Simple Deceit (The Harmony Series 2) by Nancy Mehl Page A

she will remain unprepared to deal with her situation.”
    “You’re right,” I agreed. “I’m sure Abel and Emily would be willing to provide some counseling. If anyone can help her, they can.”
    Ida nodded, took a long sip of her tea, put the cup down, and scooted up closer to me. “Gracie, I have heard that a man is in town who wants to build some kind of new development here. Mary told me that you know something about this, ja?”
    “Yes, it’s a small retirement community. It will be a couple of miles from town, but I believe the people who live there will visit Harmony and bring some much-needed revenue to our businesses.” I smiled at her. “It’s a win-win situation.”
    She frowned and gazed into my eyes for several moments without saying anything. “Win-win situation?” she repeated hesitantly. “And what does this mean?”
    From time to time, Ida and I have a slight communication problem. Talking to a person who never watches television or reads large newspapers means that many phrases and concepts are foreign. Obviously “win-win” was one of them.
    “It means that there is no downside to the situation,” I assured her. “This project should be positive for everyone.”
    She looked down as if studying her black leather shoes. “Ach, I wonder.”
    I reached over and touched her arm. “What is it about this that concerns you, Ida?”
    “I—I do not know. I cannot explain it. It is a feeling. A stirring inside my spirit that tells me something is wrong.”
    “Please don’t worry about it,” I said, trying to reassure her. “If there was any chance the project would hurt Harmony, I wouldn’t allow it to happen. I hope you believe that.”
    She grabbed my hand. “Ach, dear one. I trust you completely. It has nothing to do with you. Perhaps it is just my upbringing. My parents were very suspicious of English ways. They fought hard to keep them from contaminating our community. The idea of bringing strangers into Harmony concerns me. But I am most probably overreacting.” She squeezed my hand. “You know about the prayer that went out many years ago by the women of this town—believing that Harmony would be a special place of peace and blessing? I would hate to see anything war against the wonderful miracle God has granted to us. I do not know much about the outside world, but I have been told that there are not many locations left that are like our Harmony.” She gazed at me with tear-filled eyes. “You will protect us, ja? Make certain nothing ever comes here that does not belong?”
    “I promise you, Ida. I’ll do everything I can to protect this town. It’s my home now, too, you know.”
    She smiled at me and nodded her head. “Ja, I do know. And how happy that makes me. I almost feel as if my Essie has returned to me. She was my very best friend in the whole world. Now her beautiful granddaughter has taken that place.”
    Ida had lost her close friendship with my grandmother when she’d moved to Nebraska to be near me when I was a child. It had fallen on me to tell Ida that Mama Essie had passed away several years ago. That news had caused the old woman pain. I was pleased to know that my presence would help to return some joy. Ida had become very important to me as well. She had begun to fill the empty place my grandmother’s death had left in my heart.
    We talked about other things that had happened in the community while I’d been gone, although Ida’s uneasiness about thenew retirement facility kept nagging at me. I’d hoped everyone would see what a blessing the development would be for Harmony.
    It was almost noon by the time Sam’s old truck rattled up the driveway.
    “Oh dear,” Ida said. “You must go so soon?”
    “We’re going into town for lunch. Why don’t you come with us?”
    She shook her head. “Ach, no. I am afraid the cold does not like my old bones. I believe I will stay here in front of the fire. Besides, you two young people do not need an old