Noah's Sweetheart (14 page)

“Yoder’s General Store,” Noah announced with a sweep of his arm.

Joshua and John scurried down from the back of the wagon. “May we go up to the house to see if Henry is there?”

“Don’t be long. We’ll have to be on our way soon if we are to finish shopping and eat our ice cream.” Noah gestured toward the door of the store. “It may not look like much outside, but Margaret has a lot to offer. She can help you with whatever you need. If you don’t see it in the store, she can get it for you.” He held open the door for her. “Henry is Margaret and Harry’s nine-year-old son.”

“Noah, this is a nice surprise,” Margaret said.

“I brought our new schoolteacher.”

Rachel smiled. “Noah tells me you can help me find what I need for the new teacher’s cottage.”

Margaret returned her smile as she glanced back and forth between Rachel and Noah.

Rachel had made a list of things she needed before she could move in. “Sheets, towels…and do you have a good stockpot?” She read off several more items she would need after school started.

Rachel bought several items on her list and then ordered a couple from Margaret. “I appreciate your help.”

“Let me know if there is anything else you might need.”

The door burst open and Joshua, John and a third towheaded boy ran inside the store.

“Mam!”
cried the boy Rachel decided must be Henry. “They’re going for ice cream. Can we go, too?”

“Not today, Henry. I’ll take you myself tomorrow.”

Henry tried to hide his disappointment, but failed.

“Would you like me to take him and then bring him home?” Noah offered.

Margaret opened her mouth as if ready to decline. Rachel saw her study her son’s eager expression, and she watched as Margaret relented.

“I’m sure Henry would enjoy that.” Margaret reached into a jar behind the counter and came up with a few dollars. “Enjoy the ice cream on me.”

Noah held up a hand. “That’s not necessary. We’re happy to buy Henry’s.”

Margaret hesitated, but then seemed to read something in Noah’s features. “All right.
Danki.
”

“Come on, boys, let’s get some ice cream!”

Rachel spoke briefly with Margaret about her order, and then she walked with Noah to join the excited young boys.

They drove toward the ice cream store, but then Noah pulled into the parking area of a local restaurant.

“I think we need to have a meal before ice cream,” Noah said.

“
Gut
idea,” Rachel agreed.

The boys weren’t as enthusiastic. “Dinner,” Joshua complained.

“How about a hamburger?” Noah suggested.

John’s and Henry’s eyes lit up. “
Ja!
Hamburgers!” they chorused, and Joshua joined in.

Noah hitched the horse to a post before he, Rachel and the three now-eager boys entered the restaurant. They were taken immediately to a table.

Noah glanced at each one of them. “All having the same?” The boys nodded. “Five burgers and fries,” he said with a grin to the waitress.

“Something to drink?” the Englisher said.

“Three milks and two iced teas,” Noah replied and was happy to see Rachel’s nod of approval.

Seated across from Rachel, Noah studied her and liked what he saw. She chatted with the three boys, increasing their enthusiasm for the meal to come and the ice cream to follow soon after.

He felt a tightening in his stomach as Rachel flashed him a smile. She seemed relaxed and happy, and he was pleased that the first moments of tension between them, when she’d learned that they’d be going into town without Charlotte, had passed. If she was uncomfortable now, she didn’t show it.

It wasn’t long before the food arrived. John grabbed a bottle of ketchup and poured it liberally under the top of his hamburger bun and onto his plate for his fries.

The conversation was fun and teasing as Rachel and Noah watched three young boys enjoy their lunch.

Rachel was conscious of Noah’s eyes on her whenever she wasn’t looking at him. His glance made her feel flushed. She turned quickly to catch him staring and raised her eyebrows. Noah chuckled and handed her one of his fries, which she promptly popped into her mouth.

When they were done eating their burgers, they left the restaurant for the ice cream parlor. Everyone ordered a different flavor of ice cream cone. Rachel loved chocolate-chip-mint ice cream, while Noah liked rocky road. The two older boys tried unusual flavors like strawberry fudge ripple and banana crunch moon pie. Joshua was happy with a chocolate ice cream cone dipped in a chocolate candy shell.

They stood out in the warm sunshine, licking their cones quickly so that the melting ice cream wouldn’t make a mess. They had just finished eating and climbed back into the buggy when Noah gestured toward the western sky.

