he said, making eye contact with each woman, one
after the other, “I would still be trapped there, tried for a crime
I would never commit.”

Beckie spoke up. “Kate,
we’d like you to come to dinner tonight at my
haus
, to thank you, and you, too,
Beth.”

Beth and Kate glanced at each other.
“I’ll have to speak with Bill,” Beth said. “I’m not sure if he’ll
want to leave the house unattended. That suspicious man could still
be lurking about.”

“
Yes, that’s
understandable,” Jeremiah said. “Kate?”

Kate looked up, feeling
like a deer trapped in headlights. She wasn’t sure if it would be
such a great idea to leave the property, either. David Harper was
on his way to extract her, and Glen Tryston could strike at any
moment. The last thing she wanted to do was endanger others, but
when the details of Jeremiah’s story flooded her mind again, she
made the quick decision to not let the fear control her. Besides,
Beckie only lived a short distance away; she didn’t even have to
drive out on the main road to get to her house. “I’d love to
come,
denki
,” she
said.

“
Gut
,” Beckie said. “This tea has been lovely as well. Thank you
kindly, Beth.”

Jeremiah nodded and smiled.
“
Jah, denki
.”

Beckie looked out toward the front of
the house before speaking again. “I should probably head home to
prepare the dinner. We’ll see you soon, Kate.” She then looked at
Beth and continued. “And if you and Bill are free to join us, we
would love the extra company.”

Beth nodded and smiled. “I’ll speak to
him.”

Jeremiah nodded as he stood from his
chair. Beckie then did the same, and after everyone exchanged
goodbyes, the pair walked out to their buggy. Kate looked at Beth
and smiled. “It’s so great to see the importance of humility and
how it can be the saving grace for many who have lost their
way.”

“
I agree with that
sentiment completely,” Beth replied. “Now, I need to be getting
back to work, but feel free to finish up your work in the garden so
you can go get ready for that dinner.” She smiled before
disappearing toward the kitchen.

As Kate walked out of the front door
and headed back toward the garden, she wondered what would happen
once her boss arrived. The last thing she wanted was for these
people that had become her friends, to think she was nothing but a
liar. She knew they would forgive her regardless of her actions and
lies, but the thought of disappointing them tore at her.

Kate went to the barn to get a root
cutter, and walked over to the next row that needed to be weeded.
Kate dropped back down to her knees and began working, but her mind
would not stop thinking about Glen Tryston. She felt his impending
encroachment, but still wasn’t sure what she was could do about
it.

Proverbs 1:
7.
The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and
instruction.

Chapter 11
.

Kate glanced up at the clock and
realized that dinnertime was fast approaching. It was already
getting late, so she decided that she would leave for Beckie’s
house shortly. She was slightly apprehensive about letting her
guard down before her boss showed up, but she hadn’t been able to
find it in herself to decline the offer of a thank you dinner by
Jeremiah and his cousin.

She closed the door to her cabin and
locked up. Kate felt for the phone in her secret pocket to make
sure she wasn’t leaving it behind, and as she gripped it, she
remembered the last conversation she had with David Harper. He said
that he was not too far away, and that had instilled her with
enough faith to believe that everything would be over soon, that
everything would be okay.