Home by dark, p.11
Home by Dark, page 11
Mandy went immediately to the crafts section when they entered the store. Anna was busy ringing up another customer, so Rachel waved and began browsing the aisles, carrying one of the baskets that were provided near the door for shoppers. Unfortunately her comparisons of cereal boxes were disrupted by the image of Colin’s face when he talked about his father.
Seeing a parent deteriorate would be hard for anyone, and Colin seemed to be bearing the burden alone. In an Amish community, that sort of mental decline would be accepted as part of the cycle of life, with family and church helping as a matter of course.
Colin was alone, and he was showing a depth of responsibility she wouldn’t have expected from him. And he was being so attentive and helpful in her situation with Benj. It was past time she stopped looking at him as if he were still that reckless teenager he’d once been.
The bell on the door jingled. Rachel glanced over. Franklin Sitler, owner of the house across from Mason House, had come in, seeming unchanged in the years she’d been away. He’d always looked old and rather fierce to her, with his hunched figure, his beetling eyebrows and his hooked nose. He walked as if he owned the whole town and the people in it, and age apparently hadn’t diminished his arrogance.
At least he didn’t notice her. He was stamping toward the counter, followed by a younger man, muttering something that sounded as if he were annoyed about his order. Or maybe he just always sounded that way.
Every kid in the village had been scared of him at one point or another, including Colin, apparently. She remembered the story of Colin and Sitler’s apple trees. If Benj and the other boys had been trespassing, or worse, committing vandalism on his property, Benj had good reason to be afraid. But Franklin Sitler would hardly follow Benj around or lurk outside her house. If he had a problem with someone, he’d confront them head on.
“Rachel Weaver.” Her name came out in a hoarse bark, and she nearly dropped the can of soup she’d just picked up. Mr. Sitler had spotted her.
“Rachel Mason now, I think.” The other man—fortyish and tall, with a lean, well-bred face—smiled at her, and she realized who he was. Dennis Sitler, the old man’s grandson. The recognition might not have come so easily had Meredith not mentioned him when they were talking about Laura Hammond.
She returned his smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Dennis. And Mr. Sitler.”
The older man just glowered at her, not speaking, making her wonder if he realized she now lived right across the road from him.
“I was married to Ronnie Mason,” she said. “My daughter and I are living in Mason House now.”
“I know who you are. And what you’re doing.” He clamped his teeth on the last word, as if he’d like to take a bite of it.
“Doing?” She was more confused than alarmed, and she found herself glancing at Dennis for guidance.
“Starting a business right across from me in a quiet residential area,” the elder Sitler barked. “There’ll be traffic at all hours, disturbing my rest, probably trying to park in my driveway, for all I know. I won’t have it, you hear me?”
Dennis put a restraining hand on his grandfather’s arm. “Don’t excite yourself. The whole valley can hear you.”
Sitler shook him off. “Don’t care if they do.”
She couldn’t just stand here gaping at him, no matter how startled she was. “Mr. Sitler, I’m afraid there’s been some misunderstanding. It’s true I’m opening Mason House as a bed-and-breakfast, but I’m sure my visitors won’t disturb you in any way.”
“What about police cars at all hours of the night? You don’t think that was disturbing?” He leaned toward her, and Rachel had to stiffen her legs to keep from backing away.
“I’m sorry if that bothered you.” She’d find it easier to sound sincere if the man hadn’t started bellowing at her. “I had to report a prowler. I’m sure you wouldn’t want anyone prowling around your property.”
Maybe she shouldn’t have used that particular argument. If Benj had indeed been on Sitler’s property...
“Don’t believe a word of it. Nobody would dare.” But he seemed to be running out of steam, for which she could only be grateful.
Anna came bustling toward them, having disposed of the previous customer, handing two filled shopping bags to Dennis.
“Your order is ready for you.”
“That’s right,” Dennis said. “The car is waiting. Let’s get on home now, all right?”
Sitler stood irresolute for a moment. Then, with a last baleful glare, he turned and stamped toward the door, thumping the floor with his silver-headed cane as he went.
Dennis turned an apologetic smile on Rachel. “I’m sorry about that. He gets fixated on a subject sometimes, and you can’t get him off it.”
“It never occurred to me that he’d be upset by my plans. After all, The Willows is right down the street from his house.” Trouble with Mr. Sitler was the last thing she needed.
“Of course your business isn’t going to cause problems, any more than Jeannette’s does, but I’ve given up expecting him to be rational,” Dennis said. “The police car last night riled him, apparently. I hope you were all right. If I’d been here, I’d have come over to check on you.”
He looked so concerned that her stress ebbed. “I appreciate that, Dennis. We’re fine. My imagination was probably working overtime.”
“I’m glad you’re all right. And don’t worry about my grandfather. I’m sure that by the time you’re ready to open, he’ll have forgotten all about it.”
