The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) by Becky Riker Read Free Book Online Page A

girl.”
    Karlijna smiled at this, but she found herself grateful there would be no chance of that happening.  Young as she was, her eyes had seen too much for her tender heart to ever love a man who could judge  an other person based on their lineage.  Julius Goldbloom was safe from her affections.
    Shortly after the family had taken their evening meal, a knock came on the door.  Erich answered it.
    “Hello, Captain Anderson. It is good to see you.”
    “I have come to offer a job to our young friend, Karlijna.”

CHAPTER SIX
    The work at Leif Anderson’s store was not difficult, but it was many hours every day. Karlijna got up every morning before the sun rose and collapsed into her bed in the back room, late at night. 
    Torkel had said the job would only last for three days, while Leif’s wife was overcoming a sprained ankle. However, the ankle did not heal as quickly as they hoped, and Karlijna had a job for two weeks. The young woman was not glad for the other lady's misfortune, but she was grateful for a place to stay, food to eat, and the income that the job provided. 
    The best part of the job was that she spent the meals wi th Leif and his wife, Inger. The couple both spoke a bit of German, and she was able to converse with them, but they urged her to learn Swedish.   She was an eager pupil and learned much during her stay there.
    This benefited her most on Sundays. She could now understand some of the sermon and Scripture. What a blessing it was to hear the Word of God after such a time.
    On two occasions Karlijna visi ted the Goldblooms and Steins. The first time Julius had been home, so she stayed just moments. The second opportunity she had was more rewarding as only the women and children were home. She would have like to see Maurice and Erich, but Julius’ absence was not mourned.
    “How are they treating you?” Rachel looked keenly at her.
    “Very well,” Karlijna assured her, “I work hard, but they are kind and fair.”
    The older woman nodded, “This is good for you.”
    “Do they know how long they will need you?” Regina was trying to get the baby to eat some cereal so her attention was divided.
    “They only need me for two more days,” Karlijna was telling herself not to worry, but it was not easy.
    Rachel was watching for, and saw, the concern on the child’s face, “You will come back if you need to, won’t you?”
    Karlijna smiled, “I will only come if your entire family agrees.”
    Regina frowned and looked away from the baby who took the opportunity to spit all the food from her mouth, “You would let the narrow mind of my nephew keep you from a place to sleep?”
    “I will not divi de a family,” Karlijna stated. “If you speak to Julius and he says it is good for me to stay temporarily, I will come. If he says it is bad, I will not come.”
    The women tried to persuade her to a gree to come, but she refused. She left after a short visit.  Sunday was her day to catch up on all the sleep she missed during the week, and she knew she was going to need extra strength if she was to find a new job.
    Monday morning, K arlijna was up early as usual. She was sorting inventory in the back when she heard loud voices coming from the front of the store.
    H er first instinct was to hide. Based on past experiences, Karlijna knew that it was not wise to enter a room where people were angry. After listening for a few moments, though, the girl realized one of the voices belonged to Leif  and the other was shouting in French.
    Cu riosity drove her to the door. Standing near the counter was a young man, not much older than Karlijna, yelling at Leif.  Leif was responding in Swedish too quickly for Karlijna to be sure, but she thought he was telling the boy to go to a shop two doors down where someone spoke French.
    “Leif ,” she dared to interrupt, “I don’t think he understands you.”
    Leif turned frustrated eyes to her, “I can see that, but I don’t understand him