The Search The Secrets of Crittenden Cou - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,34

the kitchen, hmm? He must be a mighty brave man.”

“Ha, ha.” Sobering, she said, “I am having a fearful time cooking. But I’m doing my best.”

“That’s all anyone can ask for, Beth.” Clucking her tongue a bit, she turned the conversation back to the man. “There’s nothing wrong with looking at a handsome man. Or even chatting with him from time to time. But don’t get your head turned. You need to find a man interested in sharing your life with you . . . not taking you away from everything you know and love.”

“I hear you, Mother.”

“Now, you promise there isn’t anything I can help you with there?”

“No, Mamm. You need to stay home. I hate to think of you worrying yourself on my account.”

“Oh, I’m glad for the excuse to leave the house. Besides, worrying about daughters is what mothers do. One day you’ll realize that. If, you know, you ever find yourself a man. An Amish man. Who lives here. That is the man for you.”

“Yes, Mamm. I hear you.”

And she certainly did hear her. And she agreed with everything her mother said, too. Finding a man who was Amish who wanted to live nearby and have a household of children sounded like a good plan.

It just wasn’t that easy to do. Especially since no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about Chris.

Frannie had barely recovered from Micah’s visit when Sheriff Kramer poked his head through the curtain.

It was somewhat disconcerting to see him peer at her without a word.

She nodded her head slightly and felt the tug of the bandages around her eye. For a moment there, lost in the haze of the medication, she’d forgotten her injury. “Hello, Sheriff Kramer.”

The sheriff’s sun-weathered face creased into a smile. “I am glad you are awake. The nurses weren’t sure if you would be up to talking with me.” He looked her over. “Are you?”

“I can talk with you, for sure.” But even as she said the words, she felt her body fill with dread. Sheriff Kramer had come to the hospital for a reason.

The sheriff sauntered closer and took the seat next to her bedside. “Did you know you’re frowning? That’s not good. We need to turn your frown upside down, Frannie Eicher.”

“I’m afraid I don’t feel like smiling much at the moment. Dr. Carlson said I have to stay another day. He feared I would do too much when I got home.” Then, of course, there had been Micah’s disturbing visit. Every time she tried to relax, his words kept replaying in her mind.

“I can see you being disappointed that you’re not at your inn. You always have been a hard worker.” Making himself comfortable in the chair next to her bed, he kicked his legs out and crossed his ankles. Smiling, he said, “To tell you the truth, I never liked being stuck in hospitals, either.” Looking around her room, he added, “These rooms have always reminded me of old oatmeal, so cold and boring.”

As usual, the sheriff could outtalk a preacher and charm a rattle from a rattler. On a normal day, Frannie would’ve made a quip right back. Teased him about how he shouldn’t be lurking around hospital rooms, anyway.

But she wasn’t up for joking.

And though he was good at making conversation, she knew he wasn’t there just to make her smile.

“Are you here to discuss the investigation?”

“Actually, ah, there are some things we need to discuss.”

“All right.”

As if she wasn’t lying beside him, struggling to breathe, the sheriff shuffled in the pockets of his jacket for a pen and reading glasses. Then he rummaged around for a small spiral notebook. After slipping on his glasses and flipping through several sheets, he took the cap off his pen and looked at her again.

Frannie held her breath as a dozen questions filled her head. She wondered why Luke hadn’t come to give her any breaking news. She wondered what the sheriff could have found that had made him stop by and visit her here in the hospital room. He’d already been there this morning with her father.

He took a breath. “Frannie, it’s come to my attention that you and Perry went walking at the Millers’ farm a time or two. Henry Miller saw you there himself . . . as did a few other people.”

Scrambling to keep her emotions in check, she replied, “Yes. We did. Perry liked to go on walks. I . . . I know we were trespassing.”