Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson

Author:Mona Hodgson [Hodgson, Mona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Christian, Historical, Romance, General
ISBN: 9780307731449
Google: DURsgpFORO4C
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2013-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

Quaid repeatedly pushed the saw through the oak beam he was forming into a railing for the Renglers’ boat. Sweat drenched the back of his cotton duck blouse. Never mind that the sun had begun its descent and the temperature outside hovered just above freezing. Or that his coat lay on the bench. He had more steam built up than the Rengler brothers’ boat ever did.

He pulled the saw toward him with a rip. He had always liked Johann Heinrich. Respected him. Rip. Everyone in town did. Push. The man had personally handed him a sack of provisions the Christmas before he went off to war. Rip. He still wanted to like the merchant. Push. After all, he was Emilie’s father. Rip.

The saw went silent. In hindsight, it was easy to see Emilie had tried to warn him about her father’s bias where his daughter was concerned. Heinrich’s objection shouldn’t have surprised him, except he’d given more weight to hope than to predisposition.

“I’m asking you not to encourage my daughter’s affections.”

Before today, Quaid supposed Emilie’s feelings of friendship toward him could be developing into deeper affections. Apparently her feelings hadn’t been his imagination, if her father had taken notice.

“I’m asking you to stay away from her, except when it’s necessary to see her in passing.”

Push. Rip. Push. Rip.

Could he do what Johann Heinrich asked, when what he wanted to do was to see her every day? When what he wanted to do was build her a dollhouse?

The door to his shop screeched open and he stilled the saw. Mother stepped inside, holding her shawl tight at her neck.

“Dinner’s ready.”

She closed the door and walked toward him, her lips pursed. “Dinner’s ready, but my stew can wait on yours.” She stared at the saw, her frown deepening. “Did you mean to cut your workbench nearly in half?”

The bench had indeed suffered. “ ’Twas thinking about something else.” He laid the saw on the table. “Lots of deliveries today. S’pose I worked a little too hard.” And hadn’t worked hard enough at not developing deeper feelings for Emilie.

“I’ve seen you work too hard before, Son. Something else is going on.”

He brushed the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

“You wish to tell me about it?”

“I’d rather not.” This was between him and Mr. Heinrich.

“You mean you’d rather not talk about her.”

Her father, to be more precise. He couldn’t bring himself to look his mother in the eye, even though he knew his inability to do so told her she was right—that his foul mood had something to do with Emilie Heinrich.

“Very well then. But I still have three things to say before we walk to the house.”

He nodded.

“One, never pick up a saw when you’re frustrated.”

He chuckled.

“Sure way to lose a finger.” She glanced at the bench. “Or worse.”

“Point made.”

“Two, don’t chase your feelings. Make them follow you.”

Could he mind his convictions when he wanted to follow his heart?

“Three, me son is a good man. You’ll do the right thing.”

“How will I know what that is?”

She patted his shoulder as if he were still a boy at her knee.

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