Page 20 of The Pretender (Mifflin County Mysteries #3)

A S THE AGGRESSIVE GOAT CAME closer to the woodpile where Anthony stood, he didn’t know which emotion he felt the strongest—anger or fear. Regardless of how he felt, he had to figure out a way to get out of this fix.

Anthony moved to the right, nearly losing his balance, and hollered at the goat. “Go away! Get lost! Go back to where you belong!”

“Hey, Anthony, what’s goin’ on? How come you’re standing on the logs and hollering at Buster?”

Anthony’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Alvin coming up behind the goat. “You’d better watch out, kid,” he shouted. “That critter’s a mean one.”

“He could be, I suppose, but not usually. Even so, all goats are good jumpers, so you bein’ on those logs is no protection.

Any minute, he could leap right on up there and join you.

” Alvin set his lunch box on the ground and marched up to the goat.

“He’s got ya buffaloed ‘cause he knows you’re scared. ”

“You got that right.” Anthony shifted his stance a bit, keeping both eyes on the bleating goat.

Alvin reached down and opened his lunch box. He grabbed an apple and approached the animal slowly. “You want this treat, Buster?” He held the apple close to the goat’s mouth.

Anthony resisted the temptation to hold his breath as he waited to see what the goat would do.

He hoped the critter wouldn’t charge or butt the boy.

It could spell disaster. To Anthony’s surprise, however, that ornery animal took one bite of the apple and followed Alvin across the yard and all the way to the pen.

When Alvin opened the gate and let the goat in, Anthony climbed down from his log perch.

“That was impressive,” Anthony said when Alvin returned. “How’d you know the goat wouldn’t headbutt you?”

The boy puffed out his chest a bit as his lips curved into a smile. “Buster’s one of my favorite goats, and after school most days, I’ve been workin’ with him and some of the other goats my dad bought a while back.”

“You’re sure a smart fellow, Alvin. I’m impressed.”

The boy kicked at a couple of small stones beneath his feet. “Aw, it ain’t no big deal. I like most animals, and I really enjoy workin’ with ’em.”

Anthony began walking with Alvin toward the house. “What else do you know about goats?”

“Well,” Alvin said, “I’m sure they’re not all as easy to work with as Buster. I am no goat expert, but I’ve heard that some of them can be real mean. But they also like to play, and in the process, they sometimes end up gettin’ carried away.”

“How’d you learn so much about goats?” Anthony asked.

“Mostly from workin’ with the critters, but I’ve also read a book on raising goats that I checked out at the library in town.”

“Sounds like you know what you’re doing, then.”

Alvin shrugged. “Don’t know about that, but as I said before, I do like workin’ with animals.”

“Maybe you’ll end up being a veterinarian someday,” Anthony suggested.

The boy stopped walking and turned to look up at Anthony, who’d also halted his footsteps. “I can’t be a vet if I’m gonna join the Amish church when I’m a bit older.”

“Are you set on joining?” Anthony queried.

“I guess.” Alvin shrugged. “If I don’t join, my dad will be really disappointed. It’s bad enough that Rosa ran off and never joined the church, and I’m pretty sure my sister Susan doesn’t wanna become a church member either.”

Anthony tilted his head toward the boy. “What makes you think so?”

“Because Susan hasn’t taken any classes to prepare for it, and she does a lot of sneaky things that our folks don’t approve of.”

Anthony was tempted to ask for specifics, but he decided it was none of his business.

If he truly was Rosa’s lawful husband, it would mean he was actually Susan’s brother-in-law.

Only then would he take an active interest in her actions.

Anthony figured he might even intervene if he knew she was doing something wrong.

Under the circumstances, however, it was best that he keep any questions or opinions about Susan to himself.

“So tell me a little more about the goats you help to care for,” Anthony said. “Are they dairy goats or being raised for the meat?”

Alvin gave a vigorous shake of his head. “Oh, no—we don’t kill any of our goats for meat on the table. Mom likes to have them for milk and cheese.”

