A Promise for Ellie Read Online Free PDF Page B

arriving. Haakan set down his cup. “I wonder who that can be?”
    Wiping her hands on her apron, Ingeborg went to the screen door. “Can I help you?”
    The man dismounted from his horse, flipped the reins over the hitching rail, and pushed open the gate of the picket fence. “Mrs. Bjorklund?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m Sheriff Becker from Grafton. I’m here to see your husband if possible.”
    “Of course. Come on in. Have you had dinner yet? We’re just finishing.” She held the door open for him.
    He removed his fedora as he came through the doorway. “I think we’ve met before at some of the county meetings.” He nodded to the men at the table. “Haakan, Lars, I was hoping to find you where we could talk a bit.”
    “Sit down. Astrid, bring the man a plate.”
    “I hate to put you out this way.”
    “Have you eaten?”
    “No.”
    “Then take that chair.”
    While the men spoke, Ingeborg dished up some soup from the kettle on the stove, and Astrid filled a coffee cup and set it and the silverware in place.
    “So, Charles, what brings you clear over here?”
    “That body you found after the Olsons’ shed burned. You know anything more about that?”
    “No. Since we’ve not heard of anyone missing, I think it was some bum off the train who holed up in there, and maybe it was him smoking that started the fire. We buried him over to the church plot. Didn’t know what else to do.”
    “Was there any kind of identification on him?” Charles took a spoonful of the soup. “This is mighty good, Mrs. Bjorklund. Thank you.”
    “Nothing remained from the fire. He was burnt near to a cinder.” Lars dunked his cookie in his coffee.
    “No one had seen a stranger around these parts?”
    “Nobody said they had. You know, the people here would come right out and say so if they knew something. We all just responded to the church bell tolling. Olson’s place is right near the church.”
    “So you don’t think there was any foul play?”
    “In Blessing?”
    “Well, ya never know, and it’s my job to look into things like that.” He sopped the soup up with the last of his bread.
    “I have plenty more,” Ingeborg offered.
    “Thanks, but that was enough. I’m going on over to the Olsons’ next. Anyone hears anything, you’ll let me know?” The sheriff nodded to Ingeborg. “Mighty fine, ma’am. Thank you.” He shoved his chair back.
    “Thorliff was planning to put something about it in the paper. Perhaps that might bring out some information.” Haakan stood up. “Come again some time when you can stay longer.”
    Ingeborg watched the men file out the door. Someone, somewhere was missing a family member. How tragic.

    By the time they blew out the kitchen lamp, the sheriff ’s visit had been discussed soundly. Later, when Ingeborg and Haakan retired to their room, he lay against propped-up pillows, his hands locked behind his head, watching his wife brush her hair.
    “I’ve been thinking.”
    She turned to look at him. Even after all these years of marriage, the sight of his muscled chest and shoulders made her heart trip over its own beat. The silver in his hair caught the lamplight, silver that was getting more pronounced, as were the lines in his face. More scalp showed, giving his already broad forehead more skin, and a distinct line divided his tan face and the white of his hat-hidden head.
    “Thinking what?”
    “You know Andrew’s house is not coming on time?”
    “Ja.” She kept up her strokes, no longer needing to count but doing so anyway, content with the rhythm.
    “Perhaps they should put off the wedding. Wait until we get the house and barn both up and the harvest in.”
    “They are so young, but I sure don’t want to be the one to suggest this to Andrew.” Ingeborg shook her head slowly. “Guess we should pray about it first. If you believe this is what’s best, we need God to give you the right words and Andrew to have willing ears to hear it. He thinks he’s a man now,