Summer Breeze by Catherine Anderson

Author:Catherine Anderson [Anderson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-11T12:21:37+00:00

Chapter Eleven

As Joseph left the blacksmith shop and headed for home, his mood had greatly improved. A courtyard for Rachel. He could scarcely believe that Sue Ellen White had already found people who’d volunteered to bring rock. Once it was delivered, all that would remain was for Joseph to start erecting the walls. He felt confident that his brothers would pitch in to help. An almost impossible dream—summer breezes for Rachel—might soon be a reality.

A dozen different plans took shape in Joseph’s mind—how to design her flower garden, what plants to order, and the kind of bench to build. And birdhouses, maybe. They’d look cute, hanging from the ironwork over the courtyard, and a few birds might even nest in them. Wouldn’t Rachel be delighted if she could watch the eggs hatch and the babies grow?

When Joseph reached his place, he was surprised to see a strange buggy parked in front of his house. Not Doc’s, he decided. This one was newer and looked to be something a lady might drive. Joseph parked the buckboard just outside the barn because he wanted to gather some tools before he left for the Bar H. He circled the barn to check in on Johnny and Bart, caught Johnny sitting on his laurels in the shade with his hat pulled over his eyes, and coughed to wake the young man from his nap.

“Mr. Paxton!” the hired hand sputtered as he lurched to his feet.

“Is this what I’m paying you a fair wage to do, Johnny, napping before the day is over?”

“No, sir.” Johnny clapped his hat back on his head. “I was just taking a break, is all. I don’t know how I managed to drift off like that. Maybe just working too hard.”

Joseph doubted that. “Don’t let it happen again, or I’ll dock your wages,” he said sternly. He thumbed his hand toward a heifer out in the field. “You need to be riding the fence lines, looking for cows that are about to calve. Where’s Bart?”

“Off doing that, I reckon.”

“Well, get out there and help him,” Joseph shot back. “I expect a fair amount of work for a fair amount of pay.”

The younger man dusted off his pants and went to collect his horse. Joseph gazed after him, glad that he’d stopped by and caught the hired hand lollygagging. It would be a few days before Johnny forgot the reprimand and napped on the job again.

Joseph watched until the hired hand rode from the barnyard. Then he decided to mosey over to the house and find out who’d come calling.

When he entered through the front door, he heard voices coming along the hallway that led to the back of the house. He’d built three bedrooms, just in case his two younger brothers ever decided to leave Ace’s place. Joseph loved David and Esa, he truly did, and he wouldn’t mind if they came to live with him, but he’d gotten enough of bunking with them as a boy.

He crossed the sitting

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