Page 55 of Fallen

I look at Loretta. “Do you mind if I take a look at those marks on your throat?”

Her sigh is barely discernible, but she complies, tilts her head to one side. The flesh is abraded, the outline of fingers and a thumb visible. By morning, she’ll have bruises.

“You sure you don’t want to get yourself checked out at the hospital?” I ask.

“I’m fine, Katie,” she tells me. “Just shaken up is all. I didn’t even want to call you, but Ben thought we should. I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen out in the barn of all places, especially this time of night.”

“Did the man who attacked you say anything else?” I ask.

“No, he just … asked for money. That’s all.”

I nod, but that uneasy suspicion scratches at the back of my brain again. I nod, give her a moment to say more. When she doesn’t, I ask, “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”

The couple exchange a look. Ben leans against the counter, his arms crossed at his chest, his expression closed and grim. Loretta won’t make eye contact with me, instead looking down at the floor. “I think that’s about it,” she says.

“I’m going to take a look around.” Digging into my pocket, I pull out my card and jot my cell phone number on the back. “If either of you realize there’s more you need to tell me, give me a call.”

I set the card on the counter and start toward the door.

CHAPTER 23

Summer 2008

Loretta didn’t know how long they danced or how many songs the band played. Twice she became separated from Rachael, but found her way back. Once, she danced with an English girl with blue hair and eyes smeared with what looked like charcoal. But the girl had a nice smile and a big laugh, and Loretta thought she’d never had so much fun in her life.

But, of course, as her mamm liked to say, all good things must come to an end, and as she danced next to the stage, her head began to swim. Sweat broke out on the back of her neck. When she looked at the stage, it tilted left and right and then swirled around her like some out-of-control merry-go-round. Worse, she was starting to feel nauseous. She looked around for Rachael, to tell her she needed to go get some water, but her friend was dancing with an English boy. His arms were around her waist and the way he was looking at her filled Loretta with a longing she didn’t quite understand. Rachael looked so happy, Loretta decided not to interrupt and headed out on her own.

By the time Loretta reached the edge of the crowd, her stomach was seesawing. She barely made it to the nearest tent before throwing up. When she was finished, she went to the booth of the guy selling water, bought a bottle, and decided to take it to the buggy and lie down.

She got lost twice on the way. By the time she reached the buggy her head was pounding. Legs jittery, she drank half the water, and then crawled into the buggy to lie down in the back. It was cooler there and almost quiet. If she could just be still for a little while, she might be able to go back and rejoin Rachael.

“Der siffer hot zu viel geleppert.” The drunkard had just sipped too much.

Loretta wasn’t sure how long she’d dozed. A minute or two. She sat up to see Levi Yoder standing outside the buggy, looking at her.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

He was looking at her bare legs, so she tugged at her skirt, ran her hand over the fabric, wishing her friend hadn’t cut it. “Where’s Rachael?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He pulled out his cell phone, squinted down at it, then looked at her. “She’s late.”

Loretta didn’t respond. Her head was still aching, but her stomach had calmed. It was just like Rachael to be late. How could she be so irresponsible? But Loretta figured it was as much her fault as her friend’s.

“I reckon we’re going to have to just sit here and wait for her.”

He was looking at her oddly, his head tilted to one side. The kind of look a man had when he was thinking about buying a horse; he liked what he saw, but thought he might haggle a bit before making an offer.

“I’m going to go find her.” Loretta started to climb out of the buggy, but Levi blocked her way.

“What’s your hurry?” he drawled.

He held a can of beer in his hand. A cigarette dangled from the side of his mouth. She didn’t like the way he was looking at her.

“I don’t want to get into trouble,” she said.

“If she doesn’t show in a few minutes, I’ll go look.” He flicked the cigarette away.