He's her only defense…and a frightening temptation
Rebecca Holt thinks she's doing the right thing when she takes evidence proving her ex-husband is hiding a murder. But after two attempts on her life, she flees with her six-year-old son to rural Missouri, where the pair hide among Amish relatives, dressing "plain."
County sheriff Daniel Byler was raised Amish, but his protective instincts put him in conflict with his family's beliefs at an early age and he left the faith. Yet this background helps him to recognize Rebecca as someone who is out of place, in danger…and lying to him.
Very good story. When Rebecca finds evidence linking her ex-husband to a crime, she takes it, thinking only to protect her son from the knowledge of his father's crimes. It also serves as an incentive to prevent him from fighting her for custody. When two attempts are made on her life along with threats against her son, she takes Matthew and heads to her Amish relatives in Missouri. One of the first people she encounters is Daniel, the county sheriff.
Daniel was raised Amish but left to pursue a career in law enforcement. After years in the city, he returned to his hometown to protect those he loves. Rebecca's injuries draw his attention, but it's his instincts that tell him that things are not quite what they seem.
I enjoyed the theme of this story. Both Daniel and Rebecca are caught between two worlds, feeling that they don't fit in either. Though one generation removed from Amish life (her mother was raised Amish, but left to marry Rebecca's father) it still played a big part in Rebecca's upbringing. Her time hiding with her relatives reminds her of all the good things from her childhood, but she isn't so sure that's the life she wants for her son. However, looking back on her married life, she also realizes that she hadn't felt comfortable in that world either. Daniel grew up Amish, but after witnessing a horrible crime as a teen realized that he had deep-seated need to protect rather than turn the other cheek. But leaving his Amish faith also created a divide between him and his family and friends. I ached for Daniel because he also didn't feel entirely comfortable in the Englisch world either, which often left him feeling rather lonely.
I enjoyed the development of Daniel and Rebecca's relationship. It started out rough, as Rebecca was afraid to trust him. She knew what she had done was wrong, but with the threats against her and Matthew, going to the police wasn't an option either. During their first conversation, Rebecca realized that Daniel was suspicious and was determined to avoid him whenever possible. For his part, Daniel sensed her fear, could tell she was hiding something and wasn't sure if she was the victim or not. But underneath it all, they were drawn to each other. I liked Daniel's patience as he took the time to let Rebecca get to know him, hoping she would open up. It took the danger getting close for Rebecca to take that step, and even then she held things back. I had moments of great frustration with Rebecca because she seemed more interested in protecting her ex than in dealing with the problem. Daniel realized pretty early on that Rebecca meant more to him than may have been wise, but he never gave up hope. Rebecca's fears and guilt kept her denying her feelings for a long time. There were some sweet scenes of evening conversations and growing attraction held in check by their circumstances. It isn't until they survive an extremely dangerous situation that they are willing to expose their vulnerabilities and be honest about their feelings.
The suspense of this story was really good. Though I didn't agree with what Rebecca did with the evidence she found, I understood why she did it. Her fear of losing her son to his father and grandfather was real and her desperation undeniable. The threats against her and Matthew's lives were the final straw. I was impressed with the way that she went about disappearing, making it more difficult to be tracked. Of course, it is only a matter of time until Rebecca's pursuers come looking for her. There are some terrific scenes highlighting the protectiveness of the Amish community. There is a frightening confrontation with her ex that leaves Rebecca injured and scared and with the knowledge that his partner isn't going to give up. The tension continues to build with the arrival of strangers asking questions and a case of mistaken identity putting innocents at risk. I was very impressed with Rebecca's strength and determination as she dealt with that event. The final confrontation was intense, with a real possibility of ending badly. Rescue came from an unexpected source in an unusual way that made for a fantastic conclusion.
The descriptions of the conflicts that both Rebecca and Daniel experienced because of their backgrounds made it very easy to understand what they were going through. I loved the descriptions of daily life as Rebecca remembered her summers with her grandparents. I really enjoyed some of young Matthew's reactions and seeing him adapt to his surroundings. The one that I ached for the most was Daniel as he tried to reconcile his Amish background with his need to protect and defend those he loved. I cried for his feelings of loss and isolation. I loved Rebecca's ability to understand what he was going through and her attempts to help him. I loved her description of him being a bridge between the two worlds. It was interesting to see his relationships with his family members through both his eyes and Rebecca's and their differing viewpoints. I loved how Daniel finally realized that he wasn't as alone as he thought he was.
I also enjoyed the way that Rebecca's family and their community looked out for her. From the various relatives along their journey to her arrival in Hadburg she was helped without question because she was family. The community around her was delightfully obtuse when questioned about her by strangers. I also loved how various members stepped up to offer her sanctuary when she was threatened, including Daniel's relatives. I especially loved his uncle and loved watching him with Matthew. Their methods of helping without going against their beliefs were impressive to see. Rebecca's Uncle Samuel made me tear up at the end with his understanding for Daniel and his fears.
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