Page 196 of Valor

“Here you go, Father.” He set the stew in front of the demanding man. “Mother baked fresh bread.” He reached for the knife and passed it to him. “It should be cool enough.”

“Where is she?”

Fred swallowed hard. “Packing the stuff for them.”

“Hmm,” Father grunted and sunk his spoon into the stew. “She better not be too generous. The reward the Germans pay for escaped Jews is not that much.”

Fred’s hand stopped mid-air. His throat threatened to close. Had he been right to suspect that Father planned to report the family to Fritz?

The pantry door shut.

“Oh, you are already here?” Mother said. “Should I make you a plate?”

“Fred did.”

Mother looked at the two of them, unspoken question in her eyes. Fred shook his head, then strode over to her and grabbed the bundle.

“I’ll be right back.”

“You better keep your mouth shut!” Father hollered after him.

Fred’s mind was spinning. Was he serious? But how would he have alerted the Nazis to the family being in the barn? He had not been to the village in days, and the ride to town took two hours. He had not been gone that long. Regardless, the family was not safe. He must warn them. No matter what Father would do to him after. He must get them out of here.

Fred rushed to the barn. The horses whinnied their greetings as he burst into the building.

“Dr. Weiss!” He climbed up the ladder. “Here.” He passed him the bundle of food. “You must go.”

“Go?” Mrs. Weiss looked at Fred.

“Now!”

“Are we in danger?” Hedvika stared at him with those beautiful eyes. Fred’s world spun. If she left now, he might never see her again. If she got caught, her life would be over.

“I know of a place in the forest,” he whispered, in case Father had followed him out to the barn and was listening. “It’s a large deer feeder. The warden stores hay there for the winter, but it should be empty now. There could be some hay left to sleep on.”

Dr. Weiss and his wife exchanged looks. Had they known about it?

“What are you not telling me?” the dentist asked Fred.

“I don’t trust my father,” he said under his breath. “My brother left as soon as the Germans rolled into the village, and so did Marta’s fiancé. Father made friends with the Nazis, so I could stay and help him run the mill. My sister was part of the bargain. She is in love with Karel and despises Fritz. If he didn’t spare her, he won’t spare you.”

Mrs. Weiss sobbed into her silk handkerchief and reached for her boy. Hedvika passed the baby to her, then wrapped her arms around Jakob.

“Alright,” the dentist said, “we’ll go.”

“I will guide you to the feeder. But how will your contact know where to find you?”

“We can leave a message for him,” Dr. Weiss said, “with you.” His eyes bored into Fred’s.

He nodded, climbed down the ladder, and held still. The sound of male voices startled him. He crept to the barn door and peered through the crack near the front of the barn. Fritz stood in front of the mill, his high boots gleaming in the morning sun. He tapped his leather gloves against his palm, grinning at Father.

The pain in Fred’s chest was so strong that he thought he would die. When did Fritz get here? How did Fred miss the sound of hisKubelwagen’sengine? Had the commander walked to the mill? Fred’s pulse thundered in his ears. What should he do? Hedvika was looking down at him, a sweet smile on her face.

“Fritz is here. They will be coming for you,” he called out in a hushed tone to Hedvika. “You have to go. There are two loose planks at the back of the barn. My brother fixed them up so we would be able to get out when Father locked us here. Go. Now. I’ll find you.”

“But no one is ready.”

The family needed more time. Fred picked up an empty pail, pushed his shoulders back, and walked into the sunshine. He strode to the pump as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. If he could catch what Father and Fritz talked about—perhaps there was nothing to panic about. He set the bucket down and pulled on the handle. The water gushed into the pail. Both men looked his way.