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rumors about Leah and the ring, surely it would come out now, but no one spoke. His tension eased.
    “I guess they think local firms aren’t fancy enough for them,” Sam said. “It’s that way with a lot of these new people. Even the contract for that addition to the high school they’re building went to an outfit from over near Philadelphia.”
    “Too bad. You’d think they’d want to give the work to local people,” Josiah said.
    “Right. But there’s still folks around who appreciate good quality work from a local craftsman. You put a notice up on my bulletin board, and I’ll be sure to draw people’s attention to it.” Sam gestured toward the battered board that contained notices for events and ads for small businesses.
    “Denke, Sam. I might do that.” Josiah had already decided to put his name in at Morgan Construction, but Sam’s advice wouldn’t hurt.
    He’d gotten what he’d come to town for, anyway. Leah would be relieved that the local gossip mill wasn’t bubbling about her already. That was something good in this mess.
    He put in a few more moments of visiting just for the look of it, and he headed out. He’d thought of going round to the construction company today, but instead he found himself heading for the Morgan house. It wouldn’t hurt to see if Leah was there. Besides, Mrs. Morgan might have some news.
    He’d no more than drawn the horse up at the Morgan house when Mrs. Morgan’s car came up the driveway, sending out a spray of gravel. He stood where he was, waiting for her.
    She got out of the car, smiling as she came toward him, but Josiah thought he detected worry in her eyes. His heart sank.
    “Josiah, I’m glad you’re here. Leah will be glad to see you.”
    “She didn’t go to her regular job, then.” He’d thought Leah might be exaggerating the effects on her other employers, but maybe not.
    “The woman called and canceled.” Mrs. Morgan walked toward the door, gesturing to him to follow. “No explanation, but I guess we know what happened.”
    Leah opened the door for them. Her eyes were shadowed as if she hadn’t had much sleep last night, and he felt a twinge of sympathy for her.
    Leah nodded to him, but all her attention was on Mrs. Morgan. “Any news?”
    Mrs. Morgan hesitated, and Josiah figured she didn’t want to disappoint Leah. She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I was hoping by today they’d have found the silly ring.”
    The hope faded from Leah’s face. “What is she saying to people?”
    “I did put a stop to that.” Mrs. Morgan gave a short nod. “I could see she was going to start talking about it to some of the women, so I headed her off. I told her how dangerous it would be to her reputation to be spreading stories around when a theft hadn’t been proved. She got the message.”
    “Denke, Geneva.” But Leah’s expression said she didn’t think that would really help.
    He had to say something, no matter how little it was. “I stopped by the hardware store to see what the local gossip is. No one said a word about it, so you must not fret about folks talking.” Not yet, anyway.
    Mrs. Morgan hung her bag on a bentwood coatrack in the hall and led the way back to the kitchen.
    “I did hear that the Graysons have hired and fired several local people,” Josiah said. “It seems to me that might make someone mad enough to want to get even. But I don’t see how they’d know about the ring.”
    Geneva brightened. “Still, it’s something. And Leah told me this morning about the break-in at the house yesterday. I can’t help thinking it must be connected. But how?”
    He shook his head, unable to imagine either of the Graysons breaking into the farmhouse, even if they thought the ring was there. He glanced at Leah, trying to think of something reassuring to say, and found she was evading his gaze.
    “Leah, was ist letz? Has something else happened?”
    “Ja.” Leah took a deep breath, as if to steady herself. “Last night, after