Читать книгу Noah's Sweetheart - Rebecca Kertz - Страница 13

Chapter Four

Noah stood on the front porch of the Lapp family farmhouse, watching as neighbors and friends drove their horses into the yard and parked in line with the other gray family buggies. All of the male Samuel Lapps—from their father Samuel to his youngest son, Joseph—were dressed in their black Sunday best. They stood, offering greetings and handshakes as the Amish men from other households joined them on the porch, while the women bustled into the house to join Katie in the kitchen.

The Kings’ gelding trotted down the lane and turned into the yard. Noah felt an odd sensation in the pit of his stomach as the family alighted from the buggy and crossed toward the house.

He nodded to Charlotte’s father as Amos climbed the porch steps and joined them. “Fair weather this day,” he said, and the man agreed. Conscious of the women, especially Rachel, who got out of the buggy last, he turned his attention first to little Joshua, who had run up to the house. “Have any ice cream lately?”

“Nay.” Joshua scowled. His eyes suddenly lit up. “Can we go this week?”

“If there is time for a trip into town.”

“Joshua!” Charlotte scolded as she climbed up the stairs. “What did I tell you about bothering Noah?”

“I wasn’t bothering him.” He looked up at Noah with big eyes. “Was I?”

“Nay, Joshua,” Noah replied and then grinned at Charlotte. “What’s that you’re carrying?” he asked her. “Could it be chocolate cake?”

Charlotte’s eyes twinkled. “Shoofly pie.”

Noah knew the exact moment when Rachel climbed the first step of his family home. She was wearing a blue dress with black apron and cape. This day her bonnet and the prayer kapp covering her dark hair were both black. She was lovely, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her sweet face. “And what do you have there?” he asked, casually, forcing himself to study the pie in her arms. “Another chocolate-cream pie?”

“Ja.” She met his gaze but then quickly glanced away.

“I think I’d like some of that pie,” he murmured softly for her ears only as she hurried past, following in her cousin’s footsteps.

“That was the new schoolteacher?” Jedidiah said.

Noah narrowed his gaze on his older brother. “I thought you saw her when she came to help Mam.”

Jedidiah, watching the arrival of another buggy, shook his head. “Dat and I were finishing up at the schuulhaus.” His attention fixed on Abram Peachy as he climbed out of his buggy and helped his five children to alight. “I heard you got your fields planted,” he called to Abram.

Abram waved his children into the house. “The weather held, thanks be to God.”

“You meet the new schoolteacher yet?” Jedidiah asked, and Noah glanced at his brother sharply before turning to gauge Abram’s response.

“Nay,” Abram said. “I hear she’s a King cousin from Ohio.” He seemed to exhibit only polite interest.

Noah felt himself relax. “Ja. Rachel Hostetler.”

“Nice girl,” Noah’s father said.

Jedidiah elbowed his brother. “I hear you were the great rescuer the other day.”

Noah shrugged. “’Twas nothing.”

“Not from what my daughter tells me,” Amos King said.

Abram suddenly looked interested. “Something happen in town?”

“Ja,” little Joshua piped up, as he returned from inside to stand with the men. “Aaron Troyer’s horse spooked, and Noah saved cousin Rachel from crashing.”

Abram smiled. “From crashing what?”

Joshua pulled himself up and tugged on the bottom of his small black coat. At seven, he was a miniature version of his father. “The buggy! The horse was galloping right down the middle of the road, and he took Rachel and the buggy with him. Noah had to jump onto the horse’s back while he was still running to stop him. The horse’s eyes were rolled back in his head, all big and white, and he was sweaty. Aaron Troyer came running up to take care of his horse Josef and to see if Rachel hurt herself!”

Noah felt himself the object of several male gazes. He was uncomfortable with this particular discussion and being the center of attention. “It wasn’t anything one of you wouldn’t do.”

“That’s not what cousin Rachel said,” Joshua replied. “She said she could have been killed if Noah hadn’t come to save her.”

“Ja.” Abram removed his hat, pushed his hair back, and then settled his wide-brimmed black-felt hat back on his head. “Could have been. One of Obadiah Fisher’s daughters out in Missouri—she got killed last summer when her horse ran away. Terrible thing for the family, and her just fifteen. Lucky for the new teacher you were there.”

