A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter

asking her questions about the Amish, too?”
    “As a matter of fact, I was.” His forehead wrinkled. “She didn’t tell me much, though. Not a very friendly one, that sister of yours.”
    Ruth bristled. I’m not about to tell this man anything, either.
    “Have there been any attacks made against the Amish around here?”
    Her mouth dropped open. She leaned against the counter, not knowing what to say. Did the man know about the break-ins at their place? Was he hoping she would give him details?
    He tapped his foot and glanced around as though growing impatient. “I know of some Amish communities in other parts of the country where the Plain People have been taunted by outsiders trying to make trouble, so I wondered if anything like that has ever happened here.”
    Ruth wasn’t about to give him any information, and she felt relief when another customer came into the bakeshop. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need to wait on this lady.”
    Gary stepped away from the counter and folded his arms. “I can wait.”
    Ruth shook her head, feeling a little braver now that she wasn’t alone with the persistent man. “If you’re not here to buy baked goods, then there’s nothing more to be said.”
    “Look, if it’s that little remark I made about your sister not being friendly, I’m sorry. I tend to say stupid things when I’m around pretty women.”
    Ruth’s face grew hot, and she turned from Gary and focused on the English woman who had stepped up to the bakery case. “May I help you?”
    “I’d like half a dozen cream puffs, two cinnamon rolls, and an angel food cake.”
    “I’ll get those for you right away.”
    Gary cleared his throat, and when she glanced his way again, he gave her a quick wink and sauntered out the door.
    Ruth breathed a sigh of relief. No wonder Grace didn’t want to answer that man’s questions. He’s pushy and arrogant. I hope he gets done with his stories soon and leaves Holmes County.
***
    Grace drew in a deep breath and whispered a silent prayer as she carried a tray full of food out to the restaurant’s dining room. Her hands shook so badly, she didn’t know how she would make it through the day. Ever since she’d heard about her father’s shop getting broken into, she’d been a nervous wreck. She hoped Cleon would find time today to talk to her father about notifying the sheriff, and she hoped Dad would listen.
    Grace gripped the tray tighter. If only they knew who was responsible for the break-ins. Could the same person who broke into their house have vandalized her father’s shop, or were they two separate incidences? Were some rowdy English boys the culprits, or could it have been Gary?
    She glanced out the restaurant’s front window. No sign of the arrogant man, at least. For the last two weeks, he’d been going from shop to shop, asking people questions about the Amish and snapping pictures whenever he felt like it—even some close-up shots of Amish people. Grace knew this because some of her friends had mentioned that a redheaded Englisher with a fancy camera was nosing around. Grace figured that, after this many days, Gary should have gotten enough information to write ten articles, so it made no sense that he was still hanging around. She’d heard that he’d been seen in Walnut Creek on Saturday, taking more pictures and interviewing anyone willing to talk to him.
    As Grace approached an English couple whose order she’d taken earlier, she gritted her teeth with a determination she didn’t feel and carefully set their plates of food in front of them. “Will there be anything else?”
    The elderly woman smiled. “I’d like another cup of coffee, please.”
    “One for me, too,” the man said with a nod.
    “I’ll see to it right away.”
    “Are you okay?” Esther asked as she joined Grace in front of the coffeepot moments later. “Your hands are shaking.”
    “I’m feeling a little nervous this morning,” Grace admitted. “My daed’s shop got