Straightening, he looked at Miriam and calmly said, “It isn’t going to do Hannah any good, either. We have a better chance of finding her mother if we work together.”
“I thought you were leaving town for a fishing trip?”
He gazed at her intently. “The fish can wait. Hannah shouldn’t have to.”
He wanted Miriam’s cooperation. He didn’t believe in coincidences, he still believed whoever left the baby with her knew she was a nurse. “Did you put together the list of families who know you’re a nurse, the way I asked?”
“Yes.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a handwritten sheet.
It was a short list. There were only seven names on it. It wouldn’t take long to interview these families. He looked at her. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
* * *
Miriam considered carefully before she spoke again. If Hannah’s mother didn’t come forward, there would be little she could do on her own to find her. Nick, on the other hand, had an entire crime-solving department at his beck and call. If he was willing to put some effort into finding the baby’s mother, Miriam shouldn’t be discouraging him. In the end, finding the young woman who needed her help took priority over her feelings for cooperating with Nick.
She said, “I have an idea how we can check lots of buggy tires in one place.”
He looked at her sharply. “How?”
“The day after tomorrow, Sunday preaching services will be held at Bishop Zook’s farm. Every family in his congregation will be there. Including all the people on that list. The younger men usually drive separately so they can escort their special girls home afterward. Why go farm to farm when there will be dozens of buggies in one place? It’s a start.”
“A good start. Still, his isn’t the only Amish church in the area. I can think of at least five others. I can try to find out where the other congregations are meeting. Tuesday is market day. That will be another opportunity for us if she hasn’t come forward by then.”
The thought of working with Nick should have left Miriam cold, but it didn’t. Instead, a strange excitement quickened her pulse. What was she getting herself into?
“I’ll see you Sunday,” he said and walked away.
When he reached his vehicle, he glanced back. She was still standing by her car watching him. An odd look of yearning crossed his face. It was gone so quickly she wondered if she imagined it.
What was he thinking when he gazed at her like that? Was he remembering happier days? She licked her lips and tucked her hair into place behind her ear. Did he think she had changed much? Did he still find her attractive?
The absurdness of the thought startled her. Why should she care what he saw when he looked at her? Impressing him should be the last thing on her mind. She walked around her car, got in quickly and drove away.
But no matter how fast she drove, thoughts of Nick stuck in her mind. She couldn’t outrun them.
Chapter Five
S unday morning dawned bright and clear. Miriam
knew that because her mother was clanging pots and pans around in the kitchen before any light crept through Miriam’s window. The sounds echoed up the stairwell into her room because she had the door open to hear Hannah when she cried. She needn’t have bothered. Each time the baby fussed, Bella was beside Miriam’s bed five seconds later, nosing her mistress to get up.
Miriam’s mother had put a cot in the kitchen to sleep beside the baby’s crib, but Miriam had been the one to get up and feed the baby through the night. Her mother’s
intentions were good, but she needed her sleep, too. Tonight, Miriam would insist on taking the cot. That way she might get a little more sleep.
The soft sound of her mother humming reached Miriam’s ears. Ada was delighted her daughter was taking her to the Sunday preaching. Her mother might say she accepted that Miriam had left the Amish faith for good, but for Ada, that door was always open. Any
“I thought you were leaving town for a fishing trip?”
He gazed at her intently. “The fish can wait. Hannah shouldn’t have to.”
He wanted Miriam’s cooperation. He didn’t believe in coincidences, he still believed whoever left the baby with her knew she was a nurse. “Did you put together the list of families who know you’re a nurse, the way I asked?”
“Yes.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a handwritten sheet.
It was a short list. There were only seven names on it. It wouldn’t take long to interview these families. He looked at her. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
* * *
Miriam considered carefully before she spoke again. If Hannah’s mother didn’t come forward, there would be little she could do on her own to find her. Nick, on the other hand, had an entire crime-solving department at his beck and call. If he was willing to put some effort into finding the baby’s mother, Miriam shouldn’t be discouraging him. In the end, finding the young woman who needed her help took priority over her feelings for cooperating with Nick.
She said, “I have an idea how we can check lots of buggy tires in one place.”
He looked at her sharply. “How?”
“The day after tomorrow, Sunday preaching services will be held at Bishop Zook’s farm. Every family in his congregation will be there. Including all the people on that list. The younger men usually drive separately so they can escort their special girls home afterward. Why go farm to farm when there will be dozens of buggies in one place? It’s a start.”
“A good start. Still, his isn’t the only Amish church in the area. I can think of at least five others. I can try to find out where the other congregations are meeting. Tuesday is market day. That will be another opportunity for us if she hasn’t come forward by then.”
The thought of working with Nick should have left Miriam cold, but it didn’t. Instead, a strange excitement quickened her pulse. What was she getting herself into?
“I’ll see you Sunday,” he said and walked away.
When he reached his vehicle, he glanced back. She was still standing by her car watching him. An odd look of yearning crossed his face. It was gone so quickly she wondered if she imagined it.
What was he thinking when he gazed at her like that? Was he remembering happier days? She licked her lips and tucked her hair into place behind her ear. Did he think she had changed much? Did he still find her attractive?
The absurdness of the thought startled her. Why should she care what he saw when he looked at her? Impressing him should be the last thing on her mind. She walked around her car, got in quickly and drove away.
But no matter how fast she drove, thoughts of Nick stuck in her mind. She couldn’t outrun them.
Chapter Five
S unday morning dawned bright and clear. Miriam
knew that because her mother was clanging pots and pans around in the kitchen before any light crept through Miriam’s window. The sounds echoed up the stairwell into her room because she had the door open to hear Hannah when she cried. She needn’t have bothered. Each time the baby fussed, Bella was beside Miriam’s bed five seconds later, nosing her mistress to get up.
Miriam’s mother had put a cot in the kitchen to sleep beside the baby’s crib, but Miriam had been the one to get up and feed the baby through the night. Her mother’s
intentions were good, but she needed her sleep, too. Tonight, Miriam would insist on taking the cot. That way she might get a little more sleep.
The soft sound of her mother humming reached Miriam’s ears. Ada was delighted her daughter was taking her to the Sunday preaching. Her mother might say she accepted that Miriam had left the Amish faith for good, but for Ada, that door was always open. Any
Similar Books