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

Rachel studied the darkening sky. “It appears black enough to storm. We’d better get Henry home and then head home ourselves before the rain hits.”

Noah turned to the boys in the back of the wagon. “We’re going to take Henry home.”

“I liked the hamburger and ice cream, Noah,” Henry said with a grin. His straw hat was slightly askew and his face was streaked with strawberry and chocolate.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Henry.” Noah flicked the leathers and guided the horse onto the road.

“We did, too, Noah,” Joshua said. “This has been the best day ever.”

Rachel turned back to smile at him. “You’re easy to please, cousin,” she said. She reached out to tug his hat brim down over his eyes. Joshua snickered and pushed it back so that he could see again.

“John,” Rachel said, “are you glad you came?”

“
Ja,
it was a
gut
day, all in all. I’m glad
Dat
let me out of my afternoon chores.”

It wasn’t long until they reached Henry’s home. They found Margaret where they last saw her in the little shop. She had customers, William and Josie Mast and their daughter Ellen. The family was leaving as the town adventurers came in. “Afternoon, Noah,” William greeted.

“
Gut
to see you, William, Josie.” Noah pulled one of their daughter’s
kapp
strings. “And how is Ellen today?”

The girl giggled. “Fine, Noah.
Mam
bought me candy.”

Candy!
Noah thought, recalling his promise to bring licorice to Mae. When the Masts had left, Noah turned to Margaret. “Do you have any licorice?”

“Aunt Mae!” Rachel exclaimed, and Noah nodded.

“Hard licorice or soft?”

“Soft,” Noah decided, and Margaret scooped fresh licorice from a jar into a paper bag and handed it to him.

“How much do I owe you?”

“Zero cents.”

“Margaret…” Noah narrowed his gaze and tilted his head, and Rachel thought he looked delightful.

“You bought my Henry lunch and ice cream,” the shopkeeper said. “The least I can do is pay for the licorice.”

Noah relented with a smile. “The candy is for Mae King.”

“Please give her my regards,” Margaret said.

There was a sudden low rumble of thunder. “We’d better get moving,” Rachel said as she went to the door to look outside. “The storm is on its way.”

“Let’s go. John? Joshua? Back to the buggy! I’ve got to get you home.”

A second distant rumble of thunder convinced the boys to hurry to the wagon, where there would be little protection if the storm hit before they got home.

Old Bess rose to the occasion, taking them quickly to the King farm and into the yard.

John helped Noah to unload the supplies and carry them into the house. Aunt Mae came from around the outside of the house with a basket of air-dried laundry.

“You’re home in the nick of time,” Aunt Mae said. “Noah, would you like to stay for supper? You can ride out the storm with us.”

“I’d better go now, Aunt Mae.
Mam
will be worried, and it looks like the weather may take a while to clear.”

The others went inside, and Rachel turned to Noah. “I had a lovely time today.”

“I enjoyed our day together, too.”

“The food was delicious.”

The corners of his mouth tilted upward. “And the company?”

“The boys were entertaining,” she admitted.

“And me?” he asked, and Rachel thought she detected a serious note beneath his banter.

“You are a skillful driver and a
gut
sport. I had fun spending the day with you.”

His body seemed to sigh with relief. Studying him, Rachel had the strongest urge to touch his face, to trace his eyebrows…his nose…and the shape of his mouth. Shocked, she stepped back and looked away.

“You should go before the storm hits,” she urged.

Noah studied her, wondering why she suddenly looked upset. There was already a storm within him. His feelings for her were causing all sorts of sparks and thunder and rain inside.

“I will see you again soon, Rachel Hostetler.”

“Be careful, Noah Lapp.” To his surprise and hers, it appeared, she touched his arm and drew back quickly.

A third rumble of thunder and old Bess’s uneasy neighing had Noah jumping into the wagon. With a wave, he turned the wagon around, and with a loud
yah,
he headed toward home.

Rachel watched the wagon grow smaller as Noah drove away.

Noah Lapp. What was it about him that had her forgetting for not only moments but for an entire day the pain of her broken relationship with Abraham?

