Free A Sister's Test by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

responsible for those attacks, and he’s probably trying to make it look like it’s someone else.”

    “I can’t believe you let Grace speak to that reporter by herself,” Ruth said after Martha came into the shop and told her what Gracehad decided to do.
    “I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen.” Martha groaned. “You know how stubborn our big sister can be when she makes up her mind about something.”
    “Jah, I know.” Ruth skirted around the front counter and hurried over to the window near the door. She craned her neck to see up the street but saw no sign of Grace or Gary.
    “Do you want me to go after her?” Martha asked.
    “She probably wouldn’t like it. Besides, I’m sure Gary wouldn’t do anything foolish right here in town.” Ruth moved back to the bakery case, and Martha followed.
    When Grace stepped into the bakeshop a few minutes later, her face looked pale, and she shuffled across the room as if she had no strength in her legs.
    Ruth rushed into the back room and grabbed a stool. “You’d better sit down.”
    Grace nodded and did as she was told. “I held up pretty well while I was talking to Gary, but after he left, my knees felt so shaky I thought I might not make it here.”
    “What did the man have to say?” Martha asked.
    “I asked how long he plans to stay in Holmes County, and he said as long as it takes to get the stories he wants. Then he mentioned Ruth, and I threatened to notify the sheriff if he doesn’t stay away from her.”
    Ruth’s heart slammed into her chest. “I hope Gary doesn’t think I’m interested in him, because I’m surely not.”
    Martha looked over at Grace. “Did you ask if he knew about the stink bomb or the toilet-papering?”
    Grace shook her head. “I didn’t want him to know what I suspect. I think it gives him pleasure to know I’m scared.”
    “You shouldn’t have spoken to him alone.” Martha pursed her lips. “You should have let me go with you.”
    Grace stared at her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
    “The stink bomb and the toilet paper mess could have been pranks like Dad mentioned,” Ruth said. “I’ll bet if we asked some of our neighbors, we’d find out that their places were toilet-papered, too.”
    Martha touched Grace’s shoulder. “I think we should go. You look all done in and need to get home, where you can rest.”
    Grace nodded and slipped off the stool.
    As Ruth’s sisters headed out the door, she offered up a prayer.
Lord, please be with my family—especially Grace.

    Cleon had just finished staining the legs of a table when Judith and Anna entered the woodworking shop.
    “We brought you some lunch,” Judith said, holding out two metal lunch boxes.
    Roman moved away from the desk where he’d been doing paperwork and greeted her with a smile. “We appreciate that.”
    Cleon straightened and set his staining rag aside. “Where’s Grace? She usually brings my meal if I don’t go home for lunch.”
    “Mama went to town,” Anna said.
    Cleon’s brows knit together as he looked over at Judith.
    “She was upset when she found out about the toilet-papering. So she decided to go to Berlin, hoping she might see Gary Walker there.”
    “What?” Cleon’s voice echoed in his ears. “She went to town alone—to speak with that man?”
    Judith shook her head. “She’s not alone. Martha went with her.”
    “As if that’s supposed to make me feel better. Doesn’t my wife ever think things through? Must she always make decisions without asking my opinion or getting my approval?”
    Judith glanced down at Anna, whose eyes were huge as saucers; then she looked back at Cleon and shook her head. “I think this discussion can wait, don’t you?”
    After seeing the frightened look on Anna’s face, Cleon realized he had let his emotions get the better of him. He knelt on the floor in front of the child. “I’m sorry for yelling. I’m just worried about your mamm.”
    “Did Mama do