Free Where Grace Abides by BJ Hoff

him.
    Jeremiah. The man she was forbidden to love yet loved all the same.
    â€œRachel,” he said in that quiet way he had of making her name the most important sound she had ever heard. “I’m sorry for your trouble.”
    She managed to nod and tried to unlock her gaze from his but couldn’t.
    â€œWhere’s your mother?”
    â€œShe’s—” Finally she was able to look away from him. She glanced around, saw her mother talking with Gideon and Doc Sebastian. “There,” she said pointing. “On the porch.” She paused, then added, “She’ll be pleased that you’ve come.”
    â€œAnd you?” he said watching her closely.
    She caught a breath. “What? I—yes, of course,” she said, trying to keep her tone light.
    â€œWhat can I do to help?” His expression changed now, becoming less intimate and more practical.
    â€œOh…I don’t suppose there’s anything. Not really. Some of the men are forming groups to go search for the horses, in case they’re still close by somewhere.”
    â€œWhat time did this happen? Or do you know?”
    Rachel tried to think. “Mamma said she heard noises about one thirty or thereabouts. That’s what woke her.”
    â€œI don’t suppose you have any idea who might be responsible.”
    â€œThere’s no telling. Maybe some fellows just wanting to play tricks on us. If so, we’ll find the horses unharmed. If not—”
    â€œCaptain Gant!”
    Fannie came running up and caught hold of Jeremiah’s coat sleeve. “I’m mighty glad you’re here! Why have you stayed away so long? Did you come to help find our animals?”
    Rachel didn’t miss the genuine affection in her little sister’s face as she beamed up at Jeremiah—nor the warmth in his expression as he smiled down at Fannie.
    â€œAh, my favorite little miss,” he said, running a hand lightly over the top of Fannie’s kapp. “’Tis happy I am to see you too.”
    Fannie giggled. “You sound funny when you talk Irish.”
    â€œFannie—”
    But when Rachel would have reproached her sister, Jeremiah merely laughed.
    â€œWell now, Miss Fannie, I’ll do my best to not let my Irish get in the way of your Amish. How will that be?” he teased.
    Again Fannie gave another delighted giggle, though after a moment her sunny expression faded. “My barn kitties are gone too.”
    â€œGideon told me,” said Jeremiah, his tone gentle. “We’ll do our best to find them for you, lass. For now though, Mac’s over by the wagon, if you’d like to say hello. I’m sure he’d like to see you. ”
    For a few seconds more, Fannie continued to stare up at him with her young girl’s heart shining in her eyes. Then she turned and ran off to find Gant’s dog.
    As Rachel watched her, she could only hope that her own heart wasn’t nearly so obvious.

    Later Gant stood talking with Doc on the porch, though his gaze continued to follow Rachel’s every move.
    â€œDo you think this might be the work of the same bunch who accosted Fannie last year?” he said.
    Doc shrugged. “Hard to say. There’s no lack of troublemakers who fancy making sport of the Amish.”
    â€œWhy is that, do you think?”
    Again Doc gave a shrug, his expression cynical. “I don’t have to tell you there will always be some who can’t tolerate the differences in others. The Irish could write a book of their own on persecution.”
    â€œTrue. To some we’re mostly a gaggle of dirty and ignorant Papists. A bunch of sub-humans, as it were. But what accounts for the bullying of the Amish? They’re honest, hard-working, family folks who mind their own business and just want to be left alone in turn to live their faith as best as they can.”
    Doc’s steady scrutiny was a bit discomfiting.