Song of Her Heart by Irene Brand

Author:Irene Brand
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2003-10-12T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

On Monday morning, Sheila, Doug and Norah gathered at the Flying K ranch to help prepare for the July Fourth celebration. Norah and Sheila tackled the house—cleaned the windows, washed the curtains, scrubbed the floors, polished the woodwork and furniture.

“I clean the house for Mason every few weeks,” Sheila said, “but I only do a major cleaning once a year. It’s nice to have some help doing it today.”

“The house is rather small and shouldn’t take a long time. And it’s a pleasure to work here. It’s such a homey place. The first time I saw the house, it seemed to welcome me.”

“A lot of living has taken place within these walls. The two bedrooms and bathroom are in the original house where Mason’s grandparents lived. His dad modernized the place, and added this large all-purpose room before he died. It’s a comfortable home, and being a one-floor layout, it’s easy to keep warm and cozy in the winter.”

“The house at the Bar 8 is probably hard to heat.”

“Yes, it is. That’s one reason Mason wants to sell the place. The upkeep is expensive. When we moved to the Bar 8, we chose to take the small house because our utilities cost much less there.”

“I like the house though,” Norah said. “It reminds me of my home in Missouri, which I’m also selling because I can’t afford the upkeep.”

“If you sell it, maybe you can buy the Bar 8.”

“I’d be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. If Mason can’t afford the place, I surely can’t. I must find a job of some kind as soon as the summer is over.”

“We like having you for a neighbor,” Sheila said with a sly glance in Norah’s direction. “You and Mason might go into partnership on the Bar 8.”

Norah gave strict attention to the chair she was polishing. What kind of partnership was Sheila suggesting? Did she suspect the spark that flared between Norah and Mason each time they met? Norah wouldn’t look at Sheila, fearful her face would betray the secret of her heart.

Hearing a mower move by the window, Norah said, “Sounds like Doug is getting the grass mown.”

“Yes, he’s doing that while Mason digs the pit for the ox-roast. Ever tasted pit-roasted beef?”

“No.”

“It’s delicious. Why don’t you take a break and go watch what Mason’s doing? It’s an interesting process, and he’d probably welcome a glass of lemonade about now.”

“It would be a relief to be out in the fresh air. This scented furniture polish is a bit overpowering.”

Following the sound of the tractor, Norah found Mason behind the machinery shed, using a front-end loader to dig the pit. He waved to her, and she held up the glass of lemonade. He smiled and nodded his head. She watched as he finished the pit that looked about eight feet long and half as wide. When he stopped the tractor, Norah peered down into the pit that was over five feet deep.

“Thought you might be thirsty.”

Wiping his forehead with a bandana, he said, “Thirsty and hot! Come sit here in the shade of the barn.

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