Finding Her Amish Love. Rebecca Kertz
I be worried about Leah being alone with her?”
Daniel hesitated. “I can’t say for sure, but my gut says that she’ll be fine. She was terrified when I found her. She came looking for Leah, said they’d met last year. Same way I found her probably. She says Leah discovered her in the barn asleep and offered to help her. I believe she’s a runaway.”
Henry frowned. “Maybe we should go up to the house.”
“We could, or we could trust that your wife is fine and knows what she’s doing. Clearly the women were happy to see each other.”
Daniel noted Henry’s softened expression and affectionate smile. “Leah is something. I still can’t believe I’m married to her.”
“Believe it, Henry. You’re not only wed to her, but she’ll be having your bobbli soon.”
A worried look came to Henry’s eyes. “I’m scared.”
“Of being a father?” Daniel was surprised.
“Nay, I want those babies more than anything. I worry for Leah and all she’ll have to endure to give birth. Reuben’s first wife...”
“I know,” Daniel said softly. “She died right after giving birth, but Leah isn’t Susanna, and she’s your wife. She’ll be fine.”
Henry looked as if he needed to be convinced. “I hope so.”
“I know so,” Daniel said with a grin. He glanced at the wall clock. He should head to work, but he had to stay to make sure the English girl didn’t need a ride. It seemed like an hour had gone by but was probably only ten minutes when he became concerned. “Want me to go up and check on them?”
“And anger Leah? Nay. I’ll stay right here. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of my wife. I was once, and I vowed to myself never to be there again.”
He needed to get to work. If he was ever to earn enough money to quit construction and open a business of his own, he had to show up at the job site.
But Daniel recalled Jess’s vulnerable expression and knew he couldn’t leave no matter how long it took for the women to return. He was torn between wariness and longing, an odd combination of feelings for a woman he barely knew—and an Englisher.
If the two women didn’t return after a half hour, he’d go up and risk Leah’s ire. He would ensure that both of them were fine. The mental image of Jess’s face lingered, and he felt anxious for some unknown reason.
Feeling guilty for deceiving her Amish friend, Emma followed Leah out of the back of the store and up a small incline to a white house. They entered through the kitchen. The room was spotless, with oak cabinets and a pie on the white kitchen countertop. She glanced at it briefly, then looked away and prayed that her stomach wouldn’t rumble from hunger.
“Have a seat.” Leah gestured toward a trestle table. It was large, rectangular and made of oak with six chairs. “How do you like your hot tea?”
Emma blushed. “I don’t know.”
The Amish woman studied her with surprise. “You never had hot tea?”
She shook her head. “I’ve had iced tea a couple of times.” Emma managed a smile. “I liked it sweet.”
Leah grinned. “Then you’ll want sugar in your hot tea.”
She watched silently as her friend filled the teakettle with water and set it on the stove. Emma felt like she should do something to help. She was never allowed to simply sit for a moment and be idle in the Turner household. “Can I help you?”
“Nay, I’ve got this.”
“I’m sorry to barge in on you.”
“I’m happy to see you, Jess. ’Tis been a long time.” Leah paused. “I was worried about you.”
Warmth rushed through Emma, overriding the guilt that had crept in hearing her false name on Leah’s lips. “You were?”
The woman nodded. “I knew something was wrong when we met. I wanted to help.”
“You did,” Emma whispered. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“Tell me what you’ve been doing since I last saw you.”
“When you found me, I’d run from my foster family.” Her throat tightened as Emma thought of her deceased parents. “I lost my parents when they were killed in a car accident.” She blinked against the tears that always came whenever she recalled that horrible time. “I was eleven. There was no family to care for me, so I was put into foster care. The Turners are the second family I’ve been placed with.” She shuddered and hugged herself. “They’re not nice people, so I’ve run away from them again.” She paused as Leah placed a cup of steaming tea before her.
“Be careful,” Leah warned. “’Tis very hot.”
Emma nodded. She added sugar and stirred it into her cup. She stared at the swirling liquid for a long time.
“Jess?”
“Yes, sorry.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t want to go back, but if they find me, I’ll have no choice.” She stopped. “A few days after I left the safety of your barn, I was picked up by the police in downtown Lancaster.” Embarrassment made her blush. “I was searching for food.”
“For food?”
“Yes, near a dumpster,” she murmured, ashamed. But she’d been hungry, and hunger had made her do things that she normally wouldn’t do. “The Turners filed a missing persons report.” Emma laughed harshly. “Once I was returned to them, my situation there got worse.” She didn’t want to confess about the abuse, and Leah didn’t need to know what she’d endured before she’d escaped. Leah’s ignorance would keep her friend safe from harm should Bryce Turner find Emma again. She gingerly took a sip of the hot tea. The warmth felt good in her throat. The taste was delicious, just sweet enough to make the brew go down easily. She felt stronger with that one sip.
“You ran away again,” Leah said. “Tell me about them.”
She looked up from her tea mug. “If it’s okay, I’d rather not.” She took another fortifying sip. “All I can tell you is that they don’t care about me. They are only interested in the money the state of Maryland pays them for my care.” She gestured at her clothes. “I was unhappy there. I had to leave, and I need to find a place to work and live until I turn eighteen, when I’ll be free from the foster care system.”
Leah frowned. “Jess—”
“Please, Leah,” Emma said. “I think it’s best if you don’t know.” Without thought, she rubbed her arms.
Frowning, Leah rose and skirted the table. “What’s wrong with your arms?”
Emma blushed and looked away. “Nothing.”
“I want to see your arms, Jess. If there is nothing wrong with them, you won’t mind if I take a look. There is something you’re not telling me.” Leah paused. “Please?”
She sighed. “If I show you, will you promise you won’t tell anyone?” Emma regarded Leah solemnly. “Not even Henry or Daniel?”
“I promise,” Leah said, although she looked extremely uncomfortable.
She stood and took off her jacket. Her long-sleeved T-shirt was thin, and Emma resisted the urge to put her jacket back on. Instead, she hesitated, then pulled up her right sleeve as high as the inside bend of her elbow. Her arm was covered with bruises, but the worst of them remained hidden near her shoulders. When she saw Leah’s changing expression, she knew she’d