A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(8)

“With what?”

“The scythe.”

“I’d rather let him go.”

“And be here another time? Not a good idea.”

“They help keep the rodents at bay.” Holding her breath, Lark slid the tip of her scythe under the snake and flung it toward the gully.

“Anthony Armstead s-says they’re good eatin’.”

“I’d have to be mighty hungry.” Lark felt a shudder charge from her toes to the top of her head. She took off her straw hat and fanned her face with it. “That was a bit close.”

When they’d made the circuit of the two-acre field, they stopped for a drink from the jug and sat for a rest.

Jesse flopped back onto the ground, eyes closed under his straw hat. “Wake me in a m-minute or two.”

“What use is that?” Lark swatted at him with her hat, then stretched her neck from side to side. “I read about a horse-drawn sickle bar mower. I want one.”

“We could mow our fields first and then hire out to mow others.” Lilac lay with the back of her hand shielding her eyes.

“Who has money to pay for mowing?” Lark asked.

“You watch. I think we should order one for next year. Save up our money.”

“We’d need a team of horses too.” Lark waved her hat to shoo the flies. “We could dream all day, but let’s get back to it.”

They’d made another round when Robbie met them at the post. “Come eat dinner.”

“Where’s Sofie?”

“With Auntie Del. I wanted to run, and she can’t run too good.”

“Let’s bring the scythes. We need to sharpen them.” Lark stared out over what they had done. And to think they had three more fields this size or larger to cut.



The week passed in a blur of haying and keeping up with the garden. Adam and Jesse spent one morning building a roof extension out from the side of the soddy to add extra shade, since their trees didn’t help much yet. The sturdy beams holding up the roof almost gave the feel of having a front porch.

“We’ll be glad of this for more than the party.” Del nodded, scanning it with her hands on her hips. “We should eat out here often in the summer.”

Saturday morning, the day of the party, Lark assigned Jesse and Lilac to rake the hay to turn it while she continued cutting. Del had given them strict orders to stop at dinner so they could finish getting ready for the evening. Meanwhile, she had been baking and cooking since before dawn, never mind that everyone would be bringing food.

“You’re coming tonight, right?” Lark asked Jesse as they walked back to the house.

“Uncle Adam s-said so.” Jesse ducked his head. “But I’m not much g-good at dancing.”

Lark’s heart pinched at the rare angst on Jesse’s face. A hard life he’d had, passed around from relative to relative until Adam took him under his wing. His stutter had improved under Adam’s gentle coaching but would probably never be entirely absent. Lord, he’s become like another brother, but how often do I stop to think what is going on in that quiet head? Or what future there might be for him?

“Well, we Nielsens are all good teachers.” She whacked him on the arm with her work glove. “So you’d better save me a dance, you hear?”

The return of Jesse’s shy grin lightened her heart.

It lightened further still when Lark surveyed the gathering throng that evening, wagons arriving full of chattering children and parents who seemed nearly as excited.

“It’s been too long since this town had a merrymaking to go to.” Beatrice Caldwell pressed Lark’s hand, her eyes bright. “Leave it to you girls to fill the gap.”

Lilac tuned her fiddle by the wide patch of dirt they’d cleared for a dance floor, while Del oversaw the refreshments at a table under their young cottonwood tree. They had strung lanterns from the trees and between the house and barn. Forsythia followed a tottering Mikael with outstretched hands. The baby had taken his first steps a couple of days ago and now careened headlong between skirts and trousers, heedless of anything or anyone in his path.

“Mighty fine party, Miss Larkspur.”

At the familiar drawl, Lark turned with a smile. “Isaac McTavish. Should have known you’d show up in town again the minute we had some music.”

The drifter they’d first met on their wagon trip west tipped his worn hat. “I’d never miss a chance to hear the Nielsen sisters strike up a tune, that’s the truth. But I’ve been back in town nigh on a week now. Came to sign on for buildin’ the train station.”

“And you didn’t tell us?” Lark felt a pang of disappointment, though he had no obligation. After Isaac had helped finish their barn for winter and joined them for Christmas, she’d thought a real friendship had sprung up between them. Come spring, though, he’d taken off again, searching for work elsewhere.

He angled his bearded head. “I meant to, truly. Just been run near off my feet. That building master keeps us at hammer and saw sunup to sundown.”

“Well, I’m glad you heard about the party and knew you’d be welcome. You got some refreshment?” She nodded at the cup in his hand.

“I did.” He drained the lemonade and held out his hand as Lilac and Forsythia—now that Mikael perched safely in Adam’s arms—struck up the first dance tune. Rev. Pritchard and a few other musicians had brought their instruments and joined in too. “Would you care to dance?”