#59.2, Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Historical Setting, 629 C.E. farm in the Vosges Mts.
 

         Vizsla? He came along when Hannah was called to her mother’s bedside.  He was at the wedding wearing the colors of a ruthless, militaristic wandering tribe though he brought no weapon to the wedding. He came alone on horseback down from Trier and stayed to himself all through the feasting and the dancing. Why would I trust him now?  He just starred at Hannah, all through the evening then he took her away with him after the morning clean-up and we had to send Hannah’s brother on horseback yesterday to bring her back again. And here Vizsla came along, too.

         Hannah is in with her mother and I am waiting out here for Ana to call me. Vizsla is out here with me. He really isn’t very personable. He seems to have nothing to say to me.

         “I’m going in to check on my wife.”

         “No. You have to stay out here! Hannah said so.”

         Now Vizsla is standing between me and the door.

         “I’m Hannah’s father. She can’t tell me to stay out.”

         “Obviously she can and she did.”

         “Ana is my wife. I have to see her now.”

         “Wouldn’t it be lovely if pain and sorrow would yield to all of our wishes just because we are strong men. Strength doesn’t always get its way.”

         What a ridiculous thing to say. I just nudge him out of my way, and here I am in my own cottage with my wife and my daughter where I need to be.

         Thank you, God.

         Ana is awake and smiling and talking softly with Hannah. There is none of the terror just now that I feared they were hiding from me.

         “Papa, where is Vizsla? I sent him out to be with you.”

         “And I needed to come and see my wife.”

         Hannah abruptly leaves. But now I can be here with Ana. And she tells me, not about her own pain and fears, but about Hannah and Vizsla.

         “He’s like a stray puppy, following after Hannah. She is in love with him, Laz. And that is a beautiful blessing for both of them.”

         “He seems awkward in inappropriate to me. Maybe for him he is a good match for Hannah, but she should have so much more. She is a fine physician, brilliant and beautiful.”

         “You should get to know Vizsla. She really wants to keep this stray puppy.”

(Continues tomorrow)