Kitabı oku: «Finding Her Amish Love», sayfa 2

Chapter Two

Feeling guilty for deceiving her Amish friend, Emma followed Leah out of the back of the store and up a small incline to a white house. They entered through the kitchen. The room was spotless, with oak cabinets and a pie on the white kitchen countertop. She glanced at it briefly, then looked away and prayed that her stomach wouldn’t rumble from hunger.

“Have a seat.” Leah gestured toward a trestle table. It was large, rectangular and made of oak with six chairs. “How do you like your hot tea?”

Emma blushed. “I don’t know.”

The Amish woman studied her with surprise. “You never had hot tea?”

She shook her head. “I’ve had iced tea a couple of times.” Emma managed a smile. “I liked it sweet.”

Leah grinned. “Then you’ll want sugar in your hot tea.”

She watched silently as her friend filled the teakettle with water and set it on the stove. Emma felt like she should do something to help. She was never allowed to simply sit for a moment and be idle in the Turner household. “Can I help you?”

“Nay, I’ve got this.”

“I’m sorry to barge in on you.”

“I’m happy to see you, Jess. ’Tis been a long time.” Leah paused. “I was worried about you.”

Warmth rushed through Emma, overriding the guilt that had crept in hearing her false name on Leah’s lips. “You were?”

The woman nodded. “I knew something was wrong when we met. I wanted to help.”

“You did,” Emma whispered. “More than you’ll ever know.”

“Tell me what you’ve been doing since I last saw you.”

“When you found me, I’d run from my foster family.” Her throat tightened as Emma thought of her deceased parents. “I lost my parents when they were killed in a car accident.” She blinked against the tears that always came whenever she recalled that horrible time. “I was eleven. There was no family to care for me, so I was put into foster care. The Turners are the second family I’ve been placed with.” She shuddered and hugged herself. “They’re not nice people, so I’ve run away from them again.” She paused as Leah placed a cup of steaming tea before her.

“Be careful,” Leah warned. “’Tis very hot.”

Emma nodded. She added sugar and stirred it into her cup. She stared at the swirling liquid for a long time.

“Jess?”

“Yes, sorry.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t want to go back, but if they find me, I’ll have no choice.” She stopped. “A few days after I left the safety of your barn, I was picked up by the police in downtown Lancaster.” Embarrassment made her blush. “I was searching for food.”

“For food?”

“Yes, near a dumpster,” she murmured, ashamed. But she’d been hungry, and hunger had made her do things that she normally wouldn’t do. “The Turners filed a missing persons report.” Emma laughed harshly. “Once I was returned to them, my situation there got worse.” She didn’t want to confess about the abuse, and Leah didn’t need to know what she’d endured before she’d escaped. Leah’s ignorance would keep her friend safe from harm should Bryce Turner find Emma again. She gingerly took a sip of the hot tea. The warmth felt good in her throat. The taste was delicious, just sweet enough to make the brew go down easily. She felt stronger with that one sip.

“You ran away again,” Leah said. “Tell me about them.”

She looked up from her tea mug. “If it’s okay, I’d rather not.” She took another fortifying sip. “All I can tell you is that they don’t care about me. They are only interested in the money the state of Maryland pays them for my care.” She gestured at her clothes. “I was unhappy there. I had to leave, and I need to find a place to work and live until I turn eighteen, when I’ll be free from the foster care system.”

Leah frowned. “Jess—”

“Please, Leah,” Emma said. “I think it’s best if you don’t know.” Without thought, she rubbed her arms.

Frowning, Leah rose and skirted the table. “What’s wrong with your arms?”

Emma blushed and looked away. “Nothing.”

“I want to see your arms, Jess. If there is nothing wrong with them, you won’t mind if I take a look. There is something you’re not telling me.” Leah paused. “Please?”

She sighed. “If I show you, will you promise you won’t tell anyone?” Emma regarded Leah solemnly. “Not even Henry or Daniel?”

“I promise,” Leah said, although she looked extremely uncomfortable.

She stood and took off her jacket. Her long-sleeved T-shirt was thin, and Emma resisted the urge to put her jacket back on. Instead, she hesitated, then pulled up her right sleeve as high as the inside bend of her elbow. Her arm was covered with bruises, but the worst of them remained hidden near her shoulders. When she saw Leah’s changing expression, she knew she’d already shown her Amish friend too much.

Leah gasped. “Ach, nay, Jess. Who did this to you?”

