Her Amish Child

He’d reached Nathan Craig, a man known for tracking down missing Amish. Nathan had already talked to several people who’d seen a young woman fitting her description and carrying a baby. But she could easily blend in here among the other younger women. Someone could be hiding her. He didn’t know and now he had other things to consider. The house repairs and, possibly, an infant niece.

Thinking he’d leave and not bother these women again until they all went to the community center tomorrow, Josiah turned to leave.

“Josiah?”

He pivoted at the door to find Raesha standing at the edge of the big long living room. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was aggravated and cold and hungry earlier. Never mind me asking about staying here. I do not think that’s wise.”

“We don’t mind,” she said, but she didn’t sound sure. “I will have to clear it with the bishop and we’d lock the door to the long porch that connects the grossdaddi haus to this house. We don’t use that way much now so it’s usually locked anyway. We tend to go out the side door by the shop.”

“I would not harm you or bother you,” he said, hope gaining speed again. “I won’t show up on your doorstep again. I just need a place close by while I rebuild my house.”

“I understand,” Raesha said. “It makes sense and we do often rent out equipment and the occasional room. We often have relatives visiting for long periods and they find the grossdaddi haus comfortable.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s no bother,” she said. “But we will have to consider what to do if Dinah is truly your niece.”

“I had planned to sell the place, but I wouldn’t want to take her away.” He paused. “I told my onkel and cousins I’d be back. I borrowed traveling money from my onkel and one of my cousins is angry with me.”

Raesha’s expression softened at that. “I’m sorry to hear of your hardship. Maybe you can send them the money even if you decide to stay. It might take longer to pay off but at least they’d know you mean to do so. Once you have your house in order she—Dinah—would be right next door.”

He grabbed at hope. And he’d be right next to Raesha. “You could visit her often.”

“And watch her if you need us.”

They seemed to be reaching a truce of sorts.

Josiah gazed at the woman across the room, their eyes holding with a push and pull that reminded him of a rope tug.

“I did call Mr. Craig. People have seen someone matching her description in town and the woman was carrying a baby. But no one can be sure.”

“Then there is hope that she will return,” Raesha said. “I pray God will give us insight.

“If your sister comes back, we will do what we can for her,” Raesha said, her tone soft and quiet. “You can still do what you set out to do and Naomi and I will continue on.”

Josiah nodded and rubbed his face. “This is a gut plan, ja?”

“That remains to be seen,” Raesha replied. “Meantime, you are here and it’s storming out there. You will stay for supper.”

“I will?”

She smiled at the surprise in his question. “If you are so inclined.”

“I’m inclined,” he said. “Whatever’s simmering on that stove smells mighty gut.”

“Then sit by the fire and I’ll go and tell Naomi we have reached an agreement. We will discuss the details after supper.”

“You are a very forceful woman,” he said, moving across to the welcoming heat coming from the woodstove.

“I am a woman on my own with a mother-in-law I hold dear and with way more property than I can handle. I’ve learned to be forceful. Some frown on that, however.”

He smiled. “I’m not one of them.”

She inclined her head, her eyes going dark gray in the glow from the gas lamps. Then she turned and went into the other room to get Naomi.

* * *

Raesha let out a deep breath. “It’s settled.”

Naomi watched over Dinah. They’d found a huge straw basket that would make do for a bassinet for now and covered it with blankets so Dinah would be comfortable and safe. It sat by Raesha’s bed. She had a comfortable room that held the bed, two side chairs and a large but simply made armoire that had stored her clothes along with Aaron’s. His were gone now, donated to someone in need.

The room seemed cheerier with the big basket on the floor, a baby sleeping inside.

Naomi rose from the chair she’d taken near the baby’s bed. “Gut. Our neighbor is in need. We will help him as we can.”

“At what cost?” Raesha asked in a whisper.

“It costs us nothing to be kind,” her mother-in-law reminded her.

“But the baby—”

“Is not ours either way.”

“You’re right,” she said, feeling as if she were sitting on a fence and couldn’t decide which way to jump. “You’re right.”

“Let’s go and have our supper,” Naomi replied, taking Raesha by the hand. “A good meal will ease our concerns and maybe we can get to know Josiah a bit more, ain’t so?”

Raesha nodded. “Ja. I need to know all kinds of things.”

Naomi gave her a knowing look, her shrewd eyes still strong enough to see more than she let on.

“For the bobbeli’s sake.”

Raesha echoed that. “For Dinah’s sake. Nothing more.”

But there was a lot more going on here than an abandoned baby sleeping away and a stranger eating supper with them.

Her life had changed dramatically overnight.

But she wasn’t so sure she would like this change.

* * *

“The meal is wonderful,” Josiah said, glancing across the table at Raesha. “Do you share cooking duties?”

Naomi held up a wrinkled hand. “I used to run this kitchen but old age has slowed me down. But Raesha is a fast learner and her mother taught her well before she came to live with us.”

“We cook for special occasions and frolics, church gatherings and market days,” Raesha said, the coziness of the night making her mellow. “But for the two of us, we measure out and don’t waste anything.”