The Heart's Frontier by Lori Copeland Page A

flush rose on the man’s face, above the point where the untrimmed beard gave way to tanned skin. “May I ask for your help one more time? We have no money to pay for the oxen the Lord will send, or for provisions to replace those taken from us.”
    Of course they didn’t. Everything they owned had been stolen. Luke held back a sigh. It was short-sighted of him not to see this coming. He did have some U.S. notes in his wallet and a stash of gold pieces in his satchel, expenses for the trail. McCann’s thriftiness when provisioning the chuck wagon along the way had left them in good shape. The men had each received advances when they camped near towns big enough to afford a man a decent time, but Luke had kept the advances small. Give a man a wad of money when there’s a saloon nearby and he’s been on the trail for a month, and the herd might not move for days. As a result of wise money management, he had some put aside. He could help the Switzers and replenish it from his own pocket when he got to Hays. Then he would pay a visit to that Amish bishop.
    He eyed Jonas. “You’re good for it?”
    The man straightened. “ Ja .”
    Luke believed him. What decided him, though, was the intent way Emma watched him, as though she wanted him to say yes but expected him to refuse. Something about the way that girl looked at him made him think she didn’t trust him. That wasn’t fair, because he’d gone out of his way to be nice since the moment he landed in the dirt at her feet. That expression on her face, the slightly narrowed eyes and the way she tilted her head a tad so her laces hung uneven from her kapp , stirred up a yearning in him to prove her wrong.
    “I expect I can spare enough to buy a decent ox or two.” He twisted his lips in a crooked grin and directed it toward Emma. “That is, if the Lord can manage to round up a pair out here in the middle of nowhere.”
    The corners of her lips softened in an almost smile, and she gave a nearly imperceptible nod that made Luke stand a little taller in his boots. Whether she shared his skepticism about the oxen or she was grateful for his help, he wasn’t sure. Either way, he’d never been more eager to hand over a stack of notes to a stranger.
    When he extracted his leather wallet from his saddlebag and started to open it, Jonas put a hand out to stop him. “We are not worldly in the ways of bargaining with the Englisch . Best you come along to make sure we are good stewards of your generosity.”
    Luke arched an eyebrow. “Your English sounds pretty good to me.”
    Rebecca giggled and then rattled off something in another language to her grandmother, who clucked and shook her bonneted head.
    Were they trying to confuse him? They talked about not speaking English in English and then spoke in a foreign tongue. Luke took off his hat and scratched his head. “Pardon?”
    Emma explained in the low, melodic voice that made him realize he’d been itching to hear her speak again. “‘ Englisch ’ is the name we use for all who are not Amish.”
    Color crept up his neck as he smoothed his hair and put his hat back on. She must think he was a fool.
    “I’m sorry, but I left my boys to handle a water crossing, and I need to get back to them.” From his wallet, he counted out a generous handful of notes and extended it to Jonas. The man made no move to take the money but simply stared at it.
    Emma stepped up to stand beside her pa. “Mr. Carson, our people keep themselves separate from the world. This sometimes puts us at a disadvantage when dealing with the Englisch . If you could find it in yourself to help us once more, I know the Lord will bless you for it.”
    The plea in the beautiful blue eyes gazing up at him put him at far more of a disadvantage than they. How could he refuse a pretty girl’s request, even if she was dressed in funny clothes?
    Besides, she and Jonas were right. The Switzers would be suckers when it came to the ways in the world. The folks