“It doesn’t matter now. I’m not going back.”

“Your foster father did this?”

Emma nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Emma gazed at her, confused.

“For what was done to you.”

She smiled. “You’ve been very kind, and you’ve made a difference in my life from the first moment I met you.” Emma held her gaze. “You gave me food and the twenty dollars you left for me when I came back the next night.”

Leah arched an eyebrow. “What twenty dollars?” But there was warmth in her pretty blue eyes and a smile on her lips. Leah Yoder was genuinely beautiful inside and out.

Emma was relieved to be here with the young Amish woman. She’d never felt so safe since she’d been sent to live with the Turners. It was as if Leah was a true friend, and she definitely needed one. She thought of Daniel Lapp and the way he’d looked at her, as if she’d come to cause trouble for his cousin. But then his expression had changed as he’d watched her a little while later. As if he worried about her, despite his concern for his family. She was wrong. She shouldn’t have come back, bringing her problems to Leah. She just hoped for some advice, then she’d leave Leah in peace...and safety.

“How long is it before you turn eighteen?” Leah asked.

“Five weeks.”

“And you need a job,” the Amish woman said.

Emma nodded. “Yes.”

“And a place to live.” Leah looked thoughtful. “You also need a place where you can hide until you’re free of the foster care system.”

Looking away, Emma stood. “Yes. I’m not here to cause you trouble. You can imagine what my foster family is like. But you know the area well, so if you could point me in the right direction, I’ll get out of your hair.” Dread and sadness filled her as she stood. “I shouldn’t have come. You have your family to worry about.”

“Please sit down, Jessica.”

She blinked and obeyed.

“I have a solution to your problem.”

Hope flickered in her heart. “You do?”

“Henry and I need help. I’m going to hire you to work in the store. You can live with my parents, who have a spare room. I only ask that you help them with chores if they need it.” She paused. “Is that agreeable to you?”

Emma allowed the tears to fall. “Yes,” she whispered. “Very agreeable.” She inhaled sharply. “But I shouldn’t accept. If my foster father comes here looking for me...”

Leah covered Emma’s hands with her own. “I’m not worried about him. Besides, he won’t find out you’re here among us.” She smiled. “You’ll be a big help to me. Before long, I won’t be able to work for a while.” She patted her belly. “I’m having twins.”

“Twins!” Emma held her gaze. “You must be so happy about them.”

“I’m thrilled. I love Henry, and I already love our babies,” Leah said gently.

She grinned. “I’m happy for you, Leah. You deserve everything good life has to offer.”

“Danki.” Leah rose and went to the refrigerator. “Now before we do anything else, I’m feeding you, then you can take a shower.”

It sounded wonderful to her. She must have said it aloud because Leah laughed.

Emma hesitated. “May I wash my hands before I eat?”

Leah directed her to a small downstairs bathroom. Emma continued to fight tears as she washed her hands and face. Feeling overwhelmed and emotional, she experienced hope for the first time in a long time. Hope tinged with a feeling of concern for accepting her friend’s offer. There was no mirror in the room, but she could imagine how awful she must look after days on the road and having slept in the barn.

Emma managed to gain control of her emotions as she wolfed down the turkey sandwich Leah fixed for her. After she finished, she then ate the piece of an apple pie that Leah pressed on her.

“Come with me,” Leah said after Emma was done eating.

She followed Leah out of the kitchen, then upstairs to a bathroom with a shower. She glanced down at her dirty clothes and grimaced at the thought of putting them on again.

Leah turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature. “Wait here a moment.” She returned within minutes with clean clothes.

Emma eyed the royal blue Amish dress, and her throat tightened with emotion. “Leah, I can’t take your clothes.”

“Of course you can. Until we can get you several garments of your own.” To Emma’s surprise, Leah took her hand. “Jess, think about it. Hiding in plain sight, you can live among us freely. No one would suspect an Amish girl of being a runaway foster child.”

Emma hadn’t thought about that. “That does sound like a good plan.”

“Gut,” Leah said, pronouncing it with an accent. “Gut, not good. But don’t worry, I’ll teach you a few phrases that will make your place here convincing.”

“Thank you.”

“Danki,” Leah instructed.

“Danki,” Emma said, and the Amish woman beamed at her.

“When you’re done here, come downstairs. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Okay. Danki.”

“Ja, danki,” Leah corrected with a laugh.

