Look to the East by Maureen Lang

Author:Maureen Lang
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Romance, FICTION / Romance / Historical
ISBN: 9781414361277
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2009-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

21

It was several hours before Father Barnabé returned, alone. Julitte saw from his frown that he’d expected her to be gone long ago, but she neither apologized nor explained. No wonder there had been two weddings before the men marched off to battle so many months ago. There was something about the possibility of never seeing someone again that lent boldness, even to her.

Explaining her absence all day to Didi might be difficult in a far different way, but she would face that later.

“There is a man—his name is Serge de Colville—who is coming tonight for you, Charles,” Father Barnabé explained. “He knows the route and will go with you.”

Charles’s brows rose. “Go with me?”

“Yes.” Though it might have been good news, it was hard to tell how Father Barnabé viewed it. He was still frowning.

“How is it possible that Serge could go, Father?” Julitte asked. “He’s counted; he’s on the list the Orstkommandant keeps.”

“Yes, yes, I know. But he has wanted to leave since the day the Germans took up residence here. He thinks one of the men the de Colvilles are hiding is similar enough to him to take his place.”

“And what of Sandre’s son? Is he still . . .alive?”

“He may recover. We don’t yet know. But I do know we cannot take too many chances, having someone taking another man’s place. As it is, we’ve decided it’s best to let the Germans know of Yves’s death. We cannot dig a grave; the ground is too hard without a sturdy shovel left to us. And we want to bury him properly.”

Charles took Julitte’s hand. “There, you see? God means for me to go. I have nothing to worry about. I have my own guide to see me to safety. How much more proof do either one of us need that this must be what God wants me to do?”

Julitte tried to smile, even though her heart was heavy at the thought of him sneaking through German-held territory. Could peace about such a decision, even the kind of peace God had given to Charles and perhaps wanted to give her, be felt through her own worry?

“You will leave at midnight, so I suggest you get some rest.” Father Barnabé turned once again to the stairs. “And the belongings you brought will have to be disposed of without a trace. You cannot carry them and you cannot leave them to be found. Do you understand?”

Charles nodded.

“Julitte, come along with me now.”

She knew she couldn’t ignore Father Barnabé’s command, much as she wanted to. She’d spent so little time with Charles. Too little. Now she must say good-bye—but with a priest watching?

“I will, Father Barnabé.”

He moved no further. “Now, Julitte.”

She nodded, frowning just the same. “Yes, I just want to say good-bye. Will you let me? Please?”

“I will be upstairs in the sacristy, then, with both doors open. Make sure if the Lord Himself were to interrupt, you needn’t be ashamed. And, Julitte,” he said, already on the bottom stair, “Didi has been waiting for you all day; she asked me about you.

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