A Time to Heal(62)

After dinner, as Chris worked behind the horses doing the harvesting, he reflected on the path his thoughts had gone down.

Hours later, he unhooked the horses and took them to the barn, feeding and watering them before heading back to the dawdi haus to get cleaned up for supper.

The door opened just as he went to insert his key.

Chris frowned. Had he forgotten to lock it that morning? It wasn't a big deal. Doors didn't get locked a lot around here and with so many people moving around on the farm working, it was doubtful anyone could have deliberately broken in. And it wasn't like he had a lot—just a backpack with some clothes, a little cash, and his Bible.

Still, he pushed the door open slowly and was watchful as he moved inside. Because the place was so small, it took just a quick glance to see that he was alone.

After showering and dressing, he realized he had a little time before supper so he decided to read for a few minutes.But when he went looking for his library book, he couldn't find it. His Bible lay on the bedside table where he'd placed it the night before. The library book wasn't there or in the living room or on the table by the front door. He hadn't read it out on the porch that morning because it had still been dark outside, but he rummaged through the cushions of the porch furniture just in case.

Had Joshua taken it? No, he wouldn't do that, would he? Not after Chris had told him he'd need permission from his parents first.

Lost in thought as he left for supper, he didn't see Joshua approaching him until he nearly ran into him.

"Hi, Chris!"

"Hi." Chris paused. "Joshua, you know I said you may be able to read the book after I asked your father."

"Ya, I remember."

"I haven't talked to him yet."

"That's allrecht. You're not finished reading it yet anyway."

"No." They walked a few more steps. "Joshua?"

"Ya?"

"I can't finish the book if I can't read it."

"Why can't you read it?"

Chris stopped and put his hands on Joshua's shoulders."Son, are you sure you didn't take the book?"

"Take it?" Joshua's eyes grew big. "I didn't take your book, Chris!"

"The book is gone, Joshua. I couldn't find it anywhere."

"But I didn't take it!"

"What could have happened to it, then?"

Tears were forming in Joshua's eyes. "I don't know. But I didn't take it."

"Is something wrong?"

Chris saw Hannah hurrying toward them.

"Tell him I wouldn't take anything of his!" Joshua cried.

Hannah gathered him in her arms and looked at Chris over his head. "Of course you wouldn't. What's this about?"

"He wanted to read that library book, and I told him I couldn't let him unless his father said it was okay." Chris ran his hands through his hair and then shoved them into the pockets of his jeans. "Then I couldn't find the book when I came home today. I just asked him about it, that's all."

"You looked everywhere?"

"Of course."

"Well then, we'll look again. Come, Joshua, you can help us."

Chris followed them back to the dawdi haus and the three of them looked through the place.

"It must be somewhere," Hannah said at last.

"I didn't take it!"

"Shh, nee, of course you didn't," Hannah said, rubbing his back with her hand. "Chris isn't saying you did."

She looked at him over Joshua's head. "Are you?"

Her eyes were clear and steady on him but he saw no blame in them.

Chris shook his head. "Of course not. I just asked him about it when I couldn't find it. I thought maybe he borrowed it."

"Go on in the house," Hannah told Joshua.

"Are you going to tell Daed?" he asked Chris.

"There isn't anything to tell, is there?" Hannah said quickly.Her eyes begged Chris to agree. "All we have right now is a missing book."

Chris nodded. "I'm not saying anything."

Joshua ran ahead of them and let himself into the house.

"Come on, let's go on inside."

He touched her arm. "Hannah, I asked him if he had it but I didn't mean it to sound like I was accusing him—"

"I know."

She sounded so sure. Surprised, he stared at her. "You say that like you know me so well."

"I do. And I know Joshua. He takes things seriously. Just asking him if he knew where it was would have sounded like an accusation."

"I don't want Matthew and Jenny upset with me."

She touched his hand on her arm. "They won't be. We'll find the book and besides, even if you had given the book to Joshua without asking first, Matthew wouldn't jump to conclusions."

Chris glanced at her hand on his and grinned. "No? I remember how he jumped to some the first time we met."