7. Rebecca

7

Rebecca

I caught myself humming a song Maverick sang to me yesterday while I was working in the garden. It was about a girl named Rhonda. He said it was from the sixties, and I loved it.

Every day, he sang me a new song. I would miss him when he left, so I tried not to think about it.

"Rebecca," I turned as Maverick called my name. We saw two police cars coming down the road. I walked over and stood next to him.

Both officers got out, glancing around the property until Maverick spoke up.

"Why are two police cars here today?"

"We received a call that bad things were happening on the property."

"What kind of bad things? You do know the Amish live here. How bad could it be? Or are you talking about when Rebecca's family was murdered? Have you found something out about that?" Maverick asked.

"No. We don't know what bad thing is happening; that's why we were sent out here.

"So, you drove out here because someone called and said bad things were happening. Who called you?"

"We don't know who called," one officer said, still looking around. Shane and Marcus came over.

"How bad could it be Rebecca is Amish?"

"What's going on?" Shane asked.

"They said they got a phone call about bad things happening here, so they sent two police cars to investigate," Maverick replied.

"Who are all of you?" one of the officers asked. The other three policemen walked around, inspecting the area. I hoped they didn't think they could just go wherever they wanted. I looked at Maverick.

"I'm Rebecca's bodyguard. My name is Maverick from Delta Force Guardians. This is my brother Shane; he's FBI, and our friend Marcus, he's also FBI. They're investigating the murder of Rebecca's family."

Shane took over, asking questions and writing down their names. He wanted to know who the officers were who came out here on the day Rebecca's family was murdered.

Their attitude changed after a few minutes. Shane told them about the developer, and I wondered what they would have done if I had been here alone.

"It's very clear this was a wild goose chase. I'm sorry about your family, Rebecca. I was in Mary's class and couldn't believe it when I heard what happened. I'll keep my ears open for any news. Goodbye."

"That was strange. Rebecca, I don't want you working in the fields alone, and I don't want you going anywhere alone. From now on, I will sleep in Mary's bed—no more bathing in the river at night. Something is about to happen. I feel it in the air."

"Then where will I bathe?"

"In the bathroom."

"It's not the same."

"Rebecca, I'm not going to argue about this. They are after this property, and they are serious."

I knew I rolled my eyes, but sometimes Maverick could overdo his job. "Who would see me in the river at night?"

"I see you every night in the river."

"What? It's nighttime; you can't see me."

"I see you in the moonlight."

I felt my face turn red, and I hurried inside the house. "Rebecca." I stopped and turned around. "I didn't see anything, just your shadow."

"I'm not talking to you right now, but if I were, I would say thank you for thinking of me." I knew I had shocked him. He thought I was going to say something mean, but I would never say anything mean to anyone, especially Maverick.

I showered in the bathroom and then went to bed. I didn't need a candle; I knew this house by heart.

As I lay in bed, I realized that tomorrow would be Mary's birthday. She was supposed to get married in two weeks. I prayed for Mark; I knew his father would pressure him to marry someone else. My eyes drifted shut, and I slept.

I would never have known Maverick was sleeping in Mary's bed if I hadn't heard a noise outside. I looked down at Chewy, sleeping. She was not a good guard dog. "Maverick," I whispered. His eyes snapped open, and I was locked in his gaze.

"What?"

"I hear someone outside."

"Stay here," he whispered. I noticed he was wearing his sweats and no shirt. He slipped his feet into his boots. I should make him some house shoes.

Of course, I got up and put on my robe and house shoes. I stayed in the hallway until he walked back in with Mark. Then, I hurried down the stairs and hugged him.

"Mark, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you. The elders and my father are coming here tomorrow to talk to you. They are going to try and force you to marry me. I don't want to marry anyone except Mary. Today is her birthday. Please don't let them talk you into anything."

"Rebecca, I asked you to stay in your room," Maverick said.

"Mark, this is Maverick; he's my bodyguard and my friend. Maverick, this is Mark, Mary's fiancé. Today is Mary's birthday; she and Mark were to get married in two weeks."

Maverick reached out to shake Mark's hand. "I'm sorry, Mark. This must be unbearable for you. Why don't you go away until everything calms down and your parents can't pressure you to marry anyone?"

"I have no money to leave here or a way to go. If Rebecca says no, then that would take care of everything for me, for now. But not for Rebecca. They have decided she must marry someone immediately to get planting in before winter arrives."

"No one can force me to marry anyone. Is the bishop coming with them?"

"No, Michael quit. He said he couldn't be the bishop if no one informed him about what was happening in our community. It's Randall who is causing the trouble. Be careful, Rebecca; I don't trust him."

"I will be careful. I need to get breakfast started. I'll see you when you come back this morning. Don't worry; no one will tell me who to marry. Now I have to go change."

I changed my clothes and went to get the bread made. My mother would faint if she knew I had let the bread run out; we always had bread in the house.

I heard Maverick walking and poured him some coffee.

"Thank you. Mark is miserable, and I really feel bad for him. I think I'm going to offer him a place to stay so he can get away from here for a while."

I turned around and looked at him. "Maverick, you are the kindest man I know. People think you are tough and angry all the time, but you aren't," I said, walking over to hug him.

"Better be careful, Rebecca; I'll think you are falling for me," Maverick said.

If he only knew I had already fallen for him. I know it's foolish, but I would never give up this property that generations of Covers lived on and harvested for hundreds of years. My father and grandpa would turn over in their graves if I allowed that to happen.

I took the dough out and kneaded it. It isn't fair that I would have to marry an Amish man to keep my father's property. A tear fell down my cheek because I knew I would only ever want one man, and that man was Maverick. I will stay unmarried.