That night in bed, Rune reached for Signe’s hand. “Did all of this really happen in one day?”
“I think so.”
“I can’t let her pay off our house.”
“I would not try to stop her.” Signe could hear his sigh, but that was the last thing she heard that night.
In the morning at breakfast, Gerd announced, “I expect you to work on your house and all the farming duties until fall. Then you can start felling trees again.”
“But . . . but . . .” Rune tried to stare her down—and utterly failed. “We’ll see.”
That afternoon, Reverend Skarstead rolled in, accompanied by the Bensons and a young man.
The women hastily removed their aprons and hung them behind the stove. “Come in, come in,” called Signe. “Leif, go fetch your far.” He left the woodpile and darted away.
The fragrance of fresh gingerbread greeted their guests as they entered the kitchen, where a tablecloth decorated the big oak table.
“This is Mr. Ellis Carnes from Blackduck. He is an attorney with a firm that specializes in contracts and international affairs.” Reverend Skarstead then introduced them all around, and the men moved to the chairs around the table.
“Where is that sweet little Kirstin? Surely she’s not napping.” Mrs. Benson’s smile dimmed. “She is, isn’t she?”
Gerd nodded. “Ja, but we moved her bed into my bedroom. She’ll be up soon.”
“Guess I will have to wait.” Mrs. Benson held out a basket. “Just a few things I thought you could use.”
“Takk, and also for all the food yesterday. We found a full meal on the table when we came back from . . .” Signe paused and continued with a slight nod. “You were and are most thoughtful.”
Mrs. Benson nodded. “You are welcome. I treasure your friendship. And, Mrs. Strand”—she took Gerd’s hand in hers—“the Lord be with you.”
Gerd raised her chin and blinked quickly. “Takk. You have been so very good to us, in spite of—of everything.”
While the women had discussed using the parlor for this meeting, Gerd had insisted on the kitchen, where there was more room. “Please, be seated. If you like, we could have our coffee before the business.”
The three men nodded. “Nothing beats gingerbread.” Mr. Benson smiled at Gerd. “I’m sorry for all you’ve gone through.”
Gerd nodded. “Takk for helping search for Einar.”
They all looked toward the door when they heard Rune’s boots on the step. He paused for only an instant when he entered the kitchen and saw the table. “Thank you for coming so quickly. It will be good to be done with all this.” He shook the hands of each of the men and nodded at Mr. Carnes.
Nilda poured the coffee, and Signe set out the gingerbread drizzled with hard sauce. “Help yourselves, please.”
They talked about the house-raising and the weather as the dessert and coffee disappeared. When the visitors had declined more coffee and cake, Reverend Skarstead rested his arms on the table. “Let us begin. I explained your plans to Mr. Carnes, so I think we all know what you want, Mrs. Strand. Have you changed your mind on anything? You can, you know.”
Gerd shook her head. “No, not at all. I want this done and finished.”
“But you realize that by paying out everything at once, you will leave yourself without much cash for the next several months?”
“I have been without before, and now I have all this to be thankful for and family to help me. What more do I really need?”
“Well said,” Mr. Carnes commented. “Thanks to Reverend Skarstead, I took the liberty of drawing up some papers. Since he said the cash is all right here, after you sign these”—he motioned to the papers in front of him—“I will purchase a bank draft and mail this to the family in Norway. You will have copies of everything.” He slid several sheets over to her. “Please read these—Mr. Carlson too, if you desire—and then sign on the lines. Do you have any questions?”
Gerd looked to Rune and Reverend Skarstead. When they nodded, she read the pages, dipped the pen they had brought into the ink, and signed her name. “Strange, these are the first legal papers I have ever signed. Einar did all that.” She laid her hand atop the pages. “Do you want Rune to sign them too?”
“Only if you want him to.”
“Yes, I do.” She gave the papers and pen to Rune, who read and signed them before handing them to Mr. Carnes.
“Not a dime.”
“Surely—” When he shook his head, she nodded. “So be it.” Pushing her chair back, she stood erect. “If you would like more coffee . . . ?”
When they all stood, Mrs. Benson turned to Signe. “Are your boys, especially Leif, nearby?”
“I heard wood being chopped, so I know he is here.”
“I have something for him, for all of them.” She looked to Mr. Benson, who headed out the door.
“What?” Signe asked.
“Please, I want to give them this. I hope it will be all right. Let’s go outside.”
Mr. Benson lifted a basket from the rear of the buggy. A small whine gave away the occupant. He called Leif over and handed the basket to him. “We heard you’ve been wanting one of these.”
