Kitabı oku: «Finding Her Amish Love»

Chapter One

Crickets chirped and frogs croaked, filling the stillness of the night, as Emma Beiler eyed the Amish farmhouse across the road. It was late, and she realized that everyone inside the house was asleep. She’d come to see the young Amish woman who’d helped her after she’d escaped briefly from her foster home fourteen months ago. She’d have to sleep in the barn until morning, a place she’d sought refuge previously.

Cold, she buttoned up her lightweight navy jacket. She had the feeling she was chilly because she hadn’t eaten a decent meal in over a week. Leah, the Amish woman she’d come to see, told her to return if she ever needed her help. Well, she desperately needed assistance now. She had to find a job and a place to live. Maybe Leah could give her guidance.

Emma crossed the street, then entered the barn by the back door. It was pitch-black inside, and once she closed the door, she pulled out a small penlight, the only thing she’d taken with her when she’d left Maryland besides some loose change. She switched on the light and made her way to the stall where she’d slept before. It was empty but laid with fresh straw. The last time, she’d slept with a dog. The puppy had made her feel better as he’d slept beside her when she’d been terrified of discovery.

She stepped into the stall, closed the half door and got comfortable. The scent of the straw soothed her. She was grateful that a horse hadn’t taken up residence there. The temperature was dropping, and she shivered. Ignoring her sore feet and legs, she curled onto her side. Soon, I’ll see Leah again. The knowledge eased her mind, and she allowed herself to relax.

She woke to daylight filtering in through the window over the loft. She’d slept hard and well. She started to rise when she heard the main door open, then the sound of male voices that grew louder as men approached. Emma slunk low into the far corner of the stall and covered herself with straw.

“Do you think ’tis a gut idea to build on to your house, Reuben?” a man said. “Surely it’s big enough. You’ll have no problem with church service. Missy and Arlin managed to fit everyone inside the house or the barn when they hosted here.”

“I don’t know, Daniel. Our congregation is growing. I want to do my part.”

“You can and you will,” the man called Daniel insisted. “Now what did you want me to see?”

Emma froze, terrified, as their voices grew louder. She didn’t want them to find her. She wanted to get out without anyone seeing her, then go up to the house to politely knock on the door, not get caught sleeping in a barn stall.

“Back here,” the man called Reuben said. “I thought you might want these for your harness shop.”

The men’s voices were close, and Emma relaxed only slightly as the sound grew distant again.

“Where did you get these?” the man called Daniel asked, sounding awed.

“Picked them up at a mud sale last year. Thought I’d use them, but I find I don’t need them. Take them. If nothing else, you can hang them next to the ones you carry once you open up shop.”

“Danki. If you’re sure you don’t want them.”

“Nay, Ellie has been after me to get rid of them.”

“I’ll use them,” Daniel said. “It won’t be long before I have enough money to rent a place.”

“Once you open your shop, then what?”

“Then I’ll see about finding a wife.”

The other man laughed, but she couldn’t hear his response. Emma heard the sound of the barn’s back door opening and the conversation receding as the men stepped outside. She didn’t budge. She hadn’t heard the sound of the closing door. Heart thumping hard, she lay as still as she could. After several moments of silence, she thought it might be safe to leave. Relief that she hadn’t been caught overwhelmed her, making her feel giddy. Or was the swimming sensation she felt from lack of food? She hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning when she’d finished the last of the granola bars she’d bought in a convenience store.

She sat up, then abruptly sneezed as a piece of straw tickled her nose. She stilled, listening for the noise of someone approaching. When all remained quiet, she started to stand, then froze as she sensed someone’s presence. She glanced toward the door and saw with mounting horror an Amish man staring at her over the half door of the stall. The man wore a black-banded straw hat, royal blue long-sleeved shirt and navy pants held up by dark suspenders. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. Their gazes locked. The frown on his face eased into amusement as he took in her appearance.

Shame made her hug herself with her arms. She scrambled to her feet, aware of her ragged jeans and the faded green T-shirt under her jacket. When his eyes shifted upward as if seeing something in her hair, Emma instinctively reached up, felt straw and blushed as she pulled it off. When his gaze met hers again, she stared back at him, refusing to be intimidated. She wasn’t afraid that he would hurt her. Her only fear was that he’d call the police and she’d be sent back to her foster family, the Turners.

