Wanted(29)

The door opened, bringing in a trio of women, dressed in harvest-colored sweaters and wool slacks. One of the ladies had a turkey pin on her jacket. Another wore a diamond cross around her neck. Each was holding Amish-made crafts and candles.

They were tourists, obviously. And they were staring at Anna and Henry as if they were the major specimens of their science project. Their interest made Anna want to check for crumbs on her cheeks, but Henry merely nodded in their direction.

Mr. McClusky acknowledged the tourists with a gracious smile. “Ladies. Good afternoon.”

“Afternoon,” they chorused, all eyes still pinned on Anna and Henry.

“May I help you with anything?” Mr. McClusky tried to engage the ladies.

The tallest woman, the one with the turkey pin, shook her head. “No, thanks. We’re just here to sightsee.” She turned back to stare at Anna like she’d just discovered a great wonder of the world.

Anna felt the blood drain away from her cheeks. “Come,” Henry said in German, pulling her away from the curious stares.

Anna wasn’t aware she was holding her breath until they disappeared down the aisle.

Once in relative privacy, he stopped her. “Are you all right?”

“Jah. Danke,” she murmured, only realizing after the fact that he’d spoken to her in Pennsylvania Dutch and she’d replied in the same fashion. “I um, didn’t realize I’d be so uncomfortable being stared at.”

“It is different outside of the inn, isn’t it?”

“Yes. At the inn, it’s your parents’ home, so it feels like we’re the hosts. Here, I feel so exposed and at their mercy.”

“They mean no harm.”

“I suppose. It’s just that it’s different at the inn.”

He gently clucked his tongue. “Anna, the inn is your home now, too, yes?”

His sweet words made everything feel right again. No matter what, she was happy with Henry, and happy with how things were going with their life. She needed to remember that. “Yes.”

“Let’s pay for our things and go home.” His voice seemed to linger on the word.

Contentment settled over Anna as she followed him to the counter and stood by while he paid for the pasta and flour that their kitchen had run out of. Taking his bags from Mr. McClusky, Henry said, “Good-bye, then.”

“Bye, Henry, Anna,” the older man said with a knowing smile, making Anna wonder if he, too, was thinking of not so long ago when she didn’t quite fit into this world. Much like the “sightseeing” ladies in the store. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Sam McClusky’s forehead creased. “Katie got another letter.”

“Another?” Anna’s hand shot out before Henry could claim it. She looked to Henry in alarm. What was going on?

Sam nodded. “Yeah. The first one came about ten days ago, right, Henry?”

“More or less.”

As Anna looked at Henry curiously, Sam continued. “I have to tell you both, the girl who’s been dropping these letters off looks pretty desperate. It ain’t my business, but if I were you, Henry, I might talk to Katie. I wouldn’t want to have some stranger looking for my sister the way she is.”

Henry looked genuinely alarmed. “Thank you for the note, and for your concern.” He frowned at the envelope in Anna’s hand before facing the proprietor again. “When did you say the girl dropped this off?”

“Three or four days ago. She was asking all kinds of questions about Katie, about where she lives, what she does, but I put her off.” With a self-satisfied smile, he waggled his white bushy eyebrows. “You know me, I’m not about to divulge anything to outsiders.”

Anna knew she would be forever grateful for that character trait. “I know that for a fact, Mr. McClusky. You certainly kept your silence when Rob was after me.”

“He was no good, Anna.” Shaking his head in dismay, he added, “I still can’t believe he tried to bribe me in order to find you.”

“If he had known what kind of person you are, Rob Peterson would have never tried such a thing,” Anna said. “I can’t imagine you ever accepting a bribe. You are a gut friend, indeed.”

“I appreciate your help,” Henry said before ushering Anna out into the brisk wind. As they walked across the busy parking lot toward their buggy, he murmured, “Something isn’t right.”

Anna had a sudden desire to toss the envelope in the trash and never tell Katie of its existence. Turning to Henry, she asked, “Did she let you read the first note?”

“Nope. She got right angry when I tried to learn about the contents, too. Anna, Katie had quite a rebellious time during her running-around years. I’m wondering if her past has come back to haunt her.”