Free Moonlight on the Millpond by Lori Wick

I’m a 24-year-old man. What do you expect of me?”
    â€œI don’t expect anything, but just so you know, I was right.”
    â€œIf that makes you feel better, Eden, you go right ahead and believe that.”
    They arrived at the farmhouse, and Eden could not have been angrier. She allowed Jace to help her down, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, she turned to him in rage.
    â€œAnd is this what else you’ve learned here, to disrespect your sister?”
    â€œIs it disrespectful to say what I’ve been wanting to say for years?”
    â€œI don’t believe it.”
    â€œWell, you need to,” Jace said bluntly. “In the past I’ve just shut my mouth and let you think you’re right, but this time I’m telling you different.”
    The two glared at each other for a time. When Jace could see she was not going to relent, he turned to take the team inside and settle them for the night. He’d not had them out long, but the other stock had to be fed as well.
    Eden could not move for the shock she felt. Jace had always bowed to her wishes, never completely refusing her the way he did today. They’d had words certainly, but he’d eventually done as she instructed. She stood for a long time and felt the shock give way to anger, anger directed not at Jace, but at whoever this woman might be. Eden’s thoughts became unreasonable, but she wasn’t able to see this.
    It’s this woman. She’s had some sort of changing, wicked influence on Jace. Eden’s breathing quickened as her high emotional state began to rage completely out of control. I might not know today, but someday I’ll know who she is. And when I meet her, she’ll be sorry she ever met Jace Randall.

    The uneasy truce that had formed between Jace and his sister helped him keep his gaze wholly centered on the pastor Sunday morning. But even at that, Jace was able to observe Maddie as she headed directly to the front of the meetinghouse when the service was over to approach Mr. Sullins. He hoped that man would answer her questions about death and heaven.
    His thoughts never far from the incident with his sister, he also found himself hoping it would be at least six more months before his sister came back to Tucker Mills.

    â€œHow do we know there is a heaven, Mr. Sullins?” was Maddie’s first question. “How do we know we don’t just lie in the ground?”
    â€œHeaven is a mystery of God, but we can be reasonably certain it’s there,” Mr. Sullins explained.
    â€œWhy doesn’t God tell us for sure?”
    â€œIt’s not something we need to worry about. Don’t forget that He is a benevolent God who gave His Son to love us. You shouldn’t worry about heaven being there or not. You should not see God as waiting to pounce on imperfect people.
    â€œJust do your best, Maddie. Do good, make a difference— like you’re doing coming to help your aunt and uncle—attend services regularly, and our respectable God will reward you with life in heaven.”
    â€œBut how can we know?”
    â€œWe’re as sure as we can be, Maddie,” Mr. Sullins responded, his voice sounding so firm that Maddie was afraid to ask anything else.
    â€œThank you, Mr. Sullins,” Maddie said, working to hide her disappointment.
    Her effort at covering her discouragement must have worked because the pastor only smiled, patted her shoulder, and moved on his way. Maddie joined her aunt and uncle where they waited outside, pleased that they were alone. She wasn’t up to company today, not even Woody and Jace. She felt tired and disappointed, and all she wanted to do was rest.

    â€œI’m sorry we didn’t get to meet your sister, Jace,” Cathy said to him when he stopped by the store and explained that she’d been there.
    â€œIt’s probably for the best. She wasn’t in the finest mood on Sunday.”
    â€œNot