advances in technology have changed many things for Amish dairy farmers.”
“So he did both?”
“For a while, yes. But eventually the notion of working out of his buggy and going from house to house fixing things won out for Harley.” Diane fidgeted with the simple design along the hem of her skirt, her words beginning to pick up speed. “So, he started a mobile carpentry business mostly on my word of mouth. He got so busy so fast he ended up hiring an apprentice last month. Then, when they were here the other day working on the back step, he told me your brother, Isaac, had decided to come on board as a partner.”
Jakob’s gaze dropped to his notepad, yet he wrote nothing, Eli’s take on Isaac’s decision no doubt circling around in the detective’s thoughts.
“It is funny how a few window boxes could lead to such a booming business, isn’t it?” Diane mused as a slight smile played across her lips. “But Harley always made sure to fit me in when I needed something. He said I was his first customer and that entitled me to special treatment for life.”
“And knowing Harley the way I did, he’d have made good on his word.” Jakob dragged his pen across the spiral edge of the pad and released a pent-up burst of air. “Zook was nothing if not loyal.”
Diane paused mid-nod. “What will happen to his cows now that there’s no one around to see that they get home?”
“His cows?” Jakob parroted, looking up.
“For such big animals, they sure can be stealthy, can’t they?”
“Stealthy?”
“One or the other was escaping from Harley’s field all the time.” Diane sandwiched her face between her hands. “I think it was Jackie who was the last to sneak off the day he fixed my shutter.”
“Actually, if Jackie was a few days ago, then that honor would have to go to Mary now,” Jakob corrected before rising to his feet and staring up at the ceiling.
“Mary—wait!” Claire, too, stood, the pre-maze portion of the previous evening finally pushing its way to the foreground of her thoughts. “You’re talking about the cow we found on the side of the road yesterday, aren’t you? You said that was Harley’s cow.”
Jakob cupped a hand to his mouth then let it slide slowly down his chin. “That’s right. I found out, after you left, that her name is Mary. At least that’s what one of Hochstetler’s boys told me when he walked through the field and voluntarily relieved me of cow-watching duties.”
“So you didn’t bring her back to Harley yourself?”
“No. Though now I have to wonder if Harley might still be alive if I had.”
Claire took hold of Jakob’s forearm and turned him. “Stop that. Harley was in the middle of the maze when I found him. You and I both know that even if you
had
been on his farm as much as an hour or so earlier, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“Claire is right, Jakob. There is only one person to blame for what happened to Harley. And with you on the case, that person will be in jail soon.”
Claire saw Jakob swallow once, twice, and knew his thoughts had moved on to his father, the lines around his eyes deepening by the second. She rushed to change the subject. “So how could two cows go loose in less than a week?”
“Holes, I think.”
Jakob’s focus snapped back toward Diane. “Holes?”
“That’s the only reason I can figure those cows would keep getting out. That or he failed to secure his fence on a near-daily basis. He laughed it off most days, saying his girls could use a little change of scenery once in a while. But he lost valuable work hours every time he had to go round one up and walk it home.”
“Well, then, I guess I’ll be doing a little fence patching myself come morning.” Jakob retrieved his coat from the armrest and slipped it on, the smile he flashed at first Diane and then Claire stopping just short of his eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for dinner tonight. It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome
“So he did both?”
“For a while, yes. But eventually the notion of working out of his buggy and going from house to house fixing things won out for Harley.” Diane fidgeted with the simple design along the hem of her skirt, her words beginning to pick up speed. “So, he started a mobile carpentry business mostly on my word of mouth. He got so busy so fast he ended up hiring an apprentice last month. Then, when they were here the other day working on the back step, he told me your brother, Isaac, had decided to come on board as a partner.”
Jakob’s gaze dropped to his notepad, yet he wrote nothing, Eli’s take on Isaac’s decision no doubt circling around in the detective’s thoughts.
“It is funny how a few window boxes could lead to such a booming business, isn’t it?” Diane mused as a slight smile played across her lips. “But Harley always made sure to fit me in when I needed something. He said I was his first customer and that entitled me to special treatment for life.”
“And knowing Harley the way I did, he’d have made good on his word.” Jakob dragged his pen across the spiral edge of the pad and released a pent-up burst of air. “Zook was nothing if not loyal.”
Diane paused mid-nod. “What will happen to his cows now that there’s no one around to see that they get home?”
“His cows?” Jakob parroted, looking up.
“For such big animals, they sure can be stealthy, can’t they?”
“Stealthy?”
“One or the other was escaping from Harley’s field all the time.” Diane sandwiched her face between her hands. “I think it was Jackie who was the last to sneak off the day he fixed my shutter.”
“Actually, if Jackie was a few days ago, then that honor would have to go to Mary now,” Jakob corrected before rising to his feet and staring up at the ceiling.
“Mary—wait!” Claire, too, stood, the pre-maze portion of the previous evening finally pushing its way to the foreground of her thoughts. “You’re talking about the cow we found on the side of the road yesterday, aren’t you? You said that was Harley’s cow.”
Jakob cupped a hand to his mouth then let it slide slowly down his chin. “That’s right. I found out, after you left, that her name is Mary. At least that’s what one of Hochstetler’s boys told me when he walked through the field and voluntarily relieved me of cow-watching duties.”
“So you didn’t bring her back to Harley yourself?”
“No. Though now I have to wonder if Harley might still be alive if I had.”
Claire took hold of Jakob’s forearm and turned him. “Stop that. Harley was in the middle of the maze when I found him. You and I both know that even if you
had
been on his farm as much as an hour or so earlier, it wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“Claire is right, Jakob. There is only one person to blame for what happened to Harley. And with you on the case, that person will be in jail soon.”
Claire saw Jakob swallow once, twice, and knew his thoughts had moved on to his father, the lines around his eyes deepening by the second. She rushed to change the subject. “So how could two cows go loose in less than a week?”
“Holes, I think.”
Jakob’s focus snapped back toward Diane. “Holes?”
“That’s the only reason I can figure those cows would keep getting out. That or he failed to secure his fence on a near-daily basis. He laughed it off most days, saying his girls could use a little change of scenery once in a while. But he lost valuable work hours every time he had to go round one up and walk it home.”
“Well, then, I guess I’ll be doing a little fence patching myself come morning.” Jakob retrieved his coat from the armrest and slipped it on, the smile he flashed at first Diane and then Claire stopping just short of his eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for dinner tonight. It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome
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