Read Online The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers - Free Book Online

had pity on her and loved her.”
    “Aye,” Miz Elda said. “He had good cause.”
    “What cause?” Fagan said.
    She came out onto the porch. Leaning on her cane, she stared off toward the valley so long I didn’t think she’d answer. She must have been considering what to do, for she said finally, “I don’t see the harm in telling ye.” Turning, she looked at me square. “For a long time after your Grandpa Ian died, yer granny’d go visit his grave. And every time she did, she’d take summat with her. Half dozen ears of corn, a bundle of carrots, a small sack of potatoes, some eggs. She went right on through the worst of winter taking with her some smoked pork or dried venison, a string of leather-britches beans, a jar of preserves. She’d leave those things on Ian Forbes’s grave for the sin eater.”
    Turning slightly, she looked at Fagan Kai. “Most people give the sin eater a glass of wine and a loaf of bread, then give not a thought about him or what he took on himself for the sake of their loved ones. They don’t give a thought to what he’ll do for them someday neither.” She looked back at me. “Yer granny was different, Cadi. She looked out for the sin eater. She let him know she hadna forgotten what he done.”
    Lowering her aching bones into the rocker, she placed her cane over her lap. “Now, Cadi here has a reason for wanting to find the mon and dunna ye go talking her out of it, Fagan Kai.”
    “But my pa said—”
    “Maybe your pa has a reason for wanting to stay clear of the mon.”
    “What reason?” Fagan said.
    “Who’s to know excepting maybe the sin eater himself?”
    “Are you telling us to go looking for him?” Fagan challenged.
    “I ain’t tellin’ ye to do nothing that ye haven’t set your mind to already.”
    “He’s been telling me not to look for him,” I told her.
    “Because he’s figuring on finding him hisself, ain’t ye, Fagan Kai?”
    “I never said so.”
    “Dinna have to. It’s in yer nature. Anyone tells ye not to do summat, ye’re bound and determined to do it. Ain’t that right? Especially when ye’ve taken blows over it.”
    Fagan’s mouth tightened.
    Miz Elda leaned back and closed her eyes. “Dinna yer pa tell ye to stay away from me, boy?”
    He turned his head away, but I’d seen the look in his eye that confirmed everything the old woman said.
    “Yer pa still holds a grudge again’ me for summat done years ago. He’s got the longest, meanest memory of anyone in the cove. Ever tell ye why he dunna want ye or any of yer kin to have nothing to do with Elda Kendric, hmmm?”
    “No, ma’am.”
    “No? Well, then I ain’t goin’ to tell ye neither. Maybe someday it’ll all come out by itself. Likely kill him if it does. Or someone else if’n he has anything to say about it.”
    Fagan glared at her. “Don’t talk about my pa that way.”
    “I can talk about Brogan Kai any way I want, boy. You’re on my porch. Ye dunna like the track of my conversing, ye con leave.”
    He looked hurt and undecided. Loyalty won out. With a troubled frown, he went down the steps and headed for the woods.
    “Thank ye for the squirrels, Fagan,” Miz Elda called. “Ye’ve yer mother’s good heart and yer father’s aim.”
    Watching him stride away, I felt sorry for him. Glancing up at Miz Elda, I saw tears in her eyes. “Ye like him, don’t ye, Miz Elda?”
    “Aye, I like him more than all the rest. Problem is he don’t know who he is yet.”
    “Who is he?” I said, having no ken to her meaning.
    “Time’ll tell, dearie.” She stood, leaning on her cane and watching Fagan disappear into the woods. “Time’ll tell.” She turned to me. “Ye’ve got hours of daylight yet,” she said in an odd tone. “And thar’s a heap of climbing to reach the top of Dead Man’s Mountain. If ye’re of a mind to go, ye’d better start now.”
    I got up quickly, feeling free and eager to be on my way. “Yes, ma’am.” I was off her porch and