“Did you have a nice sleep?” His deep, pleasant voice rumbled along her spine.

Daniel, she realized, and wondered why it had been easy to recognize his voice. “Yes.”

He eyed her narrowly, all signs of his amusement gone. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“I came to visit someone who lives here.”

The handsome man arched an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Leah,” she said. She saw a brief flicker of recognition in his gaze.

“Leah Mast?”

Emma bobbed her head. “She told me I could come back to see her.” She bit her lip. “So here I am.” She eased across the stall a few steps toward the door, but since he was blocking her escape, there was no place for her to go.

“There is no Leah Mast here.”

His tone made her tense. “I don’t know her last name, but she has blond hair and blue eyes. A pretty girl.”

“You know Leah.” He sounded doubtful, but the look in his eyes changed after she’d described her.

“Yes. We met last year.” She studied him carefully. He was an attractive man, a fact she couldn’t help noticing. “Are you her brother?”

“Nay.” He tilted his head. “Come out of there.”

Fear washed over her as she shook her head vigorously. He looked nice, but since moving in with the Turners, she’d learned that looks could be deceiving.

He frowned. “You believe I’d cause you harm?”

“No,” she breathed, and she believed it, but she couldn’t be too careful. “I just need to see Leah. Can you get her for me?”

“Leah no longer lives here,” Daniel said.

All her hopes quickly disappeared. Feeling faint, Emma closed her eyes briefly and swayed. Her stomach hurt, and she felt dizzy. “Then I’ll go,” she said.

He watched her carefully. “I can take you to her, if you like.” His smile appeared, but it was gone so fast that she wondered if it had been genuine. “She married and moved into Henry’s house. She’s Leah Yoder now.”

She eyed him with misgiving. Dare she trust him? “Where is she?”

“Not far. Leah and Henry run Yoder’s Country Crafts and General Store.” Daniel opened the door, and Emma backed into the other corner, hugging herself tighter. Concern entered his expression. “I won’t hurt you.”

“I know.”

“Then stop backing away from me.”

She didn’t know what to say. Logic told her that he wouldn’t hurt her. He was Amish and religious, right? Then she recalled attending church with Bryce Turner and his family, and she knew people pretended to be Christian when they weren’t.

Daniel Lapp studied the bedraggled girl in front of him with compassion. The fact that she described his cousin accurately eased some of the concern at finding her in the barn, but not all of it. Leah had lived here with her parents and sisters until each sister had wed and moved away, leaving their parents with a house that was too big for them. After his cousin Ellie married Reuben, the couple had switched houses with his aunt and uncle, her parents, Reuben’s smaller house a better fit for the older couple. The trade had worked well since Ellie and Reuben had a son and needed the larger space to expand their family.

Reuben had asked him to come. His cousin’s husband had been thinking of adding on to their great room. Daniel thought the expense of a renovation unnecessary, and he hoped that Reuben now agreed with him.

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 within his grip. He reached to place his other hand under her elbow, then heard her gasp and felt her stiffen as he lifted her easily onto the front passenger seat. He climbed in through the other side, grabbed the leathers, waved at the others, then drove out of the yard.

The girl remained silent as he pulled onto the road toward Yoder’s Country Crafts and General Store.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly. She shot him a wary glance, then inclined her head. “We can stop somewhere and eat.”

“No.” Jess glanced away. “I’m fine,” she said, but he sensed that she wasn’t.

Daniel wondered again why she’d come. Was she in some kind of trouble? He had so many questions, but he wasn’t going to pry. Yet.

Less than fifteen minutes later he flipped on his right turn signal and steered the horse into the parking lot next to the store. He felt Jess tense beside him. “Leah and her husband, Henry, own the store. They live in the house on the hill behind it.”

She exhaled on a sigh. “I hope she remembers me,” she murmured, looking nervous.

Her vulnerability made his heart melt. “She will.”

