Values & Virtues
Jacob was stunned. Rachel had devoured his best riddles the way his father's customers devoured fresh rugelach. He was about to say so when he was distracted by a loud noise at the inn's door. Standing in the entry was a young woman, who might have been beautiful had she not looked so distraught.
"I am Miriam," she said. "I hear there is a clever child at this inn. One who is good at solving riddles."
"I am happy to help you," Rachel said, but Jacob's voice was louder.
"My name is Jacob," he announced, stepping in front of Rachel.
"But I'm the one you're looking for," Rachel protested.
Jacob was stunned. Rachel had devoured his best riddles the way his father's customers devoured fresh rugelach. He was about to say so when he was distracted by a loud noise at the inn's door. Standing in the entry was a young woman, who might have been beautiful had she not looked so distraught.
"I am Miriam," she said. "I hear there is a clever child at this inn. One who is good at solving riddles."
"I am happy to help you," Rachel said, but Jacob's voice was louder.
"My name is Jacob," he announced, stepping in front of Rachel.
"But I'm the one you're looking for," Rachel protested.
I felt light and free, like an escaped prisoner. Tonight, for the first time ever, I would sleep up here on my own. Just me and the wilderness. I wanted to bellow out in triumph, like a big old bull elk. But I had almost reached my cabin, so I loped along on silent feet. Like a creature of the wild, I approached my lair in silence. I slowed down, advanced cautiously, stayed on high alert to keep my territory safe from predators.
I raised my head, sniffed the air and knew something was wrong. Mixed with the musty odor of damp earth and the Christmas-tree scent of firs, was a trace of wood smoke. A chill spread up the back of my neck. Here in the forest, smoke could come from only one place. My cabin.