“To sell at your dad’s Meat and Cheese Store?”

“No, just for us. Dad gets his goat milk products for the store from an Amish man over in Allensville who has a big herd of goats. We don’t have enough goats to provide what we need for the store.”

“I see.”

Walking slowly as they moved on, Anthony asked Alvin to share a little more information about the goats his family owned.

“Well, let’s see … guess I could tell you how a sick goat will stand hunched, with its head lowered, but it may fake fitness if somethin’ or someone surprises or comes after it.”

Tilting his head, Anthony pointed at the boy. “Did you make that up, Alvin?”

“No way. It’s the truth.” Alvin snapped his fingers. “Oh, here’s somethin’ else that’s kinda interesting. When a goat’s hungry or wants a treat, it may root near the place where its food is usually dished out.”

“So that’s their way of letting you know that they want to eat?”

“Yep.” Alvin’s dimples deepened as he grinned widely. “Is that enough goat information for now?”

Anthony chuckled and tousled the boy’s hair. “I think that’ll do, but if I have any other questions, I’ll know who to ask.”

As they approached the house, Anthony looked up and noticed Rosa standing at her bedroom window. He wondered if she’d heard him hollering for help when the goat chased him onto the logs. But if she had, surely she would have come outside to see if she could help somehow.

Anthony waved and then smiled when Rosa returned the gesture. She really is a beautiful woman. If Rosa decides to join the Amish church, I hope someday she will find a nice Amish man who’ll gladly marry her and be a good father to the child she’s carrying.

“We’ve had a busy day here, jah?” Norman’s father asked as they prepared to close the Meat and Cheese Store for the day.

Norman nodded. “Seems like everyone who came in wanted the same thing, because we’re running low on cheese sticks and pork links.”

“I’m guessing the cheese sticks are for children’s lunches, and a lot of our female customers are planning to cook pork links for supper tonight, or maybe for tomorrow’s breakfast.”

“You could be right, Dad.” Norman glanced over at Susan, who stood quietly near the front door.

No doubt she was eager to see the C LOSED sign hung in the window so the three of them could head for their homes.

Susan had been in a sullen mood all day, which had been obvious by her lack of conversation with the customers she’d waited on.

Norman suspected his sister’s bad mood had something to do with the fact that Rosa was at home with their mother, while Susan was stuck here dealing with Dad’s many requests and expectations.

If my sister dislikes working here so much, I wonder why she doesn’t look for some other job, Norman pondered. There are plenty of other things she could do, but then that would leave us shorthanded here at the store, at least till our daed found a replacement for her.

Dad moved closer to Norman and elbowed his arm. “Did you hear what I said, Son?”

“Jah, you said something about it being busy here today.”

“No, not that. I had moved on to another topic.”

Norman blinked in succession. “Oh, sorry. Guess my mind was somewhere else. What was it you said to me?”

“I was telling you that I think that husband of Rosa’s is freeloading on us. If he’s gonna remain at our house, then he oughta get out there and find a job.” Dad grunted. “I don’t appreciate being taken advantage of, and I have to wonder what Rosa ever saw in the lazy fellow.”

Norman wasn’t sure how to respond to his father’s tirade.

If he took Anthony’s side and suggested that the reason he hadn’t looked for a job was because he and Rosa weren’t sure if they’d be staying in the area permanently, Dad might go off on that too.

He’d probably say something like, “Well, if they aren’t sure, then they shouldn’t have come here at all. ”

As Norman stood mulling things over and trying to decide how best to comment, Susan joined the conversation.

“I totally agree with you, Dad. Anthony should be out looking for a job, and he and Rosa ought to find a place of their own.” Her eyes flashed angrily.

“It’s not fair that we all have to work for a living while he lazes around at the house all day. ”

Norman wasn’t sure why, because he didn’t know Anthony very well, but he felt it necessary to come to his brother-in-law’s defense.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to be judging Anthony, especially when he’s not here to defend himself.

