Free The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth 1) by Ruth Reid

the girls found him boring. Obviously, Andrew hadn’t recovered from Esther’s death. Perhaps he never would, seeing how Levi said even the bishop couldn’t persuade his son to find a mate.
    Andrew eased her back to arm’s length. “Are you okay nau ?”
    Judith nodded. “What was that? Please tell me it was a squirrel.”
    He glanced up at the limb overhead and chuckled. “Would it be less frightening to think it was a furry rodent lurking in the darkness?”
    She crossed her arms. “You think that’s funny?”
    He shrugged, and his lips twitched as he tried to hold back his laughter.
    She groaned. Not him too. Andrew Lapp never poked fun at people.
    “I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “It was a raccoon.” His lips twitched again.
    Judith wanted to hold on to her annoyance, but the silliness of the situation hit her, and soon she was laughing with him.
    He stood with his hands jammed in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, a sheepish grin splayed across his face. “You have a nice laugh.”
    She covered her mouth with her hand long enough to compose herself. “What are you doing out here?” She hoped her tone didn’t sound as ruffled to him as it did to her.
    Andrew looked toward the trail. “I was looking for you. Everyone is.”
    Everyone. Had a search group been called? David, in particular, would be upset with her for worrying their parents and for disregarding supper preparations.
    “ Kumm , I’ll walk you to the haus .” Andrew pulled his hand from his pocket and placed his arm around her long enough to turn her toward the path. “Where have you been anyway?”
    “I . . . got lost.” Following an angel through the ferns .
    He stopped and stared at her, longer than she liked.
    She began walking to break the awkwardness of his gaze.
    After several moments, he broke the silence. “We’ve all been down to the river a thousand times. How did you get lost?”
    His tone didn’t sound accusing, yet she felt the weight of his probing question. She slowed her pace, scuffling her feet and kicking up leaves as she walked. She was grateful they were deep into the woods and the sun had set, so he wouldn’t see the turmoil on her face.
    “I wasn’t lost. I was hiding.”
    He blew out a breath. “From who?”
    She continued to walk. “Some of the parents . . .” Her words trailed off, and she wished her thoughts would fade with them.
    A light flickered in the distance. Her leg muscles locked.
    Andrew halted at the same time. “What’s wrong?”
    “Did you see that?” She wouldn’t have to explain her vision if the angel appeared now. Andrew would have his own story to tell.
    He nudged her shoulder. “You’re getting awful jumpy.”
    Jumpy, he says. If he’d seen what I did, maybe his nerves would be on edge too . After concentrating her focus on that section of woods and not seeing another flash, she let out her breath. With Andrew at her side, her muscles recovered and she could walk without her legs feeling like noodles.
    At another flicker of light, she gasped. “Did you see that?”
    Andrew’s chest expanded protectively, and he shielded her with his arms before he took a step forward. “Levi, is that you?”
    “ Jah .”
    Judith sighed so hard, she was sure Andrew felt her breath on the back of his neck.
    Twigs snapped in the wooded area, and Levi’s light became visible. “Did you find Judith?”
    Andrew turned, his breath warming her face. “She’s with me.”
    A pine branch sprung forward, then swept back as Levi emerged. He directed the flashlight in her direction. “What have you been doing?”
    “What are you doing with a flashlight? You frightened her,” Andrew said.
    “I keep one in my buggy for when I’m out late.” He turned to Judith. “I was worried about you.”
    Her heart lightened at the thought. She longed to see the sincerity in his eyes, but the beam of light aimed at her face blacked everything out.
    “Martha said you created quite a stir in the haus