Read The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) for Free Online Page B

Please do not leave on account of what he said.”
    Karlijna was touched by the woman’s generosity, but knew what she must do, “Rachel, you have been kindness itself, but I cannot create problems in your home.  I will not bear the guilt of dividing a family.”
    Rachel began to respond, but Karlijna stopped her, “Please allow me to thank you for your generosity by sparing you the loss of a son.”
    Rachel, tears of regret filling her eyes, nodded, “I understand you.”
    Karlijna picked up the dress and shawl Rachel had made for her, “May I take these with me?”
    Rachel’s voice was thick, “You may take those clothes and the blankets you have been using,” she turned, “And I will gather some things. . .” she hurried from the room and Karlijna began to follow, but had to stop suddenly to avoid running into Rachel who had spun back around to face the young girl.
    “Karlijna, I have an idea,” her eyes were bright again.  She crossed the room to the bedroom shared by the Stein family.
    “Regina,” she knocked softly on the door, “are you up?  We have a big job to do.”
    Karlijna soon found out what Rachel’s plans were, and, though the girl was overwhelmed and tried to stop them, they would do as they wished.
    “It is too much,” Karlijna protested.
    “Not at all,” Rachel’s fingers were busy with a needle and thread while Regina cut fabric.
    Since Julius didn’t plan to be back for two days, Rachel and Regina insisted that Karlijna stay there while they made her some things.  Karlijna would not have so easily agreed if she had known the quantity of clothing the women planned to provide.
    “Karlijna,” Regina explained, “you are probably going to have to find a job.  You do not know if you will have money enough to buy adequate clothes.”
    “But the cost,” Karlijna knew how expensive fabric was at this time.
    Regina and Rachel looked at each other and laughed.
    “Do not worry about the cost,” Rachel replied, “My son will worry about the cost.”
    Karlijna was perplexed, “Julius?”
    “Yes,” she nodded, “Julius.  He is the only son I have.  He will pay the cost of the clothes.
    “Julius trades things,” Regina leaned toward Karlijna with a sly smile.
    Karlijna nodded.  She knew this much.
    Regina went on, “He gets things that most people can’t because he has made special friends.”
    Karlijna’s eyes widened, “Is this stolen fabric?”
    Rachel shook her head vigo rously, “Not stolen, Karlijna. Julius paid for it, but. . .”
    Karlijna didn’t want to know anymore about it. This was obviously what people were talking about when they spoke of the black market. Her brother, Benard, once told her a person could get anything they wanted if they knew people.
    Karlijna waved a hand over the yard goods, “So why did he buy all this fabric?  It was not for me.”
    “No,” Rachel shook her head, “No it was not, but it is now.”
    The wom en worked long into the night. By the end of the first day the women had put together two winter dresses and another lightweight dress. They all had long sleeves.
    Karlijna had, in her early childhood, been accustomed to having fashionable and expensive clothes. These dresses were neither. Rather, they were sturdy and simple, and Karlijna had never seen any more beautiful to her.
    “Thank you,” she fingered the fabric, unable to look her friends in the eye.
    Regina gripped the slim shoulders and pulled the girl into her arms, “Karlijna, we are glad to do it.  You are as one of our own.”
    By the next day, the women had added undergarments, a heavy sweater, and warm stockings to the pile.  They found a small case in which to transport it as well.  Karlijna did not protest again, but she was tempted.
    Maurice took the day off of work himself to help Karlijna look for a job. By the afternoon, they were both weary, more from disappointment than the miles they had walked.
    Their failure should have been no surprise. Karlijna