3. Rebecca

3

Rebecca

I sat on the back porch, answering all the questions Shane asked. I didn't know anything or anyone that wanted to murder my family.

I looked around, noticed the other dogs, and wondered if Chewy was dead or lost somewhere. I tried to find him. Did those men also kill our family dog?

"We didn't have any enemies. I thought maybe someone just came off the street and killed them," I said. When I sniffed and wiped my eyes, the pig jumped onto the sofa and climbed into my lap.

I was startled at first, and then the pig snuggled up to me, and I hugged it. I felt like I was being comforted. I heard Maverick chuckle. "Alpo is his name; he thinks he's a dog, so whatever you do, don't let him hear you call him a pig. His feelings will get hurt."

I scratched his ears and whispered, "Thank you for that hug Alpo." I raised my head in time to see the look in Maverick's eyes. I didn't know what it meant, but it didn't bother me.

I continued to scratch the pig's ears. Even when Shane stopped asking questions, I sat there thinking. I looked at Shane when he stood up.

"My Dat and I built his big desk. When you raise the front up and feel the top, there is a hidden compartment. Sometimes, my Dat would put important papers in there. You will feel the lip with your finger. All you have to do is pull it down. Maybe there is something in there. I wished I had checked before I left."

"Will anyone mind if I go there?"

"I'll tell you where the key is; if someone comes over, tell them I gave you permission."

"No, don't mention Rebecca. Talk to Michael, and he will handle everything," I said, glancing over at Rebecca.

"Okay. Marcus is going with me, so I'll see you when I return. I'll do everything possible to determine who did this to your family. "

"Thank you," I turned to Maverick. "Why don't you want him to mention me?"

"Because I don't want anyone to know you are where Shane was. I don't want anyone to know where you are," Maverick said.

I looked at him for longer than I should have. His eyes were so blue, and his hair was dark. He was handsome. I wondered if he had a special woman in his life.

"How old are you?" he asked. I had never had anyone ask my age before, but then again, I have known everyone my whole life, so they all knew how old I was.

"Twenty." I saw the surprise on his face. Everyone has always told me I look younger than I am."

"How old are you?" I decided to ask him.

"Thirty-five."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that question."

"Why, I asked you?"

"That's true. Would you mind if I went back inside? I'm going to bed; it's almost dark. Do you have any candles I could use?"

"Let's ask Sarra. She'll know where they are. You do know we have lights you can turn on?"

"I do know that, but I would rather have a candle. I think lights are so glaring, but candles are comforting," I said, and he nodded.

Sarra got me three candles and a holder. She also showed me where the towels and washcloths were. I thanked her, and she hugged me. It startled me, but it made me feel good that she cared enough to hug me.

"Tomorrow, I'm picking plums to can; if you want, you can help me."

"I would love to help you. It's canning time at my house also. Mama always loved this time of year. We would all pick the fruit, and then Mama, Mary, and I would make jam with the fruit we picked. Do you make jam?"

"I would really appreciate it if you could show me how to make jam."

"Of course I will. I'll also help you pick the plums,"

"That's wonderful; we can get Matthew to help us, too."

"Who's Matthew?"

"Maverick, sometimes I forget to call him by his Delta Force name."

"That's right, you're his cousin. I also have cousins, but haven't seen them in a few years.

They left our community and live in California now. I'm sure they heard about my family and will think I'm dead, too, because that's what the bishop and the elders were going to tell everyone. I was always close to my cousins. If I can talk to them, I want them to know I'm alive."

"Why did they leave?" Sarra asked.

"When an Amish child turns sixteen, they get to leave and see what the outside world is all about. I didn't do that, nor did Mary, because we wanted to stay in our community. We loved our family and didn't want to be away from them," I explained.

My cousins lost their parents in a buggy accident, and they had no property to farm. We wanted them to stay with us, but they said they would work and make money to buy their own farm."

"I'm sorry," Sarra said.

"Me too. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

"I was up early the following day, so I started coffee and found everything to make bread. I was busy and didn't notice Maverick standing there until he walked to the coffee pot.

"Where did you find this old pot?" He asked me, smiling.

"In the pantry, the coffee pot that drips the coffee out isn't even cooking the coffee. Try this one; it's so much better."

He took a sip and smiled. "You're right. It is so much better, thanks. Are you making home made bread?"

"Yes, I hope it's okay that I started all of this. At home, I would always get up before the birds and start making bread and coffee. If you are hungry, I'll make you breakfast. Sarra and I are going to make plum jam today."

"Yes, she told me I would be picking plums today," he said, smiling.

I caught myself gazing into his eyes before I turned toward the stove and put my bread into the oven.

I started cooking fried bread and had sausage, eggs, and fried bread on the table in no time; I was happy to be doing something. I poured more coffee into Maverick's cup, and Sarra walked in just in time for breakfast.

"This smelled so good that I couldn't get out of bed fast enough. You made homemade bread. You will have to show me how to make it. Thank you for making breakfast," Sarra said.

The kitchen door opened, and Ghost and Allison walked inside. "Hello, we smelled this food all the way from our house. "Rebecca, this is Ghost and Allison. Ghost grew up in this house; his grandpa raised him," Maverick said, standing.

"Sit down, and I'll get you some breakfast," I said, standing also.

"I'll get their breakfast; you sit down," Maverick said, motioning for me to sit down.

I sat but wasn't comfortable seeing a man working in the kitchen. He must have noticed because he turned to me and spoke. "

"It's okay. All of us cook." I nodded and sat down. I looked around and saw the man buttering some bread. I got up and took the other bread from the oven.

"This is delicious. If you make more, can I take some home?"

I heard the woman laugh. "Of course, I will make you extra. I'll be making jam today with Sarra, but I'll make bread all day tomorrow. Baking is good for your soul," I said, smiling.