Noah's Sweetheart (6 page)

The kitchen was clean, and the food was put away in Katie’s refrigerator and pantry or in dishes ready for the Kings to take home. The men had gone outside to look at Samuel’s new milk cow. Katie, Aunt Mae, Rachel and her cousins sat on the front porch. Katie bounced her baby daughter on her knee. Little Hannah had been happy and smiling since she’d woken from her nap and eaten. She seemed content to sit on her mother’s lap and gaze at the other women.

Rachel studied the little girl and had the strongest urge to hold her. “May I?” she asked Hannah’s mother.

“
Ja.
Don’t be alarmed if she fusses,” Katie warned as she surrendered her baby into Rachel’s outstretched arms.

Baby Hannah cuddled against her without complaint. Rachel felt an overwhelming contentment as she rocked to and fro in the front-porch rocking chair, enjoying the warmth of the spring afternoon in the companionship of women she liked and respected.

Soon it was time for the Kings to return home. They didn’t have far to go, but it was getting late and there would be time for the family to enjoy the rest of the day reading, playing games or just resting in the comfort of their own home. Rachel stood and handed Hannah back to her mother. To everyone’s surprise, Hannah fussed a little before she settled down as Katie stood, rocking her against her shoulder.

“Good food and fine company,” Aunt Mae said. “A perfect Sunday visiting.”

Rachel and her cousins agreed. “
Ja,
and the weather is fine,” Nancy added. They went inside to gather their dishes and the leftovers given to them by their hostess.

“It’s been a
gut
day,” Rachel said as she prepared to descend the porch steps. There was no sign of the men yet, but she expected them to appear at any moment.

Katie smiled as she continued to pat her daughter’s back. “I enjoyed your company.” Her gaze shot past Rachel toward the barnyard. “You’ll come again soon. Don’t wait until next Sunday’s church services to see us.”

Rachel murmured agreement as she glanced back to see Samuel, her uncle Amos, Noah and three of his brothers as they stepped from the barn and started toward the house. She watched the men’s approach, trying not to look too much at Noah, but it was Noah who drew her attention. When she realized that he watched her, she felt her face warm and quickly glanced away.

With a dish in hand, she followed Charlotte as her cousin crossed the yard toward their buggy. Suddenly, Charlotte stopped and Rachel nearly bumped into her.

“Noah, would you like any of these cookies?” Charlotte asked. “Annie Zook made them.”

Rachel didn’t hear his response. She was trying desperately to move away, to give them time to visit alone. But as she hurried to turn, she tripped, and it was Noah who was suddenly there to steady her, his hand warm through her long dress sleeve.

Blushing, Rachel was saved from having a conversation with him when Aunt Mae appeared to urge them into the buggy. She could feel Noah’s gaze as she climbed inside. She didn’t glance back, but kept her eyes trained ahead.

Rachel hated that he had this strange effect on her. She had to avoid him as best she could without things appearing odd to anyone. Earlier in the day, several of the neighbor women had wondered aloud why Noah and Charlotte had not begun to court openly yet, but even if they were not official sweethearts, Rachel would not interfere. “It’s only a matter of time,” Miriam Zook had assured a small group of women when neither Katie nor Aunt Mae was present.

Since then, every time Rachel was affected by Noah’s presence, she felt a sense of betrayal toward her cousin, guilty about the way Noah made her feel. She knew what it felt like to be betrayed…and it was the worst thing she’d ever experienced.

Chapter Five

T
he day was warm, with a stiff breeze that tore at the garments Rachel and Charlotte were hanging to dry. Rachel secured cousin John’s overalls on the clothesline. Satisfied that the wooden clothespins would hold, she bent and lifted a wet mint-green shirt, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face as she pinned it into place next to the overalls. The linen scent of detergent mingled with the aromas about the farm…the bright-red roses planted in the yard near the house…the smell of the family cow in a nearby pasture…the freshly tilled earth in the vegetable garden.

The wind tugged a dress from Charlotte’s hands and sent it flying across the yard toward her cousin. “Rachel!” she cried. “Get it!”

