There was little doubt winter’s hardships would soon besiege them, so they staunchly set aside their fears and labored with a renewed zeal. Ezekiel and Thomas continued their arduous work with the breaking plow, knowing the precious tool must soon be returned to Jeremiah Horton. Before that time ...
However, I remained vigilant and carefully watched for any signs that Fred might be losing patience with Lukas. To my great relief, the boy still remained eager to visit and play checkers with his father. This evening as we headed toward Dr. Karr’s office, he skipped along the board sidewalk, his...
I forced myself to breathe. Never in my life had I seen so much money. I didn’t want to believe what lay before me, and I didn’t know what to do next. Inhaling a deep breath, I steadied myself. Thomas said he’d been saving his wages so he could provide a home for Kathleen....
“I’ll tell you when you may come out,” Cousin Louise said. “And no peeking, Karlina.” While Karlina and I went into our bedroom, Anton went off by himself. “I do feel sorry for him. It doesn’t seem right that he can’t be with his family for Christmas.” I knew my opinion di...
Nolan’s chair was turned toward the garden, but he was obviously engrossed in the letter he held in one hand. “A letter from home or a business matter?” Jasmine inquired as she drew near his chair and gently grasped his shoulder. Nolan started at he...
She had hoped to move back home before the Fourth of July celebration, but it hadn’t worked out that way. Perhaps she’d be home for good before the Emancipation Celebration the first of August. Well, at least she’d have a few hours to visit with Pappy and Grace today after church. “I don’t think ...
None of the other employees quit, but no experienced painters had applied for the vacated position, either. Each night, Mr. Kaestner and Mr. Tobarth worked late in an attempt to meet the demands. Though I expressed my willingness to join them, Mr. Kaestner always turned down my offer. I don’t thi...
The return address on the envelope revealed the letter was from Ewan McKay. Clutching the letter in his hand, he sprinted toward the pottery with his mind racing faster than his feet. What if Mr. McKay had decided to purchase the brickyard rather than the pottery? What would Mr. Bancock do? What ...
She’d thought supper would never end. Then, to make matters worse, her mother hadn’t gone directly to bed after supper as she usually did; she’d decided to remain downstairs and stitch on her latest piece of needlepoint. Macia had attempted to lure her father into his library for a private conver...
It was still dark outside, too early for the breakfast bell. My eyes fluttered open and then closed tight. Once again the bell clanged. This time I heard my father’s feet hit the floor with a heavy thud, and I jumped from my bed. The distant yet distinctive clang was the watchman sounding the fir...
THE HUNT FOR WMD IN IRAQ The abandoned ammunition storage dump in southern Iraq near Karbalā’ was in the middle of nowhere. Late one night in early April 2003, flashlight in hand, I inched through the derelict buildings and sheds. Desert dogs howled in the distance. I was freezing. I had left my ...
A burst of hot air drifted through the open window. He tugged at his shirt collar and longed to unfasten the top button, but Mr. Pullman would never approve of an open collar. The weather had been unseasonably warm this summer. And with more than a month remaining in the summer, there would likel...