Redemption by Beth Shriver

Author:Beth Shriver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charisma House
Published: 2015-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Whack!

Daniel gave the thick trunk another hit. The old tree held a lot of memories. He and his brothers could actually hide behind it when they were skinny as rails. But being the oldest and overprotective, he never took advantage of the opportunity to climb it and hide in its limbs. He always worried someone would get hurt, which was why he was chopping the tree down. It was too close to the house if a harsh storm was to come their way. The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast a particularly wet spring. An old tree in sodden ground plus a high wind was a recipe for disaster.

He sat against the good size stump and draped his hand on his knee, just like he did as a kid.

“Want some company?” The female voice could only be from his mother, the person he missed more than anyone he had to leave behind.

“From you, always.”

When she smiled, he did as well. Margaret Kauffman was a sturdy woman, but Daniel always thought of her as delicate. He thought it was perhaps because of the way she wilted under his daed’s cruelty.

“I’ve missed you. You were gone too long this time.” She sat on the stump and ruffled his hair, just like she’d done when he was a boy. She swung her legs a bit, then crossed them at the ankle. Her black shoes gleamed in the sunlight.

He knew she meant what she said, and she was right. But other than the fall when he was not in demand so often, he didn’t get to see her as much as he wanted to. Lately even when he was in the community, he was helping someone give birth or treating patients in the clinic.

“I come when I’m needed.”

“I need you.” She lifted her voice. “How long will you be here?”

“Long enough to chop up that big old tree.” He stood and pointed at the branches looming over the house before he turned to face her look of sorrow.

“But I love that old tree.” She looked up as the leaves moved in the wind.

“It’s not safe anymore, Mamm.”

She smiled at his change of language. “I like that . . . tree.” His mamm smiled and closed her eyes against the brisk breeze.

He started to feel a little sentimental himself, then decided to keep it light. “Make for a lot of wood come winter.”

“I’ll ask Jonathan Burns next door to take some in return for finishing the chopping, splitting, and stacking.” She turned to him. “I know you don’t have that much time.”

“I visited Daed.” The words fell from his tongue before he could rein it in. He winced.

“And how is he?” Instead of hurt though, or anger, Mamm sounded placid and even interested.

“The same.” Daniel kept his eyes on the honed edge of the ax.

“That’s gutt.”

“Is it?”

“It’s better than him being worse, isn’t it?”

“How can you be so calm?” he asked.

“I’ve had a lot of years of practice.” She cocked her head at him. “And I’ve forgiven him, something that perhaps you have not yet done.

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