1. Rebecca

1

Rebecca

I looked around as Milly clopped down the road, her hooves echoing in the stillness of the morning.

She loved getting out of the barn, and today we were taking the bishop some eggs and vegetables Mamm carefully picked for him.

The breeze brought the smell of Garlands into the air. Mrs. Thompson loved Garlands and had planted them throughout her garden.

The forty-minute ride was peaceful and relaxing. Only a few people drove by in their cars, all turning to stare.

Sometimes, strangers to our community took pictures of us driving our buggies. They didn't understand why we still used horses, and we didn't understand those people either.

The bishop's son, whom I only loved as a brother, wants to marry me. I hoped he was working in the field, so I didn't see him.

I knew that wasn't nice, but I didn't love him; he was eighteen. He followed me around when we were in school, and he's two years younger than me.

I had just turned twenty, and my Dat assured me I could marry whoever I wanted. But Mamm was growing impatient, convinced that it didn't look suitable for a twenty-year-old to still live at home.

She sent me on this errand, hoping the bishop's son would seize the chance to be alone with me. But I was determined to make my own choices, to find love on my terms.

My parents married as soon as Mamm turned eighteen, and as the oldest, she expected the same of me. My sister Mary couldn't wait to marry her fiancé when she turned eighteen.

Their love was pure and unwavering, and they dreamed of a house full of children. I, too, longed for that kind of love, but my heart hadn't found its match yet.

I waved to a family out on a buggy ride, trying to push away the nagging thoughts about marriage, and turned onto the bishop's road. I was determined not to think of getting married until I found the right man.

As I approached the bishop's house, he ran out of his barn with a warm smile. "Rebecca, what have you got there?" He asked, walking next to the buggy.

"Mamm sent you some eggs and vegetables. I also put some bread, fruit and jelly in there because I know you have a sweet tooth," I said, matching his cheerfulness.

"You are the most thoughtful person I know. Thank you for coming out all this way to bring me fresh vegetables. Would you like to rest for a while?"

"No, thank you. I need to get back and help with the dinner." I helped carry the fresh food to the front porch, then climbed back onto the buggy and drove away, the silence of the countryside settling around me.

Everything was eerily quiet; even the birds stopped singing; they seemed to have vanished.

A chill ran down my spine, and for no reason, a sob tore from my throat. I almost turned to hurry back to the bishop's home, but I shook it off and told myself I was being silly.

With twenty minutes to go, I heard someone shouting my name, and turning around, I saw the bishop's horse racing to catch up with me.

"Rebecca, I had a call right after you left. I'm so sorry, Rebecca; Daniel called and said your family is all dead. He said someone shot all of them. You can't go home; whoever did this might be looking for you."

"What?" My heart stopped beating for a moment. "Did you say my family is dead? Who would kill my family? I don't understand." My voice cracked as I slapped the reins on my horse, and she took off running, the world blurring around me.

"Rebecca, don't go there. You don't want to see your family," he shouted, but I didn't listen. I kept going, leaping off the buggy before it even stopped."

"Rebecca, come over here. You don't want to go in there. I ignored Daniel and kept running, my heart pounding in my chest.

I saw all of them lying next to each other, lifeless. A guttural cry escaped my lips as I saw Mark holding my sister's head in his lap, tears streaming down his face.

My brothers lay next to my parents, their faces peaceful in death. My entire family was gone. All of my family are dead. I couldn't breathe. I walked to my parents and collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

Time seemed to stand still as I realized someone had come here not long after I left and killed everyone I loved. I had just missed them.

"Rebecca, let's go outside." Our nearest neighbor, Daniel, stood there, waiting for me to move. I kissed both my parents, and then I went to my brothers, their skin cold under my lips. I collapsed next to my sister and my very best friend, hugging her tightly, wishing I could bring her back.

I finally walked over to Daniel. "You can stay with us tonight," he said.

"Why?"

"Because we don't know if whoever did this wants to kill you, too."

"Why do you think this happened?" I asked, knowing I would stay here. My voice was a whisper, and my body felt weightless and detached from reality.

"I don't know. The police are here now. They'll start asking you lots of questions. You can't touch anything. They'll be here for a long time combing every inch of this house. Did your Dat have any enemies?"

"No, everyone loved Dat and all of my family. Why would someone want to kill them?" My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and grief.

"I don't know. Let's go outside."

I talked to the police, answering countless questions in a daze. The bishop explained that I was with him. I tried to think if I had missed something, anything that could explain this. Did Dat have an enemy? No, I shook my head. No one in my family had an enemy.

