Free A Hidden Truth by Judith Miller Page B

hurried toward him. My heart thudded an angry beat as I mentally prepared what I would say to him. He couldn’t have possibly completed his tasks so quickly.
    I charged toward the kitchen but stopped short as I crossed the threshold. “Brother Berndt!” It was all I could manage at the moment. Once my racing heart had recovered, I attempted a smile. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI thought you and Dovie might want to go over to the pond for some ice skating this afternoon. I can build a fire, but we don’t have to stay too long if you’re afraid of getting cold.”
    â€œMe? Cold? I stay out with the sheep half of the winter. Remember?”
    â€œJa, but Dovie might not be so used to the cold weather.”
    Dovie hadn’t mentioned ice skating, and I didn’t even know she’d met Berndt. She hadn’t mentioned him, but then it dawned on me. She’d likely met him when he delivered the bread each morning. Still, it seemed odd he would suddenly appear and ask to go skating. He’d never before invited me, so Dovie had seemingly captured his interest. Still, without knowing how she might feel, I didn’t want to agree.
    â€œWhat brings you here, Brother Berndt?” I hadn’t heard my mother’s footsteps and startled when she spoke. “You have begun to deliver bread on Sundays?” Her eyebrows arched as she awaited his answer.
    â€œI was thinking it would be a gut afternoon for ice skating. I thought Karlina and Dovie might want to join me.” He touched his hand to the metal skates slung over his shoulder.
    My mother removed a coffee cup from the shelf. “I think Dovie is resting. She took charge of the Küche for me while we were at meeting this morning. She can go if you go, also, Karlina. You can ask her if she wants to go with you, but I will be surprised if she has ice skates.” My mother lifted the coffeepot from the back of the stove and filled her cup as I turned and hurried upstairs.
    I hoped Dovie wouldn’t want to go—at least not now. I needed to check on the sheep, and I knew my mother wouldn’t give permission for Dovie to go alone with Berndt. When I opened the door to the bedroom, Dovie startled. She was sitting at the small desk and quickly placed her arm over something. I didn’t know if she was writing a letter, but I was surprised she would hide it from me. It appeared she had more secrets than just Berndt. The thought troubled me, but I forced a smile.
    â€œBerndt, the young man who delivers the bread each morning, is downstairs.” I knew the explanation wasn’t necessary, but if she wanted to pretend, I could do the same. “He asked if you would like to go ice skating. He included me in the invitation, but only to be polite—and to gain Mother’s approval.”
    â€œOh yes! I was going to tell you that he’d mentioned going this afternoon, but then I forgot. In truth, I didn’t expect him to appear.” She fidgeted in her chair. “Besides, I didn’t bring ice skates.”
    My curiosity continued to build as she scooted to one side as if to keep secret whatever she’d been doing. What was she concealing? “Mutter says you can go if I go along, but first I need to check the sheep. Who knows? Maybe Anton would like to join us.”
    She grinned and pointed her finger in my direction. “I knew you cared for him.”
    â€œI don’t care for him any more than any other man in the community. He is my brother in the Lord, nothing more.”
    â€œAnd maybe one day your husband, too! Who can say?”
    I sighed and shook my head. “I only suggested asking Anton because I thought it would be rude to exclude him.”
    Anton wasn’t the type of man I would ever want for a husband. I had promised to pray for him and had kept my promise. Since then, I hadn’t observed much change in him. In fact, I hadn’t observed anything