and neither do I.”
“We’ll hire someone,” she said instantly. “Just give me the name of a reputable firm.”
That, he thought, summed up one of the differences between him and the Morgan family very neatly. Libby had no idea of the cost of putting on a security guard, but that didn’t matter.
“That’s not necessary. I’ve got a friend in the Lancaster city police who owes me some favors. I’ll bring them in on this, since the hospital is in their jurisdiction. They ought to be able to spare an officer for nights, and that’s the crucial time. Somebody’s always with her during the day.”
“Good.” She hesitated, frowning a little. “I suppose you heard me talking to Libby when you came in.”
He nodded.
“Silly, I guess.” She folded her arms around herself defensively. “But she might be able to hear. She might be comforted.”
That momentary switch to vulnerability touched him. “She might,” he agreed, though he doubted it. “You’re a good friend, Libby.”
She looked up at him, those dark blue eyes shrouded with misery. “Not good enough.”
She said the words softly, but they set up a reverberation in his soul. There was no point in expecting Libby to stay out of this. She couldn’t.
And as much as he admired that loyalty of hers, it scared him to death.
* * *
LIBBY STEPPED OUT of the hospital room the next day, hearing the spate of Pennsylvania Dutch erupt in her wake. It was the day before Christmas, and Esther’s family was there in force. She’d begun to feel very much the fifth wheel.
She paused, frowning, her hand still on the door. It had been more than that, though. There’d been an undercurrent in the room…something she didn’t understand but that somehow affected her. She’d caught the sideways glances, heard the soft whispers.
Libby gave herself a shake. She should be concentrating on the positive, not the negative. Esther had been better today…it hadn’t just been her mother’s imagination. Her coma seemed lighter, she stirred more often, one almost had the feeling she’d open her eyes and join the conversation.
That wasn’t likely. Libby had sat with Rebecca when the doctor talked with her. Nothing he’d said had been promising as far as getting the Esther they’d known back, but she was breathing without the breathing tube for short periods. They’d cling to every small positive sign.
Christmas was a time for hope, after all. Libby turned and walked quickly toward the elevator. Christmas Eve, and she had a ton of things to do before the festivities began.
The elevator doors swung open before she reached it, and a lone Amish man got off, probably yet another visitor for Esther. She nodded in greeting, and the man stopped, staring at her.
Was he someone she should know? She gave him a tentative smile. She’d been away so long, and naturally she didn’t remember everyone from the Amish community. The length of his dark beard put him in middle age, and his narrow face and piercing eyes didn’t rouse any hint of recognition.
“You are Elizabeth Morgan.” His voice was harsh and guttural, the accent strong.
She nodded, opening her lips to apologize for not recognizing him, but he swept on.
“You are the one who has brought this trouble on us.”
She blinked. Had she really heard that? “I don’t know what you mean.”
“The police,” he said, his stare intensifying. “I have heard. You are the one. You brought the police here, at the very sickbed of one of our sisters.”
What on earth? “Esther was the victim of a hit-and-run. That’s a crime. No one can keep the police from being involved.”
He dismissed that with an abrupt, chopping gesture, taking a step closer. “There was a policeman standing at Esther’s door last night. All night. I have been told of this.”
So that’s what his antagonism was about. In a way, she supposed she was responsible for that, but didn’t he realize it was for Esther’s safety?
“I’m sorry if you disapprove,
“We’ll hire someone,” she said instantly. “Just give me the name of a reputable firm.”
That, he thought, summed up one of the differences between him and the Morgan family very neatly. Libby had no idea of the cost of putting on a security guard, but that didn’t matter.
“That’s not necessary. I’ve got a friend in the Lancaster city police who owes me some favors. I’ll bring them in on this, since the hospital is in their jurisdiction. They ought to be able to spare an officer for nights, and that’s the crucial time. Somebody’s always with her during the day.”
“Good.” She hesitated, frowning a little. “I suppose you heard me talking to Libby when you came in.”
He nodded.
“Silly, I guess.” She folded her arms around herself defensively. “But she might be able to hear. She might be comforted.”
That momentary switch to vulnerability touched him. “She might,” he agreed, though he doubted it. “You’re a good friend, Libby.”
She looked up at him, those dark blue eyes shrouded with misery. “Not good enough.”
She said the words softly, but they set up a reverberation in his soul. There was no point in expecting Libby to stay out of this. She couldn’t.
And as much as he admired that loyalty of hers, it scared him to death.
* * *
LIBBY STEPPED OUT of the hospital room the next day, hearing the spate of Pennsylvania Dutch erupt in her wake. It was the day before Christmas, and Esther’s family was there in force. She’d begun to feel very much the fifth wheel.
She paused, frowning, her hand still on the door. It had been more than that, though. There’d been an undercurrent in the room…something she didn’t understand but that somehow affected her. She’d caught the sideways glances, heard the soft whispers.
Libby gave herself a shake. She should be concentrating on the positive, not the negative. Esther had been better today…it hadn’t just been her mother’s imagination. Her coma seemed lighter, she stirred more often, one almost had the feeling she’d open her eyes and join the conversation.
That wasn’t likely. Libby had sat with Rebecca when the doctor talked with her. Nothing he’d said had been promising as far as getting the Esther they’d known back, but she was breathing without the breathing tube for short periods. They’d cling to every small positive sign.
Christmas was a time for hope, after all. Libby turned and walked quickly toward the elevator. Christmas Eve, and she had a ton of things to do before the festivities began.
The elevator doors swung open before she reached it, and a lone Amish man got off, probably yet another visitor for Esther. She nodded in greeting, and the man stopped, staring at her.
Was he someone she should know? She gave him a tentative smile. She’d been away so long, and naturally she didn’t remember everyone from the Amish community. The length of his dark beard put him in middle age, and his narrow face and piercing eyes didn’t rouse any hint of recognition.
“You are Elizabeth Morgan.” His voice was harsh and guttural, the accent strong.
She nodded, opening her lips to apologize for not recognizing him, but he swept on.
“You are the one who has brought this trouble on us.”
She blinked. Had she really heard that? “I don’t know what you mean.”
“The police,” he said, his stare intensifying. “I have heard. You are the one. You brought the police here, at the very sickbed of one of our sisters.”
What on earth? “Esther was the victim of a hit-and-run. That’s a crime. No one can keep the police from being involved.”
He dismissed that with an abrupt, chopping gesture, taking a step closer. “There was a policeman standing at Esther’s door last night. All night. I have been told of this.”
So that’s what his antagonism was about. In a way, she supposed she was responsible for that, but didn’t he realize it was for Esther’s safety?
“I’m sorry if you disapprove,
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