A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(22)

“Some. Thank heaven for what you’ve brought with you.” She gestured to the boxcar. “Speaking of which, we’d better get it all unloaded.”

By the time all the boxes and buckets of young plants were lugged up to the wagon, some of the seedlings a little worse for wear, the flashes of pain had become a steady throb. RJ refused a seat in the wagon and rode Captain the short distance to the Brownsvilles’, but the jostle of his horse was little better, gentle though Captain’s gait was. RJ gritted his teeth and bore it. Clearly, he wasn’t the only one suffering around here.

But by the time they reached the doctor’s house, all he could think about was a spot to lie down—a bed, a floor, even cool dirt would do. He dismounted and helped Anders stable and care for the horses, then followed his friend up to the house. They’d left the dogs in the stable for now and would unload the wagon later. At least the evening air was cooling now.

The door opened, spilling light and people exclaiming, laughing, embracing.

RJ had a moment’s thought of fleeing back to the barn. But he was carried on a wave of welcome into the two-story frame house, where Anders’s laugh filled the entry and his bright-eyed sisters seemed everywhere at once.

Anders grabbed RJ by the shoulders and introduced him to the lineup. “You’ve met Larkspur. This is Forsythia and her husband, Adam.”

“We hope you’ll be comfortable here, RJ.” Forsythia jiggled a toddler on her hip, her gentle face wreathed in welcome.

RJ shook their hands and barely got a word out before Anders marched him on.

“And this is Lilac, the baby—well, except for Jonah back home.”

Lilac had dark pinned-up braids and an impish smile. “Glad you’re here, RJ.”

“And last but not least, fresh out of the kitchen by the look of things, my sister Del.” Anders propelled him toward a young woman holding a tray of baked goods.

“Welcome, RJ.” She smiled, and he vaguely noticed her eyes were a striking deep gray-blue. “Would you like a raspberry fritter? You all must be famished.”

RJ eyed the hot pastries, but amid the blinding pain, the smell just turned his stomach. “No. No, thanks.” His words came out clipped.

Her face fell slightly, but Del lifted her chin and offered the tray to Anders.

His friend took one, casting RJ a frown.

Remorse twisted RJ’s middle as the family chatter rose again. Yet another thing he should apologize for, but he couldn’t, not right now. He just needed a place to lie down.

A fine start for his visit to the Nielsen family. And here they were dealing with a crisis of their own.

Maybe he never should have left New York.





7


What a churlish young man.

Del pushed away the uncharitable thought and tried to focus on the joy of Anders being here, a blessed ray of sunshine in the devastation of the week. But RJ Easton glowering across the table from her didn’t help her mood.

“Forsythia, your cooking has gotten nearly as good as Ma’s.” Anders took another bite of roasted young chicken and new potatoes, rolling his eyes in pleasure. “Or maybe anything would taste good after cold train fare for days.” He ducked away as she swatted at him.

“Now we know Anders is really here. He’s teasing again.” Lilac’s eyes danced. “I’m just glad the grasshoppers left the potatoes alone.”

Lark dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “What do you think about the boardinghouse idea?”

“Do you still want to pursue that?” Anders accepted a roll from the basket Del passed with a nod of thanks. “I thought the grasshoppers might have changed your mind.”

Del had thought so, too, but Lark seemed more set on the idea than ever. Sometimes the desperate determination she sensed in her sister these days worried her.

“The need is still there, with the railroad bringing more workmen all the time. And the uncertainties of farming are all the more reason for us to have another source of income.”

“Where were you thinking to build?”

“I’ve been casing the town for available land and found a couple of possible lots I’d like to show you. With the railroad coming through, land value is going to skyrocket, so we’d best buy soon. Only recently did I learn that most of the town is owned by Mr. Young, our banker.”

“And what sort of man is he?”

Lark furrowed her brow. “Fair, as far as I can tell. A bit shrewd, and cares more about the bottom line than anything. But the part of our land we bought outright we bought from him, and he seemed to treat us well.”

Lilac began to clear the plates. “Didn’t you say Mr. Caldwell owns some of the land around here also?”

“Yes, he has the more undeveloped portions outside of town, I think.”

“Ah, Henry. I can’t wait to see him again. You’ll like him, RJ. He was one of my army officers in the war. It’s thanks to him my sisters even settled in this region, actually.” Anders clapped RJ on the shoulder. “What would you think of taking on this boardinghouse project, my friend?” Anders glanced around the table. “I’m not sure I told you, but RJ is an engineer by training.”

“Really.” Lark leaned forward. “So you know about drafting building plans and such?”

RJ flinched and shifted in his chair. “I didn’t finish my degree. But yes, somewhat.”