Noah's Sweetheart (12 page)

“Rachel,” he greeted softly.

Chapter Nine

S
he stared at Noah in fascination. In straw hat, maroon shirt and denim trousers held up by suspenders, he looked wonderful…just as she’d thought of him only moments before.

“Aunt Mae?” she asked, her heart beating wildly. Would her aunt forbid her to join in the search…and with Noah?

“Go, girl. Find Jacob and bring him home.” She had given three LED flashlights to the others. She rummaged in a drawer and discovered a fourth flashlight with an incandescent bulb.

Noah accepted the flashlight and waited for Rachel to join him. “Do ya have an idea where to look for him?”

Rachel frowned. “When I went into Joshua’s room earlier to see if he knew where Jacob could have gone, my cousin said that Jacob was fascinated with a puppy he’d seen a couple of days ago. If the boy saw a stray or some kind of animal, it’s possible he followed it.”

Noah looked concerned as he gazed into the night. He clicked on the flashlight, which wasn’t bright like an LED light, but it allowed them to see. “It’s so dark. If he is anything like my younger brothers, he’ll be terrified.”

“We have to find him,” she said urgently.

“We will.” Noah touched her shoulder, then as quickly pulled his hand away.

That light touch was enough to send her heart careening wildly. She inhaled sharply and tried to maintain her balance.

“Maybe we should check the schoolhouse and cottage,” Noah suggested. “Jacob visited both the other day when Abram stopped by to find out when we planned to finish the floors. He seemed fascinated by the school…and the swing sets. He may have wandered down to play on the swings. When he realized that he had missed ice cream with the Zooks, he probably stayed to play. Later, after realizing how late it was, he may have found a way into one of the buildings to wait until morning before seeking help to get home.”

“Shall we take the buggy?” Rachel asked, thinking it worth checking the school and cottage.

“
Nay.
It’s not too far. Unless you’re afraid of the dark?” he teased.

Most definitely not with him beside her, Rachel realized. “I’m not afraid. Let’s go. We should tell someone where we are going.”

“We’ll probably pass Amos along the way. If not, we can get there and back before anyone worries.” He looked concerned as they continued along the lane.

Was it wise? she wondered. He was probably right, but whether or not it was wise to walk alone with him was another thing.

The night held the sound of crickets and an occasional car on the main road ahead as she and Noah made their way toward the schoolyard. Rachel was quiet. She could hear the crunch of their feet on the dirt lane and the thunder of her own heartbeat.

Would Charlotte have chosen to search with Noah if she’d known he’d be arriving after she’d left with Abram?

Jacob,
she thought.
If anything happens to him…

“He’ll be fine, Rachel,” Noah said softly, as if reading her mind.

“I pray that it is so.”

She could feel his gaze studying her and she turned to face him. “Do you think we can hurry?” She swallowed.

He nodded solemnly. “
Ja.
That is a
gut
idea.”

They picked up their pace in unison, hurrying toward the road, running across to the other side. The buildings looked dark as they approached, which was no surprise, since the school and house weren’t in use yet.

“Do ya have your key?” Noah asked as he dug a hand into a pocket of his trousers.

“Nay,”
Rachel said, upset. “I didn’t think to bring it.”

Noah grinned, his teeth a flash of white in the semidarkness, lit only by their flashlight. “I did.” He held up a key, which glinted in the light.

She laughed. “You are a smart man, Noah Lapp.”

He crinkled his nose and said simply,
“Ja,”
which only made her chuckle more.

The truth was Rachel felt nervous and scared, and at times, she laughed when all she wanted to do was to cry out or scream. Laughter was her way of coping. Did Noah think her awful for chuckling when the situation was worrisome?

They checked the schoolyard first, especially the area of the new swing sets, since Jacob had shown an interest in them. But there was no sign of him. Rachel looked closer and saw what could be scuffmarks in the dirt below one swing, but she couldn’t be sure.

“Noah,” she said, “would you bring the light closer?”

He quickly obliged, holding the light so they could carefully inspect the dirt. “It’s possible he was here earlier…or someone else was. But it could have been any one of the
kinner
in our community.”

