friend’s tear-filled eyes gave me the courage I needed.
“Here’s what you do,” I whispered. “Head for the Zooks’ farm. Walk slowly—try not to limp, and no matter what, keep your bonnet on. If anyone questions you, look down, act shy.” I hugged her quickly.
She clung to me. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Wait for me in the willow grove. You can’t miss it,” I said. “You’ll be well hidden there.”
She clasped her hands tightly. “Merry, I’m scared to death.”
“Remember what I said.” I felt the tension, the stubbornness in my jaw. I was determined to take care of her, to rescue her from the abuse. If I could just get her to the safety of my Amish neighbors until my parents returned!
I took a deep breath and casually opened the back door. “See you tomorrow!” I called, pretending she was Rachel Zook.
Lissa waved back, cooperating with my little scheme.
Slowly, I closed the door, silently praying for her safety. And for forgiveness, too, for this deceitful play-acting.
I heard voices down the hall. My heart pounded as I hurried to the living room.
“What took so long, Mer?” Skip asked when I came in.
I sat beside him. “Miss Spindler’s worried silly about us. She saw the squad cars. That’s why she called.” I looked at the policemen sitting on the love seat.
Officer Rhodes studied me with his piercing gray eyes. “Heard anything more from Lissa?”
“She hasn’t called here,” I said without lying.
I noticed the other policeman, Lissa’s father. His face looked grim, though his lips were framed by a bushy mustache. His bloodshot eyes, small and pouched, reminded me of a sick bullfrog’s. I saw a ripple in his nose. How had it been busted? In a drunken brawl?
Officer Rhodes introduced him, but instead of offering to shake hands like a gentleman, Lissa’s father rubbed his thick hands together. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought he was the one on trial here.
“I believe we’ve met,” he said, nodding his froggy head. He squeezed his sausage fingers into tight fists, like he was itching to get them on his daughter. No telling what he’d do if he found her!
Officer Rhodes seemed preoccupied, brushing cat hair off the cushion. “By the way, may we see your cat again, Merry?”
Skip looked puzzled, then he chuckled. “Merry’s got three cats.”
Lissa’s father leaned forward suddenly. “Let’s have a look at them,” he demanded, not in the polite way he’d spoken to me earlier on the phone.
I swallowed hard. They were on to something. Probably the yellow ribbon. Why hadn’t I gotten rid of it before, when I had the chance? “I’ll call the cats,” I said, excusing myself.
Quickly, I ran into the kitchen. It was a good excuse to check up on Lissa’s whereabouts. I hurried to the side window, so the police in the yard couldn’t see. “Here, kitty, kitty,” I called, pretending to search. I kept my eyes peeled for Lissa as I continued calling for the cats.
Way down the lane, I spotted a thin shadow in the moonlight, walking with a slight limp, as demurely as a real Amish girl.
Good! Lissa had made it past the cops!
Two of my cats came bounding across the kitchen floor, sliding on the rug as they came to a stop. I picked up Shadrach and Meshach and nuzzled them against my face.
Where was Abednego? And what could I dream up about that yellow ribbon without telling a lie?
My heart in my throat, I called to my wayward cat. “Abednego, where are you?” Carrying Shadrach and Meshach into the living room, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
Officer Rhodes glared first at one cat, then the other. He frowned, obviously puzzled.
“Abednego’s missing again,” I explained, directing my comment to Skip.
“That cat’s always missing,” my brother said, getting up to find him.
I wished Skip would sit still. Abednego needed to stay hidden!
Staring down at the golden cats in my lap, I wondered what to do or say next. My
“Here’s what you do,” I whispered. “Head for the Zooks’ farm. Walk slowly—try not to limp, and no matter what, keep your bonnet on. If anyone questions you, look down, act shy.” I hugged her quickly.
She clung to me. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Wait for me in the willow grove. You can’t miss it,” I said. “You’ll be well hidden there.”
She clasped her hands tightly. “Merry, I’m scared to death.”
“Remember what I said.” I felt the tension, the stubbornness in my jaw. I was determined to take care of her, to rescue her from the abuse. If I could just get her to the safety of my Amish neighbors until my parents returned!
I took a deep breath and casually opened the back door. “See you tomorrow!” I called, pretending she was Rachel Zook.
Lissa waved back, cooperating with my little scheme.
Slowly, I closed the door, silently praying for her safety. And for forgiveness, too, for this deceitful play-acting.
I heard voices down the hall. My heart pounded as I hurried to the living room.
“What took so long, Mer?” Skip asked when I came in.
I sat beside him. “Miss Spindler’s worried silly about us. She saw the squad cars. That’s why she called.” I looked at the policemen sitting on the love seat.
Officer Rhodes studied me with his piercing gray eyes. “Heard anything more from Lissa?”
“She hasn’t called here,” I said without lying.
I noticed the other policeman, Lissa’s father. His face looked grim, though his lips were framed by a bushy mustache. His bloodshot eyes, small and pouched, reminded me of a sick bullfrog’s. I saw a ripple in his nose. How had it been busted? In a drunken brawl?
Officer Rhodes introduced him, but instead of offering to shake hands like a gentleman, Lissa’s father rubbed his thick hands together. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought he was the one on trial here.
“I believe we’ve met,” he said, nodding his froggy head. He squeezed his sausage fingers into tight fists, like he was itching to get them on his daughter. No telling what he’d do if he found her!
Officer Rhodes seemed preoccupied, brushing cat hair off the cushion. “By the way, may we see your cat again, Merry?”
Skip looked puzzled, then he chuckled. “Merry’s got three cats.”
Lissa’s father leaned forward suddenly. “Let’s have a look at them,” he demanded, not in the polite way he’d spoken to me earlier on the phone.
I swallowed hard. They were on to something. Probably the yellow ribbon. Why hadn’t I gotten rid of it before, when I had the chance? “I’ll call the cats,” I said, excusing myself.
Quickly, I ran into the kitchen. It was a good excuse to check up on Lissa’s whereabouts. I hurried to the side window, so the police in the yard couldn’t see. “Here, kitty, kitty,” I called, pretending to search. I kept my eyes peeled for Lissa as I continued calling for the cats.
Way down the lane, I spotted a thin shadow in the moonlight, walking with a slight limp, as demurely as a real Amish girl.
Good! Lissa had made it past the cops!
Two of my cats came bounding across the kitchen floor, sliding on the rug as they came to a stop. I picked up Shadrach and Meshach and nuzzled them against my face.
Where was Abednego? And what could I dream up about that yellow ribbon without telling a lie?
My heart in my throat, I called to my wayward cat. “Abednego, where are you?” Carrying Shadrach and Meshach into the living room, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
Officer Rhodes glared first at one cat, then the other. He frowned, obviously puzzled.
“Abednego’s missing again,” I explained, directing my comment to Skip.
“That cat’s always missing,” my brother said, getting up to find him.
I wished Skip would sit still. Abednego needed to stay hidden!
Staring down at the golden cats in my lap, I wondered what to do or say next. My
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