Free Found by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

you awake?”
    â€œI’m awake.” Quickly, he tossed his book to one side and hurried to his door. “Mamm, is everything all right?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She slipped by him, closing his door behind them. “You had visitors this evening. I thought I should let you know.”
    The news caught him completely off guard. “Someone came by after I left? Who?”
    Warily glancing at his door, she said, “Detective Reynolds and Sheriff Kramer.”
    He wasn’t sure if he was more worried about the unusual nighttime visit, or that the sheriff and his detective friend had come to talk to him together. “I wonder what they wanted.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t say. Your father was mighty upset about their visit, though. No matter how hard he tried, they wouldn’t talk to him.”
    Jacob could imagine that. His father liked to be in charge of things, whether they were at the store or in their home. He wouldn’t have liked the two men arriving after dark unannounced, and then staying closemouthed about what they wanted to talk to Jacob about.
    â€œWhat do they want me to do? Should I go by Sheriff Kramer’s office tomorrow?”
    His mother’s eyes widened. “No!”
    Jacob grew more concerned. What would be the harm in going to the sheriff’s office? “Mamm, are you worried about something?”
    â€œNot worried . . .” She ran a hand over her hair, which Jacob had just noticed was loose and down her back. “It’s just that your father wouldn’t want you to be seen there.” She cleared her throat. “At the sheriff’s office, I mean. People might talk, you know.”
    He knew they would. But that was beside the point. The last thing he wanted was to have to answer the sheriff’s questions in front of his parents. That would only make a difficult situation ten times worse. “What do you want me to do?”
    â€œNothing. If those men want to speak to you, I’m sure they’ll stop by again.” Her smile wavered. “Or maybe they will have moved on and won’t need to speak to you after all.”
    He doubted that. Sheriff Kramer didn’t stop by people’s homes for no reason. “Mamm, why didn’t you tell me this right when I got home? We must have talked for ten minutes after I walked in the door.”
    â€œYour father didn’t want to bother you.” She bit her lip. “But I thought differently. I thought you should know that the policemen came by.”
    She looked so worried and unsure, he hugged her quickly. “I’m glad you told me, Mamm. Now I think I better get to sleep.”
    â€œYou’ll be able to sleep? You’re not upset?”
    â€œOf course not,” he lied. “I’ve nothing to hide.”
    Pure relief filled her features. “I’m so glad to hear that, Jacob. Gut naught .”
    â€œGood night, Mom.” He kept his smile until she closed the door.
    Then he crawled into bed and stared into the dark. Preparing himself for a long night ahead.
    He was afraid that Detective Reynolds had finally discovered everything he’d tried so hard to keep hidden.

Chapter 9
    â€œI’ve been holding on to our land, hoping to get a good price for it. But now that a man’s gotten killed near our well? I doubt I could give those acres away.”
    H ENRY M ILLER
    W hen Deborah saw Beth and Frannie’s smiling faces as they entered the Schrocks’ store the following morning, their smiles warmed her heart. After the drama of the night before and another long night of listening to her mother cry, it was so good to see happy people.
    â€œHow’s work today?” Frannie asked.
    â€œIt’s gut. ”
    â€œIt looks suspiciously quiet in here.” Beth glanced around dramatically. “Are there no animals for sale?”
    â€œJust a pair of kittens.” She pointed over to the metal cage on the