“Nothing. I love animals, especially when they’re large enough to have four points on their antlers, and I can get a couple of roasts out of them and several pounds of stew meat.”

“Are you a better fisherman or hunter?”

“The same.”

Alanna opened the door to go inside, but couldn’t resist a parting shot.

“Then I think the animals are safe.”

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Matthew walked back to the pond without bothering to get the flashlight. He could easily see in the dark. The only reason he had gotten the flashlight the night before was so Alanna could see where she was walking.

Slinging the nylon cooler strap onto his shoulder, he gathered the poles, blanket, and tackle box then walked to his house, where he dumped everything on his front porch before he started walking toward Silas’ house. Each step he took, the mix of emotions he had been holding all afternoon assailed him in wave after wave of grief.

As he neared Silas’ porch, he had to bend over to place his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. His whole body was shaking with raw fury and anguish so deep that he felt the burning sting of tears in his eyes. Righting himself, he went around the corner to walk up the steps of the porch.

He slowed when he saw all of his brothers and Ginny were there, waiting for him.

Reaching the porch, he went to the banister to grip it tightly next to where Ezra was sitting on top.

After two deep breaths, he was able to manage to turn his head to stare at Ezra. “You knew.”

Ezra’s eyes were filled with pain yet stoic. “Yes.”

Turning around, Matthew pinned his eyes on Fynn, who was standing next to Silas, who had a protective arm around their younger brother. “You saw.”

Fynn only nodded.

Matthew took a step forward, unable to prevent himself from reaching for Fynn.

“Matthew, he’s only a boy.”

Matthew pulled himself out from under Silas’ hold to pull Fynn close. Giving Fynn a hug, he had to clear his throat before releasing him and turning him toward the door. “Go inside.”

The boy didn’t move.

“I want to stay,” Fynn argued.

“Go inside, Fynn,” Silas ordered.

Reluctantly, his little brother went inside.

Matthew waited until the door was closed to ask the question that had been pounding through his head all day.

“Why can’t she have children?”

Silas went to sit on the banister next to Ezra. “Owen.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Matthew vowed, taking a step toward the end of the porch.

Isaac, Moses, Jacob, and Jody blocked him.

“You can’t,” Ezra warned, remaining seated where he was.

Matthew clenched his hands into fists by his sides as he glared at his brothers blocking him. “Did you know?”

They all shook their head.

“Silas only told us a couple of hours ago,” Isaac said.