Chasing Fireflies
Book Five
Jacob’s Daughter series
WRITTEN BY
Samantha Jillian Bayarr
Copyright © 2012 by Samantha Jillian Bayarr
Cover/internal design by Samantha Jillian Bayarr
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form either written or electronically without the express permission of the author or publisher.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and are therefore used fictitiously. Any similarity or resemblance to actual persons; living or dead, places or events is purely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.
All brand names or product names mentioned in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names, and are the sole ownership of their respective holders. Livingston Hall Publishers is not associated with any products or brands named in this book
Livingston Hall Publishers
Samantha Jillian Bayarr
Book FIVE of Jacob’s Daughter series
Also by Samantha Jillian Bayarr
LWF Amish Series
Little Wild Flower Book I
Little Wild Flower Book II
The Taming of a Wild Flower
Little Wild Flower in Bloom
Little Wild Flower’s Journey
Christian Romance
Milk Maid in Heaven
The Anniversary
Christian Historical Romance
A Sheriff’s Legacy: Book One
Preacher Outlaw: Book Two
Cattle Rustler in Petticoats: Book Three
Jacob’s Daughter Amish Collection
Jacob’s Daughter
Amish Winter Wonderland
Under the Mulberry Tree
Amish Winter of Promises
Chasing Fireflies
Amish Summer of Courage
An Amish Harvest
An Amish Christmas Wish
Companion Series
An Amish Courtship
The Quilter’s Son
An Amish Widower
Amish Sisters
Please note: All editions may not be available yet.
Please check online for availability.
Chapter 1
I’m drowning!
Help me!
Rose Graber couldn’t say the words she longed to scream. She knew that even if she could scream them, there was no one around to hear her, and she had sunk too far to the bottom of the pond for any sound to escape her lips.
Panic seized her as she tried to free her foot from the entanglement of the thick plant roots at the bottom of the murky water.
Blackness surrounded her.
Her conscience had warned her not to borrow the paddle boat, but the temptation had been too strong to resist. The moon was full, and with only a few sparse clouds in the sky, it was the perfect night for a quick boat ride. She’d been careful to place the Mason jar filled with fireflies at the end of the dock to guide her way to a safe return. But even the fireflies couldn’t help her now.
Rose tugged, but the plants had a strong hold on her foot. She twisted every which way, unable to break free. Instinct tried desperately to bring air into her lungs, but there was only water. Hopelessness shrouded her as she surrendered to the pull of her fate.
****
Noah Beiler skipped a stone across the large pond, trying to mask his feelings. Even after more than a year, he could not put that day out of his mind. That day changed his life forever; it was the end to his future—his life. Picking up another stone, he leaned sideways and tossed it across the surface of the pond, his anger propelling it further. His eyes followed the smooth, flat stone as it skipped seven times before sinking below the murky depths of the pond in which he despised.
Following the ripples the stone had created on the surface of the water, Noah fixed his eyes on a small paddle boat making its way toward him. Even from that distance, he could see that it was a young woman pedaling the boat that he knew belonged to the Miller B&B. The boat was reserved for guests, and Noah thought it strange that the driver was not an Englischer. He continued to watch her for a few minutes from behind the tall willow reeds that grew along the bank.
Intending to avoid being seen, he turned and pointed himself toward home. A loud splash suddenly echoed from behind him. Heart pounding, he turned around, racing back to the water’s edge. Straining his eyes to see movement on the water, he caught only the slow-moving wake from the disturbance the splash had caused. Had she fallen in? She was no longer on the boat, and he heard no other sound indicating she was swimming or even struggling.
He scanned the pond one more time.
Nothing.
A paralyzing silence consumed him as he contemplated having to go into the water. His heart was racing and his breathing heaved as he robotically removed his shoes. Tossing them to the ground with shaky hands, he attempted to yell out to her, but no sound escaped him. Fear circulated through him as he stepped off the shore and into the cool water. He waded quickly through the muck on the bottom until he was out far enough to begin swimming. Each stroke he took toward the young woman reminded him of that night—that cold night in November when his whole world fell apart.
Chapter 2
Reaching the boat quickly, Noah grabbed onto the edge and scanned the water’s surface for any sign of the young woman. Just as he’d feared, he would have to dive down in the murky depths with only the light of the moon to guide him to her whereabouts.
Taking in a deep breath, Noah pushed aside his fear and said a quick prayer as he dove down head first. Moonlight filtered through the water making his journey easier, but he couldn’t see the bottom. A rush of bubbles floated up past him from just below where he was, and he knew they had come from the young woman. They may have been her last breath.
Running out of air himself, he surfaced long enough to take another deep breath, then plunged himself toward the bottom of the pond where the young woman awaited his rescue. The further down he swam, the more difficult it was to see, but it was just light enough that he was able to locate her.
