Secrets in the Grave (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 3) (6 page)

I pulled myself from Jonas’ ramblings to look at Daniel. He was watching the scene, eyes wide. I relaxed a little. At least he wasn’t participating in whatever was going on.

Jonas put one of his hands on Mervin’s forehead and rested the other on the boy’s chest. His words, chanting to be more precise, gained volume. My heart raced with the building intensity of his voice. The air in the room took on a humid, thick consistency, almost as if a window had opened, allowing the rain to blow in. When I searched around, the windows were all shut. The wind howled outside. Branches scraped the glass and lightning lit up the room sporadically.

With wider eyes, I studied everyone’s faces. The Amish still had their eyes closed, praying fervently. Daniel seemed to be holding his breath. Something was off in the room—hazy like, strange. My own mind was clouding over, heavy. I was tired. I fought the sensation, forcing myself to take a deep breath.

Mervin arched from the table, taking a gasping gulp of air. He dropped back onto the wood with a thud. His body was limp and memories from the time I’d spent in the abandoned barn with the Amish men rushed back to me.

I stood up, pulling my gun from the holster strapped at my waist. I aimed it at Jonas.

“Step away from him,” I ordered.

5

DANIEL

I
bolted upright and the blood drained from my head at dizzying speed. I wanted to touch Serenity’s shoulder, but didn’t dare, fearing that in her jumpy state, she might pull the trigger.

A faint smile touched Jonas’ lips. He didn’t raise his hands, but he did back away from Mervin. Ada Mae and the girl stood frozen. The girl’s eyes were saucer sized. Ada Mae’s flashed with humor, matching her twitching lips.

Another roll of thunder boomed and a blast of lightning immediately followed it. The candles illuminated the room in an eerie light. The west-facing windows revealed a break in the storm clouds and blue skies. In about five minutes, the sun would be shining again.

Serenity strode to Mervin’s side, not taking her eyes from Jonas. She managed to point the gun at him while she felt for a pulse at Mervin’s neck. She lowered the gun, slipping it back into the holster.

Her face flushed, but her voice was cool. “You have to understand, I couldn’t take any chances with the boy’s life.”

A quivering look of confusion passed over Jonas’ face when he met Serenity’s hard gaze. No one else dared to move.

Without turning his head, Jonas called out, “Mervin, wake up. It’s time to walk on your new legs.”

Serenity looked down at Mervin along with everyone else. The boy stirred, taking a deep breath. His eyes popped open. He rubbed them with his fingers and struggled to sit up, swaying as he straightened. Ada Mae slipped around the table. She grasped his arm to help him step down from the table. Lester hung back. He met my worried frown with a reassuring smile. My mother and father believed Jonas had the healing gift and so did Lester. Whether the man used his powers for evil purposes was anyone’s guess, though.

Mervin leaned on Ada Mae as he slid off the table, his boots catching his weight with only a slight wobble. He paused to glance at Verna. She beamed at him. He returned the smile more shyly. I couldn’t help grinning at the obvious puppy love.

Mervin took a sharp breath and then a step. Ada Mae stayed with him for several more steps before she let go. At first the boy’s steps were tentative, searching for the pain that had plagued him for months. I thought back to the times I’d met him for lunch or walked along the river at his side. He’d been pretty messed up after his brother had killed Naomi, not sure if he wanted to remain Amish. I offered to help the kid, not just because he was my friend’s son, but because I knew how he felt. I’d battled with the same questions and doubts, but with the pretty Amish girl watching his every step with rapt concern, I knew exactly where he’d end up.

Mervin’s stride became surer and springier. After a little jump and a skip, he exclaimed, “The pain’s gone—I’m healed!”

Serenity rolled her eyes and exhaled.

“
Denki, denki
,” Lester thanked Jonas, his face beaming. He reverted back to English. “I’ll bring that bull calf over to you tomorrow.”

“No need to hurry. Whenever you’re heading back this way will be soon enough.” Jonas’ face hardened. “I expect you’ll put those fresh legs to good use. Rebellion must not enter your heart, lest you tempt God. Our Lord took the pain away. He can bring it back.”

I cringed inwardly at the religious reference, but said nothing. Serenity stood tight lipped.

“Ada, Verna, please escort the Lapps to their buggy. The Sheriff and Daniel have waited long enough to ask their questions,” Jonas said.

“But you’re exhausted,” Ada Mae pointed out as she hesitated joining the others. Lester tipped his hat at me and made his escape. Mervin took the time to offer me a smile before he walked through the door beside Verna.

“I’ll be fine,” Jonas assured her. He nodded toward the door. She sighed loudly, but didn’t argue.

When only Serenity, Jonas and I remained in the room, Jonas pointed to the chairs at the kitchen table. “I can make a pot of coffee if you’d like.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Serenity said in a business-like manner as she took the chair closest to the wall. She had a view of the entire room and the doorway. I worked to keep the smile from my mouth. She was always the cop.

I sat in the chair beside her and Jonas settled across from us. For the first time I noticed his drooping eyes and pale face. Just as saving Lester had taking the life out of Ma, Jonas seemed to be thoroughly spent as well.

If Serenity saw the exhaustion on his face, she didn’t acknowledge it.

“What ailment were you treating Fannie Kuhns for?” she asked.

His brows rose. “Fannie? It was her mother, Irene, I was treating. She suffers from gall bladder stones and asthma.” He shrugged. “I provided her with a green tea infused with milk thistle. It’s a common herbal remedy.”

It made sense to me, and the easy manner in which Jonas spoke seemed to indicate truthfulness. I swiveled to look at Serenity.

“Are you saying that you never administered any teas or herbs to Fannie Kuhns?” Serenity asked.

