The Middlefield Family Collection by Kathleen Fuller

Author:Kathleen Fuller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2013-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

The next morning Leona made her way slowly up the gravel and dirt driveway to the Ottos’ house. She hadn’t been over here in a long time. Distance had grown between her and the Ottos.

She knew why, but hadn’t felt it was her place to get involved. Norman and Carol were both hurting. When Emma and Adam’s attempts to help them failed, Leona couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Norman and Carol didn’t seem to be able to find their way out of the abyss alone.

She bypassed the house and kept walking through the backyard to the pasture. Her hip started to ache. Cold weather always intensified the arthritis, and the air was thick with the dampness of last night’s rain. She ignored the aches, like she ignored every other pain shooting through her body. Over the years she faced a choice—accept the pain and deal with it, or let it take over her life. The only One she would allow control of her life was the Lord. Everyone and everything else, including the vestiges of old age, were kept captive by Him.

She saw Norman standing by the white fence, watching his cattle graze on the last of the grass in the pasture. She had expected to find him here. He was never far from his herd, from the land. He was a good farmer. A good deacon. A good man who somehow lost his way.

He turned before she arrived, as if he knew she was coming. He faced her, leaning back against the fence. Crossed his arms over his chest. “Leona.”

“Norman.” She stood beside him, gripping her cane in one hand and the wood fence with the other. “Fine herd you’ve got this year.”

“Ya. Will bring a gut price at the market.”

“I’m sure they will. Where do you sell them?”

“Bloomfield, usually. They’ll be ready in the spring.” He turned and looked at her. “You’re not here to talk about my cows.”

“Nee. I’m not.”

Norman sighed. “You know, don’t you?”

Leona nodded. “Mary told me just before she died.”

His face turned gray. “What . . .” He swallowed. “What did she say?”

“Does it matter?”

“I guess not.” He glanced at Leona, peering at her from beneath the brim of his straw hat. His beard lifted slightly in the chill breeze. “Whatever she said, it was enough.”

“Emma’s worried you’ll never accept her as a daughter-in-law.”

Norman shook his head. “That’s not true, Leona.”

“Then why can’t you be happy for Adam and Emma?” Leona shifted her weight to her cane. “Is it because you’re unhappy in your own marriage?”

He sucked in a breath. “Mei marriage is fine.”

“We all know it isn’t. Including your sohn and mei grossdochter.”

Norman turned and faced the field again. She saw how much he and Adam resembled each other. Same sandy-brown hair, although Norman’s was threaded with gray. Hazel eyes that could be both kind and piercing, depending on the man’s mood. A long, angular face.

But father and son were not only similar in looks. They both had the same stubbornness and pride.

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