Lizzie (War Brides Book 1) by Linda Ford

Author:Linda Ford [Ford, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crocus Mountain Publishing
Published: 2017-11-10T16:00:00+00:00

Lizzie stabbed the shovel into the ground, searching for a spot that would yield to her efforts.

“Are you looking for something in particular?” It was Father Hughes.

“Yes. A place where I can dig a garden spot.”

He took off his hat and scratched his head. “Nothing but virgin sod around here. Best thing you could do is lift the sod and set it aside. Use the soil underneath.”

“I see. Thank you.” Father Hughes continued toward the barn.

Several hours later, dripping with sweat, Lizzie measured her progress and decided she would have a very small garden plot. Just then Caleb marched into sight across the yard. Lizzie called him. “Can I get you to help for a few minutes?” She wasn’t sure if he’d agree. In the two days since their walk home from the Duncans’, he’d avoided her as much as humanly possible.

“What do you need?”

She indicated the bare soil and the pile of sods. “I’m trying to prepare a garden spot. I could sure use some help with the digging.”

He grabbed the shovel and stabbed it into the ground, turning over a clump of musky-smelling earth. He moved back, stabbing again and again, turning over a row of clumps.

Lizzie watched the rich earth yielding to his attack. He worked with sharp, quick jabs, grunting as the shovel encountered resistance. His frenzied movements didn’t seem quite right. His face muscles twitched. His eyes had a dead, hollow look. His grunts grew louder, more agony than effort.

A shiver snaked across her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around herself, squishing the material of her sleeves. “Caleb?”

He didn’t respond.

She spoke his name louder.

He threw the shovel down so hard it bounced twice, and he gasped. “I hate digging in the dirt.” He jerked away and strode off. A few minutes later, she heard the sound of hammering along the fence line.

She rubbed her chest, trying to ease the tightness that made each breath painful. When she could move without feeling brittle, she picked up the shovel, carried it to the house, and leaned it against the wall. Perhaps later, when her arms stopped shaking, she would go back to preparing a garden spot.

After the noon meal, after Caleb had disappeared again, she returned to the garden. The ground was stubborn, resistant to her efforts, but she doggedly turned over clump after clump, ignoring her aching shoulders and the blisters forming on her palms.

“What’cha doing?”

She jumped in alarm and spun around to face Robbie. “You gave me a fright.” She expelled her breath in a gust. “I’m trying to make a garden.”

“Looks like a lot of work.”

“It is.” But work made it easy not to think about the changes in Caleb.

“I could help.” He took the shovel.

She sat on the pile of sods. “Thanks. Whew! I’m hot.”

“I bet you could use some of Mom’s garden space.”

“I wouldn’t want to have to run into town every time I felt like pulling a few weeds.”

“Guess not.” He worked steadily.

“I’m going to fix us something to drink.” She

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