Secrets in the Grave (Serenity's Plain Secrets Book 3) by Karen Ann Hopkins

exact. She lives in the same house in the Black Willow.” Ma rose from her chair and grasped my hands. “You must bring the sheriff to Wilma. We’ll see what an Englisher makes of the story and what she’ll do about it.”
    Ma squeezed my hands tightly. “By the way,” she said, “are you going to make an honest woman of the sheriff?”
    My eyes bulged and my checks burned.
    “Leave him alone, Anna. It’s none of our concern who he spends time with. He’s an outsider, remember?” fathersnapped. He jerked his hat from his head and dropped it on the table.
    For once, Father’s rudeness was more than welcome.
    I took the opportunity and stood. “Thank you talking to me, Ma. Don’t worry. We’ll find out what happened to Fannie and Robyn.”
    As I stepped off the porch into the crisper evening air, I exhaled.
    As difficult as Serenity was being lately, I wondered if I’d just made a promise to my mother that I wouldn’t be able to keep. Would Serenity be willing to drop everything to take a trip to an Ohio Amish community to talk to an elderly woman who probably had dementia?
    When I climbed into the Jeep, the first thing I did was check the messages on my cellphone.
    I couldn’t help saying a silent prayer of thankfulness that Serenity had texted me. She was on her way home.

11
    SERENITY
    M y eyes kept drifting to the clock on the dresser. Any minute Daniel would knock on the door. Or perhaps he’d use the spare keys I gave him. I was kicking myself in the butt for giving them to him now. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. Since then, I’d decided never to make any decisions while my clothes were off.
    Shutting my laptop, I deposited it on the night table and stared ahead at the rustic wood framed painting on the wall. It was a Christmas gift from Daniel. I frowned at it. There was a black buggy in the driveway behind an equally black horse. The sky was blue and the foliage was thick and green from summertime heat. The cornfield drew my eyes. The tall green plants were crowded together in the bright sunshine, looking happy and harmless, but I wasn’t fooled. I would never forget the ominous press of those plants against me as I’d wandered through the field searching for clues to Naomi’s death.
    It had only been six months ago, but it seemed like an eternity. My heart still clenched at the thought of the pretty girl my nephew had fallen in love with and her tragic end. Itwas so unfair. All she had wanted to do was escape her tedious life, and she’d died for it.
    At least I wasn’t having nightmares about saving her anymore. After I’d managed to get there in time to rescue Mariah in the Poplar Spring’s community from a drug overdose and Cacey from a crazy ex-Amish drug dealer, I’d found a sort of absolution.
    I picked up the piece of paper lying next to me on the bed and read it for the third time.
    Sheriff Serenity
,
          
I write to you with splendid news. I’m heading home today. I’ve successfully been drug-free for two months. The counselors have released me as being healed. I’m excited to return to the community. I never thought I would miss it, but I did. My parents and Brandy are the only people I’ve seen from home since I came to this place. Without their support, I wouldn’t have made it
.
          
I don’t know if you’ve heard about Anna King and Rowan. They’re getting married in June. All charges against him were dropped by Sheriff Gentry and he’s been able to move on with his life. The sheriff said something to my Da about enough lives being ruined. We had all prayed for such an outcome, especially for Rowan’s children’s sakes, but never really dreamed it would happen
.
          
Other good news is that Jotham left his property and business to Rowan until Rowan’s son, Gabe, reaches adulthood. Once Gabe’s eighteen, he’ll inherit it all. It’s unclear why Jotham would have done such a thing, but the income from the store is helping