I thought I glimpsed Jonas’ eyes tear up and his Adam’s apple rise as he swallowed, but when I blinked, his face was neutral, and his eyes dry. I chalked it up to my imagination.

“No. I wasn’t under the impression that she had any medical problems,” Jonas replied, returning her stare. “It’s a shame that she died. If I’d been aware of her problem, I might have been able to help. At the very least, I would have advised her to see an English doctor for a thorough checkup.”

“It’s been brought to my attention that you’re better than most midwives at delivering babies. Why wouldn’t you treat the woman on your own?” Serenity plowed on.

He leaned back, taking a careful breath. “I didn’t know of her condition. If she had come to me, I wouldn’t have been able to help her.”

“Why?”
Serenity asked, drawing out the word with extra emphasis.

“She wasn’t married. Her pregnancy was a sin,” he said the words slowly, as if his statement was obvious. “An emergency situation is different, of course, but as long as she had other options for medical help, she would have had to seek them out.”

My gaze followed Serenity’s to the window. The sun pierced through the swiftly moving clouds. Faint rumbles from the storm as it moved away could still be heard.

Serenity’s next words surprised me.

“Why treat Irene’s gall bladder problems with herbs? Why not do what you just did with Mervin?” Her voice was light, but her stare was intense.

Jonas glanced at me. “She really doesn’t understand our ways at all, does she?”

I shook my head, avoiding Serenity’s gaze when she turned in my direction.

“It’s God who decides who will be healed, not me—and not the patient,” Jonas said, dropping his voice. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James five sixteen.”

“You mean to say that God heals some, while abandoning others?” I found my voice.

Jonas’ strange blue eyes settled on me. The look of disappointment on his face was evident. He must have thought some of my strict, religious upbringing would have stuck with me. In truth, it had, but whenever my people preached about sinning and sinners, I took it personally.

“It’s the Lord’s will who is saved and who isn’t. Sometimes a man, woman or child must learn a lesson before they’re gifted with a healing, then of course, they must cross paths with a
real
healer.”

“How do you know when someone like Mervin or Irene are deserving of a healing?” Serenity asked.

“The Lord guides me to my patients in dreams and visions. I don’t expect you to believe what I’m talking about. Outsiders rarely understand.” Jonas stifled a yawn. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to lie down. If you have any more questions, you can return another day.”

“You aren’t heading out of town any time soon, are you Mr. Peachey?” Serenity said, rising from her seat.

“Oh, no. I’ll be here when you need me. Rest assured.”

Silence hung in the air between me and Serenity while I pulled onto the road, heading back to town. I glanced sideways at her. She stared out the window. Her finger tapped against her thigh.

“What are you thinking?” I dared to ask. Serenity was uncharacteristically reserved. I was beginning to worry about her state of mind.

She sighed. “Actually, I’m replaying that entire crazy scene over in my head, trying to figure out what the hell happened back there.”

I cracked a smile. That was the Serenity I knew and loved.

“It’s always an unnerving experience to witness a healing. There are forces…” I paused, searching for the right words. “…present that feel unnatural in a way.”

“Exactly!” Serenity exclaimed. “I didn’t see anything, but it felt as if something else was in the room with us. For the life of me, I can’t decide whether it was good or bad.” Serenity snorted. “No one is going to believe me.”

“I believe you.”

Serenity barked a laugh. “That’s different. You’re used to this kind of insanity. How many times have you witnessed a healing, by the way?”

I breathed deeply, thinking back to my childhood and counting the incidences. “Other than Ma healing Lester, there were three times. Two were by my great-grand
Mammi
. She’s the one that passed the gift down to Ma. She laid her hands on an infant who came into the world as blue as the evening sky and completely still. I was only about six at the time myself, so I don’t remember it very well, but I’ll never forget the giant gulp of air the baby took and the oppressive heaviness that hung in the air when I’d snuck a peek through the crack in the door. The next time was at a livestock sale. I was probably about thirteen. Great-grand
Mammi
was ancient by then. She shuffled around with a cane and her hair was as white as snow. I was standing beside her, gazing into a pen at some bulls that were going to be driven into the stock shoot. A cowboy was climbing along the top of the corral, working his way to the far gate when one of the bigger bulls slammed its head into the panel. The cowboy lost his balance and fell into the pen. A huge bull gored the man with its long, curved horns. I knew that man was a goner.

“Several cowboys shimmied over the fence to help their friend. Luckily one of them had a cattle prod. He distracted the attacking bull long enough for the others to drag the injured man from the pen. His gut was bleeding and his pale face was pained. I remember
Mammi
asking him in English whether he believed the Lord was his savior. The man’s eyes opened and he managed a limp nod. ‘Yes ma’am, I do,’ he’d answered weakly.

“
Mammi
laid her hands on the outsider just like she had the tiny, newborn infant. The air became heavy and the lights flickered.
Mammi
kept her hands on the man until the emergency personnel arrived. I distinctly remember the paramedic commenting that he was surprised that such a large wound wasn’t bleeding more. The man recovered fully. I even saw him working the cattle at a sale the following year.”

When I grew quiet, Serenity said coaxingly, “You said you’d witnessed three times, what was the third?”

Even though the storm had passed, the sky was dotted with swiftly moving clouds. Intermittently, a cloud passed over the sun, causing the sky to darken. The clouds blew by and the sun brightened the wet roadway once again.

I took a shaky breath. “I was fifteen. Our family traveled to Ohio to visit cousins. At least that’s what I was told. Later I found out the truth. Ma had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Father sought out Jonas to do a healing on her. In a very creepy fashion, Jonas was expecting our arrival. He’d dreamed about it the week before. He agreed to a healing. My siblings and I were told stay in the guest room. Of course I didn’t listen. I snuck out the window while my sister and brother begged me stay.”

“What did you see?” Serenity asked, her voice breathy.