The Soldier's Lady Read Online Free Page B

on da udder side ob dem,” Jeremiah went on, “an’ dat took some runnin’, an’ den we made a racket ter git dem turned aroun’, but den—”
    Suddenly Jeremiah stopped. He had just pulled out a chair to sit down. All of a sudden he realized there was an extra person at the table. His eyes shot wide open.
    I glanced over at the stranger out of the corner of my eye. His face had almost the same expression as he stared back and forth between Jeremiah and Emma. I wondered which one of them had gotten his attention like that. Then his eyes came to rest on Jeremiah as the two young men stared at each other in shock.
    â€œWhy dat’s . . . dat really be,” Jeremiah said, trying to find his voice. “Dat really be you, Micah Duff!”
    Hearing his name and the familiar voice, a huge smile spread over the newcomer’s face.
    â€œIt’s me, all right, but I don’t believe my eyes! Is that you . . . Jake!” he said.
    â€œWhatchu doin’ here, Duff!”
    â€œI met this man in town and—of course . . . Patterson!” he exclaimed, now looking back and forth between Henry and Jeremiah. “I didn’t put the twonames together before now. I can’t believe it!”
    â€œYou two knows each other?” said Henry in surprise.
    Already Jeremiah had taken three great strides around the table as the stranger stood up. And now the two embraced in true affection. Tears flowed from both sets of eyes. But Jeremiah felt Micah wince and then first realized his weakened condition. Suddenly their former standing with one another was reversed. It was Jeremiah who was strong and Micah who needed care.
    They both stepped back, eyes glistening as they continued to behold each other with shakes of their heads and smiles of wonder.
    â€œDis is Private Duff, Papa!” said Jeremiah. “He’s da man I tol’ you ’bout who saved my life—twice!—an’ wuz such a good frien’ ter me when I wuz wiff da soldiers.”
    â€œWell, effen dat don’t beat all!”
    â€œHow you come ter be here, Duff?” asked Jeremiah again.
    â€œA long story, Jake. I guess it goes to show what the Good Book says, that sometimes the Lord is guiding your steps when you least know it. I hadn’t a notion you were anywhere within a hundred miles.”
    â€œMaybe now we kin return his kindness ter you,” said Henry. “He’s in need ob some help dat maybe we kin gib him.”
    Jeremiah sat down, his shock and excitement not enough to disturb his appetite, and within moments he and the man called Micah Duff were talkingaway furiously, both catching up on the years since they had seen each other and reminiscing about all they had been through together during the war. All the rest of us listened in amazement.
    â€œYou’ve grown and changed, Jake,” Mr. Duff was saying. “From a distance I don’t know if I would have recognized you.”
    â€œI’s five years older, Duff,” laughed Jeremiah. “I wuz jes’ a kid back den, an’ a pretty mixed-up one a lot er da time, which I reckon you recall well enuff.”
    â€œEverybody’s got to grow up in their own way, Jake. But it’s more than that too. I can tell.”
    â€œI reckon you’s right. I suppose I’ve changed more on da inside den da outside.”
    â€œThat’s good, Jake. That’s the best kind of growth.”
    â€œI had a friend who tol’ me some things I didn’t like hearin’ too much,” said Jeremiah with a curious smile. “But his words got down in dere an’ did dere work in my heart, an’ I finally started gettin’ my grain growin’ a little straighter den it wuz before.—Ain’t dat right, Papa?” he added, glancing toward Henry.
    â€œI reckon so. We both done a heap a growin’, ain’t we, son?”
    â€œWell, I am happy to hear it,” said