Emma grinned at her before the woman closed the door, leaving her alone to ponder her new temporary life. She cleaned up and changed into the Amish clothes Leah had provided. She knew she wouldn’t have trouble fitting in. After all, she’d been raised in an Amish community until she was six years old. She knew how to speak high German, although she couldn’t let on. She’d have to allow the others to teach her a few words or they would suspect that she and her parents had left their Amish community for the English world and been shunned by their family and friends for their decision to leave.

“We need to come up with an Amish name for you,” Leah said. She looked thoughtful for a moment. “How about Emma? You can be my cousin Emma Stoltzfus from New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.”

“Emma?” she breathed, shocked by Leah’s choice.

Leah smiled. “Ja. What do you think?”

Emma smiled back. “I think it will be easy for me to answer to that name.”

“What’s taking them so long?” Daniel said. He’d brought a stranger into Leah’s life and home. He was worried, although Leah said she knew the girl.

“Knowing my wife,” Henry said, “she’s feeding Jess over a long conversation.”

“You’re not concerned?”

His cousin’s husband shook his head. “Nay, I know Leah. She has gut instincts. If she trusts the girl, then I do, too.”

“Maybe I should go up to the haus.” Daniel couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had come since the discovery of the girl in the barn.

“You’ll upset not only Jess but Leah as well. Do you want to upset your cousin?” Henry asked with a look of amusement.

Daniel couldn’t help a smile. Henry had hurt Daniel’s brother Isaac, who had been his best friend, and his cousin Leah had resented him because of it. Even though Henry and Isaac had become close again, Leah hadn’t liked or trusted Henry until she’d gotten to know the man’s true nature. After forgiving Henry, she’d fallen in love with him. Leah had never been happier as Henry’s wife. The fact that she would give birth soon added a new, higher level of happiness to the man on the other side of the counter.

“Are you hoping for a soohn or dochter?” Daniel asked.

“One of each or two of either,” Henry said with a smile. “As long as they are healthy.”

He laughed. “That will take time.”

Henry shook his head. “Nay. We’re having twins.”

“Twins!” Daniel grinned. “You’re in for it as a parent. You do know I have twin brothers, ja? I remember all the trouble they got into.”

“We’ll handle them,” the other man said with confidence. “You forget who their mother is.”

Daniel laughed. “I’m sure you’re right. Leah is one determined woman.”

“Praise be to Gott,” Henry breathed. “They’re back,” he said as if Daniel hadn’t heard a door open and shut in the back of the store.

He waited for Leah and Jess to appear.

Leah entered first. “I’d like you to meet someone. Her name is Emma.” She looked back. “Emma? Come in and meet my husband, Henry, and my cousin Daniel.”

Daniel frowned. What had happened to Jess? Had she left as he’d expected? Then Emma entered the room and he stared. It was Jess but not. The young woman standing before him was clean and wore a blue Amish dress, white cape and apron. Leah had rolled and pinned Jess’s hair in the Amish way. On her head, she wore a prayer kapp. Her hair was brown with golden streaks.

“Jess?”

“Emma,” the girl who now looked like a woman said. “My name is Emma.” She glanced at Leah, saw his cousin’s nod. “Emma Stoltzfus.”

“What?” Daniel looked to his cousin.

“Emma, my cousin from New Wilmington, has consented to be our new employee. She will be staying with my parents and helping them with chores.”

Henry locked gazes with his wife, then looked at “Emma.” “Welcome, Emma. We can use the help around here. Once you get settled in with my in-laws, we can discuss your work hours.”

Leah gazed at her husband approvingly before she captured Daniel’s attention with a look that pleaded to trust her. Daniel gave a little nod. “Will you take her to my eldre?” she asked him.

“Ja.” He turned to “Emma.” The girl looked different enough for him to almost believe that she was Emma, a totally different person from the one he’d found in the barn. Emma Stoltzfus was a young woman while Jess Morgan had been a bedraggled girl. “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded shyly. “Ja,” she replied.

Leah grinned. “Gut!”

Emma’s lips curved into a smile that stole his breath. “Danki.”

Daniel chuckled. “I’ll bring her back tomorrow morning. What time?”

“You don’t have to bring me,” Jess, alias Emma, said. “I can walk.”

“I’ll bring you.” Daniel kept his tone gentle. “’Tis too far for you to walk.” He turned to Leah. “Will you please reassure Emma that she can trust me?”

