Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund

Author:Jody Hedlund [Hedlund, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042040, FIC027050
ISBN: 9781441269508
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

When it was light enough and the fog less dense, a search party started out across Eagle Harbor Bay. Overnight they’d learned that two other men from the community who’d been ice fishing hadn’t returned either. One of them was Hannah’s husband. Although the teacher’s helper had ashamedly admitted that she’d been unable to reconcile with her husband and that he was hardly ever home, Tessa knew the sweet woman wouldn’t want her husband to suffer and was likely worried for his safety.

The search party loaded a sled with ropes, blankets, ice chisels, and other tools. Wolfie led the way across the ice. Tessa prayed the dog’s keen sense of smell would track down the missing brothers and the other men. The grim faces of the rescuers told her it was probably too late. Though Gunnar wanted to go with, Tessa held him back. She’d wrapped her arms around him and was relieved when, instead of resisting, he hugged her back. After watching the men disappear on the horizon, Tessa pressed a kiss against Gunnar’s head and herded the children back inside the house.

She’d already put out a notice that she was canceling classes for the day. She decided that neither she nor Hannah would be able to concentrate. But as they waited for the search party, she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Perhaps they should have kept themselves busy at school. As it was, they had too much time to think the worst and run to the window at every shadow to see if the search party was returning.

Tessa was grateful at midday when Nadine came with her littlest one. She brought a jug of hot spiced mead to give to Alex and Michael once they were rescued. “It’ll warm them down to their fingers and toes, it will,” she said with a confidence that didn’t reach her eyes.

Tessa nodded her gratefulness and glanced out the window to the dark clouds piling over the lake to the west.

Nadine followed her gaze. “We’re in for a storm, that we are.”

“Hopefully no more snow,” Tessa said with a sigh.

“From the cold bite of the wind, I’ve a mind those clouds are full of snow.” Nadine turned from the window and sat down on the sofa where she began unbuttoning her blouse. The baby squirmed and released a wail, impatient for her next meal.

Ingrid sat pale-faced in a chair next to the fireplace while Gunnar stirred the embers and added more wood. Both had grown more silent and somber as the day progressed. Tessa guessed they were thinking the same thing she was, that if a storm blew in, the search party would have to give up and return to their homes. With each hour that passed, the chances of finding the men alive diminished. After being out all night, the chances were already slim.

“It’s a good thing you closed school today,” Nadine said, lifting the little one to her breast. The baby’s whines were cut short as she began her greedy sucking.

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