Читать книгу Finding Her Amish Love - Rebecca Kertz - Страница 15

Emma was silent as Daniel steered his buggy toward his uncle’s house. The way she’d worked her way so easily into his cousin’s life bothered him. He glanced at her numerous times, but she wouldn’t look at him. She kept her gaze toward the side window. The fact that she didn’t interact with him only increased his suspicion of her.

“Emma,” he said, drawing her attention. “If you hurt Leah, her parents or anyone else within this community, I’ll see that you’re tossed out of it. Do you understand?” Expression serious, although he thought he’d detected a brief flash of fear, she nodded. “And I’ll call the authorities.”

She gasped and paled, her face so white that he feared she would faint. He hadn’t expected that reaction. Startled, he pulled his buggy off the road and parked, then faced her.

“Emma,” he said gently, “what’s going on? Why are you afraid?”

“The police can’t know where I am.”

He stiffened. “Why not?”

“Because I can’t go back. I won’t go back. They’ll hurt me, and I’ll just run away again.”

Daniel instinctively reached out to touch her arm. She flinched and shifted away from him. Something was seriously wrong. He eyed her with compassion. “Go back where, Emma?” he asked, purposely using her new name. “Who will hurt you?”

“My foster family.”

He felt chilled. “They hurt you?”

She nodded.

“How?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He frowned. Something was fishy.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be.”

“How did they hurt you, Emma?”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

Daniel felt anger, even though he knew it was wrong. How could he not when clearly someone had hurt her? She wouldn’t tell him, and that was fine. But someday he’d learn the truth. He couldn’t stop his protective instincts from roaring up in full force.

“I won’t press you,” he said. He could only hope that she wasn’t lying.

To his surprise, she smiled, a small, shy smile that lit up her face and made him startlingly aware of how pretty she was. “Danki.”

“How old are you?” he asked, curious. “Sixteen?”

She shook her head.

He experienced warmth as he studied her. “Seventeen then.”

She stared at him with surprise. “How did you know?”

“You’re seventeen. You’ve taken a job at my cousin’s store and you’ll be living with my aunt and uncle. You obviously have no family, and Leah is clearly protective of you. You don’t want the police to find out that you’re here. That could mean one of two things. Either you’re in trouble with the law or you need a place to stay until you turn eighteen when you’ll be free of the foster care system.” He held her gaze. “I’m inclined to believe you haven’t committed a crime.” He turned his attention back to the road before him. “Am I right?”

She blinked rapidly, clearly disturbed by his deduction. “Ja, you’re not wrong.”

He smiled. “Gut accent.”

“Danki.”

His amusement died as she carefully played with the edge of her dress sleeve. “Leah is right. This is the best place for you.” Although the secret deception felt wrong. “How about I take you to meet Leah’s parents—eldre?”

“Are they nice? Leah’s eldre?”

“Ja, you’ll like them.” And he knew they would accept her into their home without a moment’s hesitation. “Missy and Arlin Stoltzfus are fine people. Arlin is my mam’s brother.”

As he drove on to his aunt and uncle’s house, Daniel tried further to engage her in conversation and get her to open up. She might be only seventeen, but he had a feeling that everything she’d been forced to endure had made her seem much older than her years.

“What happened to your family?”

“They died in a car crash when I was eleven,” she said.

“Brothers or sisters?”

She shook her head. “I was an only child. I have no other family.”

Daniel couldn’t imagine being alone with no family. He’d been raised with seven siblings. That Jess—Emma—had suffered such loss as a child was more than a little upsetting to him. “You lived with your foster family all this time?”

“No,” she said. “My first foster parents were wonderful.” She grew quiet for a moment, then said, “They couldn’t take care of me after my foster father got sick.” He saw her blink rapidly as if fighting tears. “I don’t know if he is alive or dead,” she admitted.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Talking about her past was painful. Emma stared out the side window and sensed the long sideward looks that Daniel gave her. She faced him. “What?”

“I’m impressed by your courage,” Daniel murmured.

“What courage? I ran away from a bad situation.”

“Ja, you did, and it was the best thing for you. You didn’t know what would happen when you left, yet you went. You were brave.”

She looked at him and was amazed to see that he meant what he’d said. She gaped, speechless.

