Noah's Sweetheart (23 page)

“Noah…”

Noah could tell that Rachel was afraid to believe that the solution was this simple. He knew that with Rachel by his side, he could live life as God intended…he could happily meet life’s challenges head-on.

“I know all about the accident, Rachel,” he admitted, “and Abraham Beiler. I am sorry you had to suffer through that. I am not sorry that Abraham Beiler was a fool, for if he hadn’t been, then you and I wouldn’t have met.” He leaned forward, even closer to the bed. He recognized when she felt a tiny seedling of hope.

“Marry me, Rachel. Make me the happiest man alive and be my wife.”

She started to cry. “Oh, Noah! I do love you.”

“And?”

“I will marry you, if you are certain.”

He realized hers were happy tears. “I have never been more certain in my life.”

“Then,
ja,
I will marry you, Noah Lapp.” It was as if the sun shone forth from her glistening brown eyes.

Noah laughed. “We can be married in November, the time for weddings. By then you will be well enough to stand by my side.” He stood and came around to the other side of the bed. He leaned down and kissed her.

As their mouths touched, Rachel felt an overwhelming happiness. “I love you,” she said when his head lifted. In answer, he kissed her again.

“And I love you,” he said as he slowly straightened.

It was then that Rachel saw Katie Lapp in the doorway with Noah’s milk shake in her hand. She blushed.

Noah noted Rachel’s embarrassment and realized that someone had entered the room.
“Mam?”

“
Ja,
Noah,” Katie said, sweeping into the room to set Noah’s milk shake on Rachel’s bedside table. “I see you asked and got your answer.”

Noah grinned at his mother. “
Ja.
She gave me the answer I’d hoped for.”

Katie looked pleased. “It will be
gut
to have another daughter,” she told Rachel.

Rachel beamed at her as she silently thanked the Lord for answering her prayers. “And it will be wonderful to belong to the Lapp family.”

Epilogue

I
n early November, long after the fall harvest, the church community gathered together on a Tuesday in the home of the King family to celebrate the marriage of Noah Lapp and Rachel Hostetler. The occasion was a joyful affair, which promised to last from early morning until early evening for the elders; the young people would later head into the barn to continue the party well into the night. Rachel’s family had come to Happiness from Millersburg, Ohio; Ezekiel and Henrietta Hostetler had been pleased to meet Rachel’s intended and to witness firsthand their daughter’s joy.

Noah and Rachel’s intent to marry had been “published,” or announced before the community, five weeks previously. Only a few close friends and neighbors had truly known about or suspected the couple’s courtship. The seriousness of their relationship wasn’t officially recognized until it was published.

The day he had taken Rachel to the hospital, Noah had been at Abram Peachy’s house presenting to the deacon his desire to marry. Under normal circumstances, Abram would have gone to Rachel’s family, usually her parents, to inquire of the wishes of the prospective bride-to-be. Rachel’s illness and hospital stay had changed things. Under the circumstances, Noah had been unable to hold back from asking Rachel to be his wife, and everyone had understood.

In October, after Fast Day and on the day the Amish take fall communion, Noah and Rachel requested proper certifications of church membership. On the second church Sunday after their request, Noah and Rachel happily became members of the church, as was desired and necessary in preparation for their union. The Sunday the banns were published, Rachel and Noah didn’t attend church service, but ate dinner together quietly in Rachel’s kitchen.

Usually a newly married couple would live with the bride’s parents, but not in this instance. After their marriage Noah and Rachel would live in the teacher’s cottage until another house could be built for them on Lapp land. Rachel would remain a teacher until then or a time when a new teacher could be found to take her place.

After the couple vowed before all that their union was ordained by God, there was singing and preaching and finally all enjoyed food, seated in various places in the house. Partition walls had been removed to unite rooms and the guests. The bride and groom sat at the
Eck
table in the most viewed corner of the Kings’ extended living room. The bridal party sat with them, each man or boy in the wedding party—in this case five of Noah’s brothers—was situated across the table from a woman of his choosing. These men had escorted the women to the table while holding their hands. Jedidiah sat across from Annie Zook while Jacob chose Rachel’s cousin Nancy. Noah’s brother Elijah finally enjoyed his chance to spend time with Rebekka Miller. Daniel and Isaac weren’t inclined to choose partners, but as was custom at an Amish wedding, partners were chosen for them—Mary Hershberger for Daniel and Martha Mast for Isaac, and the two brothers did not object as they escorted the women to their chairs. Both girls were older than these Lapp brothers, but it didn’t matter. The partnering was for celebration purposes only.

Seated with his new bride in the
Eck
corner, Noah turned to Rachel and drank his fill of her. There was a radiant smile on her face as she eyed the wedding guests. He saw she was particularly interested in watching her cousin Charlotte with her betrothed, Abram Peachy. The couple’s intent to marry had been published only recently, and a December wedding was planned. Noah agreed that Charlotte had never looked happier. Abram’s children loved her, as did their father, who couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

As if sensing Noah’s attention, Rachel slowly faced him.

“Rachel Lapp,” he said with a smile.