After they took my family to prepare them for burial, I trudged up to my room, which I shared with Mary. It was dark, and I didn't light a candle. I lay on Mary's bed, clutching her pillow, and cried until I fell into a restless sleep.

Someone knocked on my door, and I walked downstairs, my heart pounding. Bishop stood there, his face etched with concern. He hurried inside, pulling out a chair at the table and motioning for me to sit.

"Sit down, Rebecca. We need to talk."

"What's going on, bishop?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"The men have been talking, and we think you need a protector. Whoever did this came here to kill your whole family. Pack a bag. I'm sending you to someone I know who will keep you safe until the police find the person responsible."

He slid a plane ticket and some money across the table toward me.

"I don't want to leave. This is my home."

"You can come back when they find the people who killed your family."

"I've never been away from here. I'm scared to fly," I admitted, feeling my chin start to quiver. I fought back the tears, not wanting to cry in front of the bishop any more than I already had.

"I know this is hard for you. But we have to keep you alive. This is the only way. A taxi is coming to pick you up. This man will keep you safe. Here's his address. His name is Matthew Allen, and his Delta Force name is Maverick. He won't let anyone near you."

"Pack your clothes. The taxi will be here soon. Don't talk to strangers. Give this letter to Maverick—no one else."

I packed my clothes, tears streaming down my face. Each item I placed in the suitcase felt like a piece of my heart being ripped away, and leaving felt like severing the last ties to my family.

But if the bishop told me to go, I had to leave. He was my elder. He knew what was best for me.

I walked downstairs, and the bishop was waiting for me. "Do you have your ticket?"

"Yes."

"I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family. I know you don't understand this, but we must keep you safe. Daniel and his boys will take care of the farm. Can I hug you goodbye?"

I ran to him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "I hope the police find out who killed my family so that I can come back home."

"I hope so, too. Do you have the letter for Maverick?"

"Yes."

"I'll walk with you and talk to the driver. You don't have to pay him; I'll take care of it."

I looked around one last time, the familiar sights of home etched in my memory. Then I got into the vehicle, my body numb with grief. Cars usually scared me, but this time, I didn't even notice as tears streamed down my face. All I wanted was my family.

The driver opened my door at the airport, and I stepped out, feeling lost and overwhelmed. "Where am I supposed to go?" I murmured, clutching my ticket.

"Ask that man over there. He looks like he works here," the taxi driver said.

"Hello, can you please tell me where to go? This is my ticket," I asked the man pushing a cart with suitcases.

The airport employee glanced at my ticket and pointed. "Do you see that counter down there on the right? They'll be able to help you."

I hurried to the desk and got in line, trying to steady my breathing. "How can I help you?" the attendant asked.

"Can you tell me where I'm supposed to go? This is my first time flying, and I need help."

"Of course. Do you see those signs up there?" She pointed, and I nodded, trying to understand everything. There were so many people that my head was spinning.

I looked at my ticket, feeling a wave of panic. "Thank you."

"Wait, did you say this is your first time flying?"

"Yes."

"I'll get someone to take my place and go with you." She turned, tapped a colleague on the shoulder, opened the little gate, and joined me. "I'll walk you over myself. I remember my first time at the airport. It was so confusing."

"Thank you so much. It is confusing. I'm not used to any of this."

"Where are you going?"

"The bishop is sending me to his friend," I blurted out, then bit my tongue, realizing how odd it sounded.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be a big help. This is where you get on the plane. Don't lose your ticket. If you get lost, call nine-one-one, and they'll help you."

"Thank you for being so kind."

"You're welcome."

Walking onto the plane, fear gripped me. I found my seat by the window, closed my eyes, and waited for takeoff.

When the plane leveled out, I opened my eyes and looked out the window. The farmland below was beautiful, a patchwork of green and brown. I wondered if one of those fields was our farm.

When we landed, the flight attendant had to wake me. I apologized, grabbed my bag from the overhead compartment, and walked into a different airport in the Appalachian Mountains.

As the bishop's letter explained, Maverick had moved here over a year ago with his Delta Force team.

I didn't know if Maverick knew I was coming or if I'd surprise him by showing up at his door. With a deep breath, I took a taxi to their town. The driver dropped me off in front of a massive home.

My legs shook as I forced myself to walk forward. Tears welled up again, my emotions raw and uncontrollable. A huge German shepherd watched me warily, and a pig rubbed against my legs as I knocked on the door.