Page 70 of Prodigal Son

Had Cybil not spoken since the murder of her mother? Was this a result of trauma? Once again, Destiny registered how lucky she was that she only suffered a nasty fall in the woods. It had been completely foolish for her to go out there alone.

“We’ll be back in time for supper,” Cain announced, removing Destiny’s coat from a peg on the wall. She frowned, not recalling how it got there.

Cain helped her bundle up and she savored the novelty of a man with actual manners—once more warning her head and heart to show some self-control.

“You okay?” he whispered.

She was concerned about the gaps in her memory but didn’t want to sound crazy, so she forced a smile. “I’m great.”

He frowned but accepted the lie. He held the door.

The tension in the house had grown uncomfortable and she was glad to escape outside. The sky was clear and there wasn’t much wind, so the temperature was bearable for a change.

“How is it the Foster children have come to live here?”

Cain stiffened as if not expecting her to make the connection. “You remember them?”

“Of course. I covered the story of their mother’s death.”

“Then you’ll recall their grandmother was ill.”

“Was?”

“Yes, she passed several weeks back.” He opened the gate at the end of their property and waved her toward a cluster of barns and stables in the distance.

“That doesn’t answer my question about how they came to live here. They’re not Amish.”

His mouth firmed as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Their grandmother had a connection to my father. When she passed, she left the children in his care.”

“Where’s your father now?”

“He and my mother are on a trip. They needed some time together, away from The Order.”

“So, who’s the actual caregiver of the children?” The state would require a legal guardianship, but the Amish often skipped the red tape in legal situations. Was this like that?

“Dane’s old enough to take care of himself and there are enough of us around to see that they have everything they need.”

“Dane’s a kid.”

“He’s seventeen. In a few months he’ll be a legal adult. He will have every right to request guardianship of his sister and our full support, but why bother when they have a place to stay here. They’re safe here. Their needs are met.”

She supposed he was right. But she couldn’t imagine being seventeen and losing her last surviving parent then being forced to move away from all of her friends. “What about school?”

“He goes to our school.”

“And Cybil?”

“What about her?” An unmistakable air of protectiveness filled his voice.

“She seems very attached to you.”

“As I am to her.”

“Has she spoken since the attack?”

He glanced at her, his eyes suspicious. “Who’s asking?”

She stopped walking, unsure what he was implying but certain he was making some sort of accusation. “What do you mean?”

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