Rachel laughed as she quickly caught the damp garment before it hit the ground. “I almost missed it.”

“
Gut
catch,” her cousin said with a grin. She looked carefree and happy in a pale blue dress, white apron, and white prayer
kapp.

Rachel returned her grin as she hung the dress. “These clothes won’t take long to dry in this weather.”

“
Ja.
It’s the perfect day for laundry,” Charlotte agreed as she reached into the basket for her sister’s black apron. “
Dat
and BJ are going to clean out the side room in the barn for this Sunday’s singing,” she continued, referring to her brother John, often called BJ, for Big John, when the family gathered. Little John was Sarah and Eli’s son—Charlotte’s nephew. “I think
Dat
is afraid if we stay in the house we’ll keep him up at night with our songs and fun.”

“It’s a
gut
space,” Rachel said. She grabbed a black prayer
kapp
and pinned it on the line. “How many will come?” The young people’s singing was an event held the evening of each church Sunday, usually at the same farm or home as the church services that morning. It was a time for young men and women of the community to intermingle for song and fun. Rachel had always enjoyed singings in her Millersburg community in Ohio.

Charlotte looked thoughtful as she continued to hang clothes. “There will be four of us—you, Nancy, BJ and me…the four oldest Lapp boys. The Zooks and Mary Hershberger…”

Noah will be coming,
Rachel thought, a little disturbed to realize that she was pleased.

“And then there will be some young people from the next church district…I’m not certain how many.” Charlotte bent for a shirt and nearly collided with Rachel, whose thoughts had drifted. She laughed as she drew back quickly. “I don’t know. Fifteen or twenty?”

It would be a large gathering. “We’ll have a wonderful time,” Rachel said.

Charlotte grinned. “
Ja.
Lots of
gut
food, fine singing and wonderful company.”

The young women finished the chore and headed toward the house, their spirits high and their appearance disheveled from the wind that had loosed fine strands of hair from their pins.

“We’ve finished, Aunt Mae,” Rachel said as she entered the house. She reached up to attempt to fix her hair and then gave up, unsuccessful. “What else can I do to help?”

“You’ve done enough, Rachel. Why don’t you head toward the
schuul
to see how the construction is coming on the teacher’s cottage?”

“Ja,”
Charlotte urged her. “You said you’d enjoy watching the work take place.”

Rachel nodded. “But surely there is more you’d like me to do first.”

“Nay,”
Aunt Mae said. “Horseshoe Joe came by for Uncle Amos early this morning. They went over to Abram Peachy’s house. I told Amos that we’d come for him before supper.

“Your new
haus
is not far, and it’s a nice day for a walk. Just head up the lane and turn right. Be careful,” she warned, “of speeding cars along the narrow road.” She rolled her eyes. “Some of these Englishers drive like…”

Rachel nodded, pleased with the idea of visiting the cottage. “I will.” She knew her hair must look a sight. Should she head upstairs to put herself to rights first? The breeze would only pull her hair free…unless she put in extra pins.

She debated whether to fix her hair when Aunt Mae approached. “You can take these muffins for the workers. I’m sure they would enjoy something to eat about now.”

Charlotte came up from behind her mother and handed Rachel cups and a water jug. “The Lapp men will be thirsty as well.”

“Go along now, Rachel.” Aunt Mae didn’t see anything wrong with the way she looked, Rachel realized, so it must be all right for her to go just as she was. Besides it was wrong to worry about one’s looks. Vanity was a sin that she wouldn’t give in to.

With a brown paper bag filled with sweet muffins and cups in one hand and the jug of water in the other, Rachel started down the dirt lane that led through the King property toward the main road.

The sun felt wonderful, and Rachel tilted up her face to enjoy its warmth. A fly buzzed about her ear and, laughing, she swatted it away. The warm breeze held the scent of fresh-tilled earth and the honeysuckle that grew along one side of the lane. Rachel felt a deep sense of peace and contentment as she walked.

Would she see Noah at the house? Her heart gave a little thump. She hadn’t seen him since Sunday. While she fought hard to get him out of her mind, she couldn’t forget his face, his endearing smile and the many kindnesses he had shown her.

