Free The Hidden Deep by Christa J. Kinde Page A

My mother headed up the fund-raiser that brought ‘eminto the church, so I wanted to hang on to some and pass them along.”
    “I can understand that,” Harken said as he flipped through the pages reverently. “Wasn’t she the church pianist?”
    “That’s right.” Grandpa Pete nodded to the upright piano tucked into one corner. “That was hers. Ida learned to play it,” he said proudly.
    “My younger sister,” Jayce explained to the two who were newcomers.
    Prissie had good memories of what Grandma Nell always called “hymn sings.” Aunt Ida would play, and everyone would gather around with the hymnals. It had been a winter tradition, and snowy days were right around the corner. Quickly, she called out the number of the hymn that Aunt Ida had always requested, and Kester struck a chord.
    “Prissie?” Koji’s black eyes sparkled as he studied her face. “Which part do you sing?”
    As the others began, breaking into four-part harmony, Prissie murmured, “I always sing the melody with Momma.”
    “I will sing with you.”
    She glanced around at the others. Neil attempting to growl out bass notes that were just under his range, and Milo coaxed Tad into joining him on the tenor line. Feeling enormously self-conscious with so many angels in the room, Prissie tentatively joined in, adding her voice to the mix.
    They took a break for pie and coffee, then migrated back into the family room, anxious to return to the music. Kester traded his guitar for a harp, and Milo requested a gentle hymn that Prissie couldn’t remember ever hearing before. It was sweet and beautiful, and she noticed Grandma Nell dabbing at tears before it was over. The hour had grown late, andZeke was yawning when Kester changed to the lullaby that Prissie now thought of as
his.
    It was as if everyone was reluctant to let the evening end, but finally, Harken said, “These two could probably go on all night, but this old man has a shop to open in the morning.”
    He began the goodbyes while Kester played softly, and Baird stowed the instruments and coiled the cords. The older boys helped him carry the gear back to Harken’s car, then returned so the redhead could enthusiastically thank Naomi and Nell. He caught Prissie’s eye and gave her a wink that let her know he’d be getting around to her soon enough.
    In the midst of the noisy leave-taking, Kester returned to the family room and opened the piano, running his fingers over the keys. Prissie and Koji listened curiously as he once more chose random notes before slipping into a few practice scales. Grandpa Pete ambled over and said, “It’s fallen out of tune and isn’t much used these days. Our Ida married a fine man, and she travels with him. They’re missionaries.”
    Kester hummed thoughtfully, then offered, “I would be pleased to tune this for you sometime. It is within my abilities to do so.”
    “Really? We’re hoping Ida can visit for the holidays, and it’d be good to have it ready for her. How much would you be asking?”
    The Worshiper shook his head. “I would ask for nothing.”
    “That wouldn’t be right,” argued Pete. “Either set a price or work out a trade.”
    Kester bowed his head. “I will give the matter some consideration.”
    “You do that,” Grandpa said with satisfaction.
    The rounds of goodbyes seemed to go on forever, butfinally, Momma worked it so that Prissie could have the last word with her guests. Shooing her out onto the porch with them, she herded the boys toward their bedtime routines.
    “Thank you for coming,” Prissie said, looking from one angel to the next. They all smiled at her, but it was Baird who stepped forward. She supposed that made sense, because Milo had said he was older than the other three, which probably gave him some kind of seniority. She sort of expected him to say something grand. He didn’t.
    Baird wasn’t very tall. In fact, he and Prissie were the same height. He searched her eyes for a moment before