Lamb to the Slaughter (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 1) by Karen Ann Hopkins Page A

hospital. That was some ten years ago. I reckon she’s finally settled down herself by now.”
    I stared at Serenity waiting for her to chastise me for being so stupid and impulsive. Instead, she asked, “Do you miss being Amish?”
    “Some things I miss, like the sense of community and having people always there to pick you up when you fall. I miss my family. I wish I’d had the chance to know all my nephews and nieces. Now that my parents are getting older, I fear that they’ll pass away without us mending fences. But no, I don’t miss being Amish. I love my freedom too much now to ever give it up. It’s better to have a choice and make a mistake than to have no choice at all.”
    “But you told the bishop that you were considering joining back up—”
    I chuckled at her gullibility. The annoyed frown she shot my way amused me even more. “I knew that if I mentioned that I might be interested in going back, word would spread quickly. People would be more comfortable talking with us. It’s not as if I signed a contract in blood saying that I was growing a beard right away.”
    Serenity was beginning to speak again when I spotted the Amish girl coming out of the building. I shushed her and nodded my head in the girl’s direction. Sandra made eye contact for only an instant before she made her way to the side where the corral was set up. It was then that I noticed the picnic table. What a shitty place to eat lunch, I thought.
    Without a word, we slipped out of the Jeep and headed toward the table. I stepped up to the corral and leaned against it pretending to look at the two young cows within while Serenity sat down across from Sandra.
    “I’m so glad you came. We have to talk quickly. I don’t want anyone getting suspicious. If they ask you inside why you stopped to talk me, tell them you wanted directions to Mr. Manley’s. He sells venison jerky.”
    “Okay,” Serenity said slowly and I grinned, imagining how her brain was handling the cover up story. “You were a friend of Naomi’s?”
    “Her best, that’s why I’m talking to you like this.” Sandra looked around and lowered her voice even further. “Naomi was messing around with an English boy and I think you ought to go talk to him about what happened to her. Maybe he knows something.”
    Serenity leaned over the table, close to Sandra and said, “What’s his name?”
    “Will Johnson. He drives a big black pick-up truck. And, he has a sister named Taylor. That’s all I got to tell you. You better go now. Please don’t say a thing about what I told you. Please?” she begged.
    “No, of course not, it’ll be our secret.” Serenity rose promptly as she was asked to do. I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the Amish girl. Her face was tense as she chewed a bite from her sandwich and stared down at the rough wood of the table.
    “Thank you,” Serenity told the girl as she passed by, only to be ignored in return.
    I was considering asking Serenity to join me for supper that night to dine on the steaks that we were purchasing, but there was clearly something else on her mind. She looked up at me and said, “You better hurry up with the meat, Daniel.”
    “Why the rush?” I asked, pausing before I reached for the door knob of the shop.
    “Because we have to pay Will a visit—now,” Serenity said. Her face was masked of all emotion.
    “Do you know where to find him?” I figured it would take some time to track the guy down.
    “Oh, yeah,” Serenity’s eyes met mine.
    My heart sped up when she said, “He’s my nephew.”

10
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    NAOMI
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    September 6th
    T he bright colorful lights decorating the amusement rides and the blaring music were overwhelming to Naomi’s senses. She took a deep breath, smelling the grilling hamburgers, cotton candy and fried food. Without thinking she smiled up at Will. He returned the smile and reached for her hand, which she gave to him without hesitation. She giggled and bumped her side into his as