Free Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace) by Beth Shriver

the commotion began. “Gabriel, let Robert be.” His mamm and only sister, Mary, made lunches for the youngest two boys to get them out the door for school.
    John rested a hand on Gabriel before they got riled up with one another. “Off you go,” he told them in a firm voice. The two boys responded and made their way out the door with Mary, leaving him and his brother, Isaac, to have a quiet breakfast.
    When his daed sat down, his mamm brought out the sausages and placed the dish on the table with the eggs, bread, and coffee.
    John took a bite of sausage. “I noticed some weevil in the northwest alfalfa field. Soil nutrients must be out of balance.”
    His daed frowned with discouragement and waited for John’s advice on the harvest.
    “The rotation may finally pay off this year. The increased grazing pastures have improved. The soil’s rich for planting in the spring. Isaac, pass the bread.”
    John’s brother surrounded himself with the platters of food. He was heavier than most for his sixteen years of age and became reticent at mealtimes. He tore off a hunk from the warm loaf and handed the rest to John.
    “What’s the weather supposed to be like for the week?”
    It pleased John that his daed checked the forecasts but depended on his guidance more.
    “The tobacco will be ready soon, but I do have a gut feeling the barley fields are ready. The sun’s beginning to hide a bit more, so today is as good as any.” They all knew those three days of sunshine were necessary to cure the barley in order to store it properly for the winter. His daed nodded, and Isaac didn’t disagree, so the next few days would be busy even into the night, with rests to grab a bite to eat at lunch and dinnertime.
    “I hear some upstate are buying their corn from one of the seed corporations. They say it’s near half the price the Doeblers charge.” Isaac shoved a mound of scrambled eggs in his mouth and scooped up more with his fork.
    John shook his head. Fortunately Isaac lived a life where physical work was required; if not, his body wouldn’t be able to handle his appetite.
    Elam looked over at Isaac. “We farm the way we do because it supports the community. That includes people as well as land and wildlife.”
    “And also, buying from the farmers helps preserve genetic diversity of the corn,” John added, but not to Isaac’s liking.
    “How do you know?” Isaac actually stopped eating long enough to shake his head at John.
    “I just take notice.”
    John’s interest in the weather and the advantage it made with the crop was taken by many as boastful instead of helpful. Isaac was one of those people. In his struggle to find a balance, John had decided to only offer his knowledge when asked, which his daed always did. Sometimes it was not enough for Isaac.
    “Well, then, that’s more important than saving a few dollars,” Isaac stood. “I’m finished, so I’ll meet you two slowpokes outside.”
    John chuckled and looked at his daed, who was grinning. “Guess we should stop eating so much and get to work like Isaac.”
    Elam and John stepped out the front door just as Hanna rode up with Amos in a wooden wagon, pulling three mules that were tethered to the back—just what they needed to add to their team to keep their three wagons in motion. Their neighbor, David, was the eldest of four brothers and had come to help. With their muscle they had the needed manpower. The additional mule power would even things out.
    “Morning, Amos, Hanna.” David stepped closer to the wagon and shook Amos’s hand. He jumped down from the wagon, and they began a conversation about the weather.
    Hanna jumped off too and walked straight to John, who was untying one of the mules. “You’ll want to stay clear of that one’s back hooves.”
    “He’s a kicker, eh?”
    John took the lead rope and turned so they were hidden behind the mule. “Hanna, I’m glad you stopped by.”
    She smiled and stepped closer. “You are?”
    He