Her Forgotten Amish Past. Debby Giusti

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СКАЧАТЬ Amish farm?” Zeke seemed perplexed by the statement.

      Landers chuckled, although the gruff sound was anything but humorous. “I mentioned shooting, but not with a weapon, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

      Raising his hand, palm out, Landers quickly added, “I know you folks are pacifists.”

      Becca heard disdain in the man’s voice.

      “What I meant,” Landers continued, “was shooting the film. And yes, we’re scheduled to shoot an Amish story and are looking for an Amish farm, otherwise we might have to use someplace in town.”

      He pulled a folder from the van and handed the packet to Zeke. “The studio will pay to use your property for a week or two, depending on the weather. We’ll need your authorization. Our landscape crew will arrive as soon as the contract is signed. Their job will be to enhance the property.”

      “The land is as Gott provided, Mr. Landers. It does not need to be enhanced.”

      “You’re right, of course. Be assured you’ll be compensated for your time and trouble.”

      Zeke glanced at the contract, then closed the folder and handed it back. “The farm belongs to my aunt. She is not interested in your contract.”

      “You didn’t read the offer.” Landers gazed at the barn and the pasture where the horses grazed. “You folks look like you could use some financial help. I can increase the payment by half to sweeten the deal.”

      “Sweet or sour, there is no deal, Mr. Landers.”

      “Look, I apologize if I’ve upset you. Perhaps if I talked to your aunt.”

      Noticing Hattie on the porch, he took a step forward. “Ma’am, if I could have a moment of your time.”

      “You would not hear anything different from her.” Zeke’s tone was firm.

      “What about some of your neighbors?” Landers asked.

      “You will find more farms in the valley. Some are owned and operated by Englisch farmers. Perhaps they would be willing to rent their land.”

      The guy shook his head with frustration. “You’re missing an excellent opportunity.”

      Again, he played his gaze over the barn, then turned and stared at the kitchen door for a long moment.

      Becca drew back, fearing he could see her. If so, would he recognize her?

      He hesitated for a long moment and then added, “Have you folks seen anyone from the movie studio wandering around in the area?”

      “Why do you pose such a question?” Zeke asked.

      Larry offered a half-hearted smile. “The relationship between the Amish and our studio is not the best. I want to ensure we don’t disrupt your way of life more than we already have.”

      “No one unknown has come through my aunt’s property, if that is your question.”

      The guy glanced once more at the house. Becca’s heart stopped. She held her breath, fearing he had seen her.

      Abruptly, Landers turned and scanned the rest of the farm.

      “Let me know if you change your mind about the land.” He shook Zeke’s hand, then threw the folder onto the passenger seat and climbed behind the wheel. Without further comment, he backed the van onto the road.

      “Levi Gingerich never should have rented his property to those movie people,” Hattie groused as she pushed on the kitchen door and wiped her feet on the entry rug. Zeke followed her inside.

      “Levi may have needed money,” she continued. “But we do not need a movie studio on the mountain. I have seen some of those people in town. They do not understand the Amish way. Plus, from what I have heard, they are a wild bunch who do not conform to Christian values.”

      “You are lumping them all together into one pot,” Zeke cautioned. “I am sure the majority of the actors and actresses are gut people.”

      Hattie harrumphed as she walked past Becca and headed to the stove. Zeke returned to the table without comment.

      Becca’s heart beat erratically. The tall, muscular man had been looking for someone. Did Zeke and Hattie not realize he could have been looking for her?

      She glanced first at Hattie and then back at Zeke. Grateful though she was for their hospitality, she was a stranger in their midst. A stranger with a made-up name and no knowledge of the life she had lived or even her age. A man had chased her last night, and she had been chased again this morning. Now another man with a haughty manner had stopped at the farm.

      Tears stung her eyes, but they were a sign of weakness, at least that’s what a little voice whispered in her head. A voice from the past perhaps? How could she know what was memory and what was her own mind playing tricks on her?

      “Becca, are you all right?” Hattie asked.

      “If you don’t mind, I need to go to my room.” She left the kitchen and climbed the stairs, stepping into the bedroom just as the tears started to fall.

      She closed the door behind her and moved to the window, wanting to ensure the studio van was out of sight. Her heart lurched when she saw the vehicle stopped on the side of the mountain road. Larry Landers stood in front of the Montcliff Studio logo on the side of his van. He held binoculars to his eyes and was staring back at Hattie’s house.

      Becca jerked away from the window. Fear gripped her anew. Her pulse raced. Who was the man from the movie studio and why was he spying on her?

      Pulling in a deep breath, she moved closer and peered again from the window. A black car like the one she had seen this morning had pulled behind the studio van and a bearded man with his hair pulled into a bun was talking to Landers.

      Was he asking about an Englisch woman he had seen walking along the roadway? As she watched, the bearded man turned and stared at Hattie’s house, seemingly zeroing in on the guest room window. Again, Becca stepped back, her heart in her throat.

      She dropped her head into her hands. The worry and anxiety that had circled through her mind collided in a wave of emotion, like a giant tsunami washing over her. Hot tears ran down her cheeks and dampened her dress, but she couldn’t stop their onslaught.

      Struggling to remember anything, she thought back to the woods where the branches had caught at her dress. Was Larry Landers the person who had chased after her last night? Or could it have been the bearded man with the bun? If only she could have seen the man’s face, but all she could remember was the blood on the carpet. So much blood.

      She thought of something else that made her pulse race even more.

       The knife.

      Her heart stopped.

      The knife that had dropped from her hand was covered with blood.

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