Leah appeared as if she were struggling. He saw Emma studying his cousin with concern until Leah laughed. “I wouldn’t send you with him if I didn’t trust him. He’s family.” She refocused her gaze on him. “Nine? Dat will be able to show her what to do for morning chores.”

Daniel nodded. “Nine o’clock, then.” He gestured for Emma to precede him, then followed her to his buggy. He hoped his cousin knew what she was doing. Emma looked like an Amish woman, but the fact remained that she was still an Englisher—a homeless Englisher who, up until a short time ago, looked as if she’d been on her own for a long while. He’d be keeping his eye on her. Leah might have good instincts, as Henry had suggested, but Leah was pregnant, and her outlook on life had softened with her impending motherhood.

He couldn’t let the strange feelings of protectiveness he started to feel for Emma stop him from observing her closely. Until she proved trustworthy, he’d be watching her like a hawk.

Chapter Three

Emma was silent as Daniel steered his buggy toward his uncle’s house. The way she’d worked her way so easily into his cousin’s life bothered him. He glanced at her numerous times, but she wouldn’t look at him. She kept her gaze toward the side window. The fact that she didn’t interact with him only increased his suspicion of her.

“Emma,” he said, drawing her attention. “If you hurt Leah, her parents or anyone else within this community, I’ll see that you’re tossed out of it. Do you understand?” Expression serious, although he thought he’d detected a brief flash of fear, she nodded. “And I’ll call the authorities.”

She gasped and paled, her face so white that he feared she would faint. He hadn’t expected that reaction. Startled, he pulled his buggy off the road and parked, then faced her.

“Emma,” he said gently, “what’s going on? Why are you afraid?”

“The police can’t know where I am.”

He stiffened. “Why not?”

“Because I can’t go back. I won’t go back. They’ll hurt me, and I’ll just run away again.”

Daniel instinctively reached out to touch her arm. She flinched and shifted away from him. Something was seriously wrong. He eyed her with compassion. “Go back where, Emma?” he asked, purposely using her new name. “Who will hurt you?”

“My foster family.”

He felt chilled. “They hurt you?”

She nodded.

“How?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He frowned. Something was fishy.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be.”

“How did they hurt you, Emma?”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

Daniel felt anger, even though he knew it was wrong. How could he not when clearly someone had hurt her? She wouldn’t tell him, and that was fine. But someday he’d learn the truth. He couldn’t stop his protective instincts from roaring up in full force.

“I won’t press you,” he said. He could only hope that she wasn’t lying.

To his surprise, she smiled, a small, shy smile that lit up her face and made him startlingly aware of how pretty she was. “Danki.”

“How old are you?” he asked, curious. “Sixteen?”

She shook her head.

He experienced warmth as he studied her. “Seventeen then.”

She stared at him with surprise. “How did you know?”

“You’re seventeen. You’ve taken a job at my cousin’s store and you’ll be living with my aunt and uncle. You obviously have no family, and Leah is clearly protective of you. You don’t want the police to find out that you’re here. That could mean one of two things. Either you’re in trouble with the law or you need a place to stay until you turn eighteen when you’ll be free of the foster care system.” He held her gaze. “I’m inclined to believe you haven’t committed a crime.” He turned his attention back to the road before him. “Am I right?”

She blinked rapidly, clearly disturbed by his deduction. “Ja, you’re not wrong.”

He smiled. “Gut accent.”

“Danki.”

His amusement died as she carefully played with the edge of her dress sleeve. “Leah is right. This is the best place for you.” Although the secret deception felt wrong. “How about I take you to meet Leah’s parents—eldre?”

“Are they nice? Leah’s eldre?”

“Ja, you’ll like them.” And he knew they would accept her into their home without a moment’s hesitation. “Missy and Arlin Stoltzfus are fine people. Arlin is my mam’s brother.”

As he drove on to his aunt and uncle’s house, Daniel tried further to engage her in conversation and get her to open up. She might be only seventeen, but he had a feeling that everything she’d been forced to endure had made her seem much older than her years.

“What happened to your family?”

“They died in a car crash when I was eleven,” she said.

“Brothers or sisters?”

She shook her head. “I was an only child. I have no other family.”

Daniel couldn’t imagine being alone with no family. He’d been raised with seven siblings. That Jess—Emma—had suffered such loss as a child was more than a little upsetting to him. “You lived with your foster family all this time?”

