Amish Country Arson by Fay Risner Read Free Book Online Page B

already taken a bath so now you take yours before
we leave for the singing. The tea kettle is hot again.”
    Later, Noah came back to the living room,
sniffing himself. “We maybe should stay home tonight.”
    “You think?” Hal teased. She sniffed him.
“Actually, you didn't do such a bad job of getting rid of the
stink.”
    “I still think I smell like skunk,” Noah
said.
    “You might, but it is not noticeable enough
to miss the singing,” John said.
    After milking, Noah and Daniel hitched Ben to
the courting buggy. He stuck his head in the screen door. “We are
leaving for the singing.”
    Daniel was behind him. “I am riding Molly
tonight.”
    John stopped rocking and smiled at him. “The
courting buggy getting crowded.”
    Daniel blushed. “Jah, Noah is taking Jenny
Yoder with him tonight. Mark Yoder and I will ride our horses.”
    Noah blushed as he quickly shut the screen
door and tromped down the porch steps with Daniel hurrying to keep
up.
    “Your boys are growing up, John,” Jim said.
“Noah dating now and soon Daniel will be.”
    “Jah,” John agreed.
    Aunt Tootie came out of her bedroom with a
handkerchief over her nose. “The wind is from the east. I don't
know which is worse. The skunk smell on the dog, or the moth ball
smell under the porch working its way into my bedroom.”
    Nora laughed. “Hal was desperate, but just
remember the moth balls were your idea.”
    “Pooh,” grumped Aunt Tootie as she
disappeared into the clinic.
    That night after they went to bed, Hal turned
on her side and rested her head on her hand. “John, did you meet
the new member, Enoch Bruner, at worship service?”
    “Jah, I did,” John uttered sleepily.
    “Well, what did you think of him?” Hal
insisted.
    “That he was a hard working man who will make
a gute living on his farm.”
    “I met his wife, Wanda. Her sister, Gladys
Kraybill, stayed home. Not feeling well her sister said,” Hal
mused.
    John opened his eyes and looked at her. “You
do not sound as if you believe her?”
    “Wanda seemed really edgy when she talked
about her sister. I got the feeling there might be something else
wrong. I offered to pay Gladys a visit, but Wanda shot that down
quick enough,” Hal said.
    John muttered, “You suppose it might be
because the woman is not ailing enough to need a nurse or
doctor?”
    “That's true, but she better not be faking.
Bishop Bontrager told Wanda he was stopping by one day this week to
meet Gladys. He wants her to the next worship service. Did Enoch
tell you why they moved here after they lived in Kansas their whole
life?” Hal persisted.
    “Jah, the Old Order Amish was phasing out to
Beachy Amish, and he wanted to go where other Old Order Amish
live,” John reported drowsily.
    “Jah, Wanda told me that, too. I think I will
have a problem with them before they have a chance to settle in.”
Hal let out a long sigh.
    John's eyes flew open again. “Now why would
you think that? You just met Wanda Bruner, ain't so?”
    “Wanda said they were against owning cars and
cell phones,” Hal replied.
    “Sure enough. That is just like our Ordnung
rules,” John said.
    “Except I own a car and a cell phone. How is
Wanda and her husband going to feel toward me when they find
out?”
    “If the time comes we need to, we will
explain how you use the car and phone for emergencies and hope they
understand. Stop worrying and go to sleep now,” John grumped,
throwing his arm over his eyes.
    “Ach, you sound just like Jane,” Hal
complained.
    “Sure enough, I expect I do. Jane is a smart
woman,” John said with a sparkle in his dark brown eyes.
    “Fine, but I can't help worrying. I like
Wanda. If the Bruners find out about my modern conveniences from
Stella Strutt, you know how she can spin the story. It won't be in
my favor.”
    “Nothing we can do about it this late at
night. Go to sleep, Hal,” came John's muffled slur as he drifted
off.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Monday started off routine. Everyone