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

shoulder. “Where is Vater?”
    “He took a shipment of calicos over to the train depot. He hoped you’d be home to help him after school, but when you didn’t come straight home, he went on without you.”
    Stefan’s eyes clouded. “Did he think I was in trouble with Brother Ulbricht and had to stay after school?”
    “He didn’t say, but I’m sure he will have some questions for you when he comes home.”
    Stefan shuffled back to the counter. “Still promise you won’t tell?”
    I met his worried gaze. “I doubt Vater will ask me. His questions will be for you. And remember, it is not proper to tell a lie.”
    “I know. I know.” He turned away and trudged to the far side of the room and began to unload a crate of salves, ointments, and tonics, careful to place each one on the proper shelf. I wasn’t certain if he thought his good behavior would erase his earlier misdeed, but I didn’t ask. I was pleased to have him do his work without an argument.
    The sight of my brother bending over the crates without complaint stopped my Vater in his tracks when he returned to the store a short time later. “Hard at work you are, ja?” He strode to where Stefan was stooped down beside a crate. “Where you were after school? I waited and waited for you. I needed strong young arms to help me with the bolts of calico, and the other men were busy in the warehouse.”
    Stefan stood and placed several bottles on the shelves. “Freddie asked me to go with him after school. I know I should have come home and asked first. I’m sorry, Vater.”
    Stefan’s back remained turned toward my father while he gave his explanation. I thought he probably was afraid his eyes would give him away. Any time my father thought we were telling a lie, he would make us look at him so he could see if there were any yellow spots in our eyes. Stefan still believed Father could tell if he wasn’t being honest. Though Father couldn’t really see yellow spots, he could look into our eyes and see if we were telling the truth. Stefan’s story today was half true. He had gone with Freddie after school; he hadn’t lied, but he hadn’t told the whole truth, either.
    My father ruffled Stefan’s hair. “You are doing a gut job. There are three more crates in the back waiting for you. And from now on I expect you to come straight home after school. If there is not work waiting for you here, you have your school lessons to keep you busy, ja?”
    Stefan groaned, but he didn’t argue.
    “Gretchen, we will be busy tomorrow, so I will need you in the store most of the day. There are orders coming and going on every train arriving and departing this week. You will need to keep a sharp eye, for I hear tell there are Gypsies headed our way. They may already be camped outside of town.”
    Wide-eyed, my brother turned and looked at me.
    “Stefan, you need to hurry or you won’t have all those crates emptied by suppertime.”
    He took my cue and turned back to his work. “Who told you about the Gypsies, Vater?”
    “A man on the train. He said he saw two on horseback. Then later he saw a whole caravan of them headed in our direction. If they come into the store, you should be careful they don’t take anything, Gretchen. Too many things they stole when they were around here last summer.”
    “Not all Gypsies steal. Some are gut,” Stefan said.
    “That may be, but I know they took much from us last year.” My father wheeled around to face Stefan. “Is one thing if we choose to give help to those in need, but I do not want them to think they have a right to come and steal from us. Sometimes I think they would rather steal than ask for help.”
    “I think these Gypsies are nice.” Stefan’s lips smacked shut, and his eyes widened until they were the size of two giant walnuts.
    “And how would you know about these Gypsies?”
    Too late he’d realized his error. “I’m … I’m n-not sure.” He swallowed hard. “But wouldn’t that be the same as