“No,” she said. “My first foster parents were wonderful.” She grew quiet for a moment, then said, “They couldn’t take care of me after my foster father got sick.” He saw her blink rapidly as if fighting tears. “I don’t know if he is alive or dead,” she admitted.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Talking about her past was painful. Emma stared out the side window and sensed the long sideward looks that Daniel gave her. She faced him. “What?”

“I’m impressed by your courage,” Daniel murmured.

“What courage? I ran away from a bad situation.”

“Ja, you did, and it was the best thing for you. You didn’t know what would happen when you left, yet you went. You were brave.”

She looked at him and was amazed to see that he meant what he’d said. She gaped, speechless.

He grinned, then turned onto a dirt driveway that led up to a small white two-story house. “Relax,” he told her with a smile. “My aunt and uncle are gut people. Remember they’re also Leah’s parents.”

She felt her tension dissipate. If this couple had raised Leah, then they had to be good people. A woman doesn’t turn out that kind without having a loving family and home.

Emma stared at the house without moving. Daniel’s sudden presence on her side of the buggy startled her. His gentle expression eased her fears. He held out a hand, and she accepted his help. Did he suspect that she was bruised? No, he couldn’t possibly know about the bruises. It would be some time before they’d be healed enough to no longer be sensitive, but the dress covered her arms enough to keep them hidden until they disappeared. Daniel startled her when he kept gentle hold of her hand after she got out. He released it to knock on the side door of the house. Within seconds, the woman who appeared saw Daniel, and her eyes lit up as she smiled. “Daniel! Come in.”

“I’ve brought you a houseguest,” he said. “Leah sent her.”

The woman who must be Leah’s mother opened the door wider with a huge inviting smile for her. “Come in.”

“Emma,” Daniel supplied for her.

Emma hesitated until Daniel’s hand on her back urged her forward.

“Tea?” Missy invited.

“I could do with a quick cup,” Daniel said. “Emma?”

“Ja, danki.”

Missy looked at her strangely before she turned to put the kettle on.

“There is something you need to know,” Emma began when the woman took a seat across from her and Daniel, who had chosen to sit by her side. “I’m a runaway. Leah is my friend. She’s given me a job at the store and invited me to stay in your spare room.” She paused. “And I’m now a cousin from New Wilmington.”

Missy studied her intently. “Emma?”

“Ja?” She tensed.

Leah’s mother smiled. “Welcome home,” she said, and Emma was unable to control the tears that overflowed to trail down her cheeks. Tears of relief and happiness that she’d been given a second chance to feel safe and loved.

Daniel studied his aunt, then observed the young English woman seated next to him. He was startled that she’d been so forthright with his aunt. If anyone would be able to make life better for Emma, it was Missy and Arlin Stoltzfus. He drank his tea, ate two homemade chocolate brownies, then rose. “I need to talk with Reuben briefly before I head to work this afternoon.” He met the Englisher’s gaze. “Emma,” he said, “you’ll be oll recht?”

She smiled. “Ja, I’ll be fine.”

“Gut.”

“I’ll see you on Sunday if not before,” he told his aunt.

“Ja, give your mudder my best.” Missy smiled. “Please tell her that I might not be able to make it to quilting on Wednesday.”

“I’ll tell her.” Daniel’s gaze slid over Emma, and he was glad to see her relaxed with a small smile on her face as she moved to stand next to him. He addressed her. “You, I’ll see in the morning. I have to be at work at nine tomorrow, so I’ll pick you up at eight thirty.” He turned toward his aunt. “Will that give Emma enough time to do morning chores?”

Surprise flickered across his aunt’s expression, then came understanding. “More than enough time.”

To Daniel’s surprise, Emma excused herself to his aunt and followed him outside.

“Daniel,” she whispered. He halted and faced her. “Danki for everything.” Her expression was earnest, open and honest.

He smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

To his satisfaction, she simply nodded and went back inside. He left with the image of her bright brown eyes gazing at him with gratitude. He didn’t want her gratitude. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, but it wasn’t for her to feel beholden to him.

He drove back to see Leah first. It wasn’t afternoon yet, so he had a little time to talk with his cousin about the young woman in her parents’ home. When he pulled in next to the hitching post on the side of the building, he waited a moment, his thoughts whirling with questions that needed answering. He got out, tied up his gelding, then went into the building. Henry was behind the counter.

“Is your wife here?” he asked.

“She went up to the house, but she’ll be right back.”

“I’ll wait. I need to talk with her.” He paused. “About Emma.”

“Leah’s idea,” Henry supplied.

Daniel blinked. “What?”

