Restless Hearts by Marta Perry Page A

wasn’t that bad—Rachel coming to see me?”
    He frowned. “That’s another thing altogether. If her parents forbade her to see you, she shouldn’tdisobey. And they wouldn’t appreciate your encouraging her.”
    â€œI didn’t. How could I possibly encourage it? I had no idea who she was until she explained the connection. She was just curious about me. Haven’t you ever been curious?”
    His gaze rested on her for a long moment, and her breath seemed to catch in her throat at the warmth in his eyes.
    â€œYes, I have been curious.” For a moment she almost thought he’d add, about you . “But I am not sixteen. Or Amish.”
    â€œYou just said her parents gave her more freedom now.” She rushed the words. It was safer to keep the conversation on Rachel, not on Ted, because otherwise she might read too much into the way he was looking at her.
    â€œThat doesn’t mean they don’t worry about her. About the influence of English people on her.”
    â€œEnglish?”
    â€œWorld people. Those who are not Amish.” His expression lightened. “The world calls the Amish Pennsylvania Dutch, when they’re really German. So the Amish call all outsiders English.”
    â€œPeople like me.” She got it, finally. “You mean they wouldn’t want her to be around me because they’re afraid of the influence I might have on her.” She straightened. “That’s so far-fetched it’s ridiculous.”
    â€œIs it?” He looked at her steadily, and that stolid face of his didn’t give anything away. The growing darknesspressed around them, reminding her of that first night, trapped in the beam of his flashlight.
    â€œYes.” The word came out defiantly. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her into saying she’d turn Rachel away from her door, if that’s what he had in mind.
    â€œYou’re forgetting.” His voice was quiet, but there was suppressed emotion in his intent eyes. “But they haven’t. It was during her rumspringa that Hannah met your father. She turned her back on everything that was important to her. They never saw her again.”
    She took an involuntary step away from him, trying to frame a response through the chaos his words set off in her mind. But Ted turned and disappeared into the darkness.
    Â 
    â€œAnd today they all reappeared without a word of explanation.” Fiona glanced across the front seat of Nolie’s battered old station wagon.
    Nolie lifted her hands from the wheel for a second. “I can’t explain it. And there’s probably no use in asking. The Amish don’t generally explain to outsiders their reasons for doing things.”
    â€œI’ve gathered that.” Fiona’s mind flickered to that disturbing conversation with Ted after Rachel’s visit.
    If Ted was trying to help her understand, he wasn’t doing a very good job of it. Maybe his own emotions were getting in the way. After what Rachel had said about Ted courting her aunt, she could understand why he’d have strong feelings on the subject.
    But she wasn’t going to discuss that with Nolie.“Anyway, I was glad to see the carpenters back at work today. And for Ruth’s sake, I was happy to see the quilters back in the general store. I’d hate to cause problems for her.”
    Nolie nodded. “I’ve heard about her store. I understand she gets orders from all over the country for those handmade quilts.” She glanced toward the back of the station wagon, piled high with packages. “Speaking of buying and selling, we did pretty well today, didn’t we?”
    â€œWe did. I can’t thank you enough. I’d never have found all those outlets alone.” Thanks to Nolie’s expertise, she’d found most of the curtains and linens she needed for the house and her practice at bargain prices.
    â€œIt was fun.” Nolie