The Search The Secrets of Crittenden Cou

Chapter 4




“I never agreed with Mamm and Daed searching through the drawers and cabinets in our rooms. Everyone needs some privacy, I think. But Mamm said she only looked through my things because she’d gone through Perry’s.”

DEBORAH BORNTRAGER




Despite the rumors that were buzzing around their tight-knit community, Deborah Borntrager still loved her brother. Sure, Perry had made some bad decisions. He’d gotten mixed up with the wrong kind of people. Sometimes, too, he could be terribly mean, almost spiteful with his sharp words and temper.

Sometimes he’d even been that way with family members who cared about him.

But everyone made mistakes, right? Deborah knew she did. She knew she was still making mistakes.

She comforted herself with that thought every morning when she said her prayers. With each sunrise, she’d get down on her knees and reach out to the Lord. Then, in the quiet of her room, she’d talk to Jesus about Perry’s good points. Even the ones that Perry had seemed to have forgotten about. Perry had never been one for self-reflection.

Next, she’d pray for the Lord to help everyone in their community to forgive Perry. He’d caused so much hurt by his lies and anger, and it was becoming mighty apparent that not too many people in the community were eager to simply forgive and forget. Especially since he had never admitted his sins or asked for forgiveness. With all her heart, she would pray people would remember that it had been the drugs that had made Perry do bad things. It wasn’t his fault.

After she covered the community, she’d ask the Lord to forgive Perry for his transgressions. She’d pray that he had somehow repented before he’d died and was now in heaven with all the saints and angels. But always, as soon as she thought about his erratic behavior, about the terrible things he used to say to her, the way he’d lied and cheated and stole from them all . . . she’d open her eyes and get up off her knees.

And as her heart began to beat slower, she’d sigh and wonder how long she could blame the drugs for his selfishness. And the way he could be so cruel. After all, he might have been addicted. But he’d also made the choice to begin his drug use in the first place.

Not that she’d ever say any of those things out loud.

At first when Perry’s body had been found and a thousand questions had buzzed through the community, her parents had sent her to Charm, Ohio. There, her grandparents had given her time to mourn. For two weeks she cried and prayed and slept. She helped her grandmother wash walls and move all the household goods from the basement to the main floor. The hard work, combined with her grandmother’s sweet, quiet personality, had been the perfect medicine to her frayed nerves. Only in the middle of the night would she let the reality of Perry’s death sink in.

Imagining the commotion that was surrounding the murder investigation, she’d feel guilty. It hadn’t been right to escape to her grandparents’ farm like she had, but her parents had encouraged the trip. They hadn’t trusted the policeman from Cincinnati.

Actually, they hadn’t trusted Sheriff Kramer, either.

“There’s no reason for you to become entangled in the police investigation, Deborah,” her mother had said. “After all, you knew nothing about Perry’s habits. None of us did. I don’t know how, but Perry pulled the wool over all of our eyes.”

Deborah never said anything, but she privately thought that the reason Perry had been able to pull that wool so well was because they hadn’t wanted to see what he was doing.

It had been easier to be ignorant.

But Deborah had known more than she’d ever let on about her brother’s habits.

She’d simply chosen to do nothing about it.

Now, though, she was back and was determined to hold her head up high. Even if some people thought she should stay in hiding, ashamed of what her brother had become and what had happened to him.

After washing her face and getting dressed for the day, she did the dozen other things that were part of her normal morning routine.

Then prepared herself to finally go to Schrock’s Variety.

Her mother wasn’t happy about it. She’d been flitting around her like a hummingbird since breakfast, full of nervous energy and advice. “Deborah, perhaps you should stay home today,” she said. “There is nothing we truly need at the store.”

“I told you I’d buy you some fresh cottage cheese and buttermilk, Mamm. Mr. Schrock always carries fresh dairy on Tuesdays.” Plus, she, at least, needed to begin her life again. Staying inside and sheltered from the rest of the community was becoming too easy.

If she kept it up, she’d soon never want to leave her house.

“But Perry used to work there.” Her mother bit her lip. “And I’m afraid Mr. Schrock and Perry didn’t part on the best of terms. For some reason, Mr. Schrock fired him.”

Deborah fought back the urge to roll her eyes upward. Though not a bit of what they were talking about was humorous, her mother’s penchant for turning Perry into a saint was hard to take. “Mamm, I know that. Of course I know that.”

“Then you know there might be hard feelings . . . Some people might take out their anger toward Perry on you.”

Deborah was sure they might. But she also knew things wouldn’t get better until she made some changes in her life. She needed to move forward and find something to occupy her mind instead of grieving for her brother. “I’ll be all right.”