“She picked Emma as Jess’s identity while she’s here, because ’tis a fine name for an Amish girl.”

“What did Leah tell you about her?”

“That she lost her parents when she was eleven.”

Daniel nodded. “Ja, she told me.”

Henry looked surprised. “What else did she say?”

“That she ran from her foster family.” Daniel frowned. “She didn’t say much, but what she fears most is being sent back to them.”

“I’m shocked that she told you about her past. She had a hard time telling Leah, and she considers Leah her friend.”

“I think Emma feels vulnerable.” Feeling sheepish, Daniel averted his glance. “I warned her against hurting anyone. Told her I’d call the police if she did.”

“Ach, nay,” Henry breathed.

“Ja.” He met the man’s gaze again. “She was terrified and explained.” Something about her drew him in to help her. He didn’t know why. She was an Englisher with different ideals and morals. She could be lying to them, but still he sensed something innocent about her.

Her cousin’s husband agreed. “Here’s Leah now.”

“How do you always know when your wife is near?”

Henry’s lip curved, and his eyes glowed with warmth. “Because she is my life.”

Daniel stared at him. It was clear that Henry meant every word. “You’re most fortunate to have such strong love in your marriage.”

“You shouldn’t marry for anything but love. I know some members of our community accept arranged marriages, but never settle for that. Love might come in time in an arranged union, but to know it beforehand? To feel it deep in your heart? That is everything.”

“Daniel!” Leah entered the room with a look of concern. “Did something happen to Emma? Is anything wrong?”

“Nay, nothing’s wrong. Your mudder welcomed Emma into her home with open arms.”

Leah smiled. “I knew she would. Mam is an amazing woman.”

“I agree,” Henry said.

Daniel smiled. Missy Stoltzfus had been an Englisher who’d accepted the Amish way of life and joined the church to marry his mother’s brother, his onkel Arlin. If anyone understood the concerns of a young English woman in an Amish community she wasn’t born into, Aunt Missy would be the one. “Leah,” he said, “I have some questions about Emma.”

Sighing, Leah gestured toward the chair they kept next to the counter.

“Sit and put your feet up,” he told her. “The chair is for you. I’m happy to stand.”

His cousin sat. “What do you want to know?”

“First, I’ll tell you what she told me, and you can add from there if you can, ja?”

Leah eyed him with surprise. “She talked to you about her past?”

He nodded. “Because I scared her, and I’m sorry for that.” Then he explained what happened, watching as his cousin’s expression went from horror to understanding to pleasure as he said, “She told me she ran from her foster family. And that she would never go back. I don’t know what happened to her, but it must have been something bad.”

Leah nodded. “I think it was.” His cousin smiled. “She trusts you.”

“You think so?”

“Ja. I’m surprised that she told you anything. She must feel safe with you.”

Daniel swelled up with emotion. “Now tell me what she told you.”

Leah frowned. “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I promised I’d keep her secrets.”

“What kind of secrets?” He stared at her, hoping that she’d give them up.

“I promised. You know I don’t like secrets. And while I don’t like pretending that Emma is my cousin, I will do it to protect her. She’s afraid of her foster father, and I’ll do what I can to make sure she is safe until she won’t be forced to go back after she’s eighteen.”

He understood, but he was still bothered by the girl’s secrets. What if she wasn’t telling the truth? Doubts about her slid in to disturb him as he drove back to see Reuben.

Emma had been so distraught when he threatened a call to the police that he sympathized with Emma once she’d told him why she was afraid. He sighed. He didn’t need the complication of her in his community right now. He needed to concentrate on work and his ultimate goal of opening his harness shop. He’d been saving for some time, and he nearly had enough money to look for rental property. Daniel knew that Elijah would give him space in his carriage shop for his business, but he didn’t want to take help from his brother. He wanted to be self-sufficient in his business. His brothers had made it on their own. He would, too.

The time spent with Leah after dropping off Emma gave him little left to talk with Reuben before he had to head to the construction site to work. He and the crew he worked with were starting a new job this afternoon. A number of subcontractors were working the site this morning. They would take over at noon.

It was late September. Soon the temperatures would drop, and work would ease up. He wanted to get in as many hours as possible. A few weeks working for the construction company should net him enough to quit.

Emma’s vulnerable features swam in his memory. He didn’t know what to believe about the Englisher, and until he knew he could trust her for certain, he would have to put his family first before his business...even if it meant his plans would be delayed a little longer.