“But no one knew that the swings were finished, except those families whose fathers constructed them. Jacob!” Rachel called.

Noah joined in with her. “Jacob!” they called together. They listened in silence for a response, but there was none.

“Do you think he may have somehow entered the school?” Rachel asked as she walked along the outer wall of the building.

Noah shook his head. “Not if it’s locked.” He had taken off his straw hat before he’d left the King farm, and she couldn’t take her gaze off his glistening eyes, straight nose and clean-shaven jaw.

“May we check?” she started to say, but Noah was already rushing to unlock the schoolhouse door.

“Jacob?” Noah called. “Jacob Peachy? It’s all right. You won’t get in trouble, but your
dat
is worried about you. Come out and we’ll take ya home. It’s me, Noah, and I’m with Rachel Hostetler.”

But the schoolroom remained silent.

Rachel felt tears fill her eyes. “It’s so late. With each passing minute, I get more frightened for him.”

“Let’s check the cottage,” Noah suggested, and they hurried down the drive toward the new teacher’s house.

They had just reached the door when they heard a shout.

“Noah! Rachel! Any luck?” Charlotte said. She and Abram Peachy joined them as they were about to enter the house.

“We checked the school, but he isn’t there. We were about to see if he could have hidden inside when it got too late for him to find his way home again.”

Rachel’s gaze went to Abram Peachy, who looked ashen. “Abram—”

“We have to find him,” the widower said.

“We will,” Charlotte assured him and touched his arm briefly.

Noah went to insert the key into the lock, and the door pushed open at his touch. The four searchers looked at each other.

“Go ahead,” Noah urged Abram.

The kindly older man nodded and entered with Charlotte close behind him. Noah and Rachel hung back.

“Shall we search the yard in the back of the house?” Rachel suggested, feeling helpless while waiting.

“Jacob?” she heard Abram call. “Jacob, son, if you’re here, come to
Dat.
I won’t be angry. I just want you safe at home.”

Rachel heard Charlotte’s voice. “Jacob, listen to your
dat.
He loves you. Please come out if you’re here.”

Noah and Rachel were rounding the house back toward the door when they heard a sudden jubilant cry.

“He’s here!” Charlotte cried out to the two of them. “He was hiding in the bedroom. He’s well.” She went back inside to check on father and son.

“Praise the Lord,” Rachel whispered.

“Amen,” Noah whispered. He looked at her, and she saw him blink away tears.

“It was a
gut
idea to search here.”

“And we weren’t the only ones who thought of it,” Rachel replied. She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the night, happy that a little boy was reunited with his father.

“We should get back,” Rachel murmured, although she wasn’t in any hurry to move.

“I’d like to see Jacob when he comes out,” Noah said.

Rachel agreed. “Will Abram keep his word and not be angry with Jacob?”

“
Ja.
Abram is a man of his word, a
gut
man. And he is a father who just wanted his youngest son out of danger.”

Charlotte came out of the cottage first. She beamed at them. “Now we will be able to sleep well tonight.”

Abram followed her, carrying his son in his big, strong arms. He had tears of joy as he approached.
“Danki,”
he said in a choked voice.

Noah smiled in acknowledgment. “Jacob, boy, next time you want to play on the swings, ask one of us to take you.”

“
Ja,
Noah,” the little boy whispered. He looked as if he’d been through a lot. He still wore a frightened look until Abram tightened his hold on him.

“We’d best get back. Did ya walk?” Noah asked Charlotte.

“
Nay,
we went back to the house and got the carriage,” Charlotte said.

Rachel saw then the small open buggy that Charlotte and Abram had taken from the Kings’ barnyard.

“Ya can ride with Charlotte,” Abram told Rachel.

“We’ll enjoy the walk back to the Kings’,” Noah said with a glance at Rachel, who nodded. “It’s a nice night and it didn’t take us long to get here.”

Charlotte eyed her cousin in understanding. She said something softly to Abram, and then she, Abram and Jacob climbed into the courting buggy and with Jacob on Charlotte’s lap, they headed out onto the road toward the dirt lane that would take them back to Aunt Mae and the others who would be waiting.

