A Deadly Shaker Spring Read Free Page B

Sarah and arranged the scene to look like an accident.
    Unlike the large office in the Trustees’ building, which was used for meetings with the world’s people, the Ministry office was meant for spiritual study and private confession. Elder Wilhelm seemed to fill any room, no matter what its size, so in this small, cozy room, Rose felt overwhelmed by his presence. He paced in rapid strides, his broad shoulders drawn back in rigid tension. He ran his hand through his thick white hair and glared at Rose, seeming to dare her to contradict him.
    â€œThe world’s people will kill us if they can,” he said. “They have tried, again and again. From the beginning, they have imprisoned our leaders, burned our buildings, even sent their own so-called clergy to revile us. The world is carnal, violent, spiritually bereft. And these days they are at their most evil. They attack animals, Believers, it makes no difference to them; they are no more than animals themselves.”
    â€œWe would be wise not to leap to conclusions,” Rose said. “We don’t yet understand—”
    â€œWisdom. Ha!” Wilhelm snorted in derision. “I leave wisdom to God. I listen to Mother Ann for understanding.And so should thee, if thy calling to be eldress is a true one.”
    Rose closed her eyes briefly and breathed a prayer. Calm returned. When she opened her eyes, Wilhelm was watching her, a disturbing light in his eyes.
    â€œIs thy position truly a calling, I wonder?” he asked.
    Rose steeled herself—not to engage in battle, but to avoid one, if she could. It was pointless to argue with Wilhelm. Rose believed that Shakers and the world could live in harmony. Wilhelm did not. He had barely tolerated her as the village’s trustee, in charge of business relations with the world. So to him she could never be worthy of the position of eldress—spiritual co-leader of the North Homage Believers. His equal.
    â€œThe issue we must discuss,” she said firmly, “is whether we should call in the police to investigate what has been going on here.”
    â€œThe police are of the world.”
    â€œYea, of course, Wilhelm, but they have helped us before. Why not now? I could talk to that young deputy, Grady O’Neal. Maybe he could check around quietly. You said yourself that someone from the world let our animals go free.”
    â€œThe police will not bother with such a matter. They would be glad to see us lose our livelihood.”
    â€œWhat about Sarah?”
    â€œSarah fell down the stairs, nothing more, that is what they will say. She was too tired and slipped. Never mind that she is a Believer and used to hard work and early hours.”
    â€œI found no blood on the Sisters’ Shop stairs, butI clearly saw traces near the spinning-room door. Did Sarah fling herself against the doorjamb, then crumple herself at the base of the stairs to make it look like an accident? Nay, I think it more likely that she was attacked.”
    Now she had Wilhelm’s attention, but she wasn’t sure she wanted it as she watched his calculating glint reappear. When his thin lips curved into a tight smirk, she wished she had kept her thoughts to herself.
    â€œThe police will not help thee,” Wilhelm said, “We are the Ministry, and we should work as a team, but I cannot stop thee from talking to them.”
    Rose knew Wilhelm all too well. Her every nerve flashed a warning. While it was true that he could no longer issue her orders, now that she was eldress, it was most unlike him to admit it.
    The United Society of Believers encouraged the practice of confession to cleanse the heart of impure thoughts and deeds and bind the Believer inextricably to the community. In the late-eighteenth century, the days of the Society’s foundress Mother Ann, the confession might include mortification and exposure of the Believer’s sins to the entire leadership.
    In later Shaker