Free Noah's Sweetheart by Rebecca Kertz Page A

the look of affection that glistened in Eli’s eyes as he watched them at play.
    This is what God intended, she thought. A gut man loving and caring for his family.
    Would she ever find happiness with a family of her own? Rachel experienced a flash of pain as she recalled her courtship with Abraham Beiler and the plans they had made to have a family together. She no longer knew if a husband and children were in her future. In the Amish community, it was important for a woman to have a family, but it could be that the Lord had other plans for her.
    Unbidden, an image of Noah’s smiling face came to mind. Was it possible that the tiny spark she felt when she was in Noah’s company was a sign sent by God to give her hope that she could someday have a husband? Not Noah, she assured herself quickly, but some other fine man? She sighed. She was afraid to care for a man. She’d felt betrayed by Abraham. Could she ever recover from his betrayal?
    The men, including the church elders, came to the table to eat. The women served them, and then while the men enjoyed their food, the women and children ate in the kitchen. The King house wasn’t as large as the Lapp residence, but all of the church members still fit nicely.
    “It was a fine church service,” Miriam Zook said as the women cleaned up afterward.
    “Ja,” Agnes Troyer said, “Preacher Levi is a blessing to us all.”
    “So is our deacon, Abram Peachy,” Alta Hershberger commented as she wrapped up the leftover loaves of bread and set them on the table for others to take home afterward. “He is a man with a kind heart.”
    “She thinks every available man has a kind heart,” Emma King whispered to Rachel. “Always looking for a husband for her Mary, poor thing. Mary can find a husband without her dear mudder ‘s help.”
    Rachel had to control a grin. Emma King was her cousins’ grossmudder. She and Grossdaddi Harley had returned recently from a trip to North Carolina, where they’d been visiting relatives of Emma’s. Charlotte’s grandparents were outspoken and full of common sense. Meeting them for the first time, Rachel had liked them immediately.
    Unaware of Emma’s comments, Alta, Agnes and Miriam continued their conversation about Deacon Abram and his children.
    Rachel couldn’t help listening with interest. She looked at her cousin, who met her gaze with a barely perceptible smile curving her lips. Charlotte had seen Rachel listening to Grossmudder Emma.
    “Do you think he will ever marry again?” Miriam put the lid on a bowl of pickled beets.
    “Abram?” Alta arranged leftover muffins from different sources on one plate.
    “Ja.”
    “‘Twould be a shame if he didn’t,” Alta said. “Those five kinner of his need a mudder, and there are some girls in our community who need a husband.”
    The women finished cleaning up the table and moved outside to sit in chairs arranged in the front yard under a shade tree. The sun was warm and the sky was clear. Rachel thought they couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.
    Alta settled her attention on the two cousins who stood near their seats, waiting for Aunt Mae and some of the other women to come out into the yard. “Charlotte, Rachel, you would like to marry someday, ja? ”
    Rachel and Charlotte could only nod. It would have been a terrible thing to do any differently.
    “Now, Alta and Miriam, don’t you be planning any of my girls’ weddings,” Aunt Mae said as she joined the group. “There will be time enough when God wills it.”
    Rachel sat down, while Charlotte returned to the house. Katie Lapp joined the group, carrying baby Hannah. “May I hold her?” Rachel asked, loving the way the child had curled into her the last time she’d held her.
    Katie smiled and handed over the sleepy little girl. “She feels comfortable with you,” Noah’s mother said. “You have a gift with children. You will be a wonderful teacher.”
    Rachel stood to settle the baby comfortably against her and then