Free The River by Beverly Lewis

each other? Melvin was baffled yet again.
    It was then Ruth spotted him. She looked almost embarrassed for Tilly’s dramatic behavior.
    “Hullo, Melvin,” she said. “It’s nice to see you.” She gave him a warm smile, and they talked for a moment as Melvinfinished his chores, then got into his carriage and headed to his house for supper.
    “Something’s already up,” his wife told him as she met him at the back door. “Tilly came flyin’ past the house in that fancy car of hers like she was bein’ chased.”
    Nodding at her expressive account, he stepped inside. He’d figured Susannah might have seen that.
    “By now, poor Naomi’s prob’ly had an earful.”
    “Well, maybe not. Tilly used to keep things inside till they blew,” he reminded her.
    A light went on in Susannah’s eyes. Now she, too, was nodding. “Ain’t always been Tilly’s fault, though. Don’t forget.” She hung up Melvin’s hat for him.
    “No, but for whatever reason, that sister’s never really fit in here,” he said, remembering.

    “Kris, I’m not sure I can do this,” Tilly said into the phone at the little shed. Here she’d only been in Eden Valley a few hours, and she’d retreated twice to make a call. “I’m sorry to bother you again like this. Just needed to hear your voice right now.”
    “Honey, please try to take a deep breath, okay? And you’re never a bother.”
    “It’s just that everything’s coming back to me,” Tilly continued. “I can’t let my father break my heart again. I won’t!”
    Kris was silent for a moment. “It’s not worth getting so upset. Maybe you should shorten your stay, hon.”
    “What about Ruthie? I can’t just leave her.”
    “Maybe you could get a hotel somewhere, go into town, perhaps.” His tone was calm and even, just what Tilly needed.She hated to sound panicked. Nevertheless, everything around her was a miserable reminder of the past.
    “Listen, Tilly, I’ll come get you, and you can leave the car there for Ruth. Is that a possibility?”
    She wasn’t surprised he would offer this. Kris was not only sensible and kind, but from the very first, he’d somehow understood the pain of her growing-up years. Not because he could relate to them, but because he’d taken the time to really listen during the hours she’d spent sharing with him. How she welcomed his caring prayers!
    “I could be there by early morning,” Kris urged.
    “But the girls . . .” As she calmed down some and began to think things through more logically, she was beginning to feel foolish.
    “I’m willing, Tilly. Just say the word.”
    She brushed away her tears and sniffled. “I came with Ruthie for a reason,” she told him. “And I also need to return something I took from my mother.” Tilly revealed what she meant by that.
    “But seriously, do you need a face-to-face encounter for that?”
    She said she thought she ought to at least hand the Kapp to Mamm and apologize outright. “I won’t involve my father, of course.”
    Kris said that was probably a wise idea. “Don’t you think you could do that before I arrive tomorrow?”
    She moaned. “Oh, Kris . . . I can’t expect you to drive all that way. Besides, it’s foreign territory for you here.”
    “No,” he said. “It’s your family heritage . Maybe it’s time I saw God’s green earth for myself.”
    Picturing her wonderful husband getting out of his car andwalking with her toward her father’s house was the kind of awkward scenario she’d always dreaded. There was no need for Kris to do what he was offering, and she didn’t want to put him in the middle of a brewing pot of old stew. “Thanks, hon,” she said. “But I’m going to figure this out on my own.”
    After they’d said good-bye, Tilly drove past her father’s house, feeling freer, knowing she wouldn’t have to endure Daed’s disapproval just yet. It might be better for Ruthie if Tilly wasn’t at Mamm’s table tonight—it would give her more