Noah's Sweetheart Read Free Page A

hand.
    Rachel began to assemble the pie lattice, placing each dough strip carefully over the filling, spacing each evenly in a lovely woven pattern. When she was done, she stood back to eye her handiwork. “Bread, biscuits and pies,” she said with a smile. “Are we having company? Or are these all for family?”
    Nancy spoke up. “ Nay. We sell baked goods to a new shop in Kitchen Kettle Village. We bring them pies at least once or twice a week. Our pies sell well, and the owner is pleased to have them.”
    “The bread, too? It smells delicious.”
    Aunt Mae grinned. “The bread is for dinner this evening.”
    Rachel grinned with pleasure. “I can almost taste it now.”
    An hour later, Rachel had rolled out dough enough for three pies, made a filling for one crust, cut out biscuits and stirred the ingredients of an upside-down chocolate cake into a pan. The smell of all this good food made her stomach growl.
    Charlotte chuckled. “I think you should take time for breakfast.”
    Her stomach protesting loudly again, Rachel said, “ Ja. I think you’re right.”
    “Fresh biscuits out of the oven?” Aunt Mae asked.
    Rachel’s mouth watered. “ Ja. A fresh biscuit sounds gut! ”
    She ate her biscuit and sipped from her cup of tea.
    “Would you like another, Rachel? Or would you like eggs and bacon?”
    “ Danki, but no, Aunt Mae. It’s too late for more than this.” She rose with plate in hand to wash it in the dish basin.
    Aunt Mae left the house to take Uncle Amos something to drink. Rachel’s uncle was working in the fields. The day was again lovely but a little warmer, and Amos would want something to quench his thirst.
    As she dried her clean plate, Rachel heard a knock resound loudly on the outside door. She couldn’t see who it was as she put away the dish and hung the dish towel over the drying rack.
    “Noah!” she heard Nancy exclaim, and Rachel felt her stomach flutter.
    “It’s nice to see you, Noah,” Charlotte said cheerfully. “Would you like a biscuit or piece of pie?”
    “I appreciate the offer, but no, Charlotte. After helping Dat early in the fields, I ate a huge breakfast.”
    Rachel heard every word spoken between her cousins and Noah Lapp, but she didn’t turn around. With the warmth she felt since Noah’s arrival, she knew her cheeks would be blazing red. Besides, he had come to visit with Charlotte, surely. Although both had behaved in the most appropriate manner in town, it seemed clear to Rachel that Charlotte and Noah were sweet on each other.
    “ Gut morning, Rachel.” Suddenly Noah was next to her, overwhelming her with his presence. “Are you settling in nicely?”
    Forced to meet his regard, she nodded. “ Ja. My uncle and his family have made me most welcome.” He smelled and looked nice, she thought as he turned to speak with Nancy. He must have bathed after working in the fields, for his shirt was clean, as were the dark triblend denim pants that he wore. She tried not to notice the way his suspenders fit over his shoulders. He had a firm jaw and a ready smile. His golden-brown eyes sparkled. His sandy-brown hair looked neatly combed beneath his banded straw hat.
    She recalled suddenly how he’d looked yesterday after he’d rescued her: tall, thin but strong enough to leap onto the back of a galloping horse and hold on. He had lost his hat during his wild ride when he’d leaned low for the reins. His hair had become tousled and windswept during his efforts to take control of the runaway horse and buggy. She recalled how her heart had hammered and the relief she’d felt when he’d straightened, triumphant.
    Watching him now, she felt the back of her neck tingle. What was wrong with her? Abraham Beiler. Noah Lapp. She frowned. Was one man any different from another? She was here as a schoolteacher. She would be content with teaching children other than her own.
    Startled by her own thoughts, she glanced to see if anyone was watching her. Her gaze encountered