RECLAIM MY HEART(32)

They watched the game for a few minutes, then Tyne smoothed her fingertips over the cool metal fencepost. “What have you decided? About your mother?”
He’d confided all that Jasper had told him about Ruth Yoder. She’d been astonished to learn that his mother hadn’t died as he’d remembered being told.
“I don’t know,” he said, heaving a sigh. “I’ve thought about little else. I feel like I don’t have a choice, really. I have to at least try to find her.” He turned his head to look at her. “Don’t I?”
She was quiet a moment. Then she reached up and took off her sunglasses, folding the arms with slow deliberation.
“If you don’t,” she quietly told him, “I’m afraid you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I know I would.”
He didn’t say a word, only search [, oim, “ed her face.
Tyne moistened her lips. “I’ll help you find her, Lucas. We can do it. Together.”
His mouth curled into the smallest of smiles and his eyes glittered in the bright sunlight. He reached over and captured her fingers in his, and something hitched in her chest. The pulse point of his wrist pressed firmly against her skin, and she felt his heartbeat, quick, and hot.
The ball field was packed with spectators, but for the span of a few seconds the sounds of shouting, cheering, and applause faded, and Tyne felt as if she and Lucas were all alone under the beautiful blue sky, a halo of golden sunshine enveloping them.
She closed her eyes, sucked in a slow, deep breath. Rob’s face appeared before her in her mind’s eye, startling her with such force that she actually jerked. Awkwardly, she tugged her hand from Lucas’s, slid her sunglasses onto her face and focused on the baseball game.
CHAPTER TEN
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.” The man adjusted the flat-brimmed straw hat on his head.
Tyne and Lucas stood at the door of Jacob Yoder’s barn. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Jacob Yoder they were searching for.
“I appreciate your taking the time to talk to us,” Lucas told him.
Mr. Yoder hooked a thumb behind his black suspender. “Happy to. If you don’t mind my saying, you’ve got your work cut out for you. There are over twenty-five different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in this county alone. And all of them probably have a Bishop or two named Yoder.”
Lucas grimaced. “Tell me about it. We’ve spent the whole morning going from farm to farm.” He released a weary exhale. “To farm. Feels like I’m on a wild goose chase.”
“There are over ninety Yoders listed in the phone book,” Tyne said. “And those are only Lancaster addresses. We haven’t even looked in Millersville or Oak Mills or Mountville or East or West Hempfield.” Seems they’d set themselves up to tackle the impossible.
She and Lucas had stopped for lunch after spending hours talking to dozens of people, each and every one offering up suggestions on where to find a Bishop Yoder who had a daughter named Ruth. The list of possibilities was growing long.
Jacob Yoder tugged on his beard. “Many churches don’t allow phones.”
Tyne’s mind reeled at the thought of trying to find Lucas’s mother in what now seemed a sea of black hats and white bonnets.
“Is there anything else you can tell me about the man you’re hoping to find?” Jacob tucked his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. “I really would like to help you.”
That’s one thing that had impressed Tyne; none of the Plain People had turned them away. Not a single person had been unfriendly. Everyone they had approached today had been willing to listen and had tried to help even if it had been in some small way.
Lucas’s posture was loose, his dark eyes glum. “I know that the Bishop Yoder I’m looking for drove a horse and buggy to Wikweko to buy horse liniment. He even tried to buy the recipe so he wouldn’t have to deal with anyone outside his own community. But apparently the recipe wasn’t for sale, so he was forced to do business in Wikweko.”
“Horse liniment,” Jacob murmured.
Lucas nodded, and Tyne watched him hesitate.
Finally, Lucas said, “He brought his daughter along with him. Ruth Yoder had a baby.” His Adam’s apple dipped. “Out of wedlock.”
The Amish man shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t know anything about a baby. But there was a man who used to sell liniment. Years ago, mind you. South ^?.< from one of Millersville. Near Slackwater. And I believe his name was Yoder.” Jacob shook his head. “I couldn’t say if he had a daughter. But the church down there follows the strictest Ordnung. A system of rules for, um, how to live your life. They’re Old Order down there. That might be the Bishop Yoder you’re looking for.”
Hope had a way of stomping out frustration and fatigue; it also sparked a sizzling anticipation in both Lucas and Tyne. Their gazes met, and they shared a wide smile filled with renewed energy. Lucas pumped Jacob’s hand with hearty appreciation, and after listening to some general directions, they headed back to Lucas’s car.
Over two hours later, Lucas’s hope hadn’t diminished. They were both tired, yes, but they’d finally—finally—found someone who actually knew ‘Old Bishop Yoder’ who’d once sold horse liniment and who had a daughter named Ruth. The people of The Old Order Amish were less inclined to associate with outsiders, the men refused to even look at Tyne, so Lucas had had difficulty obtaining the information. However, he’d prevailed by asking his questions politely but persistently—very persistently—and now they actually had a specific address in hand.