Read Online Dakota Dawn by Lauraine Snelling - Free Book Online

the chimney pipe.
    After several minutes of comfort, she heard boots scraping snow off on the step, then a fist knocking on the door. Nora swept the cat to the floor and rose to answer the summons.
    Up close like this, Nora realized how tall Carl Detschman really stood. Even with the difference of the porch and house floors, he towered over her by nearly a head. Tongue-tied because she could not speak his language, Nora just stepped back and motioned him to enter.
    At his “Guten tag, “Nora bobbed her head. She was amazed. It sounded so much like Norwegian. Would they really be able to communicate?
    “Come in, come in.” Ingeborg and the children joined them at the door.
    “Pa!” Kaaren threw herself into her father’s waiting arms. She locked both arms around his neck as if defying anyone to try to remove her.
    Carl Detschman stood and took off his hat but refused to venture farther into the room. He pointed to his snowy boots and shook his head. “Is Reverend Moen here?”
    “Any minute now,” Ingeborg shooshed the other children back. “He had another funeral this morning and then a call to make. How may I help you?”
    “I . . . that is, Anna . . .”
    “Ma? I want my ma!” Kaaren placed her hands on both sides of her father’s face and turned him to look at her. “Please, Pa.”
    Nora did not need to speak English to understand what the little girl was saying—the look on Carl Detschman’s face said it all.
    “Can you keep her . . . them . . . until after the funeral?” Carl asked after shushing his daughter.
    “Of course. We’ll talk more then. But why don’t you come in and sit down to wait for Reverend Moen? What will you—”
    “I can’t.” He drew himself straight, hugged his daughter, whispered in her ear, and handed her to Ingeborg. “I just can’t.” He turned and yanked open the door, the cold draft sending the women’s skirts back against their legs.
    The look on his face imprinted itself on Nora’s mind. Lost and angry. What a heavy burden , she thought.
    “Why didn’t they have both funerals this morning?” Nora asked after they had settled the children again. Kaaren sniffed back tears once in awhile—and hiccupped.
    “Because Carl and Anna are German,” Ingeborg snapped, “and some people in this town are hateful.” She hid her mouth with the back of her fist. “Forgive me, I didn’t—I shouldn’t even think such things. But, much as Reverend Moen preaches to love thy neighbor, some people think that doesn’t include anyone who isn’t Norwegian.” She shook her head. “Sometimes, being the pastor’s wife isn’t easy, let alone being the pastor.”
    “So, will anyone come to mourn with him?”
    “Ja, a few.”
    “Why don’t you go and I’ll stay here with the children? Just being with you is a comfort, and I know he needs that.”
    “Ja, that is a good idea. Thank you.” Ingeborg used the edge of her apron to wipe something from the corner of her eye. “I should have fed Peder by then, and I won’t be gone long if James wakes up. Now I know how difficult it would be to feed twins.”
    Everyone ate dinner with serious faces and little talking.
    “Mary, you help Miss Johanson with the dishes,” Ingeborg reminded her daughter as they all rose from the table. “We won’t be gone very long and I’m depending on you to show what a helper you can be.”
    “Yes, Ma.”
    “We’ll bring Carl back for coffee and maybe others who attend the funeral. So would you please set out the coffee and cookies?” Ingeborg pressed a forefinger against her lips. “I have some søtsuppe in the pie safe also. You could bring that in and thaw it out over the stove. That, warmed, will taste good.”
    “Oh, I haven’t had that for so long.” Nora continued to clear the table. “My mother uses all kinds of fruit in hers.”
    “And we have cream to pour on top.” Ingeborg lifted her black wool coat from the wooden coat tree and pinned on her black veiled hat