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Back The Land Beneath Us Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

Daddy and Mama had already forgiven Adler. They would be thrilled that their golden boy was alive. They’d be proud. They’d lavish him with love.

But they’d worry about him flying. Considering how many dents Adler had put in Daddy’s truck, their fears would be grounded.

Better they didn’t know Clay had seen him. Why get their hopes up for naught?

Clay squeezed his eyes shut. Lord, I know I’m supposed to forgive him, but I don’t know how.

He’d asked Leah how she’d forgiven the couple who’d adopted her only to abandon her. She’d replied that she concentrated on the good. The Joneses had taken her to an orphanage where the people were kind. She’d always had food and clothing and shelter. And she’d found beauty in leaves and clouds and words.

He wanted the serenity she had. Even after she’d been raped and almost murdered, she still found good.

Clay opened his eyes and concentrated. Fresh air filled his lungs. His uniform protected him from the cold. A meal awaited him. He was healthy and stronger than he’d ever been.

He had loving parents. He had good friends in Gene and Leah. Good leaders served over him, and he belonged to the best outfit in the US Army.

It wasn’t the life he’d wanted, but wasn’t that the case for almost every man on board?

They were farmers and shopkeepers and insurance salesmen. But now they were soldiers and sailors and airmen, and they had a job to do.

As for Adler, didn’t the Lord cause the sun to shine on the wicked as well as the good? God had chosen to shine that sun brightly on Adler and let the rain fall on Clay.

A chuckle huffed out. “All my fussing won’t change your mind, will it, Lord?”

“Paxton! D’you hear me?”

Clay’s head jerked up.

Sergeant Lombardi stood in the doorway, his face twisted in annoyance.

Something told Clay that wasn’t the first time Lombardi had called him. “Yes, Sergeant. Sorry, Sergeant.”

“Get your tail in here.”

That’s right. It wasn’t the Rangers’ hour on the open deck. Now he’d get KP duty, but it had been worth it to put cold air in his hot head. He headed back inside. “Yes, Sergeant.”

Tonight—after he finished cleaning the galley—he’d write a long letter to Leah.

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21

TULLAHOMA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1943

How was it possible for Clay to be even handsomer than in her memories?

Leah admired the snapshot as she walked down Jackson Street. Every day she picked a different photograph to carry. Today she’d chosen the picture of him pointing to the stripe and patch on his sleeve. Such a wonderful grin.