He grinned, then turned onto a dirt driveway that led up to a small white two-story house. “Relax,” he told her with a smile. “My aunt and uncle are gut people. Remember they’re also Leah’s parents.”

She felt her tension dissipate. If this couple had raised Leah, then they had to be good people. A woman doesn’t turn out that kind without having a loving family and home.

Emma stared at the house without moving. Daniel’s sudden presence on her side of the buggy startled her. His gentle expression eased her fears. He held out a hand, and she accepted his help. Did he suspect that she was bruised? No, he couldn’t possibly know about the bruises. It would be some time before they’d be healed enough to no longer be sensitive, but the dress covered her arms enough to keep them hidden until they disappeared. Daniel startled her when he kept gentle hold of her hand after she got out. He released it to knock on the side door of the house. Within seconds, the woman who appeared saw Daniel, and her eyes lit up as she smiled. “Daniel! Come in.”

“I’ve brought you a houseguest,” he said. “Leah sent her.”

The woman who must be Leah’s mother opened the door wider with a huge inviting smile for her. “Come in.”

“Emma,” Daniel supplied for her.

Emma hesitated until Daniel’s hand on her back urged her forward.

“Tea?” Missy invited.

“I could do with a quick cup,” Daniel said. “Emma?”

“Ja, danki.”

Missy looked at her strangely before she turned to put the kettle on.

“There is something you need to know,” Emma began when the woman took a seat across from her and Daniel, who had chosen to sit by her side. “I’m a runaway. Leah is my friend. She’s given me a job at the store and invited me to stay in your spare room.” She paused. “And I’m now a cousin from New Wilmington.”

Missy studied her intently. “Emma?”

“Ja?” She tensed.

Leah’s mother smiled. “Welcome home,” she said, and Emma was unable to control the tears that overflowed to trail down her cheeks. Tears of relief and happiness that she’d been given a second chance to feel safe and loved.

Daniel studied his aunt, then observed the young English woman seated next to him. He was startled that she’d been so forthright with his aunt. If anyone would be able to make life better for Emma, it was Missy and Arlin Stoltzfus. He drank his tea, ate two homemade chocolate brownies, then rose. “I need to talk with Reuben briefly before I head to work this afternoon.” He met the Englisher’s gaze. “Emma,” he said, “you’ll be oll recht?”

She smiled. “Ja, I’ll be fine.”

“Gut.”

“I’ll see you on Sunday if not before,” he told his aunt.

“Ja, give your mudder my best.” Missy smiled. “Please tell her that I might not be able to make it to quilting on Wednesday.”

“I’ll tell her.” Daniel’s gaze slid over Emma, and he was glad to see her relaxed with a small smile on her face as she moved to stand next to him. He addressed her. “You, I’ll see in the morning. I have to be at work at nine tomorrow, so I’ll pick you up at eight thirty.” He turned toward his aunt. “Will that give Emma enough time to do morning chores?”

Surprise flickered across his aunt’s expression, then came understanding. “More than enough time.”

To Daniel’s surprise, Emma excused herself to his aunt and followed him outside.

“Daniel,” she whispered. He halted and faced her. “Danki for everything.” Her expression was earnest, open and honest.

He smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

To his satisfaction, she simply nodded and went back inside. He left with the image of her bright brown eyes gazing at him with gratitude. He didn’t want her gratitude. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, but it wasn’t for her to feel beholden to him.

He drove back to see Leah first. It wasn’t afternoon yet, so he had a little time to talk with his cousin about the young woman in her parents’ home. When he pulled in next to the hitching post on the side of the building, he waited a moment, his thoughts whirling with questions that needed answering. He got out, tied up his gelding, then went into the building. Henry was behind the counter.

“Is your wife here?” he asked.

“She went up to the house, but she’ll be right back.”

“I’ll wait. I need to talk with her.” He paused. “About Emma.”

“Leah’s idea,” Henry supplied.

Daniel blinked. “What?”

“She picked Emma as Jess’s identity while she’s here, because ’tis a fine name for an Amish girl.”

“What did Leah tell you about her?”

“That she lost her parents when she was eleven.”

Daniel nodded. “Ja, she told me.”

Henry looked surprised. “What else did she say?”

“That she ran from her foster family.” Daniel frowned. “She didn’t say much, but what she fears most is being sent back to them.”