She grinned, looking more relaxed and happy than he’d ever seen her. He knew he had helped to put that twinkle in her brown eyes and that upward curve to her pink lips. She wore her new navy-blue linen Sunday-best dress, sewn by her aunt for the occasion. Her white prayer
kapp
was also new, fashioned of white organdy in the Happiness community style, her apron and cape in matching white. She would wear the dress and
kapp
again come next church Sunday. The apron she would put away for her funeral someday.

“Noah, my husband,” she murmured softly. Rachel studied him with love. He wore a suit sewn for him by his mother. Hooks and eyes secured his black coat and vest over his white shirt. Black pants were held up by suspenders under his vest. He had donned a black bow tie, which, she knew, felt unfamiliar to him, for this was the one occasion he would be allowed to wear one. Earlier, he had taken off his black wide-brimmed hat and hung it on a wall hook. Rachel could easily see his face, and she loved what she read in his expression.

She leaned close to whisper, “I love you.”

He grinned. “As well you should, since you just declared so before the eyes of the Lord God and the members of our church.”

She made a face and he easily slipped his hand around her back. He dipped his head to whisper in her ear. “I will love you forever, Rachel Lapp.”

She shivered with pleasure at his breath in her ear, against her neck. “And I will love you forever, Noah.” Then she took a quick glance to see that no one was watching at that very second, and she turned her head to plant a kiss on his cheek.

She leaned back in her chair. “I have truly found happiness in Lancaster County,” she breathed softly.

“
We
have found true happiness together,” Noah murmured, holding her close.

* * * * *

If you enjoyed this story by Rebecca Kertz,
be sure to check out the other books this month
from Love Inspired!

Keep reading for an excerpt from
Plain Admirer
by Patricia Davids

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Happiness, an Old Order Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania! Here you will meet the Amos Kings, the Samuel Lapps and other community members, including Rachel Hostetler, the new schoolteacher from Millersburg, Ohio. Rachel has left the safety of her parents’ home to start anew after recuperating from a buggy accident that forever changed her life. Only two people know the true extent of Rachel’s injuries—her aunt Mae King and Mae’s closest friend, Katie Lapp. Noah Lapp, one of Katie’s seven sons, first encounters Rachel when he saves the terrified young woman from a runaway buggy. Rachel, grateful for the rescue, learns that Noah is her cousin Charlotte’s closest friend in her new Happiness community.

It is my pleasure to bring you Rachel and Noah’s love story. It is a tale about new beginnings, about Amish family life and about real, hardworking people who live quietly and contentedly among us in this fast-paced, sometimes crazy world we live in.

The Lord gives us strength in times of great need. Rachel and Noah experience God’s love and strength when they most need Him. I hope you enjoy their story, and that you believe, as I do, that God always has an alternate plan for us when our own goes awry.

I invite you to enter the world of the Lapps and the Kings. I hope you find joy in the journey.

Many blessings and much happiness,

Rebecca Kertz

Questions for Discussion

1. Why did Rachel come to Happiness, PA? Did you feel Rachel had courage for traveling so far from home? Do you think she made the right choice?
   
2. What is
   rumspringa
   and why do the elders of the church allow it?
   
3. Do you think Rachel really believed that Noah and her cousin Charlotte were meant to be together? If she did, why do you think she liked him? Can we help how we feel about someone?
   
4. Rachel found strength in the Lord, as did Noah. Can you recall some instances when Rachel and Noah asked for God’s help? Can you list times in your life when God gave you comfort or strength?
   
5. After she learned that Noah wanted to court her, and not Charlotte, how did Rachel react? What worried her about getting involved with him once she knew that her cousin liked Abram Peachy?
   
6. Rachel finally agreed to allow Noah to court her. Considering her concerns regarding marriage, why did she agree? Do you think that she wanted to enjoy whatever time she could with him until he learned her secret fear?
   
7. Do you believe that Rachel hoped God would help her when she needed Him most? What happened in her past that had Rachel seeking and finding strength from God? What lesson did she learn from the experience?
   
8. The
   Budget
   is the Amish newspaper from which Amish communities get news from others throughout the United States. One can read about everything from the births, illnesses, deaths and the conditions of one’s farm or livestock, as well as anything else the Amish deem important or newsworthy. How important do you think this paper is for the Amish community and why?
   
9. When Abram’s barn burned, members of his Amish community held a barn-raising to help him rebuild. Do you believe they did this because Abram was church deacon? Or would they help anyone in their community who needed them? Can you think of other instances that the Amish are there for each other? Do you find it inspiring? Are there ways you can help others in need in your own life?
   
10. Do you feel that Noah and Rachel will have a good marriage? What was it about Noah that made Rachel trust and believe that she could marry and find happiness with him?
    

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

You believe hearts can heal.
Love Inspired
stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

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Chapter One

“T
his isn’t easy to say, but I have to let you go, Joann. I’m sure you understand.”

“You’re firing me?” Joann Yoder faced her boss across the cluttered desk in his office. For once, she wasn’t tempted to straighten up for him. And she didn’t understand.

“
Ja.
I’m sorry.”

Otis Miller didn’t look the least bit sorry. Certainly not as sorry as she was to be losing a job she really needed. A job she loved. Why was this happening? Why now, when she was so close to realizing her dream?

She’d only been at Miller Press for five months, but working as an assistant editor and office manager at the Amish-owned publishing house was everything she’d ever wanted. How could it end so quickly? If she knew what she had done wrong, she could fix it. “At least tell me why.”