Noah's Sweetheart. Rebecca Kertz

then he felt the warmth of her fingertips as she accepted his assistance.

      “Rachel!” Aaron Troyer approached at a run. He nodded at William, who gave possession of the horse’s bridle to its owner. The animal’s sides were caked with sweat, and it was trembling all over.

      “Are you all right?” Aaron asked Rachel as he ran his hand over the horse’s neck and murmured soothingly to it.

      “I am fine, Aaron. Thanks to—”

      “Noah,” Noah supplied. “Noah Lapp.”

      “Noah,” Aaron said, out of breath. “I’m grateful.” Then to the woman he said, “I didn’t realize that Josef would be so easily scared. My brother meant for you and Martha to take Daisy.”

      “Is Josef all right?” She appeared concerned.

      “Ja, with some care, he will be fine.”

      “Noah! Noah! Are you hurt?” Charlotte called out from the wagon seat. “You could have been killed! When I saw you jump onto that horse, I was afraid you’d fall and be crushed—” She had steered the wagon to within yards from where the buggy had come to a full stop.

      “You doubt my ability with horses?” he teased. Upon seeing her expression, he sobered. “I’m fine, Charlotte.”

      Charlotte’s gaze settled on the woman standing next to the buggy and her eyes widened. “Rachel? Rachel Hostetler?”

      The woman seemed to search her memory before her features brightened. “Charlotte!” she exclaimed. “I am surprised that you got my message so quickly.”

      “We didn’t.” Charlotte climbed down from the wagon. “We were in town to pick up supplies for Mam and Noah’s vadder. We didn’t expect you to arrive until tomorrow.”

      “The English driver my family hired had to leave a day earlier. He had a family emergency and apologized that he couldn’t drive me directly to Happiness. He left me at Troyers’ Buggy Excursions. I called the number your mam sent me from a payphone while I waited for a ride.”

      “Ja.” Charlotte nodded. “Whittier’s Store. They take messages for us.”

      Surprised, Noah watched and listened to the exchange with growing interest. The two women talked as if there was no one else around. “Charlotte?”

      Charlotte looked startled as if she suddenly remembered there were others nearby, waiting for an introduction.

      “Noah, this is Rachel Hostetler. She is our new schuul teacher—” Charlotte smiled “—and my cousin. Aaron—it seems that you have already met.”

      “You’re Charlotte’s kin?” Noah asked, pleased to learn that he’d be seeing more of her. Rachel nodded. “And you are a schoolteacher,” he said. “At our Happiness school?”

      Rachel studied him and nodded. “Ja.”

      “Welcome to Lancaster County,” he said. “Come. We’ll take you home.”

      * * *

      The intensity of Noah’s regard captured her gaze. Feeling her cheeks heat, Rachel quickly looked away. She felt the warmth of his coat and, embarrassed, she removed it and handed it back to him.

      “Rachel, let’s go,” Charlotte urged, drawing Rachel’s attention and saving her from acting foolish. “You will come with us—ja?”

      “We’re going for ice cream,” Joshua said.

      “I don’t know now, Joshua,” his sister said. “Rachel has had a terrible fright. She may want to go straight home.”

      Rachel studied the young boy seated in the back of the wagon. “You’re Joshua—and such a big boy! I’m your cousin Rachel. We’ve never met. The last time I saw your sister was years ago, when we were eleven and twelve, I think.” She looked to Charlotte, who nodded.

      “We’re not going for ice cream?” Young Joshua looked crestfallen.

      “No, I think I’d like to have ice cream,” Rachel said, and then asked Joshua, “What kinds can we choose from?”

      She did feel a bit shaky, she realized, as Joshua began to list the many flavors of ice cream available, but she didn’t mind stopping for the treat first. It might help to put away the thought of what could have happened if not for the sudden appearance of Noah Lapp.

      Rachel sensed the intensity of her rescuer’s look, but refused to meet his gaze. She felt as though she was still wrapped in the warmth of his coat.

      “Let’s go, then,” Noah said quietly. “I’ll get your bag.”

      Only then did she glance his way. His soft, quick smile in her direction did odd things to her insides.

      “Are you certain, Rachel?” Charlotte asked.

      She nodded at her cousin. “I have the Lord to thank for my safety. The Lord and your friend Noah Lapp.”

      “I’m so glad that Mam needed some things in town or we may not have been here when...”

      Rachel shuddered.

      “I’m sorry, Rachel,” Aaron Troyer said.

      “No harm done,” Rachel assured him with a half smile. “I’m fine.”

      “Here’s your money. Next time you need a ride, there will be no charge.” After Rachel thanked him properly, Aaron left, leaving her alone with her cousins. With Rachel’s bag in hand, Noah stopped to speak with Aaron.

      “Are you truly all right, Rachel?” Charlotte asked. “I can’t believe this happened to you. I can only imagine how you must have felt with the memory of that awful accident last year.”

      Rachel still felt shaken. “It was a terrible time.”

      “Ja,” Charlotte agreed as they made their way toward the wagon on the side of the road. “Mam and Dat will be happy to see you. You’ll be staying at the house until the cottage near the schuulhaus is finished.”

      “I will like that.” Rachel breathed deeply in an attempt to calm her fear as she climbed onto the wagon.

      “You have nothing to be afraid of, Rachel,” Charlotte told her. “Noah is a gut driver.”

      Rachel nodded. “I know.” She glanced in his direction.

      The Lord was watching over her. He hadn’t abandoned her so far from home. He’d sent her help in the form of Noah Lapp...from Happiness, Pennsylvania. What more could she ask for?

      Chapter Two

      The aroma of baking bread drew Rachel from the bedroom, which she shared with her cousins Charlotte and Nancy. She had overslept. Last night her sleep had been fraught with memories of the buggy accident that she’d been involved in a year ago, the near accident yesterday...and her unforgettable first encounter with Noah Lapp.

      She felt terrible that she hadn’t awakened earlier to help with the chores. Her relatives had been kind enough to provide a place for her; earning her keep was the least she could do.

      The delicious smell grew stronger and mingled with the tantalizing scents of pies and biscuits as she descended the stairs and neared the kitchen. The warmth from the oven filled the room, surrounding her as she entered, making her feel instantly at ease, taking away some of the feeling of being far from home.

      Charlotte, Nancy and Aunt Mae were gathered around the flour-dusted kitchen table, kneading dough and assembling pies. There was a streak of flour across Nancy’s cheek and a dusting down the front of Charlotte’s apron. Tendrils of hair had escaped from beneath their black kapps and their cheeks were flushed from the heat of the oven, but they didn’t seem to notice or care, so intent were they on the tasks at hand. Nancy looked a lot like her older sister, but her hair was brown whereas Charlotte’s was golden. Both had pretty