pounded the nail back to stabilize it against the hoof. The excess was cut off, and he filed it down until it was smooth.
“Just making sure. I wouldn’t want to start something that would cause any more problems. The Beilers have enough on their minds without adding to it.”
John took that for what it was worth and not a penny more. It seemed David was fishing for him to take the bait, but maybe he wasn’t giving him the benefit of the doubt. If he was being genuine, John was being a heel.
“I’d have to agree with that.” He untied the horse and walked her around to ensure her new shoes fit properly. “I’ve got to say, you’re as good as your daed at shoeing a horse.”
David nodded and stared at John like he was sizing him up. Something seemed to be missing from this conversation, but John had found out all he could without asking outright. He was sure he’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Thirteen
W ITHIN A COUPLE of weeks they were working together making contacts and doing research. Rudy went about making phone calls, one leading to another. While he was on hold, he asked Annie questions about other avenues she might take if one fell through. Annie now worried she was getting her hopes up. She made a list of steps that, when completed, would mean she was done.
One morning, to her surprise, Rudy walked toward the door without a word. Unsure whether he was leaving or taking her with him, she waited.
“Okay, let’s go.” He grabbed his keys, and she followed him to the car. The silence during the ride was uncomfortable, and with no idea of how long she would be in the car with him, she looked out the window, distracting herself with watching people as they drove downtown.
One woman had a child in a contraption strapped to her back, much as the Indians used to do. Another man was digging in the trash on a street corner. Annie wondered why there were so many of those men in the city. Didn’t others offer food to people who didn’t have any?
Rudy parked on a busy downtown street and walked her to the Department of Social Services. People turned to stare as they walked through the sterile halls. When Rudy asked a security guard for directions, though he answered Rudy, he kept his eyes on Annie throughout the conversation. What must they be thinking? That they were a couple?
As they stood in line, Rudy kept looking at his handheld phone. It rang a couple of times, and he made some calls. Annie wondered if he was purposely ignoring her or if this was his normal routine.
A couple of teenagers walked by and snickered at them. Another joined the teens and laughed out loud at comments that Annie could only imagine.
Rudy watched the whole scene with the phone by his ear, having a heated conversation with someone on the other end of the line. “Jerks.” He shook his head at the teens.
Annie didn’t want his pity or even his encouragement. She had decided to concentrate on completing her purpose here with as few emotions as possible.
“Maybe you shouldn’t dress Amish in a secular community.” Rudy turned to see her reaction.
No doubt it would make their time easier when she was in public, but she continued to feel pressured to do things here that weren’t comfortable for her. She just had to decide which way was the most uncomfortable.
The woman at the window called to them just in time. Annie quickly stepped forward so she didn’t have to answer Rudy. “I need to fill out a form to find information on my birth mother.”
The woman took in Annie’s plain clothes and then all but froze when Annie told her why she’d come. She thawed after a moment and reached for some paperwork. “Once this is filed, we can search to see what information we have on your birth mother.”
“When will you know?” It had to be soon. She couldn’t put out the Glicks any more than she already had. And Essie and Rudy treated her like a chore on their lists.
“It depends on how much you give us to go
“Just making sure. I wouldn’t want to start something that would cause any more problems. The Beilers have enough on their minds without adding to it.”
John took that for what it was worth and not a penny more. It seemed David was fishing for him to take the bait, but maybe he wasn’t giving him the benefit of the doubt. If he was being genuine, John was being a heel.
“I’d have to agree with that.” He untied the horse and walked her around to ensure her new shoes fit properly. “I’ve got to say, you’re as good as your daed at shoeing a horse.”
David nodded and stared at John like he was sizing him up. Something seemed to be missing from this conversation, but John had found out all he could without asking outright. He was sure he’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Thirteen
W ITHIN A COUPLE of weeks they were working together making contacts and doing research. Rudy went about making phone calls, one leading to another. While he was on hold, he asked Annie questions about other avenues she might take if one fell through. Annie now worried she was getting her hopes up. She made a list of steps that, when completed, would mean she was done.
One morning, to her surprise, Rudy walked toward the door without a word. Unsure whether he was leaving or taking her with him, she waited.
“Okay, let’s go.” He grabbed his keys, and she followed him to the car. The silence during the ride was uncomfortable, and with no idea of how long she would be in the car with him, she looked out the window, distracting herself with watching people as they drove downtown.
One woman had a child in a contraption strapped to her back, much as the Indians used to do. Another man was digging in the trash on a street corner. Annie wondered why there were so many of those men in the city. Didn’t others offer food to people who didn’t have any?
Rudy parked on a busy downtown street and walked her to the Department of Social Services. People turned to stare as they walked through the sterile halls. When Rudy asked a security guard for directions, though he answered Rudy, he kept his eyes on Annie throughout the conversation. What must they be thinking? That they were a couple?
As they stood in line, Rudy kept looking at his handheld phone. It rang a couple of times, and he made some calls. Annie wondered if he was purposely ignoring her or if this was his normal routine.
A couple of teenagers walked by and snickered at them. Another joined the teens and laughed out loud at comments that Annie could only imagine.
Rudy watched the whole scene with the phone by his ear, having a heated conversation with someone on the other end of the line. “Jerks.” He shook his head at the teens.
Annie didn’t want his pity or even his encouragement. She had decided to concentrate on completing her purpose here with as few emotions as possible.
“Maybe you shouldn’t dress Amish in a secular community.” Rudy turned to see her reaction.
No doubt it would make their time easier when she was in public, but she continued to feel pressured to do things here that weren’t comfortable for her. She just had to decide which way was the most uncomfortable.
The woman at the window called to them just in time. Annie quickly stepped forward so she didn’t have to answer Rudy. “I need to fill out a form to find information on my birth mother.”
The woman took in Annie’s plain clothes and then all but froze when Annie told her why she’d come. She thawed after a moment and reached for some paperwork. “Once this is filed, we can search to see what information we have on your birth mother.”
“When will you know?” It had to be soon. She couldn’t put out the Glicks any more than she already had. And Essie and Rudy treated her like a chore on their lists.
“It depends on how much you give us to go
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