Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Author:Kim Vogel Sawyer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: FIC042030
ISBN: 9781441204714
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2009-08-31T20:00:00+00:00

21

Eli stopped in his tracks, but the oxen kept going, forcing him to stumble forward two or three steps before calling, “Whoa.” The beasts obediently halted, and Eli removed the trace from around his shoulders and turned toward the sod houses. Had he heard correctly?

Joseph stood at the edge of the field, holding aloft a dangling string of plump fish. “Pa! Catfish!”

Joseph had called him Pa! Eli’s heart flipped upside down. He waved one unexpectedly shaky hand and said, “Jo, boy, they look fine.” His voice broke much the way Joseph’s had been cracking lately. He cleared his throat and added, “Very fine.” But his words didn’t refer as much to the fish as the heady feeling of being called Pa.

With another wave, Joseph scampered toward the sod houses, the fish bouncing on the string. Eli watched until the boy disappeared inside the larger house. But even then he remained rooted in place, replaying the wonder of the past moments. Joseph had called him Pa as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do. As if Eli had been his pa for years.

A shadow snaked across the grass beside the sod houses, then Lillian stepped into full sunlight, her hands curled around the rope handles of their buckets. Her shoulders slumped with the weight, but even after she set the buckets on the ground, her posture didn’t change. Eli’s heart turned another flip, but this one was of apprehension. Had Lillian heard Joseph’s words, too? Would she disapprove of her son calling someone other than Reinhardt Pa?

Spinning, he looped the trace around his shoulders once more and chirped to the oxen. As he trailed the beasts, guiding the plow to complete its final turn of the soil, he reflected on the past months. Although the role of husband and father had been thrust upon him by circumstance, he believed he had risen to the challenge.

Over the years he had observed the men of his community. He had deliberately chosen characteristics to emulate or reject, planning for the day when he would have a family of his own. He believed, with a rare touch of self-pride, that he had chosen wisely. With the boys he was firm but fair, with Lillian honest and tender. He assumed the biblical role of leader for the family, but he explained the reasons for his choices to stave off resentment and to open the door for understanding.

His treatment had reaped positive results. Lillian exhibited contentment despite the hard work and carrying the pain of much loss. Henrik had set aside his brooding attitude. And now Joseph called him Pa. What better sign of acceptance could there be?

He pulled one trace while calling, “Gee.” His hands gripped the plow handles, expertly guiding the blade. On the straight stretch again, he allowed the word Pa to echo through his head. The only better word, he concluded, would be husband. But it might be too much to ask for Lillian to truly accept him as such.

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