Page 44 of A Hidden Hope

Word traveled fast through the Amish community of Stoney Ridge about Clara Zook’s missing babies.

They’d come to the Zook farm by buggy, on horseback, on scooters, all in record time.

A dozen had already arrived, and more were on their way: men, women, teens, older children, all with faces drawn tight with concern.

In the shade of the Zook barn, Evie swatted a mosquito off her arm and glanced sideways at Charlie, who was staring blankly at David Stoltzfus as he gave out instructions in Penn Dutch to the gathered neighbors.

“I’m not catching a single word of this,” Charlie whispered, his brows knitting together.

Evie stifled a smile. “David says to head out in teams of two, to fan out from the farm and head toward the county road where Clara was found. If we see any sign of the babies—a blanket, a bootie, anything at all—get word to Dok’s office right away.

And to try and stay quiet to hear the sounds of babies crying. ”

David had looked directly at Hank Lapp as he said that. Hank then shouted out something that was on everyone’s mind: “How LONG can those babies LAST without MILK or WATER? That is ... assuming they’re STILL alive.”

Everyone froze at that. All eyes were on David, as his troubled look deepened. “The next few hours are critical,” he said, his voice heavy with worry.

Teams of two fanned out over the farm, so Charlie and Evie headed to the road, flashlights in hand. The heat of the summer evening wrapped around them like a heavy blanket, and the humidity wasn’t helping. “Evie, how do you know Penn Dutch?”

“My grandparents were Mennonites. They spoke to each other in Penn Dutch. To me, they spoke in English. But I picked it up. You’d be surprised how much you can absorb when you’re listening to enough conversations.

” It dawned on her, just now, where the habit of eavesdropping had started for her.

And that she’d had that habit most of her life. Bleh!

Charlie sounded impressed. “I can barely handle one language, let alone two.”

Evie didn’t respond, her attention turning back to the search. She tripped over something in the road, and he reached out to steady her.

“Careful,” he said. “With the sun setting, it’s starting to get dark.”

Under the thick canopy of tree limbs, it was already hard to see. He flicked her flashlight on and handed it to her. “Charlie, what if...”

“What if we find the babies and return them, safe and sound, to their parents?”

Right. That was a much better frame of mind to have.

“Let’s keep going.”

His flashlight cut a path through the shadows.

The sky had darkened, but there was still enough light to see the outlines of trees and fences, creeks and crevices.

Evie and Charlie trudged along, their flashlights sweeping over the ground as they moved, listening carefully to the sounds of the night.

One hour passed, then another. The rising moon cast an eerie glow over the fields, and the soft sound of horses’ hooves clopping along the road carried through the warm, still air.

Flashlights flickered and lanterns bobbed in the darkness, as people searched and searched, some on horseback, some on foot, some on scooter.

Despite the urgency, the night had an almost surreal calm to it.

Evie and Charlie had been walking in near silence, ears straining for any sound that might lead them to the babies.

Finally, Evie spoke, almost without thinking.

“It’s kind of a big deal that Wren’s the one who found Clara and brought her in, isn’t it?

” She wasn’t sure why she’d said it—fatigue, maybe.

The thought just slipped out before she could stop it.

He glanced at her. “It is. A really big deal. Wren can be bullheaded, but she comes around. I know she can rub people the wrong way, but she’s got a good heart.”

Did she really? Evie wasn’t so sure. Especially now.

“While everyone was waiting for the bishop to arrive, I overheard Hank Lapp say something about a lawsuit that Wren’s involved in.

” Bleh! Evie was mortified to realize how much she eavesdropped.

All the time. But she learned so much! And Hank spoke in a shout.

It wasn’t hard to overhear him as he explained to the people standing around him about Wren’s grandmother and the other two Amish women, all suffering terribly from postparty syndrome (Hank’s words) and the clinical trial with Dok’s predecessor.

Evie’s stomach had twisted when she heard Hank describe the lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company.

“Yeah. Didn’t work out the way she wanted it to.”