Maybe it’s going to take a little time for him and Rosa to decide where they want to settle down and raise their family.

” Norman looked first at his father and then Susan.

“And maybe Rosa’s husband isn’t lazing around all day like you think.

He might be doing all kinds of chores to help out at the house while we’re here at the store.

If you’re so worried about it, you might want to check with Mom and ask what occupies Anthony’s time during the daylight hours. ”

Dad’s brows furrowed, and Susan’s mouth opened slightly, like she might say something, but neither of them commented.

Norman was glad this discussion had ended.

All he wanted to do was go home to his sweet wife and spend a pleasant evening with her.

He was ever so glad that he was married and out on his own, because he could only imagine how much tension there must be in his parents’ house these days.

During supper that evening, Alvin picked at his food as he slumped in his chair beside Anthony.

“What’s wrong, Son?” Elsie questioned from across the table. “Did you snack too much after school and ruin your appetite?”

Alvin shook his head. “I only ate one cookie when I came inside with Anthony.”

“So how come you haven’t eaten much supper?” the boy’s father questioned.

Alvin shrugged.

“This isn’t like you at all,” Elsie said. “Are you feeling grank?”

“I don’t think I’m sick, Mom.” Alvin reached for his glass of water and took a drink. When he set it back on the table, he grimaced. “My throat kinda hurts, though, and my belly aches too.”

“How long have you felt like this?” his mother asked.

“My throat felt scratchy while I was at school today, but the bellyache didn’t start till I sat down to eat supper.”

“You might be coming down with something,” Rosa interjected. “Has anyone in your classroom been sick?”

“A couple of kids were missing today.” Alvin pulled a hand across his forehead. “Boy, it sure is hot in here. Can someone please open a window?”

“It’s not hot in this room, Alvin.” Susan glared at her brother. “You’re just trying to get out of eating scalloped potatoes because it’s not your favorite dish.”

“I ain’t either,” he countered.

“ Ain’t is not good English, you know.” Susan popped a black olive into her mouth. “What’s that new teacher you have this year teaching you, anyway?”

“I don’t like Mary Sue as well as Salina, but she’s a good teacher.”

“Not if she’s allowing you to say words like ain’t .”

Mahlon held up his hand. “All right, Susan, that’s enough! Finish eating your supper and stop nitpicking your bruder.”

Anthony waited to see how Susan would respond, and he was surprised when she dashed out of the room like a child who hadn’t gotten her way.

Since that first day he and Rosa had arrived at the Petersheim home, he’d noticed that Susan seemed to have a chip on her shoulder.

He wondered what the problem was and if Rosa might know.

Maybe I’ll ask her when I get the chance—see if she can shed some light on her sister’s actions.

A few seconds passed, and when Alvin continued to sit there without eating, Elsie got up and came around to stand behind the boy.

Reaching over the chair where he sat and placing her hands on Alvin’s forehead, her brows drew inward as she declared, “You’re burning up, Son.

You need to leave the table and go straight to bed.

I’ll be up soon with something to hopefully bring the fever down and help your stomach stop hurting. ”

Alvin didn’t have to be asked twice. He pushed his chair back and quickly fled the room. Elsie went to one of the kitchen cupboards, took out a few items, and asked Tena and Rosa to see about clearing the table when everyone finished eating. Then she too scurried out of the room.

“I bet I know what’s wrong with Alvin,” Tena said, looking at no one in particular.

“What would that be?” Rosa asked.

“When I was in town earlier today, I heard someone say that the wasserpareble is going around Mifflin County. The first symptoms for that are sore throat, fever, and sometimes a stomachache.”

“Oh boy, I hope that’s not the case,” Rosa said.

Anthony leaned closer to her. “What’s wasserpareble?”

“The chicken pox,” Mahlon responded.

Anthony stiffened. He hoped that wasn’t the case for Alvin, because if it was, that meant he’d also been exposed. As far as Anthony knew, and according to his mother, he’d never had the chicken pox.