Colton's Ranch Refuge. Beth Cornelison
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making sure you’re all right. If you think that Gunnar fellow is going to be a problem, we can look for another location—”
“I’m fine. And this ranch is perfect for the scenes at the lawyer’s house. I’m sure if we stay out of the big bad wolf’s way, he’ll stay out of ours.”
“Bad woff!” Hudson repeated. “Puff, puff, bwooooow!”
Mac gave Hudson a raised eyebrow glance.
“I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down,” she said to clarify as she struggled to button Hudson’s overalls while he hopped up and down on the couch. “The Three Little Pigs is one of the boys’ favorite stories.”
Her son filled his cheeks and acted out the scene from the fable while grinning impishly.
“Okay, I’ll sign the contracts with Dr. Colton then. Did you get a chance to look over the revised script? I’d like to shoot the barn scene tomorrow.”
Violet winced. “No, I haven’t. How much did the script change?”
“A lot. We decided to combine a couple scenes. Jan now has Matthew showing up while Grace confronts Luther, and the three of them have it out.”
Jan Teague, the lead writer for Wrongfully Accused, had won numerous awards for her past scripts, so Violet trusted her to do the right thing for the movie. But the constant last minute changes were exhausting to keep up with.
“I’ll have to burn some midnight oil—literally—” because her Amish host family didn’t have electricity and used oil lamps instead “—but I’ll be ready in the morning.”
Mac chucked her lightly on the chin. “That’s my girl. Things okay at the Yoders?”
Benjamin and Alice Yoder, an Amish couple with three children in Paradise Ridge, had agreed to let Violet live with them for several weeks in order to immerse herself in her role as Amish woman Grace Moon. Violet wanted to understand and appreciate the nuances of the Amish lifestyle, religion and traditions in order to bring more authenticity to her character. She was learning a tremendous amount about the Amish community while staying with the Yoders, but in order not to crowd and add chaos to the Yoders’ home, her boys and Rani were staying in the bed-and-breakfast rented by the film crew. She missed the time away from Mason and Hudson, but the arrangement was better than leaving them in California for several weeks while she shot the movie in Pennsylvania.
Mac pulled a frown. “I know the recent abductions and murders have the Amish community on edge.”
“Not just the Amish community. I’m a little spooked myself, but … yes, things at the Yoders are fine,” Violet said.
In recent weeks, three Amish girls had disappeared from the community, and two of the teenagers were later found dead in a remote cabin. The shock of the tragedy had sent ripples through not just the Amish families of Paradise Ridge but the film crew as well—especially since the real life events bore some similarity to the story line of the movie.
But Violet couldn’t credit the recent crimes for the odd jitters dancing inside her. No, the blame for her butterflies belonged to a certain sexy boor with soul-piercing hazel eyes. Gunnar Colton was far more dangerous to her peace of mind.
Chapter 2
“Mary, I want you and your brothers to deliver this food before school,” Alice Yoder said and placed a basket on the wooden table next to a burlap sack.
Violet looked up from her breakfast of fresh baked bread with honey, fried ham and scrambled eggs with homemade cheese. Her Amish family might not use many of the conveniences the modern world took for granted, but Alice Yoder’s cooking was heavenly.
“Ja, Mamm,” seventeen-year-old Mary replied, then glanced toward Violet and said, “Yes, Mother.”
Violet shook her head. “No, don’t speak English for me. I want to learn Dutch.”
Mary glanced at her mother, who gave a nod, and the teenager faced Violet again. “As you wish.”
Alice finished instructing her daughter about the delivery in Pennsylvania Dutch, and the only words Violet understood were a name: Caleb Troyer.
“Troyer? Isn’t he the man whose sister was kidnapped?” Violet asked, her gut pitching with empathy for the young Amish man.
Alice’s face reflected her concern for Caleb. “Ja. His sister, Hannah. He’s been working with the Englischers to find her, which doesn’t leave much time for preparing meals. It is our duty to look after Caleb and his precious daughters during this difficult time.”
Violet smiled. “I think it’s awesome the way the Amish community rallies around their neighbors in times of crisis.”
“Awesome?” Mary blinked and frowned.
Violet realized her slang use of the term must have confused the girl.
“Oh, by that, I mean that it’s wonderful. Kind and generous.”
Mary nodded and fingered the strings of her black kapp, the head covering worn in respect for God and signifying her unwed status. Because of her role as an unwed Amish woman, Violet also wore the traditional dress, apron and black kapp that she would wear as Grace during the filming.
“William, David, are you ready for school?” Alice called to her young sons.
The two boys ran in from outside, their cheeks ruddy from the cold, and Alice handed them their burlap bags. “Go with your sister, and take these to Caleb Troyer. Go now. Don’t be late for school.”
Violet shoved to her feet. “I’ll walk with them. I’d like to meet Caleb and his family, offer my assistance, as well.”
Alice handed Mary the basket and kissed her daughter’s cheek. “You may walk with Mary and the boys, but do not be offended if Caleb refuses your offer. We take care of our own but do not want outside influences or help from Englischers.”
“I understand.” Violet pushed away from the table and hurried to the door to catch up with Mary and the Yoder boys. “Thank you for breakfast, Alice. I’ll help you clean up when I get back.”
Alice waved her out the door. “No, you are our guest. Go on before the boys leave you.”
William and David had, in fact, already trotted to the road that led to the Yoder’s farm. Mary lifted a hand to wave goodbye to her father, tending the horses in the stable, and Violet, pulling on a thick cape for warmth, hustled to catch up, her feet crunching through the thick frost. Her plain leather lace-up boots and calf-length skirt of her dress made running difficult, especially on the uneven earth of the Yoder’s farm, but Mary lingered at the road, waiting for her.
“How far is the Troyer’s home?” Violet asked, readjusting her kapp, which had come askew as she rushed.
“Not far.” Mary pointed down the rural road. “It is the next farm. Only two miles.”
Violet chuckled, her breath forming a white cloud in the cold air. “Your definition of not far and mine are a little different. No wonder you all can eat so well and stay in shape.”
Mary angled her a shy smile and started to ask a question but was distracted by her brothers’ playful bumping and swatting of each other. “William, settle down.”
“I can beat you to the next road!” David shouted and took off running. William cast a quick glance to his sister then gave chase.
“David!” Mary called to no avail. She sighed heavily. “Boys are so …” She waved a hand in frustration, clearly searching for the right word that wouldn’t get her in trouble.
Violet caught the girl’s hand in hers. “Yes, they are! Very …” And she raised her own hand in frustration, then laughed. Mary’s smile broadened,