The Innocent by Ann H. Gabhart

Author:Ann H. Gabhart [Gabhart, Ann H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027050
ISBN: 9781441246097
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

20

The Shakers weren’t sorry to see Mitchell on his way out of their village. That was obvious from how they had a man waiting with his horse when Mitchell followed Sister Edna and Carlyn outside. He didn’t have a chance to say anything more to Carlyn. The old sister made sure of that.

The Shakers were tired of his questions and doubtful the answers would help him apprehend those responsible for the fire.

Brother Thomas had summed up the Shakers’ thinking before he ushered him to the Trustee House to meet with Elder Derron. “Whether you determine who set the fire or not matters little. The damage is done and cannot be reversed. Nay, it is our duty to continue on, sorrowful for the loss of our brother but without anger in our hearts. Such is our way.”

“It’s my job to find the responsible party,” Mitchell said.

Brother Thomas looked sorry for Mitchell as he shook his head. “You must seek answers since that is the way of the world. But Mother Ann will bless us with new barns as long as we work faithfully with our hands and give our hearts to the Lord. The world cannot defeat us.”

Mitchell wanted to ask if he thought Brother Henry would feel the same way if he had a voice, but some words were best unspoken. And perhaps Brother Henry wouldn’t disagree.

But whether they wanted him to investigate or not didn’t matter. Somebody had set the barn on fire. A man had died in that fire. He couldn’t ignore that, even if the Shakers seemed willing to do so. Nor could he ignore the argument Carlyn had overheard between the Shaker man and Curt Whitlow. That complicated things and could mean the fire was more than an act of vandalism. Perhaps even murder.

Carlyn was telling the truth. He was certain of that, but he wasn’t as sure about the older sister. She was hiding something. He had the same uneasy feeling about Elder Derron. Tension had crackled the air between the elder and Sister Edna while Carlyn answered his questions. Whether that had anything to do with the fire, he couldn’t say. Not without talking to them again and pressing for answers.

First he would find Curt Whitlow. He’d make him tell his part in all this, even if he had to throw him in jail until he was willing to talk. Or better yet, he could take Asher with him when he confronted the man. Mitchell smiled. Not that he would really do that. Still, the dog might scare the truth out of him.

He hoped Mrs. Snowden hadn’t gotten tired of Asher in her kitchen. Mitchell had been at the Shaker village hours longer than he’d expected to be, but when he rode out that morning, all he’d known was there had been a fire. The problem was he knew little more now.

He gave his horse his head and tried to sort through what he knew. The Shakers were sorrowful over their brother’s death while resigned to the loss of the barn.

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