“I hope so. I really want to be on good terms with my neighbors.”
Dennis’s lips quirked in amusement. “If you can stay on good terms with my grandfather, you’re a miracle worker, isn’t that right, Anna?”
Anna chuckled comfortably. “Ach, I don’t mind the things he says about my food. He always comes back, ain’t so?”
Dennis nodded. “He doesn’t mean most of the things he says these days. It’s good of you to take it that way.”
The blare of a horn from the street made him tighten his grip on the bags. “I’d better get him home. Rachel, I’m glad to see you back in Deer Run. I wish you every success.” He went quickly out the door, probably hoping to reach the car before his grandfather resorted to the horn again.
“He’s right, you know.” Anna patted Rachel’s shoulder comfortingly. “That old man’s gotten sourer with age, and how Dennis puts up with him is more than I can say. But then, he’s family.”
Family. That said it all, as far as Anna was concerned.
“Sitler is lucky to have him close. Is Dennis still living in Deer Run?”
Anna shook her head. “Got a condo in Williamsport overlooking the river, so I hear. He’s with one of the banks there. But he comes out at least once a week to help the old man. Doesn’t like him living alone, he says, but there’s a cousin of his staying there now, so maybe that takes some of the worry away.”
She thought again of Colin and his father. Colin was showing far more responsibility than she’d have thought possible. She’d have to make an opportunity to speak to Lovina soon.
“Funny thing, Dennis never marrying,” Anna went on. “Folks used to think he and Laura Wells would make a match of it. Goodness knows he was crazy about her when he was young. But there, most of us don’t end up with our first loves, and maybe that’s for the best.” She stopped, as if realizing what she’d said.
Rachel would have to get over being sensitive about Ronnie if she expected to get along here, it seemed. “Are you saying Jacob wasn’t your first love?” She kept her voice light with an effort.
“He wasn’t, but you won’t go telling him that, ja?” Anna chuckled and headed back to the counter. “And don’t you mind anything Sitler says, either. His bark is worse than his bite.”
Rachel could only hope that was true, especially if her little brother had managed to run afoul of the man. Her worry, never far away, resurfaced. “Anna, have you heard anything about Will Esch being missing?”
Anna looked a little surprised at the change of subject, but she nodded. “Ja, there’s been some buzzing about it. I hear the bishop went to see his mamm and daad to see if there was anything he could do. It’s a shame for Will to worry his folks that way.”
“So you think he ran off?” It was the logical explanation—far more logical than her brother’s nightmares about someone taking him.
“Ja, what else?” Anna spread her hands. “You know how teenage boys are. They get to thinking there’s more to life than working on the farm—think they’re going to go out in the world and drive a fancy car and make a lot of money. They soon find out how wrong they are.”
“His parents must be half out of their minds with worry.” She could imagine how Mamm and Daad would feel if it were Benj.
“Ach, well, Will has always been a bit wild. I doubt it came as much of a shock to them. And word is they think he’s gone to join a cousin who’s working down at the shore, so that’s not as bad as being off on his own. He’ll come home, dragging his tail behind him, like the nursery rhyme says, ain’t so?”
“I’m sure you’re right.” She’d like to be as confident of that as Anna seemed to be.
* * *
BY THE TIME she and Mandy reached home, Rachel had decided she’d had enough drama for one day. Unfortunately, it didn’t improve her disposition any to find a stranger standing at the front door, knocking.
“Can I help you?” She went toward him with Mandy skipping along in front, carrying the lightest of the bags.
“Mrs. Mason?” He stepped out into the sunlight, giving her a better look at him. Middle-aged, balding, he carried a satchel that made her assume instantly that he was selling something.
Whatever it was, she couldn’t afford it. “Yes, I’m Mrs. Mason.” She went up the steps to the porch, eager to set down the grocery bags while she fished out her key. He drew a card from his shirt pocket and handed it over with something of a flourish. “Edward Evans. I represent the tricounty tourist bureau.”
“I see.” She took the card. “What can I do for the tourist bureau?”
“It’s not what you can do for us, Mrs. Mason. It’s what we can do for you. The tourist bureau puts out a seasonal booklet giving visitors information about businesses and places of interest in the area, as well as promoting special events. Anything to bring in those tourists, you know.” He smiled broadly, making a gesture as if reeling in a fish.
“I’m afraid I can’t afford an advertisement right now....” she began.
He shook his head. “No, no, that’s not why I’m here. Not that we discourage advertisers, of course, but your name was given to us as someone starting a new bed-and-breakfast in Deer Run, and in order to consider listing it, it’s necessary that it be inspected and approved. So, I’d like to come in and have a look around.”
Appalled wasn’t a strong enough word for her feelings. She had exactly one room ready to be seen by anyone at the moment.
