Page 43 of A Hidden Hope

Maybe that was the strange thing about her newfound faith.

It wasn’t some earth-shattering, part-the-seas kind of transformation, but it was there, steady and sure.

She didn’t feel as lost as she once had.

Even if Charlie did choose to leave, she’d be okay.

And that was saying something. She had spent the last two years thinking he was her everything, but people weren’t meant to fill those kinds of gaps.

Evie turned and headed toward the farmhouse. She would be lying if she didn’t feel some relief at Wren’s sudden departure. But she felt a sadness too. For Wren’s sake. She might be brilliant, but she’d never be half the doctor that Dok was.

It was getting late. The last patient, a blacksmith with a nasty gash on his arm, had just left after Dok finished sewing him up. Annie had stayed to help Dok and was tidying up the room, moving quickly but methodically as she put the supplies back in order.

Dok heard the front door creak open. She frowned, certain she’d locked it after the farmer left. Had she forgotten? Wiping her hands on a towel, she headed to the front of the office. Then she stopped abruptly.

Wren Baker stood at the open door with a woman at her side. Dok had to blink a few times as she realized the woman was Clara Zook, looking completely disoriented. Her tangled hair fell long, she wore no prayer cap, her dress was filthy, and she was barefoot.

“I found Clara walking down the highway,” Wren said. “She needs help.”

Dok snapped into action. “Where are her babies?”

Wren gasped. “I ... didn’t think to ask. I forgot she had babies. They weren’t with her.”

Dok’s pulse quickened. “Clara, where are your babies?” she asked, stepping closer, trying to keep her voice steady.

Clara’s eyes darted around the room but didn’t settle on anything. “It’s better this way,” she said, over and over.

“She keeps repeating that,” Wren said. “Nothing else.”

Dok turned to Annie, who stood at the doorway, eyes wide. “Annie, call Matt. Tell him to get to Jacob Zook’s and do a welfare check on the babies. Tell him it’s an emergency. Then go to the Bent N’ Dent and find David. Bring him here.”

Annie nodded, concern in her eyes, then hurried off.

Wren, still supporting Clara, looked at Dok. “How can I help?”

“Let’s get Clara into an exam room.”

They guided Clara into the room, where Dok quickly checked her vitals. Each reading was troubling—dilated pupils, a rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure. Clara couldn’t follow even the simplest direction. Couldn’t make eye contact with Dok. She seemed to be in her own world.

“Clara, your babies need you,” Dok said softly, trying to reach her. “Tell us where they are, and we’ll go get them.”

“It’s better this way,” Clara mumbled.

Dok felt a chill run down her spine. “What’s better, Clara? What’s happened?”

But Clara had no answer.

Dok turned to Wren, noticing how pale she looked. Frightened. “Tell me exactly where you found Clara.”

“I was in an Uber, and the driver noticed someone far up on the road. A woman was wandering right into the lane, kind of staggering, like she’d had too much to drink.

The driver slowed down, and that was when I realized who the woman was.

It took both of us, the driver and me, to get her into the car.

Then he drove straight here so I could bring her to you. ”

“But where exactly were you? Do you remember anything specific about the road? Any signage?”

Wren pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture. “Um, about four or five miles from here. On that two-lane road that leads to Route 30. Not far from ... a covered bridge.”

“Did Clara say anything about the babies? Anything at all?”

“No. She just kept repeating that it was better this way.”

“Did she have anything else with her?”

“No.”

Dok lifted Clara’s foot. Amish women went barefoot often, especially in the summer, so they had thickly calloused feet. Clara’s heels were bleeding, which told Dok that she’d been walking a long time on hot asphalt.

Wren noticed. “I let the Uber driver go. But maybe I should try to go back to where I found Clara and look around?”

“Let’s wait for Matt’s call. I’m hoping the babies are with Jacob.”

Oh, she prayed so. The room felt heavy with questions that only Clara held the answers to, and Dok could sense she was slipping out of reach.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Es is aryets en Schraub los. There is something wrong . Annie could feel it in her bones.

A half hour had passed since Matt had called in to say that Jacob Zook didn’t know where the babies were, didn’t even know Clara had left, and that they were now searching the house and farm.

