His New Amish Family

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“Twenty-two spiders, six mice, a box of newspaper clippings, several bags of material scraps and a box of old carved wooden toys. I decided to tackle the attic and show you how brave I am.”

“I’m rather glad you did. I wasn’t looking forward to it. Were the toys horses, cows, sheep and a collie dog?” she asked with a sad smile.

“That’s exactly what I found.”

“I remember playing with them as a child...” Her voice trailed away as a car turned in the drive. It was Ralph.

He and another man got out of the car. Ralph looked over the property with a heavy frown in place. “I don’t see that you have gotten much done, Mr. Bowman.”

“I have finished the inventory of farm equipment and I’ve started in the house. I’ll begin moving the machinery out of the buildings and into the open tomorrow.”

“I see you’re still hanging around, Clara. Maybe this will hasten your departure.” He turned to the man with him. “This is my attorney, William Sutter.”

A distinguished-looking man with silver hair wearing a fancy Englisch suit stepped forward. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Fisher. I have here the signed and notarized trust document with the amendment attached naming Mr. Hobson as your uncle’s heir, also signed and notarized. I hope this lays to rest any question about the validity of Mr. Hobson’s ownership of this property. I was present at the signing and I assure you that your uncle executed this change of his own free will.”

He handed the papers to Paul. Paul glanced over the documents and handed them to Clara. “It looks legal to me but I’m no expert.”

“Fortunately, I am,” William Sutter said without smiling.

Clara studied the documents and handed them back to Mr. Sutter. “This is not my uncle’s signature. This is a forgery.”

Hobson threw his hands in the air. “Unbelievable.”

Paul stepped closer to Clara and spoke in Pennsylvania Deitsch so the two men could not understand what he was saying. “Be reasonable, Clara. A notary must have proof of the person’s identity before affixing their seal. Without a driver’s license, your uncle would have needed two people who knew him to vouch for him in front of a notary.”

“I don’t care what you say, that is not my uncle’s signature.” She switched to English. “Who vouched for him? I want to speak to the notary. Where can I find him or her?”

“I was one of the people who vouched for Uncle Eli.” Ralph shoved his hands in his front pockets. “The other doesn’t matter. Now you’ve seen the amendment and now you know the place is mine.”

“I will never accept that my uncle deeded this property to you.” She turned pleading eyes to him. “Paul, can’t you see that he is lying? Tell me that you believe me.”

Chapter Four (#u194fafc0-a76c-5927-a571-175e7ddcd1a1)

Clara desperately wanted Paul to say he believed her. Someone had to believe her.

He didn’t. She saw it in his eyes. Ralph and his attorney were too convincing.

She was right and that was what mattered. But how could she prove it? She prayed God would show her the way.