“I’m nowhere near ready to open, Mr. Evans. Much as I’d like to be listed in your guide, it’s too soon for that.”
“Better too soon than too late,” he said, propping one hand on the door frame.
Clearly she wasn’t going to get rid of the man unless she let him come in. Rachel unlocked the door and pushed it wide.
“I’ll be happy to show you what Mason House looks like so far, but please understand that we’re still working on the house.”
A half hour later she was showing him back out, reminding herself of those words. She wasn’t ready to open. And judging by her visitor’s reaction, he didn’t think she ever would be.
He stopped on the walk, looking up at the house and then taking in the view on either side. “I will say you have a lovely setting here, but the condition of the house...” He didn’t need to finish that sentence. “Well, I’m afraid I can’t list you in the current issue. You can try again at the end of the summer, if you like.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she hadn’t really tried to be included this time, but she repressed the words. She couldn’t afford to make an enemy of the man.
“Thank you. I appreciate your time.”
“Yes, well...” He looked as if he were searching for something encouraging to say. “Your proximity to an Amish farm is a plus, of course. You might want to feature that in your advertising.”
She couldn’t imagine what Daad might say to that. “It’s actually my parents’ farm.”
“You’re Amish?” His eyebrows rose so high she could see his scalp lifting.
“Not any longer.” She wasn’t sure what she was now.
“Even so, that gives you something the other local B and B owners don’t have.” He actually sounded excited. “People will be fascinated by the idea of staying at a place run by someone who was raised Amish. You might even consider offering your guests the chance to have a meal in an Amish home. There are plenty of places in Lancaster County doing that, but nobody around here that I know of.”
“I don’t know....” She couldn’t imagine how her father would react to that suggestion.
He beamed at her, as if she were a dull student who’d unexpectedly scored well. “That puts a whole new face on things. You get in touch with me when you have the place ready, and I’ll come out and take photos, help you write up your listing in the publication.” He shook her hand briskly. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Mason. A real pleasure.” And he was off, leaving her staring after his car.
“Why are you standing there with your mouth open?” Meredith leaned against the fence, what appeared to be a large book tucked under her arm.
“I’m not.” Rachel shook her head. “Well, maybe I am. It was the oddest thing. This man from the tourist bureau showed up without any warning. I certainly didn’t get in touch with him. Anyway, he spent a half an hour telling me why I wasn’t going to succeed in running a bed-and-breakfast. And then when he found out I’d been raised Amish, he did an about-face and talked about how great that was, as if I’d capitalize on being Amish to get customers.”
“Well, why not?” Meredith was practical, as always. “If you’re going to run a business, you have to take advantage of every edge you have.”
“It seems...wrong, somehow.” She wasn’t quite sure how to explain it, especially in light of Anna Miller’s encouragement on the same subject. “To take advantage of having been Amish to make money.”
“Everyone else does it. I don’t see why you shouldn’t.” Meredith’s forehead crinkled. “But you said you didn’t contact the tourist bureau, so how did he find you?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I said it was odd. I’m not exactly keeping my plans a secret, but it’s hard to understand how he’d find out.”
“Unless someone called him,” Meredith said. “Someone who knew you weren’t ready yet and wanted to discourage you.” She sent a meaningful glance down the road toward the sign for The Willows.
“Jeannette wouldn’t do that,” Rachel protested. “Or at least not maliciously.”
Meredith shook her head. “You are so naive when it comes to someone like Jeannette. Trust me, I’ve seen her in action. She’s as nice as can be until you get in her way, and then you’d better watch out.”
Rachel stared at The Willows for a moment, half-imagining she saw Jeannette at the window, watching them. But she had enough to worry about without thinking there were enemies where there weren’t.
“Well, if she did intend to discourage me, she didn’t succeed. I’m not giving up that easily.”
“Good for you.” Meredith’s smile warmed her face. “Actually, I came over to bring you something.” She took the book from under her arm, and Rachel realized it was a battered scrapbook, its gold lettering peeling off.
“Our journal,” she said, taking it in her hands. They’d started the book that summer they were together, recording their ideas about their fantasy world, drawing pictures, pasting in bits of imagined souvenirs. “That’s amazing. You’ve kept it all this time?”
“Not on purpose,” Meredith said. “I was looking for something in the attic yesterday and found it, stuck under some old dolls. I glanced through it last night. I can’t believe we went to such lengths to live in that fantasy we created. I thought you should see it. And your daughter might get a kick out of it.”
“I’d like to show her.” She held the book carefully against her.
Although she wasn’t so sure she wanted Mandy emulating the things they’d done that summer. Or even sure she wanted to remind herself, now that she knew how the story ended.
“Does it still bother you, knowing what happened to Aaron?” she asked. Naturally everyone had been upset at the time, but she seemed to be reliving it too much since she’d come back to town.