Knute skidded around the corner of the house and joined them. He stared at the basket. “What is it?”
Wearing a face-splitting grin, Leif set the basket down, opened the bouncing lid, and lifted out a white puppy with brown and black spots. His eyes stretched even wider. Holding the puppy up, he stared at his far. “Really, can we keep him?”
“Ja, you now have a puppy. And one of these days he—or is it a she?” Rune looked to Mr. Benson.
“A he.”
Leif cuddled the puppy, which squirmed to lick his entire face at once, as well as under his chin. “We have a puppy, we really have a puppy. Thank you!” He nodded to Mr. Benson. “Thank you. I promise to take good care of him.”
“He needs a name.” Knute took the offered puppy and got his face cleaned too. Both boys giggled.
“Thank you, for all you have done.” Rune shook hands with all three men. “Beyond measure. Thank you.”
After they waved the guests off down the lane, Rune turned to Gerd. “See what you have now? Not only a farm but good friends. And more to come.”
“And right now, a heart of peace.” She shook her head slowly. “Whoever could have dreamed up anything like this?” She took the puppy Leif offered her and tried to keep it from licking her chin.
“Can you watch him while we do chores?” Leif asked.
Gerd’s lips twitched. “Ja, I think I can watch a puppy.”
“Good. Come on, Knute, let’s get at it.” Leif paused, giving the older boys a pleading look.
Bjorn and Ivar rolled their eyes. “Yes, we will help so we can get back to the new house quicker.” The four of them headed off to the well house to grab the milking pails, load the cream can in the wagon, and take them to the barn.
“I think we might just take the evening off.” Rune blew out his cheeks and tipped his head back to stretch out his neck. He then rolled his head from side to side. “Reverend Skarstead had no idea when he talked about hope on Sunday that all this would happen so immediately. And yet God did. You know, hope does not disappoint us. Our God is a God of hope. We hope for what we do not see.” He huffed a breath. “I’ve been thinking on that.”
Signe looked at her husband. “I was just hoping to see our house begun, and look how far it got.”
“Way beyond what you hoped for.” Rune nodded, eyebrows arching a question.
“For years I hoped and dreamed of coming to Amerika, and here I am.” Nilda looked out over the fields to the west, where the sun was sliding to the horizon. She raised her chin and closed her eyes to feel the first breath of an evening breeze. “Can you feel it?”
; Signe and Rune copied her, nodding. Rune whispered, “A breath with the dawn and another in the settling of the day.”
“Surely today, this that we feel, is the breath of hope. Hope for tomorrow and all the days after. Hope that comes in spite of sorrow.” Signe looked at Gerd, who was now sitting with the puppy in her apron. “Hope for new beginnings?”
“Ja, and I have one right here. Never thought I’d have a dog again, but here he is. Ouch, sharp teeth.”
Nilda locked her arms around one knee and rocked back against the step above. “I always dreamed of having a baby girl to name Hope, and another Grace. I love those names, those words. You said ‘breath of hope,’ Signe. We need to make a sign out of that and put it above the door at your new house, to remind us all, every day.”
“And one here too. I thought I had no hope at all, and now look.” Gerd nodded slowly, as if imprinting the words on her heart. “Makes a lovely name for a little girl, and when she grows up too.” She smiled and nodded at Nilda. “Perhaps you better hope for a good husband first.”
“Tante Gerd!”
Their chuckles lifted on the evening breeze and swirled heavenward.
Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of over 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over 5 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers’ conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California, with basset hound Sir Winston and their “three girls,” big golden hens.
Books by Lauraine Snelling
UNDER NORTHERN SKIES
The Promise of Dawn
A Breath of Hope
SONG OF BLESSING
To Everything a Season
A Harvest of Hope
Streams of Mercy
From This Day Forward
An Untamed Heart
RED RIVER OF THE NORTH
An Untamed Land
A New Day Rising
A Land to Call Home
The Reapers’ Song
Tender Mercies
Blessing in Disguise
RETURN TO RED RIVER
A Dream to Follow
Believing the Dream
More Than a Dream
DAUGHTERS OF BLESSING
A Promise for Ellie
Sophie’s Dilemma
A Touch of Grace
Rebecca’s Reward
HOME TO BLESSING
A Measure of Mercy
No Distance Too Far
A Heart for Home
WILD WEST WIND
Valley of Dreams
Whispers in the Wind
A Place to Belong
DAKOTAH TREASURES
Ruby • Pearl
Opal • Amethyst
SECRET REFUGE
Daughter of Twin Oaks
Sisters of the Confederacy
The Long Way Home
A Secret Refuge 3-in-1
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