The Bent N’ Dent had closed for the day, so Annie had left a phone message for David Stoltzfus at his shanty, but she wasn’t sure when he’d check messages.

She jumped from her desk chair when she heard something and looked out the office window to see a police car pulling into the parking lot. “Dok! Matt’s here.”

Dok hurried to the front room as Matt and Jacob reached the door. “Jacob wants to talk to Clara,” Matt said. “He’s sure she will tell him where she put the babies.”

“Oh Matt,” Dok said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Wu is sie?” Jacob said, his voice rough. Where is she?

From the stern look on his face, Dok couldn’t tell if he was frightened or furious. “Slow down, Jacob. Clara’s not in any condition to answer questions, especially if you bark at her.”

“She’s right,” Matt said. “Jacob—”

“I will talk to my wife.”

Jacob marched back to the exam room and threw open the door. Dok, Matt, and Annie followed closely behind. Wren sat on a stool, her face showing surprise, while Clara quickly jumped off the table, pressing herself against the far wall with her head down, cowering.

“Clara , was fehlt dir denn?” What’s the matter with you ? “Wo sind die Boppli?” Where are the babies?

Annie watched as Jacob’s harsh voice made Clara shrink into herself, even more withdrawn than before. She didn’t respond to his questions, didn’t even look at him.

Jacob looked at Dok and Matt. “Sie is en schtarrkeppicher Mensch .” She is a stubborn person.

No she’s not , Annie wanted to shout. She’s broken. Can’t you see ? She’s broken!

Matt, in a remarkably calm voice, broke the tense silence. “Jacob, maybe it’ll help Clara remember if we go over everything again. You said you last saw Clara in the house when you went in for lunch. Were the babies there?”

Jacob shook his head, his beard trembling with the motion. “I don’t remember seeing them. They were probably asleep.”

“But did you actually see them?” Matt kept his voice low and steady.

Jacob’s frown deepened. “I already told you, they were probably asleep.” His tone was defensive, clearly agitated.

Matt kept his composure. “What time was that?”

“Two or three o’clock,” Jacob said, glancing away. “Then I went back to the field to finish work.”

Just then, Matt’s phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere.

He answered quickly and went into the hallway, his voice low and focused.

The room fell silent, everyone waiting anxiously.

When Matt ended the call, he came back in the room with a serious expression.

“I left two officers at the farm to search it. Still no sign of the babies.”

Matt resumed questioning Jacob, continuing to piece together the details like a jigsaw puzzle, trying to clarify the timeline.

Jacob, clearly exasperated, snapped at Clara. “Was fehlt dir denn?” What’s wrong with you?

Clara didn’t flinch, didn’t meet Jacob’s eyes, and seemed to be in her own world, disconnected from the situation.

Was fehlt ihr denn? Annie thought. What’s wrong with her? Bist du, Jacob. It’s you.

Wren’s voice cut through the heavy silence. “Clara’s dress is dry now,” she said, “but it was wet and muddy when I found her. I remember that it smelled funny.”

Matt’s eyes shot to Dok’s. “There’s a creek that runs along the county road. I’ll have the canine unit head out there right away.” He glanced at the bundle of baby blankets he had brought with him, his expression grim. “Wren, why don’t you come with me and show me exactly where you found her?”

Wren practically jumped from the stool. “I’m ready.”

“I’m coming too,” Jacob said.

“Okay,” Matt said. “Okay, let’s go. We’ve only got a few hours of daylight left.

Ruth, why don’t you and Annie send out phone messages for neighbors to start a search for Clara’s babies.

Everyone aged ten and up. They should begin at the Zook farm and spread out from there, in teams of two.

Tell them to be quiet as they search so they can listen for the babies’ cries.

We’ll start at the place where Wren found Clara on the road and work backwards.

Let’s make your office the control center for information. ”

As soon as the door shut behind them, Dok turned to Annie. “I’m taking Clara to Mountain Vista. I called in while I was waiting for Matt, so they’re expecting us. Annie, would you mind staying here to wait for word? Make some calls to start a search?”

“Of course I don’t mind.” Annie watched them leave. She was right back to waiting. But how could she leave? Es is aryets en schrecklich Schraub los. Something is terribly wrong .