Noah's Sweetheart

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Would she see Noah at the house? Her heart gave a little thump. She hadn’t seen him since Sunday. While she fought hard to get him out of her mind, she couldn’t forget his face, his endearing smile and the many kindnesses he had shown her.

She reached the end of the dirt lane and waited at the edge of the paved road until a car sped past before she ventured to cross the street. She turned right and continued along the roadway, facing traffic. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of the schoolhouse and hurried on. With her heart buoyed by lightness, she approached a window and peered inside.

She grinned. She loved the rows of desks and the larger one in the front of the room. The schoolhouse was empty. Would it be unlocked?

She tried the door and realized that it was necessary to lock it when no one was about. Such a shame. She would have liked to wander around inside again.

Soon, she thought. Soon she would be standing before her class of eager students.

Rachel rounded the building and headed along the dirt drive toward the teacher’s cottage. The day was quiet. The only sounds she could hear were an occasional insect or a passing car on the main road and the breeze stirring the nearby trees and her dress hem and apron. Perhaps the Lapps couldn’t find time to work on the house today, she mused, disappointed.

Unlike the school, the cottage door stood partially open. With a frown, she hesitated only a few seconds before pushing the door in and entering.

“Samuel? Jedidiah? Noah?” she called out. “Is anyone here?”

“In the back of the haus, Rachel!” Noah appeared within seconds. “You’ve come to see the construction,” he said, sounding pleased.