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“The dreams helped.”
“Dreams?”
He cocked his head. “Yes. Don’t you remember?”
“I hardly ever dream.”
“Every calling starts that way. Perhaps your memories have merely been misplaced. Shut your eyes. I’ll help you find them.”
Her eyes closed and she felt him push into her mind, stronger than the usual gentle presence he assumed. Flashes of images turned in her mind’s eye, some familiar, others only teasing a discomforting sense of déjà vu. When an image of them lounging together on the grass came to mind, she gasped.
The vision was so real. They lay under the shade of an ancient tree. She could smell his familiar scent and feel his love for her as she leaned into him and laughed affectionately. They were so happy.
“Is this a prophecy?”
“We have an eternity to make it so.”
She might have questioned the authenticity of such an image if she hadn’t recognized them as lost visions of her own. “Can you show me another one?”
He showed her several more and she watched in awe, slightly jealous that he had this knowledge all along.
“I would have been more prepared if I’d recognized you.”
“Perhaps on some level, you did.”
She looked at him so differently than she had a week ago. Her mind simply couldn’t go back to hating him now that she was coming to trust him. “Will you teach me?”
“What would you like to learn?”
“All of it. I want to know everything you know. I want your strength and confidence and skill.”
Leaning forward, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “It will be my honor to teach you everything you wish to know. But first…we must attend service.”
She groaned and threw herself back on the bed. “Why can’t we just stay here? I’ll give you your six.”
He paused, but then quickly stood. “It’s seven, and as tempting as that offer is, I must decline. We can settle that score after worship.”
“Great.” Nothing inside of her wanted to sit through a long, boring, German sermon.
“Keep in mind that others will be able to overhear your thoughts, little one.”
Her eyes widened. “You really need to teach me how to guard my mind.”
He stood, bending only to kiss her head. “Today will provide many opportunities for you to practice that skill. Get dressed.”
CHAPTER 22
“Hey, how come you guys don’t wear beards?”
Christian found it encouraging that Delilah was now showing more interest in their culture, so he didn’t mind answering her numerous questions. “Beards are not a defining factor in living a pure life.”
She eyed his jaw. “But I never see you shave.”
“Mortals have a greater need for body hair as it helps with thermoregulation. We regulate our own body temperature. We have hair follicles where we need them, eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair on our head to protect us from debris.” Adjusting her kapp, he said, “We must go or we’ll be late.”
Grateful she agreed to attend service, he took the stairs with an optimistic bounce to his step. She had started braiding her hair and dressing like the other females. Such small but positive signs of conformity brought him much hope, as did her curiosity.
Exiting the house, he staggered to the porch steps as a rooster tripped him, fluffing its wings underfoot and clucking at him. It puffed its chest at Christian and rudely pecked at his boot.
“What are you doing up here? Get.” He toed the bird out of the way, recalling this one’s name was Beavis or Stanley or some such nonsense. “Go on. You shouldn’t be here.”
Its little eyes bulged as it stared up at him, crowing loudly as if it had as much right to be there as anyone else. Then Christian noticed the three kittens lounging on the wood planks of the step. The animals never strayed this far from the barn.
The front door opened and Delilah stilled. “Gonzo, what are you doing here?” She spoke to the rooster as if it could answer. She crouched on the step and pet the kittens.
“Did you give them cream?”
“No. Should I?”
“It will only encourage them. They usually don’t stray this far from the barn.”
“What the!” She jumped up as a small rodent scurried over the step and bolted back down to the shrubs. “Was that a mouse?”
“Chipmunk.”
“Aw! Alvin.” She called the tiny creature, but it ignored her, confirming she could not commune or control the animals.
He clapped his hands so they would scurry off. “Go on, before I put you in a pot.”
She scowled at him as she nuzzled a small gray kitten. “Not funny.”
He pulled the tiny ball of fuzz out of her arms and set it back on the step. “We must ready the horses.”
“Dwight and Michael?”
“I suppose.” He couldn’t keep all the animal names straight.
She took his hand and skipped down the porch steps. “Can I drive the carriage?”
“No.”
“You didn’t even consider it.”
“I know.”
When they reached the barn, he readied the buggy and quickly checked the horses’ hooves. Delilah curiously explored the interior.
