The Search The Secrets of Crittenden Cou - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,67

drifted off. “I think there’s a part of my parents that understands each person has to go on their own walk with God.”

“Just because someone is different from you, it doesn’t mean he or she is wrong,” Deborah murmured, thinking about her parents’ unyielding views for everyone but Perry.

“Exactly,” Walker said. “I don’t know if belonging to this ‘new order’ is the right step for us. Or if we should become Mennonite.”

“Or if I should become more of a part of Walker’s English world,” Lydia murmured.

“Luckily, our families are being pretty understanding. They seem to understand that it is something we need to investigate.”

“You’re lucky, Lydia,” Deborah blurted. Deborah could never imagine her parents ever being so open.

“My parents like Walker very much,” Lydia said with a quick smile.

“I’m happy for the both of you,” she said, meaning every word.

“Danke,” Lydia said. “Now, where were you off to?”

“Oh, nowhere, just going out for a walk.”

“You should stop by the store and see the pups,” Walker said. “They’re worth a long walk.”

For a moment, she considered lying and telling Walker that she’d stop over soon. But she was tired of lies, and at the moment, very tired of pretending to be happier than she was. “I’m afraid Jacob doesn’t want me to be there,” she said lightly.

“He doesn’t want you at the store?” Walker asked.

“Definitely not at the store.”

“Oh, surely you misunderstood,” Lydia said quickly.

Walker nodded. “Yeah. I bet you just—”

“I didn’t misunderstand. He told me, Walker.” She held up a hand when it looked like Walker was going to argue the point. “But that’s okay with me.” Of course it wasn’t, but what could she say?

“Even if it’s okay, I’ll talk to him,” Walker said. “I know Mr. and Mrs. Schrock would be really upset if they heard about this.”

“Please don’t tell them!”

“Oh, I won’t. I just meant, I bet he didn’t realize how you’d take it. Or how it would sound. I mean, no one blames you for Perry’s actions, Deborah.”

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as I can be. Jacob, well, he’s having a really hard time. That’s all.”

What none of them said was that they’d all been going through a very hard time. Everyone who’d ever known Perry had been affected by his life and his death.

“I know. Like I said, I’m fine. And, goodness . . . I had better get on home. I’m sure my mamm will be wondering why I haven’t shown up to help her with supper.”

After saying goodbye, she turned and walked back toward home . . . thinking about the changes both Walker and Lydia seemed willing to make for their relationship—thinking about the note she’d removed from Perry’s bedside table in order to protect Jacob.

She wondered if Jacob would still hate her if he ever found out what she’d done for him.

Chapter 22

“The first time I took Perry hunting, he was nine years old. Three hours in, he raised his rifle and shot an eight-point buck. He never wanted to hunt again—don’t know why.”

ABRAHAM BORNTRAGER

Mose’s criticism was sharp and to the point. “Wow, Reynolds. Just when you think you can’t make things worse, you do. In spades.”

They were sitting in Mose’s cluttered kitchen eating Trail bologna sandwiches and canned vegetable soup. “Thanks. So glad you had time to tell me what you really think.”

After taking another bite of a sandwich liberally slathered with mustard, and hastily swallowing it with a gulp of chocolate milk, Mose replied with a dry look, “Can’t help it. Someone had to say it. You really put your foot in it this time. I thought you would have been a bit more smooth with the women.”

He didn’t even attempt to temper his sarcasm. “Obviously, I’m not smooth.”

“At all.”

It was on the tip of Luke’s tongue to argue. But he didn’t have the energy or the inclination. Mose was right. He could have handled his conversation with Frannie a dozen better ways than he had.

Though, if he were honest, he would have to admit that he didn’t know if it would have ended any differently. “I know I hurt her feelings. I get that. But I had no choice. I had to ask her about the sunglasses. And she had been lying to us about her last conversation with Perry.”

“That is all true,” he said around a spoonful of soup. “For sure.”

“Those sunglasses might be a lead. I had to know.” Luke took a bite of his sandwich, wishing that he could settle down and approach things as calmly