Page 61 of Valor (Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense #2)

CHAPTER SIX

Northern Moravia, 1942

“Morning,” Fred walked into the barn, clutching the bag with bread against his chest. There was a small milk can with chicory coffee in his other hand. Mom snuck it to him when Father wasn’t looking. The mare was back in her stall. Fred looked around the barn, searching for the family.

“Tss.”

He looked up. Hedvika waved at him from the hayloft. Her hair tumbled down her shoulders. A piece of dry grass stuck to her left temple.

“Catch,” he whispered.

She stretched out her arms, and Fred tossed her the flour bag. Then he climbed up the ladder to the loft, careful not to spill any of the hot liquid. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he made out the family huddled in the far corner.

“Thank you,” Hedvika said and took the offered can. Their hands touched, and Fred wished he could offer her a feast instead of this meager breakfast.

“Sorry, that is all I got.”

The hay rustled softly as Dr. Weiss crouched under the rafters and made his way to them.

“I can give you some money to buy food.” He pulled a clip holding neatly folded bills out of his pocket.

Fred shook his head. “I don’t go to town till Monday. If Father finds out that I have your money on me, he will take it.”

Dr. Weiss gently took Fred’s chin into his hand and turned it toward the light.

“I’m sorry,” he said under his breath.

“What happened?” Hedvika whispered. She almost touched the welts, but stopped herself just in time, most likely remembering that her father stood right next to her.

“Nothing.” Fred’s eyes locked with Dr. Weiss’s. “Can we talk?”

The dentist nodded. “Hedvika, why don’t you give the bread to Mama,” he said gently.

She silently nodded. Fred tried to smile at her, then turned and climbed down the ladder. Dr. Weiss followed him.

“Let’s go outside,” Fred said under his breath. He led the dentist toward the forest, and when he was convinced, they were out of earshot, he stopped. “Dr. Weiss, I don’t think your family is safe here.”

The dentist reached for Fred’s arm. He frowned at the angry welt. “You need to clean this. Do you have any alcohol in your house?”

“Don’t worry about me.” Fred pulled his arm back. “Father?—”

“I understand,” the dentist said quietly.

“He is asking me how much you have.”

Dr. Weiss reached into his pocket once more.

“He doesn’t want money. He is asking for gold.”

“We can pay him with Mrs. Weiss’s jewelry.”

“I need to know what your plan is because even if you pay him, I don’t think it’s wise to stay here for very long. You may need to hide in the forest. I can supply you with food, but once the summer ends?—”

“We should be long gone by then.”

Fred looked up at him with hope.

“There is a contact. He will take us across the mountains.”

“Where will you go?”

Dr. Weiss laid his hand on Fred’s shoulder. “The less you know, the better for you and your family.” His tone was so grave that the fear of the past night returned.

Fred, unable to speak, turned back to the barn. As the men retraced their steps, he whispered.

“When?”

“Soon,” Dr. Weiss answered. They reached the barn, and he touched Fred’s shoulder.

“Give me a moment.”

“I’ll fetch some water for you,” Fred picked up a pail and walked to the pump. He pulled at the long lever and then forced it back down. Fred’s pent-up energy fired his muscles. He pumped the water with angry vigor, wishing he had the power to change everything. To make the world good, not evil. To give his feelings for Hedvika a chance. But as the water gushed in the bucket, he knew that it would have been easier to change the direction of the river that powered their mill.

When he got back to the barn, Dr. Weiss handed him an embroidered handkerchief.

“Thank you for all that you are doing for my family, Fred. You have a good soul.”

Fred’s fingers felt the small objects wrapped in the fabric. His cheeks flooded with heat. Accepting their gold as a payment for a piece of dry bread? He burnt with shame.

“It’s okay,” Dr. Weiss stretched out his arm. “Take it to your father.”

Fred accepted the offering and hid it in his pocket; then, he handed the bucket to the dentist.

“I’ll be back to do the chores. We can talk more then.”

“Thank you,” said the man who saved his face and teeth a few years earlier and now hauled a rusty pale of water inside the barn for his family to use.

* * *

Fred walked into the kitchen, his fingers tightly wrapped around the embroidered piece of fine linen.

Mother stood by the stove. Their eyes met. She shook her head ever so slightly, a warning to Fred. He nodded.

“Father.”

His was the only breakfast on the table.

“So, what did you get?” Father dropped his spoon into the bowl of steaming cream of wheat.

“This.” Fred tossed the bundle on the table.

Father greedily stretched his hand and grabbed it. He unwrapped the contents and whistled. “A ruby ring and gold cufflinks,” he chuckled. “Not a bad trade for a stale piece of bread.”

Fred’s stomach churned.

“How long did he say they want to stay?”

“They are moving on soon.”

“How soon?”

“I don’t know. They are waiting for a contact.”

“Who?” Father rose from his chair.

Fred wished he would fall through the floor, straight to hell. Why did he say that? Father would think Dr. Weiss gave him the name of their guide. His insides quivered.

“I—”

“What contact!”

“He didn’t say. I better get started on my chores,” he mumbled and ran out the door. Fred stopped by the spinning mill wheel, rhythmically clapping as the current turned it. Fred doubled over, gasping for breath. He looked at the giant wheel. He heaved.

What would drowning feel like? It can’t be any worse than this. It would end this terrible nightmare. He would be free from the man inside.

But he couldn’t do that. Not only was that a sin, but Hedvika and her family needed him. He must help them.