and turned away. “Come, Stefan. You have many questions to answer.” Fearing my brother might race toward Loyco for protection, I held fast to his arm. “What were you thinking,” I hissed when we were a short distance away.
His eyes gleamed with wonderment when he looked up at me. “Did you see the horse? Isn’t he the most beautiful animal you’ve ever seen?”
I pinched his arm. “You must quit thinking about that silly horse. He belongs to the Gypsies. Then again, maybe they stole the horse. Who can say about such people. Theirs is not a life you should imitate, Stefan. And what about school and all the lies you’ve told?”
The gleam in my brother’s eyes disappeared, and his hopeful smile turned to a frown as we trudged through the thick prairie grass. With each step toward home, the realization that he must face both our father and Brother Otto appeared to weigh heavy on my brother’s chest. I steeled myself against the feelings of pity rising in my heart. “I don’t know what Brother Ulbricht has in mind for your punishment, but you won’t have any free time to enjoy the outdoors once you come home from school. After you finish the schoolwork Brother Ulbricht sends home for you, I will have enough work at the store to keep you busy—sweeping floors, dusting, stocking shelves, and unpacking crates—until bedtime each evening.” Though he didn’t argue, I knew my brother would do all within his power to escape any extra chores, but this time, I could not relent. Stefan must learn to turn away from such wayward behavior.
CHAPTER 10
When we neared the barbershop, I thanked Conrad for his help. I didn’t miss the look of regret he and my brother exchanged. Conrad likely remembered going through similar situations when he’d been Stefan’s age. Still, it would make my job all the more difficult if Stefan thought he could make an ally of Conrad.
I grabbed Stefan’s hand and tugged him forward. “Come along, Stefan. We need to get back home. Sister Veda agreed to help at the store while I was gone.”
“Where is Vater?”
I heard the tremor in my brother’s voice. There was little doubt he feared meeting with Father. “He is taking a visitor to see the villages and meet with some of the elders. A salesman who thinks he might like to join the society.”
“Mr. Finley?”
I arched my brows. “How do you know about Mr. Finley?”
“Conrad.”
“Conrad?” I could hardly believe my ears. “What did Conrad have to say about Mr. Finley?”
Stefan hitched his right shoulder in a shrug. “He said he didn’t think Mr. Finley really wanted to come and live in Homestead.”
“What else?”
“He thinks Mr. Finley is sweet on you and you’re too trusting.”
“Trusting? Is that what he said?” I yanked on Stefan’s shirtsleeve. He bobbed his head and strands of soft brown hair fell across his forehead. “Ja. He said you believe everything the salesman tells you, and you are smitten by him. I asked him what smitten means, but he told me I wouldn’t understand.”
Stefan took a forward step, but I pulled him back. “What started this conversation? Did Conrad ask if you’d met Mr. Finley?”
He sighed. “No. I asked Conrad if he’d ever heard of anyone named Allen Finley.”
I stared at my brother, trying to understand. “You were in school when Mr. Finley was in the store. How did you know about him?”
My brother cocked his head to the side. “Because it’s written in those books he gave you.”
Heat from the sun’s rays beat down on my dark calico, and I swayed toward Stefan. Swallowing hard, I grabbed his arm, fearful I might faint. “Let’s get to some shade.” I leaned on his shoulder until we were beneath an elm tree that bordered the far end of the limestone store. “This is a little better.” I pulled my bonnet from my head and fanned it in front of my face, thankful for the artificial breeze.
“You sick?” Stefan’s dark brown eyes reflected his
His eyes gleamed with wonderment when he looked up at me. “Did you see the horse? Isn’t he the most beautiful animal you’ve ever seen?”
I pinched his arm. “You must quit thinking about that silly horse. He belongs to the Gypsies. Then again, maybe they stole the horse. Who can say about such people. Theirs is not a life you should imitate, Stefan. And what about school and all the lies you’ve told?”
The gleam in my brother’s eyes disappeared, and his hopeful smile turned to a frown as we trudged through the thick prairie grass. With each step toward home, the realization that he must face both our father and Brother Otto appeared to weigh heavy on my brother’s chest. I steeled myself against the feelings of pity rising in my heart. “I don’t know what Brother Ulbricht has in mind for your punishment, but you won’t have any free time to enjoy the outdoors once you come home from school. After you finish the schoolwork Brother Ulbricht sends home for you, I will have enough work at the store to keep you busy—sweeping floors, dusting, stocking shelves, and unpacking crates—until bedtime each evening.” Though he didn’t argue, I knew my brother would do all within his power to escape any extra chores, but this time, I could not relent. Stefan must learn to turn away from such wayward behavior.
CHAPTER 10
When we neared the barbershop, I thanked Conrad for his help. I didn’t miss the look of regret he and my brother exchanged. Conrad likely remembered going through similar situations when he’d been Stefan’s age. Still, it would make my job all the more difficult if Stefan thought he could make an ally of Conrad.
I grabbed Stefan’s hand and tugged him forward. “Come along, Stefan. We need to get back home. Sister Veda agreed to help at the store while I was gone.”
“Where is Vater?”
I heard the tremor in my brother’s voice. There was little doubt he feared meeting with Father. “He is taking a visitor to see the villages and meet with some of the elders. A salesman who thinks he might like to join the society.”
“Mr. Finley?”
I arched my brows. “How do you know about Mr. Finley?”
“Conrad.”
“Conrad?” I could hardly believe my ears. “What did Conrad have to say about Mr. Finley?”
Stefan hitched his right shoulder in a shrug. “He said he didn’t think Mr. Finley really wanted to come and live in Homestead.”
“What else?”
“He thinks Mr. Finley is sweet on you and you’re too trusting.”
“Trusting? Is that what he said?” I yanked on Stefan’s shirtsleeve. He bobbed his head and strands of soft brown hair fell across his forehead. “Ja. He said you believe everything the salesman tells you, and you are smitten by him. I asked him what smitten means, but he told me I wouldn’t understand.”
Stefan took a forward step, but I pulled him back. “What started this conversation? Did Conrad ask if you’d met Mr. Finley?”
He sighed. “No. I asked Conrad if he’d ever heard of anyone named Allen Finley.”
I stared at my brother, trying to understand. “You were in school when Mr. Finley was in the store. How did you know about him?”
My brother cocked his head to the side. “Because it’s written in those books he gave you.”
Heat from the sun’s rays beat down on my dark calico, and I swayed toward Stefan. Swallowing hard, I grabbed his arm, fearful I might faint. “Let’s get to some shade.” I leaned on his shoulder until we were beneath an elm tree that bordered the far end of the limestone store. “This is a little better.” I pulled my bonnet from my head and fanned it in front of my face, thankful for the artificial breeze.
“You sick?” Stefan’s dark brown eyes reflected his
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