Evie wanted to know more, a lot more, but now wasn’t the time.

Charlie let out a sigh. “Evie, after this is all over, we need to have a long talk.”

So Charlie was aware of the lawsuit. Maybe ... he was in on it with her? Is that why they both came to Stoney Ridge in the first place?

Even in the heat, Evie felt a chill run through her.

Conniving Charlie.

Wily Wren.

Worse. Evincible Evie.

They turned down a dirt lane, listening for sounds of crying infants. Other than owls hooting to each other in the treetops, they heard nothing. At the end of the lane they turned around to head back to the road.

Exhaustion was starting to set in. But they couldn’t stop. Not yet.

After another hour of searching, not far from Dok’s office, Charlie suggested they head over to see if there was any news.

As they rounded the corner and approached the office, the sun was just beginning to cast a soft, golden light over the scene. How late was it? Evie couldn’t believe it. They’d been searching all night long. No wonder she felt exhausted.

Some Amish women had set up card tables out in front of Dok’s office, handing out coffee and food to the searchers. As Charlie and Evie walked toward them, they spotted Dok standing near Matt at his police car and went straight to them.

“Any news?” Charlie said.

“Not yet,” Matt said.

Evie searched Dok’s face for something positive, but she saw only exhaustion and worry. “Did Clara remember anything?”

“No,” Dok said, shaking her head. “Mountain Vista promised to call if there’s anything to report.”

“As searchers come in,” Matt said, “ask them if they can think of any place Clara might have spoken about. Maybe a favorite spot?”

Evie saw Charlie freeze, his expression shifting as if a puzzle piece had just clicked into place. “Wait,” he said slowly, a look of realization dawning on his face. “When Evie and I had Clara as a patient, she mentioned a place she found to rest in. Someplace cool and dark and quiet.”

Evie’s eyes widened. “Do you think ...?”

“Yeah.” Charlie nodded. “I wonder if she might have left the babies there.”

Matt was already moving toward Jacob. “Get over here!”

Jacob had been sitting on the porch steps of the Bent N’ Dent, head in his hands. His head popped up and he hurried over.

“Charlie, tell Jacob what you just told me.”

Charlie repeated it, and a funny look came over Jacob. “All I can think,” Jacob said, “is ... maybe the old root cellar?”

Matt didn’t waste a second. “Let’s go check it out. Jacob, you come with me.” He opened the door to his car and Jacob got in the passenger side.

“Wait for me!” Charlie bolted over to Dok’s office.

Evie wanted to go too. She hopped in the back of the police car, and at the last minute, Charlie jumped in with a medical bag on his lap.

When they arrived at the Zook farm, the sun had risen.

Jacob led them to an overgrown area that hid the old root cellar.

It was covered with old boards and brush, easy to overlook.

Jacob easily yanked the boards away, revealing an entrance.

Evie’s breath caught in her throat as she heard a feeble cry.

She and Charlie bolted down into the dark root cellar, each one grabbing a baby and getting back up into the daylight.

The babies’ skin was pale, lips dry, eyes a little sallow.

Charlie ran his hand over each baby’s fontanelle, to see if it had sunk.

“Will they live?” Jacob said. “Will they? Tell me!”

“They’re dehydrated and weak, cold and hungry,” Charlie said.

“Noch lewendich,” Evie added.

Jacob stared at her, and then a sob erupted uncontrollably out of him, first one, then another, his shoulders shaking with each gasp of air.

Charlie and Evie quickly set up IVs, working together with precision.

As the fluids began to flow into the babies, Evie felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Clara, even in her disoriented state, had known enough to protect her children.

She had placed them somewhere she thought was safe, even if she couldn’t fully explain why.

After the ambulance arrived, Charlie and Evie stepped back to let the paramedics handle the babies, to take them to the hospital for evaluation. Jacob climbed in the ambulance to go along with them.

Watching, Charlie put his hand on Evie’s elbow. “What was it you said to Jacob?”

“I told him they’re still alive.” The babies were safe.