Rachel and Noah began to walk back. The night seemed alive with summer scents. The cricket chirps joined the croaking of frogs along a ditch by the roadway.

Rachel felt Noah’s presence more keenly. She tried not to think of anything but returning to the house, but she couldn’t help but be aware of Noah, who made her feel alive…and tingly…and afraid to put a name to her feelings.

Noah walked silently beside Rachel, keenly aware of her nearness. She looked appealing with the
kapp
upon her hair slightly askew. She had been disturbed from her sleep and no doubt dressed quickly. She appeared vulnerable and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

She cut him a glance, and he averted his gaze. “It’s so quiet,” she said softly.

“Ja,”
he answered. “You can hear the frogs and crickets.”

Distant cries of happiness interrupted the night. Rachel and Noah exchanged grins. Abram and Charlotte must have arrived with Jacob.

“I imagine you’d rather have ridden with Charlotte,” Rachel murmured.

“
Nay,
I’m content enough to walk back. It’s a nice night.”

Rachel’s stomach fluttered. “It was thoughtful of you to walk back with me.”

Noah stopped to stare at her. “There was nothing thoughtful about it, Rachel. I wanted to walk back with you.”

And her heart started to thump hard. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to answer. She remained silent as she accompanied him back to her aunt and uncle’s farm.

As they approached the farm, Rachel began to hurry. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time in Noah’s company, but she was more confused than ever about her feelings for him.

She tripped and Noah caught her before she fell. He held her a few seconds, and Rachel stared up at him, breathing hard.

“Danki,”
she whispered.

He seemed to struggle with something. “We should go,” he said huskily.

Rachel nodded as they continued through the night back to the King farm.

* * *

Aunt Mae, Charlotte and Nancy were fussing over Jacob as Rachel and Noah approached.

The child looked grateful to be back within sight of his father.

“I should get home,” Abram said.

“Nay,”
Aunt Mae insisted, “you must stay the night with us. Mary Elizabeth, David, John and Ruthie are at Sarah’s,
ja?
” The widower nodded. “No sense going there to wake up the children,” she continued. “Eli will head home to let Sarah know that Jacob is all right. Jacob can sleep with Joshua and John. I can make a bed for ya down in the parlor.”

“
Ja,
stay,” Charlotte urged.

Abram nodded. “I am tired, and it is late. As long as the others know that Jacob is fine and we’ll be spending the night here.”

“Jacob.” Charlotte held out her hand, and the little boy took it. “Come with me.”

“Dat?”

Abram reached down to pick up his son, gave him a hug before setting him down. “Go along with Charlotte, now.”

Charlotte’s gaze met Abram’s over Jacob’s head as the boy took the young woman’s hand.

“I’ll get bedding for Abram,” Rachel offered, noting the look of warmth between her cousin and the widower. She shot Noah a glance. Did he notice that something was happening between Charlotte and Abram? Or was she mistaken?

Noah didn’t seem in the least concerned.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Noah asked as he followed everyone inside.

“You have done more than enough, Noah,” she heard Abram answer as she entered the house to find the linen cabinet.

Noah allowed his gaze to linger on Rachel as she hurried upstairs. If not for the worrisome circumstances of the evening’s search, it would have been a wonderful night spent in Rachel’s company. He had been focused on finding Jacob, but he had also enjoyed the closeness brought on by the dark night during the walk back. Something was happening between them. He sensed that she felt it, too.

“I guess we should head home, son,” Samuel said, interrupting Noah’s thoughts. “We need to tell your
mam
and brothers that Jacob is found and they can stop looking.”

Rachel returned with a pillow and a quilt. Her gaze caught Noah’s briefly as she left the room to make up Abram’s bed.

“Is anyone hungry?” Amos asked. “Noah? Samuel?”

“
Nay,
Amos,” Samuel said.

Samuel, Amos and Abram talked about the fright they’d suffered and the blessings of the good Lord in finding Jacob so quickly.

“But I wouldn’t mind a muffin or piece of cake,” Noah said to Rachel as she entered the room.

“I’ll find something for ya in the
kiche,
” she said.

He trailed behind her toward the kitchen pantry. “Got any chocolate cake or pie left?”