Finding Her Amish Love. Rebecca Kertz

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      The girl’s clothes were torn in several places. He saw a rip near the pocket of her jacket and one across one knee of her jeans. She still had straw in her hair and a dirt smudge across her right cheek. What was her name? How old was she? He scowled at his interest. Did it matter?

      “I’m Daniel Lapp,” he said, opening the door and stepping inside the stall. “Leah’s cousin.”

      Surprise flickered in the girl’s brown eyes, but she didn’t move. “You’re her cousin?”

      Daniel inclined his head. “And you are?”

      “Jessica Morgan.” She bit her lip. “Jess.”

      “Well, Jess Morgan, if you come with me, I’ll take you to Leah.”

      She didn’t move, and he realized that she was afraid to trust him. Something shifted inside his chest. What happened in her young life to make her afraid? Why was she here in his cousin Ellie’s barn? Was she a runaway? Was her family half out of their mind with worry over her?

      He softened his expression. “If someone vouches for me, will you let me give you a ride to see her? Leah’s sister Ellie lives here now with her husband.”

      “You don’t live here?” she asked warily.

      “Nay.” Daniel headed toward the back door. “Reuben!” he called. “Would you get Ellie for me?”

      Reuben entered from outside. “Why? Is something wrong?”

      “There’s someone I’d like her to meet.” Daniel sent him a silent message with his gaze.

      “Ja, I’ll get her for you.” Curiosity glimmered in Reuben’s gaze, but he didn’t approach. Moments later, Ellie entered the structure, followed by her husband and her sister Charlie.

      “What’s wrong, Daniel? Reuben said you wanted to see me.”

      Daniel waved inside the stall. “I’d like you to meet someone and to tell her that I am who I say I am.”

      Frowning, Ellie approached with Charlie following until the sisters could see inside. Ellie saw the girl in the corner who hugged herself with her arms. His cousin met Daniel’s gaze with raised eyebrows. “Who is she?”

      “She says she knows Leah. Said they met last year.”

      Charlie stared at her. “Jessica?”

      The girl jerked and looked stunned. “How do you know my name?”

      Charlie smiled. “Leah.” Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at Daniel before turning back to the girl. “Come outside, Jess. My cousin Daniel is harmless,” she said with a casual gesture in his direction. “Most of the time,” she added teasingly.

      “Who is she?” Ellie asked.

      “She’s the girl Leah found sleeping in the barn last year.” Charlie studied her with compassion. “Are you all right?”

      The girl bobbed her head. She started toward the stall door until her gaze fell on Daniel and she halted. Understanding, Daniel stepped back to give her enough space to comfortably leave the stable. “Leah talked about me?” she said, looking upset as she inched toward the door.

      Charlie nodded. “She told me not long after she married. She was worried you’d come back and find her gone. She wanted us to know so we could bring you to her if you ever returned. But then you never came back. I told my sister Ellie just in case. She and Reuben live here now.” She looked thoughtful. “Leah left a bag for you in the barn for over a week, but you never came for it.”

      The English girl blushed. “I’m sorry. Something happened and I couldn’t come back.” She shifted her gaze briefly toward Daniel. “Besides, I’d already taken too much.”

      Daniel stiffened. Had she stolen from his cousin?

      As if sensing his thoughts, Charlie laughed. “She didn’t steal anything, Daniel. Leah gave what she wanted her to have.” She smiled at her. “Come and be willkomm.”

      His cousins headed toward the door, and he followed. The English girl hesitated as if afraid, until he smiled at her gently and motioned her to join them.

      He observed Jess in the bright sunshine and saw a young woman who was vulnerable...and beautiful. Startled by his thoughts, he looked away. When he glanced back, he saw that she avoided his gaze. “Will you let me take you to Leah?” he asked softly.

      She didn’t say anything but eyed him nervously as he locked gazes with her.

      “’Tis fine to go with him, Jess. Daniel is a gut man.” Charlie eyed her cousin with amusement.

      Daniel pretended to glare at his cousin then heard Jess’s sharp intake of breath, as if she didn’t understand that he’d been kidding with Charlie.

      “Would you like some breakfast?” Ellie asked. “I have plenty of muffins and fresh bread. And I can make you eggs and bacon.”

      “We can get breakfast on the way,” Daniel said impulsively, much to his own surprise. He wanted to be the one to feed her. He felt a surge of protectiveness toward Jess unlike he’d ever felt before, and he had no idea why.

      “Thanks, but I’m not hungry,” Jess said, but he didn’t believe her. “I’m fine.”

      Softening his expression, Daniel captured the girl’s gaze. “Are you ready to go?”

      “Yes.”

      “We’re pleased to meet you, Jess,” Ellie said. She slid a glance toward her husband, who watched curiously. “I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce my husband to you. Jess, this is Reuben. Reuben, Jessica, a friend of Leah’s.”

      “Nice to meet you,” Reuben said. He handed Daniel the two harnesses he’d given him.

      Jess smiled. “Same here.”

      “Reuben,” Daniel said, “Thanks for the harnesses.”

      Reuben nodded agreeably. “I’ll see you when you get back,” he said quietly. “If you don’t have time today, don’t worry about it.”

      Daniel watched as Ellie shifted closer to her husband. He could feel the love between the couple and felt a longing for a relationship like theirs. Charlie had the same loving relationship with her husband, Nate Peachy. As did his married brothers, Noah, Jedidiah, Elijah, Jacob and Isaac, with their wives. Soon, he thought, after he’d opened his harness shop.

      He set the harnesses in the back of the buggy, then turned to Jess, who now stood quietly beside him. When she would have climbed in, he stopped her. “Nay, over here.”

      She approached him slowly, cautiously, toward the other side of the buggy where he waited. He glanced at Charlie and saw her compassion for the girl in her eyes. He turned back and held out his hand. “Let me help you,” he said.

      She hesitated but then let him take her hand. Her fingers felt small СКАЧАТЬ