A Shining Light Read Online Free

the tenement building hadn’t meant anything to me. Other than Louise and her husband, the occupants had been only a blur of faces. When groups of residents would gather in the stairwells to gossip, I would hear smatterings of their conversations, but I couldn’t recall any of it—nor did I want to.
    Yet a farmhouse burning to the ground was something entirely different, wasn’t it? Would I have forgotten such a piece of disastrous news even if I hadn’t known the people or the place where it occurred? I closed my eyes and searched for my own answer. Probably so. In truth, I’d likely heard even worse things, although I couldn’t bring one to mind.
    â€œWhere’s Grandpa?” Lukas’s eyes were wide with anticipation as the driver brought the horses to a halt near the barn door.
    I didn’t fail to notice one of the doors stood partially open. “I’m not sure. Maybe he’s inside the barn.”
    Lukas clambered down from the wagon as the driver assisted me to the ground. “I’ll go look for him.” Without a backward glance, the boy ran pell-mell through the knee-high weeds and disappeared behind the barn door.
    The driver strode to the rear of the wagon. “You sure you want to stay here, ma’am? I can take you back to Marengo—no extra charge.”
    â€œThank you, but we’ll stay. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Although my voice bore a confident tone, I wasn’t at all sure we’d be fine. In fact, I wasn’t sure what we would do if my father didn’t soon make an appearance.
    I hurried after Lukas to ensure he hadn’t met with any unexpected calamity inside the barn, as well as to locate a proper space for our belongings. My father had always been known to keep his barn and outbuildings in good repair, but since he’d made no effort to rebuild the house, I wondered if by now there might be leaks or other damage to the remaining structures.
    After stepping inside the barn, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the semi-darkness. A stream of sunlight flowed through the open door but illuminated only a short distance beyond my feet. “Lukas! Where are you?”
    â€œOver here, Mama. I don’t see no animals. Where are they?”
    â€œMaybe out in the pasture. I really don’t know.” I walked toward the sound of his voice. When I drew near, he turned. “What do you think of this barn, Lukas? Is it as big as you imagined?”
    He spread his arms wide and turned in a circle. “It’s as big as a ship, isn’t it? I wonder what’s up there,” he said, pointing to the hayloft.
    I chuckled at his enthusiasm. “From what I see so far, probablynot much of anything. Right now, we need to find a good place for our trunks.” Grasping his hand, I strode to the far side of the barn. “Come along and help me.”
    He skipped beside me, straw flying beneath his feet while dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight that beamed through every crevice. I located a spot along the west wall, not too far from the door. A place that appeared dry, but since I had no idea how long it had been since the last rain, my assumption might be very wrong. I could only hope for the best.
    â€œYou want ’em over there?” The driver’s voice and his footfalls echoed in the cavernous barn.
    Wheeling around on my heel, I stepped toward him and pointed to the wall. “I think that will be a good spot.”
    He settled the trunk on the floor before returning for the next one. Lukas trotted along behind him. “I can carry my mama’s small cases.”
    The driver waved him forward. “You sure can, and I’d be pleased for your help.”
    Lukas’s shoulders squared, and his lips curved in a winning smile. I followed behind. Once outside the barn, I tugged the brim of my bonnet forward to block the sun from my eyes and glanced toward the remains of the house.
    Had