A Horsewoman for Harlan by Barbara Goss

Author:Barbara Goss [Goss, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-17T05:00:00+00:00

During the summer hours, everyone except for Millie and Martha worked until sundown.

Elise led the horse she’d been training back to her stable to meet Harlan on his way out.

He smiled as he unrolled his sleeves, hinting he was done working for the day. He stopped to open the horse’s stall door for her. “It’s such a beautiful evening, don’t you think?” he asked.

“Absolutely. If it hadn’t gotten dark, I’d have kept on working,” she answered.

“It’s going to be warm in the house,” he said casually. “I’m going to take a walk around the grounds before I go in—would you care to join me?”

Elise closed the stall and said, “Yes. I’d love to take a walk.” The offer was casual—they were friends and almost family. She liked and trusted Harlan, and she felt it would have been rude to refuse such a thoughtful invitation.

As they walked, she said, “It’s almost a sin to have to go inside tonight.”

“Look,” Harlan pointed upward. “There must be a million stars up there.”

It was dark and difficult to see, but luckily, Harlan wore a light-colored shirt, so Elise just tried to keep in step with him. Then, suddenly, she was on the ground.

Harlan quickly helped her up. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. I think I stepped in a gopher hole.”

“That was my fault. I should have taken your arm while walking in the meadow, but I felt you might think me forward.”

Elise brushed off her elbows and knees. “I think I shall leave etiquette behind and allow you to take my arm.”

Harlan linked his arm around hers, and they walked the whole length of the meadow, then turned around and headed back. “There’s nothing quite like a Kansas summer.”

“Pennsylvania summers are lovely, too.” Elise sighed. “And the mountains are so majestic there.”

“Do you miss home and your folks?”

“I do, but I know they are well taken care of and... well, I don’t think I miss the life I had there before coming here.”

“How’s that?”

“After my parents sold the livery, we owned just a few horses, and they were already trained. I missed working with them. I was bored and felt there was no life there for me anymore. I was excited when I received Martha’s letter.”

“So, you aren’t sorry you came to Kansas?”

“No, I love it here. I suppose one day, maybe in the wintertime, I’ll go home for a visit, but I feel so at home here.”

Elise felt him tighten his hold on her. “I’m glad.”

“What about you, Harlan? You never talk about personal things.”

“Are you saying I’m secretive?” He laughed.

“About some things. Tell me about the children’s mother—what happened to her, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Elise was shocked to hear Harlan’s deep laugh at her question. “There wasn’t a mother. Well, of course, there was, but I don’t know who she is.”

She stopped walking and stared up at him. In the moonlight, she could barely see his face, but she noticed the twinkle in his eyes. “What?” she gasped.

“I needed help with the stables, so I got the idea of getting a young man from the orphan train when it stopped in Hays.

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