Off the Grid (Amish Safe House, Book 1) by Ruth Hartzler

you; but if you
do not forgive their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive
your trespasses .”
    “I know those verses,” Kate said, “but is
that meant for today?”
    “ Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today,
and forever .”
    Kate supposed that was the bishop’s way of
saying Yes . “So does that mean that you don’t judge someone
who has done something terrible?”
    “More than that,” the bishop said. “We are
to love our enemies. The Bible says, If your enemy is hungry,
give him food; if your enemy is thirsty, give him drink .”
    Kate’s eyes narrowed. She thought about the
man who was responsible for her having to go into hiding. If he was
hungry, would she feed him? Certainly not. She could think of many
things she’d like to do to him, and none of them involved giving
him a drink or some food. How do these people do it? Kate
wondered.
     
     

 
    Psalm 23: 1 - 3.
    The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not
want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
    He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
    He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.
    Chapter
14 .
     
    Kate did her best to keep the fake smile
pasted on her face. It was bad enough that she had to leave her
life behind and pretend to be a simple Amish girl, but now she had
to take place in, of all things, a knitting circle. Every lady in
the room seemed twice her age, some even appeared to be close to
three times her age.
    “Knitting is so relaxing, don’t you agree?”
an elderly woman said.
    “Oh, look at these.” Another held up a pair
of baby booties. “Won’t my grossboppli , Rachel, be so warm
with these on her precious, little feet?”
    All the other ladies agreed.
    “I’m knitting these booties for my new grossboppli , Sarah,” one of the group declared. “My dochder , Nancy, just had her a month ago and she grows
sweeter every day.”
    Kate smiled genuinely at that. The baby was
indeed one of the most beautiful she had ever seen, and Sue was a
kind, soft spoken, young woman.
    “Katie, do you need help with that scarf?”
another voice asked.
    Kate looked down at what was supposed to be
a long, black, triangular shawl in the making. “I’ve dropped a few
stitches, I think,” she said, holding up the offending section.
    “ En Schtich in Zeit is neine wart
schpaeder naus ,” one lady said.
    “Now ladies,” a woman called Lillian said,
“we have to speak in Englisch . Katie, that meant,  A
stitch in time, saves nine . Perhaps you forgot how to knit
because of the amnesia.”
    “Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” Kate said,
instead of speaking her true feelings. This deep undercover
business was going to be the end of her. She just wanted to back to
where the world made sense.
    “Not to be a nosy busybody,” Lillian said,
“but Katie, have the police come back to talk to you?”
    “Lillian!” Several voices all spoke at
once.
    “ Nee , they haven’t,” Kate said. She
smiled to herself knowing that the other ladies were just as
curious as Lillian, despite their protestations.
    Kate’s thought drifted to the handsome cop,
and she felt her cheeks grow hot. I’m sure he’s not interested
in me , she thought, but then again, why did she care what he
thought of her anyway? He seemed to be one of those men who thought
a woman couldn’t take care of herself. But then again she could
hardly judge him too harshly. He thought she was a sweet Amish
lady, not a U.S. Marshal who could help him catch a murderer. If
only she could break character, but of course, if she did, whoever
was after her would be bound to get word and come for her. And as
much as she hated knitting, she didn’t want to put anyone in the
community in danger, least of all for the sake of her pride.
    Kate looked up, wondering if the ladies were
staring at her while she had been lost in thought, but she was
relieved that the ladies were laughing together over another
matter. Kate smiled. While she was sure she would never