A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(37)

“No.” Adam met RJ’s gaze, and the compassion in the doctor’s eyes made RJ swallow. “But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance of healing.” He stood and stepped forward to lay a hand on RJ’s shoulder. “Let me pray about this and check with some colleagues. You’re not in this alone, RJ. I believe God has brought you out here for a reason.”

Did that reason include exploding his life to bits? RJ held his tongue and thanked the doctor.

But as he strode up the stairs to fetch more paper, as much as he tried to quench it, something deep in RJ’s chest wanted to hope.





11


When do you think you’ll be leaving?”

Anders turned to Lark. “I hate to leave here because so much is going on, but I need to get home too. I can’t let Josephine carry everything too long, with the baby and all. So I was thinking, let’s get the plans ready for the boardinghouse and get it staked out before I go. We need to work with Mr. Young.”

“For what?” She brought the coffeepot and filled their cups.

“I don’t have cash to pay for building supplies, and I don’t think you do either.” He cocked an eyebrow.

“No, of course not, but I don’t really want to be beholden to the bank either. You hungry?”

Anders glanced out the one sunlit window. “Where’s Lilac?”

“Right here.” Lilac popped in the soddy door, face and hands still damp from washing up outside.

“I thought I might have to come get you,” Lark said as she set their bowls of rabbit noodle soup in front of them.

“I was picking the flower seeds that are dry enough. It’s amazing how the marigolds and zinnias sprang back and keep blooming.” Lilac poured herself a glass of buttermilk.

“Well, bugs never like marigolds. I know you were hoping to have seeds to sell next year, but it seems to me you would have needed another planting using all of this year’s seeds to have enough. Even without the grasshoppers.” Anders rubbed his chin with a forefinger.

“We figured that out.” Lilac buttered her bread. “Sit down, Lark, so we can have grace.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lark ducked her head as if saluting. Ah, how wonderful to have at least the three of them together. “You ever think of moving out here, Anders?” she asked after he said grace.

“Yes, and surprisingly, now that I’ve been out here, even more so. But that store is earning us a good living and making enough that I can invest in your boardinghouse.”

“Our boardinghouse.”

“All thanks to the store.” He tipped his head and shrugged. “And Josephine really doesn’t want to leave her family.”

“Bring them out too. There’s plenty more land to homestead, or perhaps they could start another kind of business in Salton. You know any blacksmiths? Let’s see, what other businesses had we figured out?” She looked to Lilac, who thought a moment.

“The blacksmith, a livery stable. Something with salt mining machinery might be useful in a few years, and any kind of farming.”

“Yes, I’d give anything to buy a mower next year, but I’m not sure if oxen move fast enough to keep that blade at top speed,” Lark said.

“We thought of buying a mower and then mowing for others,” Lilac said. “You could do it so quickly. And then the rake. It’d be best if we had a team of horses.”

“All that and build the seed business too?” Anders shook his head. “You two never give up dreaming, do you? It looks to me like you have more to do than you can handle already.”

“So ship Jonah out here to help us. We’d just have to keep him away from the liquor tent I hear has gone up for the railroad workers.” Lark shook her head in turn.

“I bring you Climie, and now you want Jonah too? Who’s going to help me in the store?”

The sisters shrugged and smiled at each other. “I guess you better grow your children up fast,” Lark said.

Lilac got up to get more soup. “By the way, I’d like to find a good stud and get Starbright bred.”

“What about Captain, RJ’s horse?”

“He hasn’t been gelded?”

Anders shook his head. “Want me to mention it?”

“If you want. No—yes, that might be best. Ma would have a conniption if she knew her daughters were talking of such unmentionable things. Mr. Holt might be confounded too.”

Anders shifted in his seat. “Well, I can tell you this discussion isn’t the most comfortable I’ve ever had.”

Lark rolled her lips together and nodded on the sly to her sister.

“Anders, Anders, this is Nebraska,” Lilac said. “We are four sisters—well, three now—with no man in our house to do these kinds of things. Should we simper and be embarrassed and—”

“And never get anything accomplished?” Lark finished. “I had to find a bull for Buttercup. What was I supposed to do, don my Clark clothes in order to talk to a bull-owning farmer?”

Anders wagged his head. “I will be careful not to mention this conversation to Josephine.” He finished the soup in the bottom of his bowl. “It seems to me this is another change to blame on the war.”

“I think you’re right. With no men around, women were forced to step into situations they would not have needed to before.” Lark shook her head. “And we’re too level-headed, thanks to our parents, to curl up and simper ourselves to death.” She gathered the bowls. “Coffee anyone?” Sitting back down, she continued. “Let’s go back to dealing with Mr. Young. What kind of process are we looking at?”