Noah's Sweetheart. Rebecca Kertz

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      Chapter Four

      Noah stood on the front porch of the Lapp family farmhouse, watching as neighbors and friends drove their horses into the yard and parked in line with the other gray family buggies. All of the male Samuel Lapps—from their father Samuel to his youngest son, Joseph—were dressed in their black Sunday best. They stood, offering greetings and handshakes as the Amish men from other households joined them on the porch, while the women bustled into the house to join Katie in the kitchen.

      The Kings’ gelding trotted down the lane and turned into the yard. Noah felt an odd sensation in the pit of his stomach as the family alighted from the buggy and crossed toward the house.

      He nodded to Charlotte’s father as Amos climbed the porch steps and joined them. “Fair weather this day,” he said, and the man agreed. Conscious of the women, especially Rachel, who got out of the buggy last, he turned his attention first to little Joshua, who had run up to the house. “Have any ice cream lately?”

      “Nay.” Joshua scowled. His eyes suddenly lit up. “Can we go this week?”

      “If there is time for a trip into town.”

      “Joshua!” Charlotte scolded as she climbed up the stairs. “What did I tell you about bothering Noah?”

      “I wasn’t bothering him.” He looked up at Noah with big eyes. “Was I?”

      “Nay, Joshua,” Noah replied and then grinned at Charlotte. “What’s that you’re carrying?” he asked her. “Could it be chocolate cake?”

      Charlotte’s eyes twinkled. “Shoofly pie.”

      Noah knew the exact moment when Rachel climbed the first step of his family home. She was wearing a blue dress with black apron and cape. This day her bonnet and the prayer kapp covering her dark hair were both black. She was lovely, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her sweet face. “And what do you have there?” he asked, casually, forcing himself to study the pie in her arms. “Another chocolate-cream pie?”

      “Ja.” She met his gaze but then quickly glanced away.

      “I think I’d like some of that pie,” he murmured softly for her ears only as she hurried past, following in her cousin’s footsteps.

      “That was the new schoolteacher?” Jedidiah said.

      Noah narrowed his gaze on his older brother. “I thought you saw her when she came to help Mam.”

      Jedidiah, watching the arrival of another buggy, shook his head. “Dat and I were finishing up at the schuulhaus.” His attention fixed on Abram Peachy as he climbed out of his buggy and helped his five children to alight. “I heard you got your fields planted,” he called to Abram.

      Abram waved his children into the house. “The weather held, thanks be to God.”

      “You meet the new schoolteacher yet?” Jedidiah asked, and Noah glanced at his brother sharply before turning to gauge Abram’s response.

      “Nay,” Abram said. “I hear she’s a King cousin from Ohio.” He seemed to exhibit only polite interest.

      Noah felt himself relax. “Ja. Rachel Hostetler.”

      “Nice girl,” Noah’s father said.

      Jedidiah elbowed his brother. “I hear you were the great rescuer the other day.”

      Noah shrugged. “’Twas nothing.”

      “Not from what my daughter tells me,” Amos King said.

      Abram suddenly looked interested. “Something happen in town?”

      “Ja,” little Joshua piped up, as he returned from inside to stand with the men. “Aaron Troyer’s horse spooked, and Noah saved cousin Rachel from crashing.”

      Abram smiled. “From crashing what?”

      Joshua pulled himself up and tugged on the bottom of his small black coat. At seven, he was a miniature version of his father. “The buggy! The horse was galloping right down the middle of the road, and he took Rachel and the buggy with him. Noah had to jump onto the horse’s back while he was still running to stop him. The СКАЧАТЬ