Plain Pursuit by Alison Stone

Author:Alison Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2013-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

TEN

We don’t want our children to have undue influence from outsiders. Abram’s words rang in Eli’s ears as he watched Anna storm past him and out the back door. His father had been speaking to Anna, but the full implication of his message landed squarely on Eli’s shoulder. He was the outsider. He was the one his father feared would have undue influence on his children. He watched his father hang his hat on the hook by the door. Intuitively, he already knew this, but to hear it spoken with such clarity was like a knife to the heart.

Had Eli been deluding himself? Did he really believe that when he found Mary or her kidnapper he’d be welcomed home the hero? No, he’d forever be the outsider. The Amish way was to forgive.

But not their own.

As long as he refused to come back into the fold, he’d never be forgiven. They saw his need for justice as a form of revenge. In their eyes, revenge only got in the way of redemption. Because he turned away from the church, his parents feared for his soul. Now they feared for their other children. He ran a hand across his whiskered jaw.

His father put his hand on the banister at the bottom of the stairs. “Good night.”

“I must find out what happened to Mary. You know that. It’s something I have to do.”

Abram bowed his head, as if gathering his thoughts. “You were raised to do what is right for the common good. I did not raise you to pursue personal goals. You must be humble. Accept God’s will.”

Eli curled his fingers into fists. God’s will had not dictated his sister’s disappearance. It had been the evil hand of man. He bit back a retort. He knew he’d get nowhere. He had been living in the outside world for over ten years now. He didn’t know how to rein in the emotions that sliced through him. “This is hardly a personal goal. I need to know what happened to Mary. I cannot rest until justice is served. For Mary’s sake.”

Abram climbed one stair and glanced over his shoulder. “Do you think you will be happy then?”

Eli rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. He doubted he’d ever be happy. Nothing would bring back his little sister. He stared after his father as he climbed the stairs.

Feeling caged, Eli strode onto the back porch, holding the door so it wouldn’t slam in its frame. Having seen Anna go out the back door, he had expected to find her on the back porch. Mild concern whispered across his brain. He started to cross the yard when he heard barking coming from the barn.

When he reached the barn, Red was barking wildly. Eli’s heart stopped when he saw Anna’s thin frame sprawled out on the barn floor.

“Anna.” He ran the short distance and dropped down beside her. “Anna.” He pushed away the hay bale resting on her shoulder. “Can you hear me?” He pressed his fingers to her delicate throat.

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