A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(63)

All around them, other families were in the swing of harvest just the same, grasshoppers notwithstanding. The rhythms of farm life. Most had more menfolk to do the outside labor part, though.

The sisters barely spoke through supper, their cramping hands fumbling to lift the food to their mouths. After a brief Scripture reading, they fell into bed.

Jesse must have said something to the Brownsvilles, for Forsythia and Climie came out to help the next day, taking turns watching the children and working in the fields. Adam even came for a few hours in the afternoon, and by day’s end, the whole field of wheat lay flattened in the evening sun, though not yet all of it was bundled.

The next morning, Lark visited the boardinghouse site with Jesse, leaving her sisters to continue bundling and shocking the wheat.

“You can see M-Mr. Easton’s doin’ a fine job.” Jesse nodded at the building, the siding almost completed now. “Though he’s still l-lookin’ for a couple more workers.”

Lark shaded her eyes to look up at the two-storied structure, a little thrill traveling down her arms. Yet another dream taking shape before her eyes. Thank you, Lord. “Do you know where he might be?”

“Usually b-back behind the building where he has his plans set up, if he’s n-not up on the roof.” Jesse headed around the corner.

Lark followed. She wanted to see how soon RJ thought they might be able to open. She’d thought not until closer to Thanksgiving, but with how nearly complete the building was looking, at least from the outside . . .

“Hey, Boss. I’m b-back today, and Miss Larkspur’s here to see you.” Jesse spoke confidently, making Lark glad. If he felt at ease around RJ Easton, that definitely spoke well of the man.

“Good morning.” RJ met her gaze with a smile, a welcome change. Perhaps his eye socket wasn’t paining him as much today. Could the mud Adam had tried be helping? “What can I do for you today, Miss Nielsen?”

“I just wanted to check on how things are coming.” Lark scanned the half-shingled roof. “From all appearances, they seem to be progressing well.”

“I’d say so, though I could still use a couple more men.” RJ tipped back the wool Union army hat he still wore.

“I hear Mr. Young has had some responses to the advertisements he placed back east. Hopefully we’ll get some more men coming in on the train soon.” Though that could be a mixed blessing, with how some workers frequented the liquor tent. Lark’s stomach curled.

“I’ll keep an eye out. I had to fire another man for drunkenness on the job just the other day.”

It was as if he’d read her mind. “Well, let’s pray for a steady replacement. When do you think we might be ready to open?”

RJ adjusted his eye patch and bent over his plans again. “Depends how fast we can move, but I’d say another three weeks, maybe a month. Assuming you want the inside as finished as we discussed.”

“I was thinking that the only room we really need finished is the kitchen, so we can fix meals. Folks can sleep on pallets on the floors upstairs and eat at a table in an unfinished room.” Lark thought rapidly. A month gave them time to finish both harvest and the inside of the boardinghouse, if barely. “Jesse, could we pay you to get started on some furniture? We’ll keep it basic to start, but we’ll need a large dining table and benches. A couple of chairs would be good but not necessary. Cupboards and counters in the kitchen, along with a worktable. Anders has ordered us a cookstove. Oh, and a washstand or two.”

“Sure thing.”

She shook her head and blew out a breath. “There sure is a lot to do.” With harvest not yet complete, her head spun from it all.

“One step at a time.” RJ gave her a reassuring nod, then frowned up at the sky. “Clouds are rolling in. Think we’ll get some rain?”

“Oh dear.” Lark craned her neck to look upward. Sure enough, darkening clouds covered half the sky, though it wasn’t yet noon. “I’d best get back and help finish getting the wheat shocked.”

“Need me to come too?” Jesse asked.

“Hopefully Del and Lilac are nearly finished.” She prayed so.

After jogging Starbright all the way home, Lark ran out to the wheat field to join her sisters, the wind lashing her skirts and whipping her hair against her face. Del and Lilac bent over the cut stalks, working fast.

Lark paused to catch her breath. “What should I do?”

“Help Lilac start shocking the sheaves,” Del called above the wind. “I’ve nearly finished the bundling, then I’ll help.”

Lark joined Lilac in grabbing several bundles of wheat and standing them together, heads up, then laying another sheaf on top to shield the grain as much as possible. It seemed hard to believe this would do much to protect it from the rain, but farmers had been doing it for generations, so there must be some value to it.

The first heavy drops of rain splatted as Lark spread the final sheaf over the last shock. The sisters grabbed hands and ran for the soddy, laughing as the rain chased them inside.

“Goodness, that came on fast.” Under the porch roof, Lark smoothed back her dripping hair and peered at their field, nearly hidden now by sheets of rain. “Lord, please protect our harvest.”





19


So Mr. Caldwell doesn’t know much about the Kinsleys?”