She had thought Abraham a kind man, but Noah was kinder. She had been attracted to Abraham, but not as much as she felt drawn to Noah.

Abraham had seemed to enjoy her company; Noah gave her all of his attention and wanted hers. He didn’t just enjoy her company; he appeared to revel in it.

Charlotte.
She knew she should have waited until Charlotte could come. What was she doing mooning over Charlotte’s friend?

She closed her eyes as she stood outside. “Dear Lord, help me to be strong and true to Your word. Protect me from myself, in this I pray. Amen.”

She turned and entered the house, and wondered how she was going to face Charlotte when she felt so guilty for liking Noah.

Chapter Eleven

R
achel stood by the window, studying the storm clouds. As it turned out, they had reached home in plenty of time. The thunderstorm was moving slowly. The residents of the King farm had just finished a simple supper of eggs, toast and ham. Now they could hear the wind pick up, rattling against the windowpanes. Lightning streaked the evening sky, followed by a deep rolling rumble of thunder.

A lightning bolt zigzagged down to earth, creating a loud bang and pop.

“Did ya see that?” Rachel asked, her eyes widening.

“I did,” Charlotte said. She had returned earlier with Grandma Emma and Grandpa Harley. With the imminent arrival of the storm, she said she didn’t want them to be alone in their house, even though their residence was less than an acre away on the same property. “Will it ever rain?”

There’d been a lot of bright flashes and loud booms, but so far there had been no rain, although the sky remained dark and ominous.

“I hope it does.” Rachel flinched as another bright bolt fell to earth, creating a loud boom. “We need it. I’m afraid of what the storm will bring if it doesn’t rain soon.”

“It’s an unusual summer storm.” Charlotte left the window to sit at the kitchen table. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Me neither.” Rachel flinched at a clap of thunder. “I was hoping that this wasn’t your average thunderstorm.”

“We do get bad storms, but it’s the flooding that sometimes concerns us. Not so much here on the farm, but hours of heavy rain can wreak havoc in the stores and shops in Lancaster and nearby villages.”

“You all right in here?” Aunt Mae entered the kitchen to see the supper dishes had been washed and put away. “I’m glad you brought your
grosselders
here, Charlotte. Grandma Emma is terribly bothered by the storm. She has been praying nonstop since the wind kicked up and the thunder grew louder.”

“Where are John and Joshua?” Rachel asked. She wondered if they were frightened by the storm.

“They’re upstairs in their room. They love the adventure of a thunderstorm.”

“Not me,” Rachel said.

“Nor me,” Aunt Mae replied, surprising her. She took a plate of cookies from the kitchen worktable. “I’ll see if these will cheer Grandma Emma. She does love her sweets.”

“Like you enjoyed your licorice?” Charlotte teased.

Aunt Mae had gotten into the licorice as soon as Noah had given it to her. In fact, she and Uncle Amos had eaten all of it in one sitting. Was it any wonder that neither one of them had wanted much to eat for supper? They had been content with breakfast food for the late meal. It had worked well for everyone. Rachel had been full from dinner out and their ice cream treat, as had her two young cousins who’d shared the day with her and Noah. Charlotte had made her grandparents a late dinner so none of them wanted to eat, either. Only Nancy had been hungry enough to eat two biscuits with her eggs and ham. It had been a quick meal to fix and easy to clean up afterward, which suited everyone just fine.

A flash through the white window curtains. A startling crack. Rachel and Charlotte rushed to the window to see if anything in the yard had been hit.

Whatever was struck, it wasn’t as close as it sounded. When the downpour of rain began minutes later, Rachel was relieved. If something had been hit, the rain would help put out any possible fire.

The rain didn’t last long, although the sky remained dark. Rachel heard a bang and a rumble.

“John! Joshua!” Aunt Mae scolded up the stairs. “Stop jumping on the bed!”

“Ja, Mam,”
John called back.

Aunt Mae returned to the kitchen. “Those boys,” she said, but the softness in her expression told how much she loved her sons. Rachel had seen the same love in Mae’s eyes for her daughters…and for her—her niece.

The rain began again, a steady downpour that soaked the earth. The lightning and thunder continued, and Rachel went to the window to watch for a while before she joined her cousins at the table. “Shall we play cards?” Charlotte suggested.