A Shining Light Read Online Free Page B

leave the farm? Do you know?”
    â€œFirst you should let me introduce myself. I am Brother Heinrich Bosch. I live in West Amana. Some of our men were plowing yesterday and said they saw a wagon arrive on our land. I came tosee if their imaginations were working too hard.” He tapped his finger to the side of his head and smiled before glancing in the direction of the barn. “This is your son?”
    I turned and gestured for Lukas to join me. His legs flew like a windmill propelling in a brisk wind. In a few brief moments, he came to a halt beside me, his breath coming in gasps. He narrowed his blue eyes and angled his head to one side. “Are you my grandpa?”
    Confusion shone in Brother Bosch’s eyes.
    â€œLukas has never met his grandfather,” I explained and then turned to Lukas and shook my head. “No, this is Brother Bosch. He lives in West Amana.” I pointed in the direction of the village.
    â€œDoes he know Grandpa?”
    â€œI haven’t yet had time to ask him. Why don’t you go back into the barn and shake out the blankets for me. You can fold them and put them back in the trunk.”
    Lukas inched closer to me. “But I—”
    â€œPlease do as I’ve asked, Lukas. I’ll come in and get you in a few minutes.” I touched his shoulder and gently nudged him back in the direction of the barn.
    Lukas shuffled off, but not without glancing over his shoulder several times.
    â€œHe is a fine boy.” Brother Bosch settled his straw hat atop his graying hair. “His Vater ? He is with you?”
    â€œ Nein . His father is dead. He died at sea.” If the older man was surprised by my emotionless response, he gave no indication. “That’s why we returned home.” I hesitated and looked into his dark brown eyes. “You said something about this being your barn. What did you mean?”
    He motioned to a leafy elm not far from the barn. “Since there is no place to sit, we can at least go over and stand in the shade, ja?”
    I nodded and did my best to match his long-legged stride. I was happy to accommodate his wish, but more than shade I wanted answers to my questions. We had almost arrived at the tree when I said, “You know my father?”
    He nodded. “I did. He was a hard worker and a gut man.”
    I stopped in my tracks. Brother Bosch had spoken of my father in the past tense. Either he had left the farm or he was . . . dead. Either way, I needed to know. I grasped the older man by his sleeve. “Is he alive?”
    He looked down at me and shook his head. “Nein. He died in the fire.”
    I gasped and clutched one arm around my waist. I thought I might be sick. With a gentle touch, Brother Bosch led me to the shade of the tree, removed his jacket, and spread it beneath the elm.
    He pointed to the jacket. “You should sit. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this sad news about your Vater. Is bad enough you did not know about the fire, but . . .”
    His voice trailed off while a group of baby birds in a nest chirped overhead. A fat robin circled, settled at the edge of the nest, and dropped food into the gaping beaks of her babies. A stark reminder that I would soon need to find a way to feed my son. We had little food and even less money. Although I’d attempted to devise a plan as I lay awake last night, my efforts had been unsuccessful. I couldn’t farm this land by myself, but perhaps I could sell the acreage. The very idea reminded me of Brother Bosch’s earlier remark regarding “his” barn.
    A surge of guilt attacked. I’d learned only moments ago that my father was dead, but instead of mourning his loss, I was already making plans to sell his land. Yet what was I to do? Just as those baby birds were dependent upon their mother, Lukas depended upon me. My grief would have to wait. Right now, I needed answers.
    He’d leaned his lanky frame