Good afternoon.â
âAfternoon,â they chorused, all eyes still pinned on Anna and Henry.
âMay I help you with anything?â Mr. McClusky tried to engage the ladies.
The tallest woman, the one with the turkey pin, shook her head. âNo, thanks. Weâre just here to sightsee.â She turned back to stare at Anna like sheâd just discovered a great wonder of the world.
Anna felt the blood drain away from her cheeks. âCome,â Henry said in German, pulling her away from the curious stares.
Anna wasnât aware she was holding her breath until they disappeared down the aisle.
Once in relative privacy, he stopped her. âAre you all right?â
â Jah . Danke ,â she murmured, only realizing after the fact that heâd spoken to her in Pennsylvania Dutch and sheâd replied in the same fashion. âI um, didnât realize Iâd be so uncomfortable being stared at.â
âIt is different outside of the inn, isnât it?â
âYes. At the inn, itâs your parentsâ home, so it feels like weâre the hosts. Here, I feel so exposed and at their mercy.â
âThey mean no harm.â
âI suppose. Itâs just that itâs different at the inn.â
He gently clucked his tongue. âAnna, the inn is your home now, too, yes?â
His sweet words made everything feel right again. No matter what, she was happy with Henry, and happy with how things were going with their life. She needed to remember that. âYes.â
âLetâs pay for our things and go home.â His voice seemed to linger on the word.
Contentment settled over Anna as she followed him to the counter and stood by while he paid for the pasta and flour that their kitchen had run out of. Taking his bags from Mr. McClusky, Henry said, âGood-bye, then.â
âBye, Henry, Anna,â the older man said with a knowing smile, making Anna wonder if he, too, was thinking of not so long ago when she didnât quite fit into this world. Much like the âsightseeingâ ladies in the store. âOh, I almost forgot.â Sam McCluskyâs forehead creased. âKatie got another letter.â
âAnother?â Annaâs hand shot out before Henry could claim it. She looked to Henry in alarm. What was going on?
Sam nodded. âYeah. The first one came about ten days ago, right, Henry?â
âMore or less.â
As Anna looked at Henry curiously, Sam continued. âI have to tell you both, the girl whoâs been dropping these letters off looks pretty desperate. It ainât my business, but if I were you, Henry, I might talk to Katie. I wouldnât want to have some stranger looking for my sister the way she is.â
Henry looked genuinely alarmed. âThank you for the note, and for your concern.â He frowned at the envelope in Annaâs hand before facing the proprietor again. âWhen did you say the girl dropped this off?â
âThree or four days ago. She was asking all kinds of questions about Katie, about where she lives, what she does, but I put her off.â With a self-satisfied smile, he waggled his white bushy eyebrows. âYou know me, Iâm not about to divulge anything to outsiders.â
Anna knew she would be forever grateful for that character trait. âI know that for a fact, Mr. McClusky. You certainly kept your silence when Rob was after me.â
âHe was no good, Anna.â Shaking his head in dismay, he added, âI still canât believe he tried to bribe me in order to find you.â
âIf he had known what kind of person you are, Rob Peterson would have never tried such a thing,â Anna said. âI canât imagine you ever accepting a bribe. You are a gut friend, indeed.â
âI appreciate your help,â Henry said before ushering Anna out into the brisk wind. As they walked across the busy parking lot toward their buggy, he
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