Late spring, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
She felt the first drops of rain as she steered her horse-drawn open wagon home after a visit to her friend Mary. Leah Stoltzfus sighed as she reached under the carriage seat for her umbrella. She probably should have headed home hours ago, but it had been so nice to spend time with Mary, who’d fallen in love and married Ethan Bontrager before moving into the house her husband owned in New Holland two years ago.
The light drizzle turned into a shower as Leah pushed open the umbrella while she continued to steer her horse. The patter of rain on fabric was soothing, and she smiled as she made a left turn. She was still miles away from home, but the downpour didn’t bother her. Until suddenly the wind picked up, so strong that it turned the umbrella inside out, ruining her rain covering beyond hope. She cried out when a gust tore off her prayer kapp. She tried to catch it, but it was a lost cause. When a sharp clap of thunder followed a bright flash of lightning, she knew she was in trouble. She needed to find a safe place to wait out the storm. She sent up a silent prayer that the Lord help her to find shelter soon. She had been terrified of thunderstorms since being caught in a severe one as a young child.
Yoder’s General Store loomed ahead as if the Lord had provided in Leah’s time of need. Relieved, she pulled into the parking lot and tied up her horse before she ran to the front entrance. Thunder rattled the building’s windows as she tugged to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
Locked! A flash of lightning made her flinch. The rain spilled down in buckets now, and the air temperature dropped quickly. Soaked, she hugged herself with her arms as she tried to keep calm. The wind gusted and blew the rain sideways while lightning continued to flash and was followed by horrific crashes of thunder.
Feeling desperate, Leah leaned her face against the window to peer inside and caught a tiny flicker of light from the back room. Thanks be to God! She hurried around to the rear entrance and hammered on the door with her fist. She waited for someone to come, her heart racing wildly as she tried not to shrink with fear every time there was lightning and thunder. She pounded again. Please, Lord. Please, Lord.
What was she going to do? Worried about her horse, she turned to leave.
The door flew open behind her. “Leah?” a male voice roared above the wind. “Is that you?”
She spun, then stared at the man who gazed at her from the open doorway. Henry Yoder. The last person she’d expected to see—and the last man she wanted anything to do with. He unsettled her. He’d once been her cousin Isaac’s best friend, until he’d betrayed him.
“I have to go.” She gasped. A boom of thunder made her duck for cover, her arms shielding her head.
“Leah.” His voice was soft and near. “Come in from the rain.” He captured her arm gently and pulled her into the store.
Leah was tempted to stay, her fear momentarily getting the better of her. Then she met Henry’s gaze and closed her eyes, debating. Storm versus Henry Yoder. She bucked up as she made the choice to rein in her fear. She sprang out the door.
“Leah!” he shouted as he came out after her.
She halted and met his concerned gaze. “My mare.”
Understanding brightened his blue eyes. He nodded. “We’ll put her in the storage barn. I’ll get your buggy.”
She shook her head, refusing to allow him to see how frightened she was. “I’ll get it.”
Their gazes locked. Henry stared at her, then inclined his head. “I’ll meet you over there.” He gestured toward the large pole-barn structure behind the store, then rushed out into the blinding rain after shutting the door behind him.
Water streamed in her eyes as she ran to her buggy. Her horse was antsy, shifting nervously as she whinnied. Concerned for the animal despite her fear, she took the time to stroke the animal’s neck. “I’m going to get you inside where it’s safe, girl.”
After one last pat, she lifted a leg to climb into the vehicle, slipping on the wet wood before she managed to get seated. Leah grabbed the leathers and steered the horse toward the Yoders’ outbuilding. Her heart gave a lurch when she saw that Henry had dragged open the two huge doors for her. He stood back and waved her into the building, but as she urged the mare closer, he grabbed hold of its halter and led her horse inside. The interior of the structure was dark except for the brief flashes of lightning that lit it up. Leah waited until he maneuvered her vehicle in as far as it could go before she let go of her tight hold on the reins and climbed down. Henry waited for her at the rear of the buggy.