He saw her swallow hard. She seemed to pull into herself, and he felt the strangest urge to offer comfort. He steered his horse up to the hitching post. “Stay put,” he said.

Daniel climbed out of his vehicle, tied up his horse, then went to her side and extended a hand to help her. She looked at his fingers, then at him, then placed her small hand trustingly within his grasp. He was gentle as he set her onto the ground before releasing her.

“Are you ready to see Leah?”

Her lips curved slightly. “Yes.”

“Come,” he said, leading her into the store’s interior, which appeared dark after the bright morning sunlight.

Henry and Leah stood behind the counter, going over papers. They both looked up as the bells over the door rang and he approached with Jess. Leah smiled at him before her gaze settled on the girl next to him. She stared a moment as they came closer, and Daniel felt the tension in Jess beside him. Suddenly, his cousin’s eyes widened, and she grinned. “Jess!”

The girl beamed at his cousin. Witnessing the pure delight and warmth in her expression took his breath away. In that moment, he realized that she must be older than he’d first thought. A young woman. Something shifted inside him.

“You came back,” Leah said.

Daniel saw Jess nod. “I hope it’s okay,” she said.

“Ja, of course. I told you to come see me whenever you...” Her voice trailed off and a look of concern settled on Leah’s features.

It seemed to Daniel as if they were silently communicating.

“Come with me,” Leah said. She turned to her husband, who eyed Jess warily. “Henry, we’ll be up at the haus.”

Henry nodded. Leah gestured for Jess to round the counter and follow her. As she obeyed, Daniel saw Jess take in Leah’s pregnancy and freeze. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. You’re about to have a baby.”

Leah arched an eyebrow. “And that means I can’t talk with you?”

Jess blushed. “Of course not.”

“I’ll wait for you here,” Daniel told the girl.

She opened her mouth as if she would object. She promptly shut it without a word and nodded.

When both women had left, Henry turned to him. “Who is she?”

“Someone apparently Leah knows.”

“Where did you find her?”

“In Reuben’s barn. It looked as if she’d spent the night there.” Daniel’s gaze went toward the back of the store where the women had disappeared. He could already envision his cousin making Jess sit and forcing her to eat.

“Should I be worried about Leah being alone with her?”

Daniel hesitated. “I can’t say for sure, but my gut says that she’ll be fine. She was terrified when I found her. She came looking for Leah, said they’d met last year. Same way I found her probably. She says Leah discovered her in the barn asleep and offered to help her. I believe she’s a runaway.”

Henry frowned. “Maybe we should go up to the house.”

“We could, or we could trust that your wife is fine and knows what she’s doing. Clearly the women were happy to see each other.”

Daniel noted Henry’s softened expression and affectionate smile. “Leah is something. I still can’t believe I’m married to her.”

“Believe it, Henry. You’re not only wed to her, but she’ll be having your bobbli soon.”

A worried look came to Henry’s eyes. “I’m scared.”

“Of being a father?” Daniel was surprised.

“Nay, I want those babies more than anything. I worry for Leah and all she’ll have to endure to give birth. Reuben’s first wife...”

“I know,” Daniel said softly. “She died right after giving birth, but Leah isn’t Susanna, and she’s your wife. She’ll be fine.”

Henry looked as if he needed to be convinced. “I hope so.”

“I know so,” Daniel said with a grin. He glanced at the wall clock. He should head to work, but he had to stay to make sure the English girl didn’t need a ride. It seemed like an hour had gone by but was probably only ten minutes when he became concerned. “Want me to go up and check on them?”

“And anger Leah? Nay. I’ll stay right here. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of my wife. I was once, and I vowed to myself never to be there again.”

He needed to get to work. If he was ever to earn enough money to quit construction and open a business of his own, he had to show up at the job site.

But Daniel recalled Jess’s vulnerable expression and knew he couldn’t leave no matter how long it took for the women to return. He was torn between wariness and longing, an odd combination of feelings for a woman he barely knew—and an Englisher.

If the two women didn’t return after a half hour, he’d go up and risk Leah’s ire. He would ensure that both of them were fine. The mental image of Jess’s face lingered, and he felt anxious for some unknown reason.