Free Whispers from the Dead (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 2) by Karen Ann Hopkins Page A

drove away.
    Rowan wasted no time clucking to his horse and snapping the reins. As we began building speed, he glanced over and said, “What did you think about my brother?”
    “You want my honest opinion?”
    “Of course,” he said firmly.
    “He’s a jerk, but a charismatic one.” As an afterthought, I added, “I can see why he didn’t fit in with your people.”
    The farms were once again whizzing by and the breeze was getting colder by the minute. The late afternoon sun had dipped low in the sky and all the snow that had melted earlier in the day was beginning to refreeze, causing the landscape to glisten delightfully. I zipped my jacket up against the chill, and had the fleeting thought of how strange it was that I was riding around in a buggy in northern Indiana with an Amish man whom I barely knew. God definitely had a wicked sense of humor when it came to me, I thought.
    “You are a very astute person. Asher was always rebellious, but he hid it well from our parents when we were teenagers. He broke the rules…but he never did get caught.”
    “So what finally forced him out?”
    Rowan took a deep breath and his mouth quivered slightly. I suddenly became hyper aware, recognizing the imminent signs of a person about to betray a secret. I had discovered through my relationship with Daniel that both the Amish, and ex-Amish people, didn’t like discussing their pasts. Then it suddenly occurred to me as if a blinding flash of lightning had struck the ground beside me that the fire of nineteen ninety-seven would have happened about the same time that Rowan and Asher were teenagers themselves.
    Was it just a coincidence that Asher showed up at the crime scene today, or was there a more sinister reason for his visit to the community? I really didn’t believe in coincidences and I already knew that it was very common for perpetrators to return to the scenes of their crimes. Maybe I was getting way too far ahead of myself, but I had the instant impression that Asher and his friend were not law abiding citizens. And I trusted my instincts. They had served me well thus far.
    The surrendering look on Rowan’s face was fleeting. It was replaced by the expression of stubbornness that I had unfortunately discovered was all too common among the Amish people. “Our ways didn’t suit him, just like he said.”
    I leaned back and chuckled inwardly for thinking this case would be that easy. “You guys aren’t that friendly anymore, I take it?”
    “No. He chose to walk on a very different path than me and I couldn’t have him influencing my children.”
    I got it. I had a sensible sister who was similar to me in everything from politics to basic values, but not everyone was that lucky. Shunning aside, it would be impossible for Rowan to keep up a relationship with a badass brother like Asher.
    The horse slowed to a walk just before we turned up Rowan’s driveway. I experienced a bubble of happiness for a moment at the prospect of a hot shower before I remembered that the simple luxury probably wasn’t an option.
    “Uh, does your family ever take showers?”
    Rowan looked surprised for a second at the drastic change of direction that the conversation had taken and then he laughed. “I’m sorry, but you will have to make due with filling a bath basin with hot water.”
    His eyes sparkled with good humor and I wondered if he was teasing me. I really hoped he was when I protested, “You’re kidding, right?”
    Rowan sobered and shook his head. “It won’t be as bad as you think. The girls will help you get the tub ready. It just takes a little bit longer than the instant shower that you’re so used to.”
    I was mulling his words over when the sound of shouting mixed with the pounding of splashing hooves suddenly met my ears. We both looked quickly up the driveway.
    Rowan stopped the buggy and waited for the rider to reach us. When the youth slid to a stop beside us, I guessed his age to be around thirteen. His