The Search The Secrets of Crittenden Cou - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,22

get back to my animals.”

“So you’d rather she sit by herself than with me?” He looked around. “Or is this Micah here? I would have thought you’d want the man who intends to marry your daughter to be a little more concerned.”

“I do not know what else he had planned for his day. I couldn’t begin to imagine.” But a healthy sheen of red floated up through his cheeks.

Now that he’d been able to make his point, Luke retreated a bit. Softening his voice, he said, “Mr. Eicher, listen. All I’m trying to do is help Frannie in any way I can. And right now, that’s not leaving her alone. Hospitals can be very lonely places.”

“You aren’t intending to court my Frannie? Because if you are, I’d like to know. I’d rather hear bad news instead of lies. I don’t care for liars.”

As prickly as Frannie’s father was, Luke was discovering that the more they talked, the better he liked him. “I don’t care for liars, either.”

“Then?”

All of a sudden, Luke felt tongue-tied. But then he remembered just how unsuitable they were for each other. And he couldn’t afford to let any romantic feelings color the investigation.

In addition, as her father had pointed out, she was Amish. Granted, she was new order Amish, and allowed a lot of modern conveniences that the more conservative sects did not.

But even so, a life with a Cincinnati detective who made his living investigating crimes and murders in the most violent neighborhoods of the city was not the right type of man for a woman whose teachings and beliefs were centered on peace and nonviolence.

“I don’t plan to court Frannie.”

Pale blue-gray eyes the same color as Frannie’s regarded him intently before he nodded, and then, without another word, started walking toward Mose.

As Luke watched him walk away, he felt slightly guilty. He hadn’t promised that he would never court her. Just that he didn’t plan to. He’d chosen his words with care. Hmm. Who was he trying to fool now?

Mr. Eicher’s voice rang through the hall. “Mose, are you ready now? Because it’s close to feeding time and no one will do the work if I don’t.”

“I’m ready. But give me a second, John Paul,” Mose replied. “I need to speak with Luke for a moment.”

“Can’t it wait? I just spoke with him.”

“It won’t take long. It’s about police business,” Mose said easily.

With a grumble, Mr. Eicher said, “I’ll go downstairs, then. Where I’ll be waiting.”

After they watched Frannie’s father deliberately ignore the elevator and walk down the steps, Mose grinned. “He’s a piece of work, isn’t he?”

“He’s something. Is he always so taciturn?”

“Pretty much. If you want to know the truth, this is a good day for John Paul. Usually he substitutes conversation with glares and sighs.”

“He was getting on my last nerve.”

“Oh, he does that with most all of us,” Mose said dryly. “He’s never been one for conversation.”

“Or smiles.”

Mose laughed with his usual ease. “That, too. Most folks think Frannie’s bed-and-breakfast would do a far sight worse if her father took a mind to spend more time there. He could run off a bull with a cold, he’s so ornery.”

“I bet.” Luke figured the bull-with-a-cold comment meant something in Mose’s mind, but he was too tired to figure it out. “Well, good luck getting him home.”

“I’ll take that luck,” Mose said with a slight grin. “Now, you ready for some news?”

He’d been so rattled by the grilling, he’d almost forgotten that Mose said he had information for him. “I am.”

“Jacob Schrock is back in town. So is Deborah Borntrager.”

Immediately, all thoughts of overprotective fathers fled. “It’s about time.” Both he and Mose had interviewed the Schrocks, the owners of the general store where Perry had worked, several times.

Their son, who was about Perry’s age, had been mysteriously absent. Deborah, Perry’s sister, had also been out of town. For them both to be called out of town right when Perry’s body had been found seemed a little too coincidental. But, of course, neither Luke nor Mose had had any cause to be suspicious of them.

But everything in his experience told him that there was more to the coincidence. “Have you questioned them?” he asked in a rush. “What did they say?”

“I haven’t spoken with either of them.”

“Why not?”

“Because I thought you might like to do the honors tomorrow, that’s why.”

“But the questioning should be done today. While the news is still fresh.”

“Ach, Luke. We both know none of the news about Perry’s