Her mamm wrung her hands. “But they might ask you questions.”

“Muddah, Perry was murdered. People want to know what happened.”

“But you shouldn’t have to talk about him. You shouldn’t have to dwell on things that make you upset.”

“I already am upset, Mamm. He was my brother, of course I’m going to be sad that he’s dead.”

And before her mother could refute that, Deborah slipped on her black tennis shoes and began the trek to Schrock’s Variety Store.

It wasn’t a short walk. Easily three miles. But the day was sunny and the sky was blue—and the exercise would improve her spirits. Already, the plan to get out of the house for the day was lifting her spirits.

She grabbed a tote to carry the dairy products home and swung it a little at her side as she left the house. She was happy not to have to be fussing with a horse and buggy and all the headaches that came with driving a buggy through traffic on a Tuesday morning.

As she passed Stanton Park, she was reminded of the rumor that Lydia Plank liked to meet Walker Anderson there, and then she passed a pair of nurseries. Finally, after almost an hour, Deborah arrived at Schrock’s.

Now, as she stood outside the door, all the doubts she’d tried so hard to keep at bay rushed forward. Perhaps she shouldn’t be so bold?

Perhaps she should feel more dismay for Perry and more shame for her brother’s actions.

Then the door opened with a jerk, making the decision for her. She hastily took two steps back.

“Careful in there,” a man muttered before dashing out of the way. “Things are crazier than usual.”

She stood at the stoop, watching him in confusion.

Mr. Schrock was known for outlandish schemes. It was part of his charm, really. Entering the store always made her think of the fun house she’d visited once when a carnival came through the area. You never knew what was going to pop out at Schrock’s.

“You coming in or out?” a woman’s voice rang out from the back. “Make a choice, and be quick about it.”

Deborah felt her breath hitch at the harsh command. She hesitated, but only for a moment. Then she stepped in, fast. Before she could change her mind.

“Ach! Shut the door, wouldja?” the same harsh voice yelled.

Deborah shut it. Then wished she was still on the other side.

Four large gangly puppies were gallivanting her way, taking down everything in their path. Their paws were overlarge and their tongues wet and drippy.

“Dogs?” she yelped.

“Prepare yourself! They’re a mite rambunctious right now. Real excited for sure.” Mrs. Schrock was hustling in from the back with her warning.

She barely had time to brace herself as one let out a friendly woof and leapt.

Two paws landed on her thighs. Its littermate jumped right next to her.

When she bent to steady herself, two wet tongues whipped out and swabbed her cheeks. “Oh!” she squealed as a third puppy barreled her way, attacking from the side.

She fell on her bottom. With a few triumphant yips, the puppies gallivanted closer. In no time at all, she was soon covered with paws and fur and puppy slobber.

“Woof!” a fourth exclaimed, barking and licking with playful moves. She would have loved to play with them all. That is, if they weren’t bounding on top of her lap with the force and energy of four tiny locomotives.

“Oh, you puppies!” Mrs. Schrock exclaimed as she scurried to Deborah’s side and came to her rescue. With a gentle tug, the lady maneuvered the pups off and helped her to her feet. “All you all right, dear?”

Deborah was not. Her kapp and bonnet were skewed to one side, her pink dress and black apron were covered in dog fur, and one of her black stockings now had a quarter-sized hole at the knee.

But she pretended none of that mattered. “Jah. I am fine. Never better.” She smiled wanly. “Those puppies are sure frisky.”

“Indeed.” Still trying to corral the exuberant monster pups, Mrs. Schrock looked her over with a worried expression. “You’re not hurt? Are you sure?”

“I am fine, Mrs. Schrock. Truly, I like dogs. They just caught me off guard, that’s all. They are adorable puppies.” More like overgrown horses, but still . . . their sweet brown eyes, pink tongues, and happy antics were terribly cute.

Mrs. Schrock chuckled as two of the puppies lay down, exhausted. “They don’t usually greet newcomers quite so enthusiastically. They must like you.”

“Lucky me.”

Mrs. Schrock’s eyes twinkled merrily. “Yes, indeed.” Raising her voice, she opened the door to the storeroom and called out, “Walker? Where are you? I need your help, dear.”

“Walker left, Mamm,” a familiar voice replied, sending the last tiny bit of Deborah’s composure out the window. “It’s just me here.”

Her arms full of puppy, Mrs. Schrock frowned. “I didn’t see Walker leave.”

“Daed sent him to go help with a delivery—I thought you knew?” Jacob called back.

Listening to the conversation, Deborah’s spirits sank. Oh, but this visit to Schrock’s had just gone from bad to worse.

Jacob Schrock was back in town.