Shining Water 01 - The Icecutter's Daughter Read Online Free Page A

nicely while managing to maintain its Swedish heritage. He liked that about the place. He was proud to be of Swedish descent. His father was a second-generation American, but he could converse in Swedish as easily as English. He’d seen to it that his children could do the same.
    “Hello, Rurik.”
    Smiling, Rurik nodded to the older man. “It’s good to see you, Mr. Lindquist.”
    “I tink a little more snow is comin’ our vay, ja? I comed to town before de snow. How is your bror Aron?”
    “My brother is doing well. The farm kept him busy this year.”
    “Ja , det var ett bra ar ,” the older man said, switching to Swedish.
    “Yes, it was a good year.”
    “So vat are you doin’ in town today?” Mr. Linquist was back to English in a singsong cadence typical of the older Swedish residents.
    “Checking on the train schedule. I’m going to Minnesota to help Uncle Carl. He’s been sick.”
    “Oh, dat’s too bad.”
    “Ja, it is, but I’m hopeful it’s nothing serious.” Rurik saw that the depot traffic had lessened. He didn’t want to be rude, but he needed to attend to business. “If you’ll excuse me now, I need to talk to the depot master.”
    “Ja, you go now. I tink I go buy my supplies. I vant to get home before de snow.” The old man smiled and struggled from the boardwalk to cross the street.
    Rurik would have offered to assist the man through the snow, but he knew Mr. Lindquist to be quite proud. It would no doubt have insulted him to suggest he was anything but capable of conducting business on his own. Nevertheless, Rurik watched until the octogenarian was safely across the street before hurrying on his way.
    After a quick visit with the depot master, Rurik settled on leaving the day after tomorrow. He paid for his passage and placed the ticket securely in his coat pocket before heading back to his tethered horse.
    Rurik gave the animal a quick pat on the neck, then took up the reins to mount. It was then that he spied Nils and Svea coming out of the dressmaker’s shop. His hand drifted to his pocket, and he fingered the ticket within. Should he try to speak to Svea again?
    Rurik paused a moment, then turned and headed for home.

Chapter 3

    Rurik sat down with a cup of coffee and faced his older brother across the kitchen table. After his brother had taken over the homestead when their parents had passed away, he’d brought Rurik in as a part of his family.
    At nearly forty years of age, Aron Jorgenson was fifteen years Rurik’s senior. Though a bit thicker at the waist and a tad shorter, Aron was the spitting image of their father. Not only that, but his counsel was just as wise. He had always been a good source of wisdom and staid thinking for Rurik—as were his other five siblings—and now was certainly no exception.
    “Ja, I think it’s good for you to go and help Carl,” Aron was saying. “He did a lot to help Far and Mor when times were bad. It would only be right.” He stirred sugar into his own cup and nodded. “He has no one else, and it is our duty to see to his care. If he is too sickly, you might have to bring him here. Elizabeth will make a room for him.”
    Rurik smiled. “Your wife would make room for all the forsaken, if she thought you wouldn’t mind.”
    “Ja, my Elizabeth is a good woman.” Aron sampled thecoffee and added another spoonful of sugar. “So when will you go?”
    “The day after tomorrow. I have my ticket.”
    Aron nodded. “And you will write to me and let me know how it goes with you?”
    “Of course,” Rurik replied. “You know I value your counsel.” He paused and thought of his earlier encounter with Svea and Nils. “In fact, I have something more I need to discuss before I go to Minnesota.”
    “What’s that? Something troubling you?”
    Rurik pushed back his mug. “I told Svea and Nils that I was leaving to go help Carl. They were not at all pleased. Svea believes I’m running away from her and the engagement, and