The Zook family arrived at that moment, putting a temporary end to the topic of conversation. As he greeted “Horseshoe Joe” Zook’s wife, Miriam, Noah could feel Jedidiah watching him. He pretended not to notice, and soon Jedidiah’s attention turned to the middle Zook daughter, Annie.

Five families had come to visit. The men stayed outside while the women inside readied the midday meal. Moments of the men’s conversation intermingled with periods of silence, as the weather was good and there wasn’t a need for talking.

“The cousin was grateful,” Jedidiah said to Noah. “What does Charlotte think? Must have put a fright into her, seeing it.”

“Rachel is Charlotte’s first cousin. She’s glad I was there to help.”

Noah wondered how Rachel was getting along. She’d been here less than a week, and she must have feelings about their Happiness community.

“Charlotte is an understanding girl,” his brother persisted. “Good head on her shoulders. Make some man a mighty good wife.”

Noah glared at him, wondering where Jedidiah was headed with this conversation. “And why are you telling me? Charlotte and I have known each other a long time.”

“Ja,” Jedidiah said, “and well you should remember this.”

His older brother could be annoying at times, Noah thought. They were close in age—Jedidiah was only a year and a half older than he was. What was Jedidiah implying? That Charlotte was jealous? That he shouldn’t have saved Rachel because he and Charlotte were friends?

Noah shook his head. Sometimes Jedidiah made no sense.

“He did save her!” He suddenly heard Joshua shout from across the yard. “Ask him. Better you should ask cousin Rachel! Cousin Rachel!” the little boy called as he ran from the barn toward the house, followed closely by Jacob Peachy.

The boys rushed inside before Noah could stop either one of them. The last thing he needed was for Rachel to become embarrassed by all the attention—no matter how innocently it began.

“Cousin Rachel!” Joshua cried.

Noah cringed. All he did was stop a runaway buggy. Why couldn’t everyone just leave things be?

* * *

“...And the little Englisher was caught stealing a brownie from a pan cooling on Elisabeth Schrock’s windowsill,” Alta Hershberger was saying.

Miriam Zook’s eyes widened. “What did she do?”

Alta grinned. “She gave him a piece of her mind and then handed him another brownie.”

The women chuckled in response as they unwrapped the food they’d prepared previously.

“Abram’s children are growing fast, like weeds,” Mae commented as she sliced bread and arranged muffins. “Such a shame that those precious children have no mudder to guide them.”

“Abram’s doing the best he can, Mam,” Charlotte said.

“Ja, daughter. But the deacon can’t be all things to everyone. It’s hard when there are children to raise alone and a farm to run. It’s time he thought about marrying again.”

“I’m sure he will when he is ready,” Katie said gently. She unwrapped a plate and set it on the table. “A shame Sarah couldn’t come.”

“Ja,” Aunt Mae said. “I was sorry to hear David came down sick—”

Two young boys burst into the kitchen and stopped, the door slamming shut behind them. “Rachel! Cousin Rachel!”

“Son!” Aunt Mae scolded. “We walk, not run, into a room!”

Rachel grinned as Joshua searched the room and found her. “Little cousin, what’s wrong?” She tossed each boy an apple from a bowl on the counter.

“Jacob doesn’t believe that Noah saved you!” Joshua exclaimed before he took a big bite.

“Noah did save me, Jacob,” Rachel said, her breath catching at the mention of Noah’s name. “If he hadn’t stopped the horse, the buggy could have hit someone or something, and I could have been hurt or even killed.”

Jacob’s eyes went big as he listened to Rachel. “Noah saved her,” he said to Joshua. “And he kept Aaron Troyer’s horse from maybe breaking a leg and having to be shot.”

Joshua nodded vigorously, glad that his friend finally understood. “When are we going to eat?” he asked his sister, who’d been listening with amusement.

“Soon,” Charlotte said, handing each boy an apple-walnut muffin. “Go outside and be gut boys. We will call you when it is your time to eat.”

“Would you take this to the table?” Miriam asked.

