Silent Star by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online Page A

no worse for the wear.
    “I’m afraid this walk is more icy than I realized,” he offered, climbing into the car. He handed Estella a small sack. “Here, I hope this will be enough.”
    Estella looked inside. “Oh my, but of course it will. I hope you kept some for yourself,” she replied, noting that he’d given her two large pieces of raw chicken.
    “I did. I’m not much for cooking, but Mrs. Parks from next door is always happy to help out.”
    Estella nodded. “Nadine is a good woman. I’m so glad to have made her acquaintance. Now, if you wouldn’t mind taking me back to Andy’s place, I’d surely be grateful.”
    “Of course,” Pastor Bailey replied. “I consider this to definitely fall into my duties as a pastor. They give us extra gas rations, you know.”
    “The Lord always sees to His own,” Estella murmured.
    They rode in silence for several moments before Estella decided to brave revealing her thoughts. “You know, you have the ability to influence and encourage folks from your position in the pulpit. And as Christians, we ought to bear one another’s burdens and give help to those in need.”
    “Absolutely!” he said with great enthusiasm. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
    “I know folks are hurting; just as you said, their own pain is so great they can’t see the pain they’re causing others.”
    “I’m sure you’re probably right,” he said with less excitement in his tone.
    “I think you could go a long ways to help folks understand what they’re doing. Especially with Christmas coming up and such. I hate to think that young Andy and others like him will feel ostracized throughout the holidays. Andy doesn’t even have family members to gather him near.”
    They arrived at Andy’s house just then and the pastor, appearing quite uncomfortable with the entire conversation, hurried around to assist Estella out of the car. “Let me help you. I see the walk here also needs to be cleared.”
    Estella refused to move. “Please hear me out. I may be an old woman, but I know what the Good Book says.”
    Pastor Bailey looked to the ground. “Mrs. Nelson, I know what it says too. I’ve tried to help this congregation, but as a fairly new pastor they often treat me like an outsider—even a child. I suppose because of my youth that’s to be expected. Still . . .”
    “Pshaw,” she said, shaking her head. She got out of the car and stared the pastor dead in the eye. “You’re called by the Lord. He expects you to walk boldly. I’m new to this congregation too. Howard and I used to attend church across town, where his mother and father brought him up. Still, I know what I know and I’m not afraid to tell folks that they’re making a mistake in taking out their miseries on one another. These are hard times and we need to be working together, not tearing each other apart.
    “The reports I read said the 28th Infantry Division has suffered great loss. That’s going to devastate this town, as you already know. You’re dealing with individual families right now. Encourage them to reach out to those who are hurting as much as they are. If they do this, their own pain will lessen. I know from experience that this is true.”
    “Well . . . it certainly makes sense.”
    “Of course it does. You can’t spend too much time feeling sorry for yourself when you’re caught up helping other folks with their problems.”
    They’d reached the door and Estella was anxious to get back to Andy. “Would you like to come in, maybe visit with Andy for a moment and pray for him?”
    The pastor looked embarrassed. “I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t think of it myself. Still, I wouldn’t want to upset him.”
    “Andy’s barely even conscious,” Estella replied. “I don’t think he’ll mind that you’ve come to pray for him.”
    They entered the house, now considerably warmer than when Estella had left it. She noted that the water had almost completely boiled out from the cast