Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel by Shelley Shepard Gray

reckoned Henry’s “good clip” had been a little bit of an understatement. Henry, Jonathan, Mr. Brenneman all walked like they were being timed. Levi was used to hard work, but not so much walking briskly in thick boots. He found himself pausing to catch his breath every few feet.
    “Is this too much for ya?” Mr. Brenneman called out. “We can take a breather, if you’d like.”
    There was no way on earth Levi was going to look at a man old enough to be his father and admit that he couldn’t keep up with him! “I’ll be fine.”
    Though Henry and Jonathan had marched on, limberly hopping over a fallen tree and veering right, the older man paused for him. “No shame in admitting your faults, Levi.”
    “I’m not afraid to admit mine. But walking in the woods ain’t one of them.”
    Mr. Brenneman chuckled. “All right, then,” he said, then turned and somehow managed to walk even faster. Snow crunched underfoot as he practically marched along.
    In spite of his best efforts, Levi found himself breathing harder. “Jesus, I know you’re laughing at me,” Levi murmured. “I have a hunch that you’re warning me to speak up, to admit my physical faults. I know my pride is getting in the way.”
    But instead of asking Mr. Brenneman to slow his pace, Levi compensated by unbuttoning his wool coat. When he did, the cool air refreshed him and he followed the men—they were about twenty yards up ahead, talking about a horse auction.
    Satisfied he hadn’t lost them, Levi slowed for a momentand gazed at the beauty that surrounded him. Truly, the area was a sight to see. The Brennemans’ land was hilly and filled to the brim with nature’s glory. Tall oaks stood company with maples and ash trees. A sprinkling of pine kept the area green even now, in the dead of winter.
    In the far distance was a large pasture—the ground brown and bare, dormant. Beyond that lay the outline of a barn and a group of dairy cows.
    “You coming, Levi?”
    “I am,” he called back. To his embarrassment, his words sounded strained. Even to his own ears.
    Picking up his pace again, he followed the other men through a maze of trees. Then stopped next to them near an outcropping of rocks.
    Jonathan studied him as he finally approached. “Glad you could make it,” he teased.
    “I’ve been finding it hard to race through the woods,” he retorted. “You all are walking kind of fast, don’tcha think?”
    “Not so fast.”
    “I’m just sayin’ that it’s kind of hard to see deer that way.”
    Henry slapped him on the back. “We’re going to slow down now. We were just trying to get away from the house. Ain’t safe to hunt so close.”
    They’d been walking a good forty-five minutes, and resting for ten. At last his breathing was starting to return to normal. “Do you all plan to continue going for a while yet?” Levi hoped he didn’t sound too hopeful.
    Mr. Brenneman answered.
“Nee.”
    Henry laughed. “It’s true. Keep your eyes peeled, Levi. Any and all bucks are now fair game for Christmas dinner.”
    Jonathan pulled out a thermos of coffee from the knapsack on his back and sipped. “Care for any?”
    Gratefully, Levi sipped the hot liquid.
“Danke.”
    Once the other men had taken a fortifying sip, they all started walking again. This time at a slower pace. Levi was thankful. He took the opportunity to again study the beautiful surroundings.
    About five minutes later, Mr. Brenneman looked his way. “I’m guessin’ you don’t live near the woods up in Berlin?”
    “Not at all. I live on a street with several other houses.”
    “And what is it you do there?”
    “I work at a garage-door factory.”
    Henry looked at him with interest. “Is it an Amisowned enterprise?”
    “Nee.
Mennonite. It’s a good job. The hours are good and the pay is fair.”
    “That’s all a man can ask for,” Jonathan murmured. “And your boss, is he a good man?”
    “He is at that. The owners are caring, Christian men. They were