She reached the end of the dirt lane and waited at the edge of the paved road until a car sped past before she ventured to cross the street. She turned right and continued along the roadway, facing traffic. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of the schoolhouse and hurried on. With her heart buoyed by lightness, she approached a window and peered inside.

She grinned. She loved the rows of desks and the larger one in the front of the room. The schoolhouse was empty. Would it be unlocked?

She tried the door and realized that it was necessary to lock it when no one was about.
Such a shame.
She would have liked to wander around inside again.

Soon,
she thought. Soon she would be standing before her class of eager students.

Rachel rounded the building and headed along the dirt drive toward the teacher’s cottage. The day was quiet. The only sounds she could hear were an occasional insect or a passing car on the main road and the breeze stirring the nearby trees and her dress hem and apron. Perhaps the Lapps couldn’t find time to work on the house today, she mused, disappointed.

Unlike the school, the cottage door stood partially open. With a frown, she hesitated only a few seconds before pushing the door in and entering.

“Samuel? Jedidiah? Noah?” she called out. “Is anyone here?”

“In the back of the
haus,
Rachel!” Noah appeared within seconds. “You’ve come to see the construction,” he said, sounding pleased.

Her senses humming at the sight of him, Rachel nodded. “I brought muffins and a jug of water.”

His eyes were warm as he smiled. “I am hungry and could use a drink.” He waved her to follow him. “Come and see what we’ve done.”

Eagerly Rachel followed Noah toward the rear of the house, her neck tingling as she studied his back. He wore a royal-blue shirt under his denim overalls. She watched as he lifted his wide-brimmed straw hat, ran his fingers through his silky, sandy-brown hair before settling the hat back onto his head. There was a fine sheen of moisture across his nape. She tried not to look at his neck, glancing instead at the house as they walked through.

“Is Samuel here?” she asked.

“Nay,”
Noah said without turning. “I am the only one working.” Suddenly, he spun to smile at her, and the impact of his twinkling, warm brown eyes made her head spin and her heart leap within her chest. “I told you that the house would be done in a month. It may take a little longer.”

He nodded toward the kitchen area. A brick hearth had been built since her last visit. The walls had been insulated and the drywall hung. The room was large, bright and inviting. She could picture those walls whitewashed and a table with chairs in the center of the room.

“A fine
kiche,
” she said. She imagined the kitchen as it would one day be, filled with the smells of good food cooking and company gathered around the table.

“My
grossdaddi
is making the kitchen cabinets,” Noah told her, helping to paint a better picture for her. “I think you will like them. He does
gut
work.”

Both the school and the house seemed to solely be the work of the Lapp men, and she mentioned this to Noah.

“We’ve had help from all,” he said. “We had a house-raising for the initial framework. But this land once belonged to
mein grosselders
and there was time before the house needed to be completed. With the spring planting, we worked when we were able…to make sure everything was right for the teacher in our community.” His voice softened. “
You.
Grossdaddi
is a kind man.”

Like
grossdaddi,
like
kinskind,
she thought. The man’s grandson Noah, too, was kind. “Noah, everything is very nice. I know I will be happy here.”

Her words trailed off as their gazes met and something warm passed between them. Flushing, Rachel glanced away.

“I am glad, Rachel.” Noah studied the young woman before him, noticing how appealing she looked with soft tendrils of hair about her face and neck. She wore a lavender dress with a white cape that tucked into the waistband of her white apron. A matching white prayer
kapp
covered her shining dark hair. She had the prettiest eyes…large and glistening. He could feel himself drowning in her gaze, felt the pull of her nearness. He drew a sharp breath and looked quickly away. He hadn’t expected to see her today, and the pleasure he felt seeing her, hearing her voice, was beyond anything he’d ever experienced.

There was a brief but potent moment of silence. Noah felt impelled to break it. “Would you like to see more of the construction?”

She seemed relieved as she nodded. “You have done a lot in one week’s time.”

“There is still much to do, but we will be finished before school starts.”

“May I look around?” Rachel asked.

“Ja,”
Noah said with a grin. “Come. I’ll show you more and explain what we will be doing next.”