Noah's Sweetheart. Rebecca Kertz

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      Charlotte’s expression softened. “I’ll call you when I’m ready to get some. I’ll scoop you a cup so we can eat it together.” The child looked pleased as she turned and ran back to sit with her sister and brothers. “That’s Ruth Peachy,” she told Rachel. “Abram’s youngest.”

      Rachel eyed the youngest Peachy child as the little girl ate carefully, mimicking her older sister. “She’s too young for my classroom.”

      Charlotte agreed. “She’s not yet four. She’s a pleasant girl. For some reason, she’s taken a liking to me.”

      “The reason is simple,” Rachel said. “You’re as pure-hearted as she is, and you treat her nicely.”

      “I like her.”

      Rachel smiled. “I can tell you do.”

      Suddenly, Rachel felt the back of her neck prickle. She turned, only to encounter Noah’s gaze.

      Charlotte stood and approached him. “Can I get you something?”

      Noah withdrew his gaze, turning his smiling attention to Charlotte. “Not unless you’re cutting the pies.”

      Charlotte chuckled. “We’ll be serving them soon, Noah.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re still hungry?” she teased.

      “Only for pie or cake.”

      “I’ll bring you a piece after we cut it,” she offered.

      Noah shook his head. “I’ll be back to get it myself.” His eyes met Rachel’s briefly as he left as quickly as he’d come.

      * * *

      Everyone enjoyed the cakes, pies and other sweets provided by the women. Noah had come for his piece of Rachel’s chocolate-cream pie, as promised. He appeared to relish every bite before he was back for more. Rachel couldn’t help feeling pleased that he took so much pleasure from it. Charlotte and Ruth Peachy sat side by side with their bowls of vanilla pudding. It seemed the most natural thing when Charlotte reached over to wipe pudding off the little girl’s mouth when Ruth was done. Rachel ate a tiny slice of shoofly pie and then enjoyed a small taste of Miriam Zook’s butter coffee cake. Soon, with bellies full and the time growing late, families began to gather their leftovers and their youngsters to leave.

      Later, only the Amos Kings and Rachel stayed behind to visit a little longer with the Samuel Lapps and to help Katie with the cleanup. As she collected dishes to bring to the kitchen, Rachel saw the older Lapp brothers begin to take apart the front-room tables. She had met all of Noah’s brothers this day. They were a fine bunch of young men and boys who teased each other while they worked together as a team. Hearing them reminded her of her own three brothers back home in Millersburg, and she got misty-eyed for a few seconds. There was at least one Lapp brother close in age to each of her brothers, Moses, David and Thomas, who were all younger than she. Today would be their day for Sunday visiting, too, and it did make her feel a little better to know that, in a way, things were the same here as back in Millersburg.

      The kitchen was clean, and the food was put away in Katie’s refrigerator and pantry or in dishes ready for the Kings to take home. The men had gone outside to look at Samuel’s new milk cow. Katie, Aunt Mae, Rachel and her cousins sat on the front porch. Katie bounced her baby daughter on her knee. Little Hannah had been happy and smiling since she’d woken from her nap and eaten. She seemed content to sit on her mother’s lap and gaze at the other women.

      Rachel studied the little girl and had the strongest urge to hold her. “May I?” she asked Hannah’s mother.

      “Ja. Don’t be alarmed if she fusses,” Katie warned as she surrendered her baby into Rachel’s outstretched arms.

      Baby Hannah cuddled against her without complaint. Rachel felt an overwhelming contentment as she rocked to and fro in the front-porch rocking chair, enjoying the warmth of the spring afternoon in the companionship of women she liked and respected.

      Soon it was time for the Kings to return home. They didn’t have far to go, but it was getting late and there would be time for the family to enjoy the rest of the day reading, playing games or just resting in the comfort of their own home. Rachel stood and handed Hannah back to her mother. To everyone’s surprise, Hannah fussed a little before she settled down as Katie stood, rocking her against her shoulder.

      “Good food and fine company,” Aunt Mae said. “A perfect Sunday visiting.”

      Rachel and her cousins agreed. “Ja, and the weather is fine,” Nancy added. They went inside to gather their dishes and the leftovers given to them by their hostess.

      “It’s been a gut day,” Rachel said as she prepared to descend the porch steps. There was no sign of the men yet, but she expected them to appear at any moment.

      Katie smiled as she continued to pat her daughter’s back. “I enjoyed your company.” Her gaze shot past Rachel toward the barnyard. “You’ll come again soon. Don’t wait until next Sunday’s church services to see us.”

      Rachel murmured agreement as she glanced back to see Samuel, her uncle Amos, Noah and three of his brothers as they stepped from the barn and started toward the house. She watched the men’s approach, trying not to look too much at Noah, but it was Noah who drew her attention. When she realized that he watched her, she felt her face warm and quickly glanced away.

      With a dish in hand, she followed Charlotte as her cousin crossed the yard toward their buggy. Suddenly, Charlotte stopped and Rachel nearly bumped into her.

      “Noah, would you like any of these cookies?” Charlotte asked. “Annie Zook made them.”

      Rachel didn’t hear his response. She was trying desperately to move away, to give them time to visit alone. But as she hurried to turn, she tripped, and it was Noah who was suddenly there to steady her, his hand warm through her long dress sleeve.

      Blushing, Rachel was saved from having a conversation with him when Aunt Mae appeared to urge them into the buggy. She could feel Noah’s gaze as she climbed inside. She didn’t glance back, but kept her eyes trained ahead.

      Rachel hated that he had this strange effect on her. She had to avoid him as best she could without things appearing odd to anyone. Earlier in the day, several of the neighbor women had wondered aloud why Noah and Charlotte had not begun to court openly yet, but even if they were not official sweethearts, Rachel would not interfere. “It’s only a matter of time,” Miriam Zook had assured a small group of women when neither Katie nor Aunt Mae was present.

      Since then, every time Rachel was affected by Noah’s presence, she felt a sense of betrayal toward her cousin, guilty about the way Noah made her feel. She knew what it felt like to be betrayed...and it was the worst thing she’d ever experienced.

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