A Harvest of Hope Read Online Free PDF Page A

enough so that it showed. He and Astrid were quite a pair.
    And what kind of example am I to my children? The thought struck like a lightning bolt.
    â€œIngeborg! Are you there?”
    Ingeborg blinked and stared at the black mouthpiece. “Uh, ja, I am. Just got lost in a thought is all. Did I ask you if Inga can go fishing after school? After all, that was my main reason for telephoning you.”
    â€œOf course, and I hope you know you do not have to have a reason.”
    â€œTakk. Tusen takk. You are doing what the doctor ordered?”
    â€œYes. But the days I feel like myself again . . . well, let’s just say, Thelma would make an excellent prison warden or general.”
    â€œWe could call her General Thelma.” Ingeborg smiled when she heard a slight chuckle. Good. They all needed to be laughing more. She was counting on Inga and the others to help her laugh. Lord, please take away my sad eyes in time for Inga to come.
    â€œWe will try to bring home enough fish for all three houses.”
    â€œI’ll tell Thelma to be ready.”
    â€œJust in case.”
    â€œJa, just in case.”
    When they hung up, Ingeborg stared out the window at a world with a sheer covering. She saw Patches leap off the porch and go running toward the barn, then Andrew leaning over to pet him.
    â€œI’m going up to the cheese house,” Freda announced from the back porch. “Your cake should be done soon.”
    And I better get the cookie dough mixed. She stopped long enough to make the call to Ellie to ask if Carl could go fishing. Her chuckle still clung around Ingeborg’s shoulders.

    A platter of gingerbread men with raisins for eyes, a smile, and a button nose was waiting on the counter when she heard Manny’s crutches thumping on the porch floor. For a changeshe heard Manny’s and Emmy’s voices too. Words were never wasted between the two of them.
    â€œSomething sure smells good,” Manny announced as he sniffed his way in the door. His eyes lit up when he saw the mound of cookies. “Is Inga coming?”
    â€œManny McCrary, you are getting too smart for your britches. But yes. As soon as she gets here, we will go. There is buttermilk in the icebox or plain milk to go with the cookies. Carl is already down at the barn digging worms. He didn’t even come up to the house, just got out the manure fork.” She had seen him with his bucket and dragging the fork that was taller than he. When that grandson of hers was born, God gave him an extra dose of determination.
    Emmy fetched the glasses and the pitcher of buttermilk without asking Manny what he preferred, set them on the table, and then ran up the stairs to change to her home clothes, as she called them.
    Patches’ yipping of delight announced Inga before she called, “Grandma, I am here.” She burst through the door, Carl and his worm bucket right behind her. She threw her arms around Ingeborg and squeezed. “Oh, I have missed you so much.”
    â€œJa, me too.”
    Inga looked up, not releasing her hold, a grin splitting her face. “You miss you too?”
    Ingeborg shook her head. “You caught me again.” One had to be careful around Inga; she picked up every nuance.
    After another squeeze Inga danced over to the table. “You made gingerbread men without me.”
    â€œI sure missed my raisin stickers.”
    Carl looked up at her with a slight frown. “I coulda helped you.”
    She bent over and kissed his nose. “Next time I will call for you. Did you get lots of worms?”
    â€œI did, so we can catch lots of fish.” He pulled out his chair at the table and climbed up. “Goodie wanted to come too, but I told her she was still too little. Can I take her a cookie after?”
    That was Carl, always watching out for his little sister, Gudrun. What a good big brother he was. Ingeborg shot a thank-you heavenward. Such gifts God had given her