An Angel in Thistleberry by Kelli Ann Morgan

Author:Kelli Ann Morgan [Morgan, Kelli Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781939049537
Publisher: Inspire Books
Published: 2018-12-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Gabe watched his grandsons beeline it toward the house and figured that now would be as good a time as any to face his fears. The familiar scent of a coming storm stopped him in his tracks and he looked out over the horizon.

Christmas was only a few days away. The ground already glittered with snow, but a new storm was coming. He strode into the kitchen and through the house, his heavy work boots clomping against the hard, wooden floors. He took a deep breath, then stepped into the large living space at the front of the house where the rest of his little family had gathered. Silence fell across the room and everyone turned to look at him.

He leaned against the doorway, hands in pockets, and ventured a nod in greeting.

“Don’t stop on my account.”

Jonah cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Dad,” he said with an extended arm.

“Son,” Gabe said solemnly, taking his proffered hand.

There was so much he wanted to say, so much that had been left unsaid, but he didn’t know how to start. Besides, there was a time and a place, and here, in front of their entire family, was not it.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” Gabe noted the awkward strain in his own voice and chastised himself for allowing things to have gone this far.

“Thank you, sir.” Jonah nodded, but the contrived smile on his face pierced Gabe’s brave façade with ease.

“Well, I’ve got some work to do.” He turned and started for the back door, but called back over his shoulder, “I’m glad you made it safe.”

Coward.

As he walked outside, a light flurry of snow drifted past his face and he looked up into the heavens to see the scattered flakes floating on the darkening sky. He stopped and took another deep breath.

The coming storm wouldn’t hold off for long.

He pulled the collar of the wool-lined jacket he wore up around his neck, rubbed his hands together, and determined now would be a good time to light a fire in the potbellied stove he’d dragged into the barn for heat while he worked. It was going to be a long night.

There were still a few of his failed designs in a pile behind the building he could chop up and use for kindling, so he reached inside the door, pulled the ax off the wall, and headed around back.

It didn’t take long for him to get into the rhythm of chopping and soon he had quite a nice pile of wood.

“Dad, I…”

Gabe turned back to see Jonah, a stricken look on his face as his gaze flitted between him, the ax, and the pile of broken wood toys and carvings.

“This is just like you,” Jonah said. “You may have everyone around here fooled, but I see through your little act.” He took a step toward his father and reached down to retrieve what was left of Gabe’s first attempt at a dollhouse for Sophia. “Did you ever think that Christmas was something to be celebrated? To be enjoyed? No, I suppose you haven’t.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.