Free A Home for Hannah by Patricia Davids

along the fence dozing in the morning sun or munching on the green grass at their feet.
    Miriam tipped her head toward Nick and asked quietly, “How are you going to do this without attracting attention?”
    He glanced around and leaned closer. “Under the cover of bright sunshine, I’m going to stroll along the hillside with you, stopping beside every buggy. If anyone happens to look our way, I hope they think we’re just having a Sunday stroll.”
    Her scowl vanished and she tried to hide a grin. Glancing over her shoulder, she said, “News flash, Sheriff. Everyone is looking at us.”
    “I guess our cover is blown. Did you know your eyes sparkle when you smile?”
    She blushed bright red, folded her arms over her chest and stared at her feet. He could have kicked himself for making such a foolish, but true statement.
    He once again became all business. “If anyone asks, which they won’t, I’ll say it’s official police business and that’s all I’ll say. It’s my best line. I use it all the time. The Amish are so reluctant to involve themselves in outsider business that they will politely pretend they don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
    She nodded. “You’re right. They won’t ask you questions, but they will ask my mother questions.”
    “Ada can tell them I said it’s police business.”
    They stopped at the first buggy on the hill. Nick did a quick check of the wheels. There were no marks similar to the one he’d seen on Miriam’s lane. When he looked up, Miriam was studying the farmhouse.
    She said, “If the mother is here and she sees us looking at buggies together, she may put two and two together and come forward.”
    “Or, she could put two and two together and redouble her efforts to keep hidden. Did anyone appear particularly interested in Hannah today?”
    “Nothing more than the usually flurry of interest a new baby generates. There was a lot of disbelief when I said I found her on my doorstep.”
    “I imagine.”
    “I didn’t notice any young woman deliberately avoiding me, either. If she saw the baby, she’s really good at hiding her emotions.”
    “Aren’t we all?” he said with a wry smile. He was hiding the fact that he was falling for her all over again.
    Nick quickly moved from buggy to buggy without discovering the one he hoped to find. At the end of the line, he said, “It’s not here. I don’t know what else to do except try again on Tuesday when people go to market. The problem with that is I’m going to end up checking most of these same ones all over again. It’s not like I have a way to tell them apart.”
    “Wait a minute.” Miriam slipped her purse strap off her shoulder, reached in and withdrew a tube of lipstick. Looking around to make sure no one could see, she dabbed a spot in the lower corner of the orange triangle on the back.
    From a few feet away, it didn’t show, but when Nick moved closer he could see the mark because he was looking for it. “Nice. Now, if it just doesn’t rain.”
    They made their way back along the line of buggies as Miriam unobtrusively added a dot of lipstick to each one. When they came out the pasture gate, he held out his hand. “Mind if I borrow that? I’ve got two other congregations to visit today.”
    She handed it over. He turned the tube to read the label. “Ambrosia Blush. I like that.”
    “It’s not your color, Sheriff. It’s a shade made for redheads.”
    He tucked the tube in his pocket. “I’ll keep that in mind. Have you eaten yet?”
    “No, we were waiting for the elders to finish, but I’m not hungry. Mom insists on making a breakfast fit for a farmhand.”
    By this time they had reached the quilt where Katie Sutter sat holding a fussy Hannah. Miriam reached for the baby. “I’ll take her.”
    Katie handed her over. Hannah quieted instantly. Katie smiled at Nick. “Hello, Nick, it’s good to see you again.”
    “You, as well, Katie. Where is Elam?” He looked around for her