“I’m shocked that she told you about her past. She had a hard time telling Leah, and she considers Leah her friend.”

“I think Emma feels vulnerable.” Feeling sheepish, Daniel averted his glance. “I warned her against hurting anyone. Told her I’d call the police if she did.”

“Ach, nay,” Henry breathed.

“Ja.” He met the man’s gaze again. “She was terrified and explained.” Something about her drew him in to help her. He didn’t know why. She was an Englisher with different ideals and morals. She could be lying to them, but still he sensed something innocent about her.

Her cousin’s husband agreed. “Here’s Leah now.”

“How do you always know when your wife is near?”

Henry’s lip curved, and his eyes glowed with warmth. “Because she is my life.”

Daniel stared at him. It was clear that Henry meant every word. “You’re most fortunate to have such strong love in your marriage.”

“You shouldn’t marry for anything but love. I know some members of our community accept arranged marriages, but never settle for that. Love might come in time in an arranged union, but to know it beforehand? To feel it deep in your heart? That is everything.”

“Daniel!” Leah entered the room with a look of concern. “Did something happen to Emma? Is anything wrong?”

“Nay, nothing’s wrong. Your mudder welcomed Emma into her home with open arms.”

Leah smiled. “I knew she would. Mam is an amazing woman.”

“I agree,” Henry said.

Daniel smiled. Missy Stoltzfus had been an Englisher who’d accepted the Amish way of life and joined the church to marry his mother’s brother, his onkel Arlin. If anyone understood the concerns of a young English woman in an Amish community she wasn’t born into, Aunt Missy would be the one. “Leah,” he said, “I have some questions about Emma.”

Sighing, Leah gestured toward the chair they kept next to the counter.

“Sit and put your feet up,” he told her. “The chair is for you. I’m happy to stand.”

His cousin sat. “What do you want to know?”

“First, I’ll tell you what she told me, and you can add from there if you can, ja?”

Leah eyed him with surprise. “She talked to you about her past?”

He nodded. “Because I scared her, and I’m sorry for that.” Then he explained what happened, watching as his cousin’s expression went from horror to understanding to pleasure as he said, “She told me she ran from her foster family. And that she would never go back. I don’t know what happened to her, but it must have been something bad.”

Leah nodded. “I think it was.” His cousin smiled. “She trusts you.”

“You think so?”

“Ja. I’m surprised that she told you anything. She must feel safe with you.”

Daniel swelled up with emotion. “Now tell me what she told you.”

Leah frowned. “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I promised I’d keep her secrets.”

“What kind of secrets?” He stared at her, hoping that she’d give them up.

“I promised. You know I don’t like secrets. And while I don’t like pretending that Emma is my cousin, I will do it to protect her. She’s afraid of her foster father, and I’ll do what I can to make sure she is safe until she won’t be forced to go back after she’s eighteen.”

He understood, but he was still bothered by the girl’s secrets. What if she wasn’t telling the truth? Doubts about her slid in to disturb him as he drove back to see Reuben.

Emma had been so distraught when he threatened a call to the police that he sympathized with Emma once she’d told him why she was afraid. He sighed. He didn’t need the complication of her in his community right now. He needed to concentrate on work and his ultimate goal of opening his harness shop. He’d been saving for some time, and he nearly had enough money to look for rental property. Daniel knew that Elijah would give him space in his carriage shop for his business, but he didn’t want to take help from his brother. He wanted to be self-sufficient in his business. His brothers had made it on their own. He would, too.

The time spent with Leah after dropping off Emma gave him little left to talk with Reuben before he had to head to the construction site to work. He and the crew he worked with were starting a new job this afternoon. A number of subcontractors were working the site this morning. They would take over at noon.

It was late September. Soon the temperatures would drop, and work would ease up. He wanted to get in as many hours as possible. A few weeks working for the construction company should net him enough to quit.

Emma’s vulnerable features swam in his memory. He didn’t know what to believe about the Englisher, and until he knew he could trust her for certain, he would have to put his family first before his business...even if it meant his plans would be delayed a little longer.

Daniel scowled. He didn’t want to put off his plans, but how could he not? The Yoders and Stoltzfuses were family, and if he learned that Emma was a liar and a thief, he’d do everything he could to protect them. Even if it meant doing something he didn’t want to do—like call the police.