More Than Words by Judith Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

Küchebaas , for her records.
    “When is this Mr. Finley returning with his pretty lace?”
    I couldn’t withhold my smile. “In a month. He’s going to stay, too. He is asking for time away from his job so he can visit with the elders and find out more about our way of life and see if he would like to become one of us.”
    Mina’s eyes turned dark. “Don’t be fooled by him, Gretchen. He may be a gut man. I cannot say for sure. But be sure you decide with your head and not your heart.”
    “There is nothing to decide, Mina. I’m not the one who will decide if he is a good candidate to move into our village.”
    Mina shook her head as she loaded the goods into the baskets. She glanced over her shoulder when she neared the front door. “Just remember my warning.”

CHAPTER 5

    “The Gypsies are here! The Gypsies are here!” My brother raced into the store the next Monday, his shoes clattering on the wooden floor like thumping drumbeats.
    I whirled around, my pulse racing. “Where?” My voice croaked like a strangled frog, proof of the anxiety my brother’s announcement unleashed. Using my fingers and thumb, I massaged my throat in an attempt to regain my voice and a measure of composure.
    Stefan leaned forward and rested his elbows on the counter while sucking in great gulps of air. His dusty brown hair, a trace darker with perspiration, clung to his forehead.
    When I again asked the question, he extended a finger in the air.
    “Wait … out … of breath.”
    I circled the counter and remained silent until Stefan’s breathing slowed to a more normal rate. “Where did you see them?”
    He placed his palm on his chest. “Me and Freddie were walking back to school from the barn. Brother Denton was teaching us about cleaning and oiling the thresher.”
    I waved for him to hurry. “I don’t need all the unimportant details. Where did you see Gypsies?”
    He shot me an annoyed look. “I’m trying to tell you. On the way back from the barn, we saw two Gypsies riding their horses in the distance. One had a big white horse. A real beauty.”
    With a sigh I brushed a lock of Stefan’s damp hair into place. “Just because you saw two riders in the distance does not mean they are camping anywhere nearby.”
    He swiped my hand away from his head. “But they are. Freddie and me went lookin’ after school. There’s a whole bunch of ’em camped south of town. We hid in the bushes, but one of the men spotted us. We couldn’t outrun him.”
    I gasped and clutched Stefan’s hand. “Did they hurt you?”
    He shook his head and yanked his hand away. “No, but you’re hurtin’ my hand. They were nice to us—even let me pet that big white stallion.”
    “You are going to be in trouble when Vater finds out what you’ve been up to. What if those Gypsies had decided to keep you there and never let you return home? Then what? We would have never known what happened to you.”
    Stefan tightened his lips in a smirk. “You’d probably have the hardest time, ’cause then you wouldn’t have anyone to holler at.”
    “I do not holler at you. Only once in a while do I raise my voice—and only when it is needed. And I think Vater will do more than raise his voice once he knows what you have done.”
    “Please don’t tell him, Gretchen. You can tell him I saw Gypsies, but don’t tell him Freddie and me went down to their camp.” He grabbed hold of my hand and looked up at me with pleading eyes. “Ple-e-e-ase. I promise I won’t go down there again if you don’t tell him.”
    “For sure? You promise?”
    He bobbed his head until his hair tumbled forward. “I do, I do. Thank you, Gretchen.” He pecked an unexpected kiss on my cheek.
    Before he turned away I caught sight of the heightened color in his cheeks and was glad one of his young friends hadn’t stepped inside the store. Poor Stefan would be teased for weeks if his friends thought he got along with his older sister.
    He shifted and looked over his