Free To Have and To Hold by Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller

be sure to let the new hires know in advance. You’ll be writing out these rules and posting them where the men can read them?”
    â€œYes, of course. I’ll see to it this morning.”
    Once breakfast had been completed and the three men had departed for work, Audrey motioned to her father. “Were there any rules you wanted to add?”
    He shook his head and grinned. “Still trying to protect me, even if I don’t need it, right?” When she opened her mouth to object, he held up his hand. “No need to protest or apologize. If the rules make you feel better, then we’ll have rules. I’m just glad you’re willing to take on all this work so we can stay here.” He pushed up from his chair and placed a fleeting kiss on her cheek. “I’m going to take a stroll and see what’s happening at the work site.”
    Once her father departed, Audrey gathered the dishes and carried them to Aunt Thora, who’d taken up her position at the sink. She lifted a soapy hand from the water. “There’s more rules you need to add to that list.”
    â€œOh? And what would those be?”
    The older woman wiped her hands on her apron. “This one is important. We need a rule that all of the men—especially the Yankees—need to pray nightly and ask God’s forgiveness for their part in the War of Northern Aggression.” Thora waved a crooked finger. “And they should seek forgiveness for their ancestors, too. Just being born into a family of Yankees is enough to put those fellas on the wrong side of the Lord’s list, so they need to be doing a lot of praying.” She pointed to a piece of paper. “Write that down before you forget it.”
    Audrey scraped the plates and placed them in the dishwater. “I don’t think we want to try to force grown men to pray. I think it’s best if they pray out of the conviction of their hearts, not because they’re being compelled to recite what others want to hear.”
    Thora didn’t appear convinced. One look at her eyes and Audrey could see she was formulating an argument. Finally, she simply muttered, “I’m not so sure.”
    There was no doubt that Thora’s indecisive response was the most Audrey was going to get without further urging. “What if we agree to be faithful and pray for them instead?”
    Thora clapped her hands together. “That’s a perfect idea. We’ll pray that they’ll see the error of their Yankee ways and apologize once and for all for their ruinous deeds. And if they don’t, we’ll ask the good Lord to let ’em burn in—”
    â€œAunt Thora!” That hadn’t been what Audrey had in mind, but she’d deal with the finer points of prayer later that evening. Right now, they needed to finish their chores.
    After the dishes were done, Aunt Thora hung her apron beside the door. “I’m going to check on your father. He’s been gone a while. I don’t want him spending too much time amongst those Yankees. He’s already too sympathetic. It was a sad day when he decided to let the enemy live on our fair soil.” She clucked her tongue as she strode across the kitchen.
    Audrey heaved a sigh of relief once the older woman departed. At least she’d be able to commit the regulations to paper without Aunt Thora’s interference. Taking pen in hand, she carefully wrote out the list, pleased by the idea that if the men complied, these rules would provide protection and a peaceful household for all of them. She’d neared completion of the task when a knock sounded at the front door.
    After pushing up from the desk, Audrey patted her hair and scurried to the front hallway. Pulling open the door, she was greeted by the delicious scent of the climbing asters that twined and bloomed along the front porch each fall. Normally, she would have taken a moment to inhale the luscious fragrance,