Fields of Grace Read Free Page B

already—an old man. Would God ever bless him with a family? Or would he forever live vicariously through his foster brother Reinhardt?
    Across the table, Reinhardt released a heavy sigh. “Being allowed one trunk per traveler is good news. I am relieved we are not limited to one trunk per family. That would barely hold our clothing. We must have my cobbler tools and our household necessities for starting over, as well as a few heirlooms to make the new land feel like home, since we must leave our furniture behind.”
    Lillian peeked over her shoulder. “Did you visit Oomkje Hildebrandt today and ask if he had more trunks for sale?”
    “He is special-crafting one for us, larger than his usual storage trunks.” Reinhardt laughed softly. “He can start a whole new business now, making travel trunks for our people. According to Hildebrandt, at least half of the village plans to leave as soon as the explorers return.”
    Lillian sent Reinhardt a smile, then turned back toward the basin. The tenderness in her gaze left Eli feeling like an interloper. He stood abruptly. “ Nä-jo —all right, it is late, and we all have much work to do tomorrow. I will go now. Lillian . . .” He waited until she turned to meet his gaze. “Thank you for the pluma moos . It was en gooda schmack .”
    Her nod and smile acknowledged his compliment.
    Striding toward the door, he plopped his hat on his head. “Be sure to send Jakob over early. It will take most of the day to fill a bag with choice seed.” He stepped into the night without awaiting a reply.
    Eli hid a smile as young Jakob lifted his straw hat and swiped his hand over his forehead, leaving behind a trail of grime. Jakob’s little face crunched into a scowl. “ Onkel Eli, I am tired. Can we stop now?”
    The normally bouncy boy looked wilted from his long morning of sorting seeds. Assuming a serious look, Eli pointed at the burlap sack hanging on the edge of the workbench. “Is the bag full?”
    Jakob tipped his head and carefully examined the bag. “The bottom part is.”
    Eli swallowed twice to hold back his laughter. “But until the top part is also full, we cannot quit. We will need a full-to-the-top bag of choice seed to plant in America.”
    Jakob sighed, but he leaned over the seed bin and scooped up another handful. With his forehead wrinkled in concentration, he plucked seeds from his cupped palm and dropped a few into the bag. “ Onkel Eli, what does America look like?”
    Without looking up, Eli answered, “I have not yet been to America, so I cannot say. But if God made it, as we know He did, I trust it will be a place of beauty.”
    “So it will be a goot place to live?”
    Eli raised his gaze from the seed bin to Jakob. The worry in the boy’s eyes stirred compassion. “For sure it will be.”
    “Then why is Henrik so angry?” Tears pooled in Jakob’s blue eyes. “He wants to stay here and not go to America at all. He and Papa yelled at each other last night, and when Henrik came to bed his face was all red.”
    Eli gently chucked Jakob’s chin. “Henrik will be all right. He is just used to being here, and he feels schrakj about leaving.”
    The child’s eyes flew wide. One tear lost its position on his lashes and spilled down his round cheek. “ Henrik is scared? But he is almost grown-up!”
    A chuckle rolled from Eli’s chest at Jakob’s shock. “Even grownups get scared sometimes, Jakob.”
    “Even you and Papa?” Jakob’s jaw dropped open.
    Cupping Jakob’s chin, Eli guided the boy’s mouth closed. “Even your papa and me. Starting over again in an unknown place is scary. Being scared need not shame you. But letting fear keep us from doing right . . .” Eli pointed one finger at the boy to emphasize his words. “ That we must not do, because it means we do not trust God to take care of us.”
    Angling his head, Jakob squinted up at Eli. “So going to America is right?”
    Eli nodded. “I believe it is. The Bible teaches us not