The child’s attention remained on Willa, her brow wrinkled in a frown. “You talk funny.”
Willa suppressed a smile and rose, straightening her dress and apron. “That’s because I’m Amish. We talk and dress differently than what you are accustomed to. Now, you are dressed as an Amish girl who needs some hot chocolate.”
She winked at the child and Samantha giggled. The innocent sound was a reminder this lovely little girl deserved to have more moments where she could laugh and be a child again. Not living in fear and running for her life.
Gott, please help this sweet kinna. Protect her from men who wish to harm her.
Willa retrieved her favorite saucepan from the cabinet near the stove. Gathering the ingredients required for the hot chocolate, she sat them on the counter. The recipe had been passed down from Grossmammi to Willa’s mother. And now to Willa. It had always been a favorite of both hers and Miriam’s.
Not a day went by when Willa didn’t miss her big schweschder. Growing up, she and Miriam had shared everything with each other. Willa had known about Miriam’s feelings for Eli long before she’d told their parents. When Miriam married and moved away to Libby, Willa missed her deeply. They did their best to keep in touch through letters and the occasional visit. And then Miriam died.
Willa tucked the gut and bad memories of her sister away. They were not for this day.
Samantha watched her pour the milk she’d gotten the morning before into the pan along with cocoa and sugar. After she lit the stove, she placed the pan on one of the burners.
The child plopped down on the floor beside Golden Boy, and the dog laid his head on Samantha’s lap. “Aw,” she exclaimed.
Willa shook her head. Golden Boy had that effect on everyone. He was a fierce protector of both Willa and her mamm, but a softy at heart who loved attention. When Willa still taught at the community skool—back before her mother’s condition worsened—Golden Boy would follow her to class from time to time, and all her students adored the animal.
She stirred the chocolate while her thoughts returned to the man in the living room. Even though she’d seen him face-to-face, Willa couldn’t believe Mason Shetler was standing in her living room. Even more so under these circumstances.
Thirteen years had passed since he’d left the community. With each one, Willa believed the chances of Mason returning to West Kootenai grew smaller. She’d thought about him a lot through the years. Remembered the gut times they’d shared growing up. She’d often wondered about his life in the Englischer world. Was he happy? Had he found someone to share his future?
She shook her head. Best not to dwell too long on things that were not her concern.
While the liquid grew warm, Samantha rose and sat at the table, smoothing her tiny hands over the blue material of the garment worn by three different children.
“I like this dress very much,” Samantha said when she noticed Willa watching her.
More than anything, Willa wanted to take Samantha in her arms and hug her close because she had a feeling the child needed lots of hugs. “I’m glad you like it. It’s my gift to you.” Willa told Samantha about it once belonging to her sister.
The child’s face lit up after the story. “Oh, thank you. Mr. Mason and Mr. Erik bought me what I wore...before.” She sniffed several times.
“Well, you look very pretty in your new dress.” Willa tried to take the child’s mind off what happened. She poured the heated liquid into a cup and sat it on the table in front of Samantha, then she pulled out the chair beside her.
Golden Boy rose and made several circles around the floor before settling at Samantha’s feet with a groan. The little girl blew on the hot chocolate before tentatively taking a sip. “It’s very good. My mom used to make me hot chocolate...” She stopped, took another sip, then asked, “What does denki mean?”
Willa smiled at the young girl curious about the world she’d been thrust into. “Your way of saying denki would be ‘thank you.’ We speak a language known as Pennsylvania Dutch.”
Samantha’s gaze slipped over Willa’s prayer kapp, and she pointed to it. “Do you always wear that?”
The child’s innocent questions were ones she had heard many times before. For a while, before Willa became a teacher, she’d worked as a nanny for an Englisch couple.
“Most times. It’s called a prayer kapp.” Samantha accepted her answer and went back to sipping her drink.
A groan sounded from the living room. Mason’s wounded partner must have woken.
Two men were shot, and a frightened little girl sat at her kitchen table. What dangerous events had taken place near her peaceful community to bring back a man who’d professed he would never return to the Plain life again? And what deadly effects would his return have on her simple world?
Copyright © 2021 by Mary Eason
Love Harlequin romance?
DISCOVER.
Be the first to find out about promotions, news and exclusive content!
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Instagram.com/HarlequinBooks
Pinterest.com/HarlequinBooks
ReaderService.com
EXPLORE.
Sign up for the Harlequin e-newsletter and download a free book from any series at
TryHarlequin.com
CONNECT.
Join our Harlequin community to share your thoughts and connect with other romance readers!
Facebook.com/groups/HarlequinConnection
ISBN-13: 9780369716057
Undercover Protection
Copyright © 2021 by Mags Storey
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].
Love Inspired
22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.Harlequin.com
Undercover Protection Page 20
