Noah's Sweetheart. Rebecca Kertz

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СКАЧАТЬ gasped for breath, unable to answer. He saw only the top of her black bonnet as she bent forward, hugging herself with her arms.

      He climbed down from the horse carefully, patting the animal’s neck, speaking to it softly, reassuringly.

      “Noah, you could have been killed.” A man ran up to help Noah. He took hold of the horse’s bridle, freeing Noah from the task.

      “Danki, William,” Noah said, recognizing a neighbor and fellow church member, William Mast. He didn’t want to think about what could have happened if things hadn’t gone his way.

      With growing concern, he approached the occupant in the buggy, stopping at her side. “Are you hurt?” he repeated softly.

      Sitting back, she shook her head. “Nay.”

      “What happened to spook your horse?”

      He watched her pull herself together enough to stiffen. “Not my horse,” she replied. “Not my buggy.”

      She met his gaze head-on, and he felt a jolt. She had lovely dark eyes, but her pallor was sickly, and he saw that she trembled. “I’m sorry,” he said, not really knowing for what. “Are you cold?” He stood back and took off his coat, placing it over her shoulders and around her. “You are shaking.”

      She released a solid breath. “I could have been killed. You saved me. Danki.” A shy smile lit up her face, and in that moment he felt his pulse quicken as he noticed every little detail about her...the warmth of her chocolate-brown gaze, the whiteness of her smooth skin, her small nose...the rosy pink of her lips...the glimpse of her white kapp beneath her black traveling bonnet. The sweep of hair from a center part across her forehead was dark. She wore a black cape over a dress of spring green.

      “I was happy to help.” He offered his hand to help the woman alight from the buggy. He sensed her hesitation for only a moment, and then he felt the warmth of her fingertips as she accepted his assistance.

      “Rachel!” Aaron Troyer approached at a run. He nodded at William, who gave possession of the horse’s bridle to its owner. The animal’s sides were caked with sweat, and it was trembling all over.

      “Are you all right?” Aaron asked Rachel as he ran his hand over the horse’s neck and murmured soothingly to it.

      “I am fine, Aaron. Thanks to—”

      “Noah,” Noah supplied. “Noah Lapp.”

      “Noah,” Aaron said, out of breath. “I’m grateful.” Then to the woman he said, “I didn’t realize that Josef would be so easily scared. My brother meant for you and Martha to take Daisy.”

      “Is Josef all right?” She appeared concerned.

      “Ja, with some care, he will be fine.”

      “Noah! Noah! Are you hurt?” Charlotte called out from the wagon seat. “You could have been killed! When I saw you jump onto that horse, I was afraid you’d fall and be crushed—” She had steered the wagon to within yards from where the buggy had come to a full stop.

      “You doubt my ability with horses?” he teased. Upon seeing her expression, he sobered. “I’m fine, Charlotte.”

      Charlotte’s gaze settled on the woman standing next to the buggy and her eyes widened. “Rachel? Rachel Hostetler?”

      The woman seemed to search her memory before her features brightened. “Charlotte!” she exclaimed. “I am surprised that you got my message so quickly.”

      “We didn’t.” Charlotte climbed down from the wagon. “We were in town to pick up supplies for Mam and Noah’s vadder. We didn’t expect you to arrive until tomorrow.”

      “The English driver my family hired had to leave a day earlier. He had a family emergency and apologized that he couldn’t drive me directly to Happiness. He left me at Troyers’ Buggy Excursions. I called the number your mam sent me from a payphone while I waited for a ride.”

      “Ja.” Charlotte nodded. “Whittier’s Store. They take messages for us.”

      Surprised, Noah watched and listened to the exchange with growing interest. The two women talked as if there was no one else around. “Charlotte?”

      Charlotte looked startled as if she suddenly remembered there were others nearby, waiting for an introduction.

      “Noah, this is Rachel Hostetler. She is our new schuul teacher—” Charlotte smiled “—and my cousin. Aaron—it seems that you have already met.”

      “You’re Charlotte’s kin?” Noah asked, pleased to learn that he’d be seeing more of her. Rachel nodded. “And you are a schoolteacher,” he said. “At our Happiness school?”

      Rachel studied him and nodded. “Ja.”

      “Welcome to Lancaster County,” he said. “Come. We’ll take you home.”

      * * *

      The intensity of Noah’s regard captured her gaze. Feeling her cheeks heat, Rachel quickly looked away. She felt the warmth of his coat and, embarrassed, she removed it and handed it back to him.

      “Rachel, let’s go,” Charlotte urged, drawing Rachel’s attention and saving her from acting foolish. “You will come with us—ja?”

      “We’re going for ice cream,” Joshua said.

      “I don’t know now, Joshua,” his sister said. “Rachel has had a terrible fright. She may want to go straight home.”

      Rachel studied the young boy seated in the back of the wagon. “You’re Joshua—and such a big boy! I’m your cousin Rachel. We’ve never met. The last time I saw your sister was years ago, when we were eleven and twelve, I think.” She looked to Charlotte, who nodded.

      “We’re not going for ice cream?” Young Joshua looked crestfallen.

      “No, I think I’d like to have ice cream,” Rachel said, and then asked Joshua, “What kinds can we choose from?”

      She did feel a bit shaky, she realized, as Joshua began to list the many flavors of ice cream available, but she didn’t mind stopping for the treat first. It might help to put away the thought of what could have happened if not for the sudden appearance of Noah Lapp.

      Rachel sensed the intensity of her rescuer’s look, but refused to meet his gaze. She felt as though she was still wrapped in the warmth of his coat.

      “Let’s go, then,” Noah said quietly. “I’ll get your bag.”

      Only then did she glance his way. His soft, quick smile in her direction did odd things to her insides.

      “Are you certain, Rachel?” Charlotte asked.

      She nodded at her cousin. “I have the Lord to thank for my safety. The Lord and your friend Noah Lapp.”

      “I’m so glad that Mam needed some things in town or we may not have been here when...”

      Rachel СКАЧАТЬ