Havyn grimaced at her husband.
Madysen and Whitney laughed. They knew that face all too well. Someone must have mentioned raising chickens for slaughter again.
“John has ordered an entire gross of chickens that we will raise with the intention of becoming . . . fryers. I’m still not sure how I feel about this, but there will be roosters to fertilize the eggs, and we will keep raising this new herd separate from my girls. Other than that, my chickens are doing very well, with egg production at fifteen dozen a day. All of which we either use or sell on a daily basis. We could sell up to twice that many, but that would mean adding a lot of hens. Of course, winter is coming, and production will drop considerably if things go as they usually do.”
“Do we have room for more hens?” Madysen tapped her chin with a finger. “Because if the demand is that high, I could see us adding to the flock. I mean, that’s why we’re having these meetings to talk about how we can increase production and make the farm even more profitable, right? More people are pouring into Nome every day, and those people have to eat.”
“We do have the room, but let’s see how we do adding chickens meant for eating, first. Obviously it will be better for us financially if we raise chicks from our own eggs.” John seemed to be tempering his reaction. “Chuck, I need to get your thoughts on all of this. Financially, we are fine. And I know your desire is not for us to overwhelm ourselves with too much work, but you’ve built this farm into what it is, and we want to honor that. And as Madysen said, there are more people arriving every day. Gold fever has driven people out of the Yukon and into Nome. I’m sure we’ll have the market for whatever we raise to sell.”
Granddad gave a slight nod and wrote on the paper.
Let’s talk about it in a few minutes. Whitney needs to update us on the dogs.
“We can do that.” John turned to Whit. “Anything new to report?”
Their older sister straightened in the chair. “I’ve decided that Granddad’s idea to train some of the dogs with the intention to sell is a very good idea. Everyone has always asked for my dogs because they know they are the best, but if I train them as sled dogs before I sell them, I can ask for more and be confident that their training is good. That would also help me to ascertain the real reason behind a lot of the requests for purchasing my dogs. An expensive, trained dog is less likely to end up in the fighting pits. The buyer will have to give a deposit for the dogs while I train them. And then wait for them to finish training. No rush jobs here.”
John placed his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “Well, it sounds like things are in order all the way around. It’s taken us a little bit to get it all straight, but I feel we’re doing well. The workers are paid, all the debt to Mr. Reynolds is cleared, and we have plenty to move forward.” He looked to Granddad. “Is there anything you’d like to add?”
Granddad made a noise and held out a paper.
Havyn took it. “You want me to read this?”
A nod.
Havyn unfolded the paper and began to read.
“There are some things that I’ve been needing to say to you for some time. But my pride and selfishness stood in the way. I’m sorry. God has made some big changes in my attitude to get me to this point. He’s humbled me. Not just physically, but spiritually.”
Madysen stood up and went over to kneel by their grandfather. Whatever the letter entailed, she wanted to be by his side, letting him know that they supported him. No matter what.
Havyn continued.
“Girls, I don’t want you to hate your father. And I’m sorry I ever tried to turn any of you against him. At first, it was because I didn’t think you’d ever find out he was alive, and so that was my excuse for talking negatively about him. Then it was my own pride that stood in the way. I knew you all loved your dad, even though he hadn’t been the greatest father.
“Anyway, I know that he is in town and that he wants to spend time with you. I’m asking you to give him a chance. He is your father, and the Bible says that you need to honor him.
“Lastly, I need to ask for all of you to forgive me. I made excuses to myself and said that what I did was for your good—for your protection. But that wasn’t the whole story. I simply wanted him gone so we didn’t have to deal with him or the embarrassment anymore. I thought my daughter was too good for him. I’m so sorry that this had to come out the way it did, and I know this has been difficult for you all. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
Madysen leaned over and hugged Granddad. It had been horrible what he did, but she understood why he did it.
Whit looked like a storm was brewing inside. “How are we supposed to honor someone who did the things he did? And I know you’re partially guilty, Granddad, for convincing him to sign divorce papers and telling him to disappear. But he was the one who actually left. He didn’t fight for us. Didn’t plead to stay with us or to see us. Has he even written to you all these years to check up on us? Wouldn’t that be what a loving father would do?”
The set of her jaw and red in her cheeks showed her anger, but a single tear slipped down her cheek. When Whit loved someone, she was a fierce protector, loyal, and compassionate. And when someone betrayed that love, it was almost impossible to regain her trust.
Havyn put an arm around their older sister. “I’ve asked the same questions, Whit. And I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive him for abandoning us. Or for starting another family while he was still married to Mama. Or for his drinking all those years. But I know that God would at least want us to give him a chance. To hear him out. Find out more about why he’s here, and what he’s done with his life since he left us.”
Silence descended as they all looked to Whit. The seconds stretched.
“Fine.” She swiped at her cheek. “We can invite him for dinner. But just because he seems different and said he hasn’t had a drink in years, doesn’t mean that it’s true. It certainly doesn’t mean that we have to invite him into our lives. As far as I’m concerned, our father is still dead.”
FIVE
Daniel shoved his hands into his pockets and headed toward the parlor. Now that Granny was back, she wanted to have them gather in there each night and chat. Like they used to do. Before Mom died. Before Dad got injured. Before they left the farm, moved to Seattle, and then he left for the Yukon.
Before God turned His back on him.
Spending time with Granny and Dad wasn’t the problem. But if he knew his grandmother, she would want to read Scripture too. And she’d probably pry into what was going on in his mind.
Neither of which he wanted.
Things could never go back to the way they were. It wasn’t his fault. God could take the blame for that.
Changing direction, Daniel went out the side door and walked in the waning sunlight to the barn. He needed to get his thoughts straight before he went in to be with Granny and Dad.
They had hopes and expectations for him. And the thought of letting them down carved a deep hole in his gut, but he couldn’t let go of the past and his anger at God. It haunted him at every turn.
Staring out at the last vestiges of light on the horizon, he fisted his hands in his pockets. Why couldn’t he be happy?