The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (all ebook reader .txt) 📕

started. If we find her they’ll let the warden know. They are going to head over to the farm in case more people are needed for the search.”

“I don’t even know them. They aren’t Amish.”

“There are goot people everywhere who are willing to help. Not all of them wear plain clothing, bonnets and straw hats.”

“Sometimes it’s easy to forget that.”

A small smile curved her lips. “From time to time, I will remind you.”

He looked at the remarkable woman beside him and thanked God she had chosen to come to Maine. He realized just how much he had grown to like Eva and how much her friendship meant to him. There wasn’t anyone else he wanted with him during this crisis.

The car from the previous house went around them on the narrow road. Willis saw their taillights disappear over the hill. For the first time since he was a teenager he wished he had a car instead of a horse to get him where he needed to be quickly.

The next farm along the road belonged to a new Amish family in the community. The husband, wife and four grown sons were sitting down to supper when Willis pulled up. Ezekiel Fisher came out. “Good evening, Willis Gingrich. What brings you here?”

“My Maddie’s missing. Have you seen her today?”

“Nee, I have not.” He spoke to his wife and sons who had come to stand behind him. He turned back to Willis. “None have seen the child. We will help look.”

“Danki. She was headed to the Arnett farm.”

“We will search the woods between here and there in case she came this way.”

Willis set the horse in motion. The sound of the animal’s rapid hoofbeats on the pavement and the jingle of the harness were the only sounds as he urged Dodger to a faster pace.

Eva sat silently beside him. At last the Arnett farm lane came into view. The English couple from the first house and Mrs. Arnett were out on the stoop waiting for him. There was no sign of Maddie.

Mrs. Arnett stepped up beside the cart. “I’ve already called the sheriff department and the warden service. I also called a friend who is a neighbor to your bishop. He has gone to let the Schultz family know what has happened. The sheriff wants everyone to meet at the school and set up a search from there. Jacques Dubois and his wife will drive you back. You can leave the cart and the horse here.”

“Otto and Harley are coming this way on the path.”

Mrs. Arnett nodded. “I will get word to you if they show up with her.”

“I thought I would search the path that leads to the river.” Willis was reluctant to go back without Maddie. Somewhere she was lost, maybe hurt, frightened and depending on him to come and find her.

Eva laid a hand on his arm. “Maddie may already be home and wondering why no one is about.”

She was right. He got down and helped Eva out of the cart.

Eva got in the car and scooted over, making room for Willis. In a matter of minutes they were back at the school. Willis called for Maddie and went to check in the school. Eva made a quick search of her own home, calling for Maddie as she went from room to room. There was no trace of the child. When she stepped out onto her porch she saw Willis coming out of his house. The look on his face told her what she already suspected. Maddie hadn’t come home.

The sound of an approaching siren caused them to look toward the road. The siren stopped when the white pickup turned into the school driveway but the lights on top continued flashing. A tall man in a dark green uniform got out. “Are you the ones with a missing child?”

Willis stepped forward. “We are. Her name is Maddie and she is seven years old.”

“I’m Sergeant O’Connor of the warden service. I will be in charge of the search at this end. We have more local law enforcement on the way to help. It will be full dark soon. Is there somewhere we can set up a command center?”

“In the school,” Eva said, eager to help.

“I see that you folks are Amish. Is there electricity?”

“Nee.” She shook her head. “But we do have propane lighting in the building.”

“I have a generator,” Willis said. “Will that work?”

“Perfect.” Sgt. O’Connor looked toward the woods. “How much of the area has been searched?”

Willis gestured toward the trees. “My brothers are working their way through the woods on a path they often take to Mrs. Arnett’s farm. Mr. Fisher and his four sons are searching between their place and her farm in case Maddie wandered north.”

“And how far is this farm?”

“About half a mile as the crow flies,” Eva said.

Sgt. O’Connor turned to face her. “What makes you certain that she went into the woods and not to someone else’s house?”

Willis pulled Maddie’s kapp from his pocket. “The boys found this a little way into the woods along the path.”

“Do you think there could be someone with her?”

Willis shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so but I can’t be sure. Maddie has been told not to go into the woods alone.”

“Kids don’t always do what we tell them. Don’t worry. We’re going to find her.” Sgt O’Connor’s sense of confidence buoyed Eva’s spirits.

The clatter of galloping hooves on the road filled the evening air. A team of draft horses pulling a large wagon came charging into view from the valley below. The wagon was packed with Amish men, women and boys. Jesse Crump was driving. Bishop Schultz sat beside him, holding on to his hat. Jesse pulled the team to a halt. The passengers piled out.

The bishop walked up to the warden. “We are here to assist in any way we can.”

Sgt. O’Connor looked over the crowd of volunteers. “Every warm body is appreciated. We’re going to set up a command center in the