Where Willows Grow by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Author:Kim Vogel Sawyer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2007-03-31T20:00:00+00:00

Harley lifted his gaze as Mr. Peterson’s truck rolled onto the work site and rattled to a stop beside the boss’s shack. Must be nice to be able to go home to a wife and a home-cooked lunch every day. Harley watched the boss step out. Then the man reached back inside the cab for something. Harley squinted, his heart thumping hopefully. Yep, Peterson held a package. Harley’s hands curled around the shovel handle, ready to drop it and trot over when his name was called.

Peterson shielded his eyes with his hand, scanning the grounds, and his gaze went right past Harley. The rise of expectation was crushed by a wave of envy when he heard the boss call out Dirk’s name. Giving the shovel a jerk, he spun from the sight of Dirk jogging to the boss’s side. That made three packages in addition to the letters that arrived twice weekly for the young man. Harley hadn’t yet heard from Annie. Not once. She knew she could reach him at Peterson’s place—why didn’t she write? She must still be powerful mad to hold out this long.

‘‘Hey, Harley!’’

Harley turned slowly to face Dirk, who bounded across the dry landscape. ‘‘Lookee here. Ma sent me clean socks and a loaf of pumpkin bread loaded with cinnamon and pecans.’’ He laughed, his face nearly split from his grin. ‘‘Bread’s purty well smashed, but reckon it’ll taste the same. We’ll have us quite a treat for our supper tonight. Just can’t beat Ma’s pumpkin bread.’’

Harley tried, but he couldn’t muster so much as a smile in response.

Dirk pointed to a crumpled note in the bottom of the box. ‘‘Ma says to give you one of these pairs o’ socks’’—he held out a gray pair with red toes and heels—‘‘and to tell you thanks again.’’ Dirk shook his head. ‘‘This paycheck’s been a real help, Harley. Don’t know what we would’ve done if you hadn’t happened along.’’

Harley fingered the socks, his calluses catching on the soft woven cotton. ‘‘You don’t need to keep thankin’ me. I’m just glad it worked out for both of us.’’

Dirk’s smile faded. He nudged Harley with his elbow. ‘‘Hey. What’s wrong?’’

Harley angled his gaze past Dirk’s shoulder. The empty landscape appeared as lonesome today as it had when he’d first arrived. The lonely ache in his heart hadn’t gone away, either. ‘‘How long we been here now?’’

Dirk shifted the box to his hip and scratched his head. ‘‘Gotta be eight weeks at least, ’cause we just sent off our second paychecks to home.’’

Harley nodded slowly, squinting against the high sun. ‘‘Long time.’’

Understanding dawned across Dirk’s face. ‘‘You ain’t heard from Annie, have you?’’

Harley swallowed. ‘‘Nope.’’

‘‘Worried something’s wrong?’’

Harley released a short huff. ‘‘I reckon she’s still mad at me for goin’. ’Course, she was mad about some other things before I left. Reckon she’s just . . . mad.’’

Dirk shook his head, sadness drooping his face. ‘‘Aw, I’m sorry.’’

Harley forced a wry chuckle. ‘‘What you sorry for? You didn’t have anything to do with our fussing.

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