Free Forevermore by Cathy Marie Hake

as much as men, but Stauffer might have paid another dollar each month. Maybe even two.
    Women tended the garden and put up food—but Annie wasn’t here. That forced Konrad to buy expensive canned goods at the mercantile. If Annie were here like a good wife would be, he wouldn’t be dealing with that problem. She had no business leaving him. Jakob shouldn’t have taken her away. A woman belonged with her husband. Belonged to her husband. Yet for seven months now, Jakob had been benefiting from her labors.
    The five dollars crinkled in Konrad’s fist. Annie owed him her labor and care, yet she’d abandoned him. And why? He was a good husband to her. Far better than she deserved.
    Her thoughtlessness provoked him. She’d deserved his irritation and earned his anger, but he was sorry for having been stern with her on occasion. To his credit, each time after he’d had to discipline her, he always went out of his way to be kind. Unfortunately, Annie was slow to learn, and she’d inevitably do things wrong and earn his wrath yet again.
    Hadn’t he told her repeatedly not to starch the collar of his Sunday-best shirt so much? And when they ran low on raisins, she’d put a stingy scoop of them in his oatmeal—then had some herself. Annie should have planned better and deserved to go without until she got to the mercantile to buy more. Well, she’d learned. After that episode, she always gave him plenty of raisins and ate her own oatmeal plain.
    She’d gone to town without once asking permission. Even spent the egg money on buttons for a dress for herself. He’d made her take them back and give him the money. She’d vowed to honor and obey him the day she became his wife; she’d done neither. He’d had to train her, and after a year he still found her sadly lacking.
    Nevertheless, he needed her. A few weeks more—then he’d get her. Once he brought in the wheat, Konrad decided, he’d go south and fetch his wife. He’d say whatever was needed to convince Jakob that Annie belonged alongside her husband.
    Only Jakob was a stubborn man.
    Konrad slowly fingered the bills as he considered the problem and concocted a plan. The best way would be to show up on Sunday and say something in the churchyard after the service about how he’d tried to be understanding all this time, but the Bible said no man should pull asunder what God had joined together. Folks would side with him.
    Of course, he’d also say that he’d missed his darling Annie, but they’d chosen to be apart this long because Jakob promised to sign over the deed so they’d be able to call the land their very own. Yes, that’s what would happen. Annie was so mealymouthed and mousy, she wouldn’t dare tell a single soul that it was all a lie. A smirk tilted Konrad’s mouth. Jakob wouldn’t like it, but he’d sign the deed—otherwise he’d be branded a liar and cheat.
    The thought of that victory calmed Konrad. Annie would be a better wife, now that she missed him. She’d come home and behave. Even give him sons. Yes, several sons. Sons to work by his side and make him both rich and proud. Strapping ones who would inherit the land and take care of him in his old age. But first things first. He’d bring in the harvest. Then he’d get his wife and farm.

Seven
    H ope cast a look at the bushel baskets she’d set at the end of every other row in the garden. Placed on the far side of the garden, those baskets weren’t visible from the house or the path toward the outhouse. She made a habit of traversing a different row each time she went outside for something. As she passed through, she’d harvest the ripe vegetables into the skirt of her apron, then slip them into a basket. Mrs. Erickson didn’t know, and Hope wanted it to stay that way.
    Carrying a large crock to the back porch, she called out, “Emmy-Lou, please open the door.”
    Little feet pattered, and the door burst open. “What’re we gonna do now?”
    “We’re gonna fill this here