There was no harm in a father fighting for his daughter’s chance at scientific recognition in paleontology. Especially since she’d become well regarded in their circles the last five years or so. It was the rest of the world they had to convince.
She glanced over her shoulder one more time. A lone figure watched them from Julian’s garden.
“Dad.” She stopped him. “I thought Julian left?”
“He did.”
“Well then, who is that?” Tipping her head, she directed his gaze back in the direction of the Walkers’ house.
Dad waved.
The man waved back.
Which made her dad rub his hands together. “This could help us accomplish our goal.” He started his quick pace back home again.
“What could?” Her corset restricted her breathing as she ran to keep up.
“If Julian is back home, then maybe he’s in charge. I’d heard rumors before we left that his father was sick. But no one knew for sure if it was true. I need to do a lot of research. Get a good plan together. Make sure the investors will help. Then I’ll set up a meeting with Julian. Perhaps you should come with me. You went to school with him after all.”
She bit her lip. “Yes, I did.” But she’d never been proud of how she treated him. Nothing like Mary, who had been so kind to him. After her friend was gone, Anna had tried with Julian, but had only succeeded at being awkward at best.
Of course she would go with her father. This was too important. But the thought of seeing Julian Walker again after all these years made her nervous.
He’d been an odd boy. The other kids shunned him because of his father. All except Mary. She always had a soft spot for him. His face beamed whenever she was near.
Then she disappeared.
After that, Julian was quiet and reserved. Anna forced herself to speak to him every day. In honor of Mary. But he didn’t respond to her like he had to her friend.
It was almost like he took Mary’s loss even harder than her family. Because he never was the same after she was gone.
What would he be like now?
four
“...And there were wondrous stories
That never had been told,
Printed in rocky tablets—
Tales of the days of old...”
~Earl Douglass,
from his poemNature’s Noblemen
Julian stared out across the gulley as the Lakemans walked away. What were they doing out here? From the house, he’d seen them studying the washout, but without going out there and speaking with them, he didn’t know what had piqued their interest. So he’d come out to his garden area.
But Mr. Lakeman had waved, and then they left.
Which was good enough for Julian.
No one needed to watch what he did next. Cleaning up Damian’s mess had become his lot in life. Although, since his brother had done plenty to keep him from harm, it was the least Julian could do.
Once the Lakemans were out of sight, he strode back to the house.
When his father had written last month to say he was sick and needed help, Julian wanted to burn the letter and never respond. But his mother’s voice had been clear as day in his mind, telling him to go home. Back to Walker Creek.
