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

Nils . . . well . . . I think he believes the same thing.”
    “And are you?”
    Shrugging, Rurik shook his head. “I don’t know. I told Svea I thought we both needed time to decide if marriage was what we wanted. After all, it was a plan set in motion by our fathers when we were little children.”
    “That doesn’t mean you should dishonor their wishes.”
    “Nor does it mean I should be obligated to it,” Rurik countered. “Mor never liked the idea of an arranged marriage. She thought a person should marry for love and that God had a particular person in mind for each of us.”
    “Ja, but what if that person is Svea Olsson?”
    “If she’s the one, God will show me. I’m not turning away from God or the idea of marriage; rather, I’m asking for clarity on which woman it is that I should take as a wife.”
    “You should do as Far wished. Honoring him is as importantas anything else you can do,” Aron said thoughtfully. “He didn’t make the choice lightly. I remember he thought about it for a long time. Prayed about it, too.”
    “God knows my heart, Aron. I hold no dishonor for our parents. What of honoring our mother’s wishes? Like I said, she didn’t like the idea of an arranged marriage. She fought for each of you to marry for love. Have you forgotten that?”
    Aron smiled. “I haven’t forgotten. It just so happened that Far approved my marriage to Elizabeth. He said he had already chosen her for me. He knew she would be a good match for my temperament.”
    “Ja, she’s the only one who can best you in an argument,” Rurik said, laughing. He took a long drink from the mug and got to his feet. “I will be sorry to leave Elizabeth’s good cooking. I don’t imagine Carl has anyone around who can cook nearly as well.”
    Aron pushed back his blond hair and nodded. “No one cooks as well as my wife.”
    “Oh, listen to you,” Elizabeth said, coming into the kitchen. “Aren’t you full of compliments.” She leaned down and kissed Aron on the top of his head. “So what are you boys doing just sitting around?”
    “We were talking about my trip to help Uncle Carl,” Rurik said. “I leave the day after tomorrow.”
    “I’d best get to work, then,” she replied, pulling her face into a frown. “I’ll need to bake you some cookies and cardamom rusks to take with you. It’s a long ways, ja. I’ll pack you some cheese and lutefisk, too.”
    “No lutefisk. They would kick me off the train for smellingit up.” Rurik didn’t bother to add that he’d never been that fond of the lye-soaked fish. “I’ll be happy to take the cookies and rusks. I suppose the cheese is all right, too. So long as it’s not the strong-smelling variety.”
    Elizabeth smiled. “I’ll do what I can.” She looked to her husband. “Do you need more coffee?”
    “No. I’m going to get back to work. Rurik and I were just finishing up.”
    Rurik nodded and headed to the front door. “In fact, I am going over to the Olsson farm to pick up the milk and cream you wanted.”
    “Oh, good,” Elizabeth replied. “I’d nearly forgotten. You hurry back so I can have it for the cookies.”
    “Well, I kind of need to talk to Svea for a few minutes. Can it wait that long?” Rurik asked.
    Elizabeth beamed him a smile. “Time with your sweetheart is always allowed.”
    He frowned. “Well, she’s not exactly feeling sweet toward me right now. She’s not happy I’m heading off to Minnesota. I told her I thought the time apart would do us good.”
    “Oh, Rurik. You didn’t.” Elizabeth shook her head as if he were a young boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “No woman wants to hear such a thing. You should go and tell her you were wrong. Tell her that you will think of her every day and that you will miss her. Promise to bring her home a present. Ja, she’ll like that.”
    Rurik considered his sister-in-law’s words for a moment. “I’ll do what I can.”
    He thought of Elizabeth’s