Wind Over Marshdale by Tracy Krauss Read Free Book Online Page A

table. “I asked you yesterday and you never gave me an answer. Hurry up with your teeth,” she called over her shoulder to her son Bradley, who was somewhere in the back of the house. She turned back to her husband. “I don’t want him late on the first day.” She removed a sticky spoon from the grasp of three-year-old Amanda and started wiping her face with the dishcloth. Amanda started to howl, jerking her head in an attempt to avoid the offending cloth.
    â€œCan’t you use a proper washcloth?” Todd asked.
    â€œIt’s fine,” Carol said, still swiping at the uncooperative child. “It’s fresh out of the drawer. Now, about Bradley.”
    â€œMaybe you should take him,” Todd suggested. “I’ll stay home with Amanda.”
    Carol narrowed her eyes. “Fine. If that’s how you want it.” She swung Amanda down from the table and continued her efforts at clearing the dishes with renewed vigor, her mouth clamped in a tight line.
    Todd sat chewing, surveying his wife’s unhappy countenance. With a deep sigh, he set his spoon aside and pushed back from the table. “Sorry. Of course I’m taking him.”
    â€œGood. A boy needs his father. I don’t know what’s gotten into you.”
    â€œI’m just under a lot of pressure from the board, that’s all.”
    â€œNo need to take it out on us,” Carol said, scrubbing the table with the cloth.
    â€œI know, and I said I was sorry.” Todd stopped, realizing he sounded defensive. He tried again, a little more gently this time. “It’s hard to please everybody.”
    â€œThen quit trying,” Carol reasoned. “How about pleasing God instead?”
    â€œOh, thank you!” Todd exclaimed, his voice riddled with sarcasm. “I’m so glad you pointed that out to me. Of course, that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I forgot!”
    â€œYou know what I mean,” Carol continued.
    â€œDon’t start. I’m still in ministry, for goodness sake! Did you want me to quit altogether? Go running off somewhere with my tail between my legs?”
    â€œNot so loud,” Carol warned. “I don’t want the kids hearing.”
    â€œThen why did you bring it up?” Todd grated.
    Carol shook her head, tears shining along the lower rims of her eyes. “You used to be so on fire for the Lord. That’s all you cared about. You were God’s man, a man of integrity.”
    He hated it when she pulled the tears out. “So I guess that means you think I’m not anymore. What do you want, Carol? A pound of flesh?”
    â€œYou used to be so…so zealous,” Carol continued, her voice quiet. “Everything you did was for ‘The Kingdom.’ Now it’s like you’re trying to run things on your own steam, without even bothering to make sure it’s the Lord’s will. You’re playing at church, Todd, and it’s not right! Sometimes I think we would have been better off to leave the ministry altogether. At least then we wouldn’t be lying—not just to others, but to ourselves.”
    â€œYou done?” Todd asked coolly.
    Carol blinked, obviously hurt by the question.
    â€œBradley!” Todd called, turning away from his wife’s stricken look. “Get a move on or you’ll be late for school. I’ll be waiting in the car,” he informed Carol on his way to the door.
    The bang of the screen door coincided with a heart wrenching sob coming from the kitchen. With a deep sigh, Todd stalked toward the garage. Of course, he still believed in the ministry—believed in God. But did God still believe in him?
    ****
    The first day of school—exciting for both students and teachers alike, but doubly so for those who had never been to school before. Seeing the wide-eyed little kindergarten pupils as they entered their classroom touched a responsive chord deep within