Free Murder, Plain and Simple by Isabella Alan Page B

his work boot in the dirt. “I heard you are engaged. Congratulations.”
    “I was.” I paused. “I’m not anymore.”
    “Oh.” Jonah cleared his throat. “I’m headed over to the Walker place. The family is taking it hard.”
    My mental trip down memory lane came to an abrupt halt. “Have you seen Abigail?” The question rushed out of my mouth.
    “No, but her brother, Elijah Knepp, stopped by the farm earlier. He said she was in a bad way. My wife, Miriam, is over there now sitting with her. I’m going over to do the chores.” He tapped the dirt off his boot.
    Anna sniffed. “Elijah should be the one who is doing the chores.”
    Jonah’s mouth twitched. “He said he had business in town, and I offered to step in.”
    Stepping in and offering help was so like the Jo-Jo I remembered.
    “I must go. Since the buggy’s already out, can I take it?” Jonah asked.
    Anna nodded. “Of course.”
    “Danki.”
Jonah stepped up into the buggy. “I have the family buggy hitched behind the barn if you need it.”
    Then, I remembered something. “Wait.”
    Jonah turned around, as if he knew what was coming next.
“Ya?”
He had one leg suspended in the air like he was about to stomp out a line dance.
    Before I could answer, Oliver stuck his nose out from under the front seat of the buggy.
    “Who’s this?” Jonah asked.
    “That’s Oliver.” I slapped my leg. “Come out, boy.”
    The cowardly canine wiggled backward.
    I stepped around Jonah and stuck my hands under the seat. I grabbed Oliver by both shoulders and pulled. He barely moved an inch. I put my hands on my hip. “Oliver.” I felt my face turn red. Of course, the dog would misbehave at a time like this.
    Jonah peeked under the bench. “He’s shivering.” He wrinkled his brow. “What’s wrong with him?”
    I grimaced. “It’s your geese. He’s afraid of birds.”
    “How can a dog be afraid of birds?” Jonah asked with some of the Jo-Jo twinkle I remembered in his eye.
    I shrugged.
    A grin spread across my old friend’s face. “I’ll get him out.”
    “Don’t hurt him.” My eyes went wide.
    “Don’t worry.” He reached under the seat, and after a few grunts came up with the dog. He placed Oliver into my arms. The dog promptly buried his head in my armpit. “Life must be different in the big city. I never met a dog afraid of birds before. I’ve met plenty of birds afraid of dogs, though.” He hopped up into the buggy. “
Mamm
, I should be home with Miriam and the children this afternoon.”
    “Where are the children now?” Anna asked.
    “Miriam has the baby with her, and we sent the others to her sister’s home for the day.”
    Anna nodded.
    “I told Elijah about the Watermelon Fest in Rolling Brook next weekend. I don’t know if he will help mend the barn.” Jonah looked down at us from his seat in the buggy.
    Anna adjusted her glasses on her nose. “Some folks are still uncomfortable with him being back home.”
    “I suspect Sheriff Mitchell will want to talk to him,” he trailed off.
    My heart gave a little flip when Sheriff Mitchell was mentioned.
    Anna and I watched as Jonah rode away in the buggy. “He’s a good boy. I’m glad that you got to see him again. He moped for days after your family moved to Texas and looked forward to seeing you each summer. It was hard for him when you stopped coming.” The next part she whispered under her breath. “But it was for the best.”
    I wanted to ask her why but decided I didn’t need to. It was for the best because Jonah was Amish, and I was not. Maybe as children our friendship was innocent, but as teenagers, it was a recipe for disaster.
    I placed Oliver on the ground and he hid behind my leg. I wondered if there was a dog therapist in town I could take him to. I suspected Anna wouldn’t know of any. “Who is Elijah Knepp?”
    Her mouth twisted as if she didn’t like the taste of the words that she was about to say. “He’s Abigail’s younger brother. I hope he