Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns

Author:Patricia Johns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

* * *

There was a change in Eden since Petunia had seen her last. Gone were the tears and the helplessness. Now, Eden sat with her back straight and her expression resigned.

“How are you doing?” Petunia asked.

“Fine, considering,” Eden replied. “I talked to a lawyer, and it doesn’t look good for me.”

“Why not?” Petunia asked.

“I’ve been formally charged with murder. All signs point to me, and they want to transfer me to a real prison.”

“We aren’t done looking through all the suspects yet!” Petunia replied.

Eden picked up a saltine cracker and nibbled on it dismally. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, we’re still looking for who did this, and I’m not resting until we find them …” She watched her friend take another small bite of cracker. She looked pale. “Is your stomach upset?”

“It’s the stress,” Eden replied.

Another outright lie. It would be morning sickness. But Petunia was amazed at how easily Eden had fibbed. Much like Lovina, who’d lied just as easily earlier. Was Petunia the only one who still squirmed when she told an untruth?

“Asher told me about Ike’s criminal history,” Petunia said.

Eden’s gaze flickered over to her. “Did he?”

“Eden, why wouldn’t you tell me that?” Petunia asked. “How many times did we sit talking, pouring our hearts out, and you never once breathed a word about it! It must have been upsetting for you.”

“Ike’s mistakes were in the past,” Eden said. “And you didn’t like Ike. I knew you wouldn’t understand.”

“A mistake is a little lie, or skipping a day of work,” Petunia said. “Theft and assault—those are more than little mistakes. That’s a pattern of behavior that could be very dangerous.”

Eden just cast her a tired look. Yah, that was why she hadn’t said anything.

“I’m not trying to argue with you,” Petunia said.

“Then stop talking about Ike like you knew him,” Eden said frankly. “I knew him. And his mistakes—yes, I’m calling them mistakes—were in the past. He was changing his life. He was determined to be a better man. We say we believe in forgiveness, but that’s more than simply letting go of the anger when someone wrongs us. That means letting people’s mistakes go and not holding it against a man. Letting him be better! We have to let people grow and improve. If we keep holding everything against them, they have no chance to be any better, do they? And then all we have is one mistake per person, and everyone gets locked down and identified by their worst sin. Well, no one is that simple! Everyone is more complicated, and everyone deserves another chance to be better. But Ike won’t get that now, will he?”

Eden’s chin trembled.

“No, he won’t,” Petunia said quietly. “And you’re right—no one can change if we keep holding them back in their worst behavior. I fully agree. But sometimes people are lying to you, Eden. Sometimes people haven’t changed.”

“Even after his death, you won’t give me this?” Eden asked, then shook her head bitterly.

“Eden, he was married,” Petunia said.

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