25. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
J on was clearing dessert plates when the walkie-talkie at his belt went off. "Jon!"
That was all, just that one word. Jon had a full tray, so he walked double-time back to the catering area and set it down. He took the walkie-talkie from his belt and pressed the button. "Elijah? What's up?"
There was no reply. He was sure there'd been alarm in Elijah's voice on that one word. Jon.
He strode back out into the main room and scanned the faces. Two couples were at the coat rack getting ready to leave, but they were among the first. Jon saw the red-haired guy, the dude who'd flirted with Elijah.
That had pissed Jon off. Couldn't he see Elijah was too young? And totally naive about that sort of thing? But maybe that was the point. Some guys were drawn to that like bees to honey.
Anyway, the red-haired guy was still at his seat, looking bored now. Jon had pegged them as a brother and sister brought by their parents. So he wasn't the reason for Elijah's call. Still. Jon had a bad feeling. He told Melanie he had to go check on something, grabbed his coat, and headed out into the night. By the time he hit the driveway, he was jogging.
His eyes were still adjusting to the dark, but as he approached the parking area, he saw headlights. A car was in the parking lot with its headlights on. Arrayed in the erstwhile spotlight was a group of men in black hats and coats. Four men. And they surrounded someone. Elijah.
It was clear they were Amish. Jon felt a moment of confusion. Maybe they were old friends or relatives? His steps slowed, hesitant now to interrupt. He drew closer, steps cautious and quiet.
"—join up. You're the thirteenth child and seventh son, just like your dawdi."
Dang, Jon had thought Elijah's accent was broad and flat, but this guy's voice was so country it smelled of manure.
"Am not. What makes you say so?" Elijah scoffed.
"Don't matter how I know what I know. Point is, you got the gift. Us five. Workin' together? We could have real power. We'd be kings of this county!"
"We could do whatever we want!" said one of the other men.
"Kings!" echoed two more.
"I told ya, I'm not doin' braucherei. I can't and I won't," Elijah said with some force.
"Aw, now, that's just stupid," said another in the group. "Are ya gonna shovel someone else's shit the rest of your life when you could rule? You could have your own farm. Money. A car. Girls. More'n one. Anything you can dream of."
"Yeah, nobody'd be able to stand agin us."
"And you'd get back at the old man what cast you out!"
"I said I'm not interested!" Elijah shouted, and now there was fear in his voice.
Right then.
Jon puffed himself up and charged in, fueled by anger. "Hey!" he shouted as he ran up to the group. "What are you doin' on this property? This is a private event!"
The tallest of the four exchanged a look with the man next to him. Jon could now see that they were young. Older teenagers maybe, or early twenties. He didn't like their expressions on their faces—arrogant or downright mean.
"We're just talkin' to our friend, Elijah, here." said the tallest one.
"Just talkin'," said a blond one with acne.
Jon reached them and deliberately got in their space. His fists were balled into pistons at his side. "Doesn't sound so friendly to me. Get in your car and get off this property. Now."
The other two men, lumpy look-alikes, smiled in amusement, and it felt like a threat. They were bigger than Jon had expected. Big old farm boys. But it didn't matter a whit. Jon was ready to do some damage if he had to. In fact, it sounded like a good time.
"No problem," said the tall one, holding up his palms. "We were gonna leave anyway." He looked at Elijah. "Nice folks you work for here. Real welcomin'."
Elijah said nothing. He shrank back.
"We'll talk real soon so," the blond told Elijah.
The four of them piled in the car and they took off, tires sending gravel flying. Then they were gone. Jon's blood pressure went down a notch, and his fists relaxed at his side.
He turned to Elijah. "Are you all right?"
"Sure."
Jon had a hard time seeing his expression. Now that the glare of the headlight was gone, everything was shrouded in shadow.
"Were those guys really friends of yours?"
Elijah shook his head. "Only met 'em the other day."
"The other day?"
"When we went into town for feed. I'm fine. I'm sorry they came here. I didn't ask 'em to."
When they'd gone into town for feed. Jon remembered that day. Elijah had gone to the bakery and had come back looking like he'd seen a ghost.
"Why are they hasslin' you?"
"I don't know."
He was tense and defensive, and Jon felt a wave of frustration. Another Elijah lie. Samuel's words came back to him— when you grow up in a place where everything is wrong, you learn to keep your secrets close . Jon could understand that. But it still bugged the hell out of him.
"You know I'm not judgin' you, right?" Jon said. "I'm not mad. You can talk to me. Those guys obviously want somethin', and they didn't strike me as the kind to give up. Let me help."
He took a step closer to Elijah, trying to see his face better. And maybe his eyes were adjusting too, because the confusion on Elijah's brow came through loud and clear. "Why? It's not your problem."
"Why do I want to help? Because I'm not an asshole. I heard—" he hesitated. He didn't want to admit to listening in, but he was concerned. "They want you to join up with them or somethin'?"
Elijah shook his head. "That'll never happen. But I'm…." Now it was his turn to hesitate.
Wow, we might eventually be able to talk to each other , Jon thought wryly. "You're what?"
Elijah's throat bobbed. "I'm worried about Dawdi. They mean him harm. I don't know what they mighta done to him already. It's no joke, Jon. They can do things. Bad things."
Well, that at least was something concrete they could solve. Maybe.
"Could you call your grandfather to check on him?"
Elijah shook his head. "He don't have no phone."
"Right. Well. How about we drive over there tomorrow? Where does he live?"
Elijah's eyes widened. "For true? You'd take me?"
A car starting up startled Jon. He looked around and saw one of the parked cars pulling out and lots more people walking toward the lot. The event was emptying out.
"'Course I'll take you. Now go back inside and help the caterer. I'll stay out here."
"Sure that's okay so?" Elijah sounded hopeful.
"Yeah. It's fine. Go on now."
Jon tried not to think about the red-haired guy taking another crack at it as Elijah jogged away.
Damn it. He was spending way too much time and energy worrying about that kid. It had to stop, he told himself firmly. Weird Amish dudes and flirty guys notwithstanding. Elijah wasn't his problem.
Only that rang hollow. Elijah had gotten into him somehow. Had tucked himself right under Jon's wing. And now Jon would do whatever it took to protect him. And that was just the way it was.