Grabbing hold of her limp body, he tried to pull her toward the surface but she was stuck. Knowing he was risking his own air supply, he pushed himself further down to where her foot was tangled. With only his hands to guide him, he separated the plant’s roots that imprisoned her, setting her foot free. Cupping his hand under her dainty arm, he pushed off from the bottom of the pond, hoping to surface before his own lungs collapsed.
It seemed a small eternity as he kicked and fluttered his free arm to get to the surface.
Gott help me to hold on just a little longer. The light is getting brighter. I can see the moon.
Noah exploded to the surface, gasping for air as he continued to kick his weary legs to stay afloat. Leaning on his side with the young woman against him above the water, he heaved air into his lungs and kicked a little harder until he closed the short distance between him and the paddle boat. Reaching up with his free arm, he grabbed hold of the side of the boat. He pulled himself up until his arm hung over the side, and then he hoisted her small, water-soaked frame into the boat. Pulling himself up, he climbed on the edge and pushed the young woman onto her side. He thumped his open hand across her back the same as he had over a year ago.
Why wasn’t she breathing?
Emma please don’t die.
Placing a finger to her throat, he felt a weak pulse. Fighting
back tears, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on the cheek before applying light pressure to her ribcage. He knew he had to expel the water from her lungs quickly or he would lose her forever. He’d endured that once already, and he would not let it happen again.
Chapter 3
Rose convulsed, spewing a rush of water from her lungs. She gasped for air; coughing each time she tried to draw air into her lungs. Her eyes fluttered open and closed several times before remaining closed. Noah positioned himself on the opposite seat and began to pedal the small watercraft as fast as his wobbly legs would work. The shore, where he’d been just a short time ago, seemed like it had somehow stretched to double the length it had been when he swam out to rescue the young woman.
Hold on, Emma, don’t let go this time.
Rose groaned, tossing her head back and forth a few times, but didn’t open her eyes.
Noah grabbed her hand. “Stay with me, Emma. We’re almost there.”
As soon as the boat hit the bottom of the pond, Noah jumped out and yanked it ashore. Then he reached in and pulled Rose into his arms and carried her up the bank.
She wriggled in his grasp. “Put me down.”
Noah looked at her, shock in his eyes as she began to smack at his chest with her open hand.
“I said, put me down!”
He attempted to set her down and she stumbled backward, landing in the grass.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to drop you, but you were wiggling so much I couldn’t hold onto you.”
Rose examined her soaking wet dress, and then looked up into Noah’s eyes. She studied him for a minute. His hair was long and wavy, and rested on his shoulders. His jaw line was covered in a line of neatly-trimmed whiskers, yet he wore traditional Amish clothing.
“Did I hear you call me Emma?”
Noah’s face drained of all color. He hadn’t realized he’d said it.
“You fell into the water. You were stuck down in the muck at the bottom of the pond, but I pulled your leg free. I’m sorry if I called you Emma. I guess I was a little disoriented and thought you were someone else.”
Rose’s eyes grew wide. “The boat! I have to take it back to the B&B.”
She jumped up from the ground and started to walk, but collapsed in the grass again, her legs too weak to hold her up so soon.
Noah took a step toward her, but she verbalized a warning.
“If you come any closer, I’ll scream. My schweschder will hear you and so will her beau. He’s strong.”
Noah stood his ground. “I don’t want to hurt you. I pulled you out of the pond. If I hadn’t, you would have drowned. Are you alright?”
“I’m a little dizzy, and I feel like I can’t get enough air.”
Noah crouched down on his haunches so he wouldn’t tower over her any longer. He hoped the gesture would make her feel safe.
“You need to cough up the rest of the water that got into your lungs. If you don’t, pneumonia could set in.”
Rose leered at him. “Are you a doctor?”
“Nee, but mei grossdaddi is. He taught me a lot until…” his voice trailed off, and Rose didn’t care to press him for more information.
Rose pushed her damp hair off her face; her kapp hanging precariously from her neck by the ribbons. “I need to go home before my familye starts to look for me.”
Noah held a hand out to her and she took it, allowing him to assist her to a wobbly standing position. Her teeth were chattering, and water dripped from her dress.
“Can I get you a blanket?” he pointed behind her. “My haus is right there.
Rose turned around and looked at the dilapidated home. Overgrown weeds covered most of the yard, except for a narrow path leading to the embankment. The shutters were crooked, and she could see by the moonlight that it was in desperate need of a gut white-wash.
Noah could see the apprehension in her eyes. Who could blame her? He hadn’t done anything to preserve the home for the past year and one half. He’d merely existed there—a shell of a mann.
He took a step toward the path and called over his shoulder. “It’ll only take a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Rose watched him disappear into the thick weeds, and couldn’t decide whether to wait or make a run for it. But she was cold, and the thought of having a blanket would buy her enough time to dry off before returning home to Katie and all her inquisitiveness.