Rachel nodded. She accepted the large bowl of potato salad and carried it into the front room, where she set it down on one of several makeshift tables that had been constructed for today’s visit. Her thoughts on Noah, she went to the window and peered outside. She couldn’t see him at first, and she started to turn away. Then his father moved and there he was, speaking with two men she hadn’t met. Noah nodded and then smiled at someone’s answer. He turned toward the house as he chatted, and his gaze locked with hers briefly through the glass. Rachel quickly retreated, embarrassed at being caught staring. She hurried back to the kitchen.

“The meal is ready,” Katie Lapp announced to the men outside.

The oldest men entered the house first. They sat down at a table, and then the younger men took their seats. The women had prepared the food earlier in the week. There was cold roast beef and chicken, potato salad, sweetened-and-vinegared green beans with bacon, frosted raisin bread, sweet-and-sour chow-chow, muffins, yeast rolls and coleslaw. There was an assortment of cakes and pies for dessert, including Charlotte’s shoofly pie and Rachel’s chocolate-cream pie.

The men ate without conversation, and when they were done, the women and children sat down to eat. Rachel enjoyed the meal, especially the sliced roast beef and potato salad with peas. Aunt Mae had made the green beans, and they were delicious.

Nancy took a second helping of her mother’s dish before tasting other foods. “Mam makes the best sauce for her beans,” she said.

Rachel smiled. “Everything is wonderful. Did you have some of Miriam’s chow-chow? Sweet and sour is my favorite.”

“Mine, too,” Charlotte replied as she lifted a forkful of the vegetables to her mouth. “Did you see Alta Hershberger’s vanilla pudding? Before the day is done, I’m going to have me a cup.”

“May I have some pudding with you?” A little girl stood at Charlotte’s side.

Charlotte’s expression softened. “I’ll call you when I’m ready to get some. I’ll scoop you a cup so we can eat it together.” The child looked pleased as she turned and ran back to sit with her sister and brothers. “That’s Ruth Peachy,” she told Rachel. “Abram’s youngest.”

Rachel eyed the youngest Peachy child as the little girl ate carefully, mimicking her older sister. “She’s too young for my classroom.”

Charlotte agreed. “She’s not yet four. She’s a pleasant girl. For some reason, she’s taken a liking to me.”

“The reason is simple,” Rachel said. “You’re as pure-hearted as she is, and you treat her nicely.”

“I like her.”

Rachel smiled. “I can tell you do.”

Suddenly, Rachel felt the back of her neck prickle. She turned, only to encounter Noah’s gaze.

Charlotte stood and approached him. “Can I get you something?”

Noah withdrew his gaze, turning his smiling attention to Charlotte. “Not unless you’re cutting the pies.”

Charlotte chuckled. “We’ll be serving them soon, Noah.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re still hungry?” she teased.

“Only for pie or cake.”

“I’ll bring you a piece after we cut it,” she offered.

Noah shook his head. “I’ll be back to get it myself.” His eyes met Rachel’s briefly as he left as quickly as he’d come.

* * *

Everyone enjoyed the cakes, pies and other sweets provided by the women. Noah had come for his piece of Rachel’s chocolate-cream pie, as promised. He appeared to relish every bite before he was back for more. Rachel couldn’t help feeling pleased that he took so much pleasure from it. Charlotte and Ruth Peachy sat side by side with their bowls of vanilla pudding. It seemed the most natural thing when Charlotte reached over to wipe pudding off the little girl’s mouth when Ruth was done. Rachel ate a tiny slice of shoofly pie and then enjoyed a small taste of Miriam Zook’s butter coffee cake. Soon, with bellies full and the time growing late, families began to gather their leftovers and their youngsters to leave.

Later, only the Amos Kings and Rachel stayed behind to visit a little longer with the Samuel Lapps and to help Katie with the cleanup. As she collected dishes to bring to the kitchen, Rachel saw the older Lapp brothers begin to take apart the front-room tables. She had met all of Noah’s brothers this day. They were a fine bunch of young men and boys who teased each other while they worked together as a team. Hearing them reminded her of her own three brothers back home in Millersburg, and she got misty-eyed for a few seconds. There was at least one Lapp brother close in age to each of her brothers, Moses, David and Thomas, who were all younger than she. Today would be their day for Sunday visiting, too, and it did make her feel a little better to know that, in a way, things were the same here as back in Millersburg.

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.