Page 25 of A Gathering of Secrets

“Girl got in the way, I guess.” When I continue to stare at him, he continues. “Luane Raber. Me and Danny, we had it bad for her. I don’t know if you’ve met her, but she’s pretty as a picture. I’ve known her most of my life, too. I was always too shy to talk to her. But we saw each other at worship. I’d see her in town every so often. Then, during Rumspringa, the three of us—me, Danny, and Luane—went to some parties. Hung out.”

I wait.

Frowning, not quite so comfortable now, he sighs. “I thought she was … you know, interested. I mean, in me. I knew she was sort of with Danny, but I figured girls can change their minds, right?” He looks at me as if expecting me to confirm it, but I don’t bite. “A guy can hope.

“Anyway, Luane and I went out a couple of times.” He shrugs. “I liked her. A lot. I mean, seriously. I was really smitten with her. But I reckon the feeling wasn’t mutual because when it was all said and done she chose Danny. End of story.”

“How did all that affect your relationship with Danny?” I ask.

“How do you think? He didn’t like it much. Neither did I.”

“Did you argue about it?” I ask. “Fight?”

“Both.” Another shrug. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know which was worse, losing him as a friend, losing Luane as my girlfriend, or losing my family. Life’s been pretty lonely without them.”

“So, you and Daniel came to blows?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he admits. “Couple times. Let me tell you something, Danny had a hell of a left hook.” When I say nothing he flushes. “Look, it was a guy thing. We were both being a couple of shitheads. We were on Rumspringa, had a few too many beers, and for the first time in our lives we had a lot of freedom. We both … loved her. But no one got hurt. I mean, physically.”

“When’s the last time you saw Daniel?”

He blows out a breath, takes a moment to search his memory. “I honestly don’t know. I saw him down at the farm store a couple weeks ago. Went in to buy some stuff for my truck and he was there. He works in the tire department part-time, you know.”

“Did you speak?”

“I would have, but he just sort of looked away and went back to whatever he was doing.”

“When’s the last time you were at the Gingerich farm?”

“A few months. Maybe last fall. Used to go over all the time. I’d help Mr. Gingerich bale hay. Stayed for dinner a hundred times, probably. Then the shit hit the fan and I stopped going.”

“When’s the last time you saw Luane?”

“I went to worship when it was at her parents’ farm a few weeks ago. She was with Danny, so…” He lets the words trail. “It was awkward. We didn’t even speak. I don’t think anyone spoke to me. Haven’t been to worship since.”

I nod, sensing there’s something else there that he’s not telling me, but I’m not sure how to get him to open up. “Where were you night before last?”

He frowns, letting me know he’s not happy with the question, but he doesn’t voice it. “I was here. All night. I rode until dark. I had a beer, hit the shower, and I was out like a light.”

“Can anyone corroborate that?”

He grins. “That Appaloosa over there, but he ain’t much on conversation.” When I don’t smile, he sobers. “Hey, I’m not a suspect or anything, am I?”

“At this point I’m talking to everyone who knew or had contact with Daniel.”

“I reckon I’m the only one who punched him.”

I say nothing.

“Look, me and Danny might’ve had a falling-out, but there’s no way I’d ever hurt him, or anyone else for that matter.”

“So what aren’t you telling me?”

He stares at me as if I’ve reached into his brain with my fist and stolen his most private thoughts. “I don’t know what you mean.”

I hold my silence.

Looking left and right, he steps closer, and for the first time I realize he’s a good-size young man. He’s got big hands and strong shoulders. He smells of horses and dust and sweat.