Noah returned quickly, offering her a wool blanket one might use for a horse. Didn’t the mann own any soft quilts?
She shied away from him when he tried to drape it over her shoulders, so he handed it to her.
“Danki,” she said as she ran toward the boat.
“Wait,” he called after her.
It was too late for him to stop her. She had already pushed the craft into the water and hopped in. She pedaled away quickly, and Noah wasn’t willing to go back into the unyielding water.
Chapter 4
Noah set out on foot, walking along the pond’s edge, keeping track of the young woman’s course.
He feared for her safety, and prayed that he wouldn’t have to go in and rescue her a second time. It was the second time he had said a prayer on the young woman’s behalf. Praying had become strange to him—a thing of the past, as he had not uttered a single prayer since the night Emma had left him.
When Rose pulled up to the dock at the B&B, the light from the jar of fireflies had become dim, and Noah was waiting for her there. Grabbing the rope, he towed her to the edge and tied up the boat without saying a word to her.
She looked at him, moonlight accentuating her milky smooth skin. He longed to reach out and touch her, but suppressed the notion, wondering why he felt such a pull toward the young woman.
“Why are you following me?”
Noah gulped. “I’m not. I only wanted to make certain you would make it back safely.”
“I’m here now so you can go. Danki for pulling me out of the water, but I think we should both go back home.”
She brushed past him, pulling the itchy wool blanket around her shoulders.
“Wait,” he called after her a second time. “I don’t even know your name.”
She hesitated, considering telling him, but then decided against it. She walked away without saying a word. She knew it wasn’t polite, but she couldn’t have him knowing who she was or he’d go straight to Caleb’s aenti and tell her she’d taken the boat without permission. It was better to stay away from the strange mann whom she couldn’t even be sure was Amish.
****
Noah dragged his bare feet through the cool grass as he trudged back toward his haus. The moon shone brightly, lighting the way, but he knew the path well. The humidity level had prevented his clothing from drying even a little bit, and so he still dripped and sloshed as he walked. When he reached the spot where he’d carelessly tossed aside his shoes, he collapsed in the grass beside them. He looked out across the smooth, glassy surface of the water that reflected the moonlight, and let out a long sigh. He’d managed to save her—the young woman he’d mistakenly called Emma. Had he gone mad after all this time? Or had the stress of the event brought him too close to his own reality?
Noah cupped his hands over his face and began to weep as he prayed.
Danki, dear Gott, for helping me save her.
****
Rose felt the shock of what happened to her as she slipped under the warm quilt in her Aenti Nettie’s old room. After Aenti’s marriage to Hiram Miller, the woman offered to let her come back and stay for the summer with her schweschder, Katie, whom she’d given the haus to as an early present for her upcoming wedding. Since her aenti moved into Elder Miller’s haus, she and her schweschder had the whole haus to themselves.
But tonight, Rose wasn’t happy to be all alone in this strange room. She had avoided Katie, who’d sat on the porch swing with her beau, Caleb. Rose had sneaked in through the kitchen so she wouldn’t have to explain how her clothes had gotten
all wet.
If Gott was teaching her a lesson for borrowing the boat without permission, she felt it rather harsh for a punishment that she should nearly drown. Or it was possible that she shouldn’t have leaned over so far to get a closer look at the frogs on the lily pads. Either way, whether it was a lesson or her own fault, she had to make it right.
I’ll put the money for the boat rental in a jar and leave it tomorrow if that will bring redemption. Forgive me dear Gott. And please bless the mann who saved me. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the one who needed saving just as much as I did. Danki for sparing my life. I am your servant. Please direct me to do your wille.
Rose drifted off into a restless sleep, filled with dreams of being trapped beneath the surface of the murky pond water—until her handsome rescuer took her into his arms and—kissed her? Rose rolled over and groaned as she opened her eyes to the little bit of sunshine filtering in through the sheer curtains on her window. How had morning come so quickly? And why had she dreamed that the mann who pulled her from pond had kissed her?
Chapter 5
Rose dressed quickly and straightened her hair, pinning on a clean kapp and tying the ribbons at her neckline. She wanted to get a head-start on morning chores so she would have time to explore the surrounding area before it turned too warm.
Once outside, the chickens clucked impatiently for their grain. When she exited the barn with a full bucket of grain for the hungry yard-birds, Caleb pulled his buggy into the drive near the kitchen door. Rose stood back and watched her schweschder run to him and kiss him full on the mouth. Rose had never had a kiss from a mann and wasn’t sure if she ever would. She was older than Katie, who would be married in November.
She held back near the barn for a minute and waited for the two of them to notice she was standing there and stop with their mushiness. When it became obvious they were not going to notice her anytime soon, Rose cleared her throat as she approached the happy couple, who seemed oblivious to the world around them.
Chasing Fireflies: Book Five (Jacob's Daughter, an Amish, Christian Romance) Page 1
