Anna had never mastered it.
“I’m staying.”
His statement caught her off guard. “Staying?” She studied him. “Oh, you mean staying here? On the ranch?”
“Yes.”
“That’s wonderful news!” She clapped her hands together. Wouldn’t Dad be relieved?
“I’m glad you think so.”
For a moment she caught sight of the innocent and insecure little boy Julian had been when they were younger. It reminded her of Mary.
He broke the moment and frowned.
Had she done something wrong? She watched him for several moments as he picked through the dirt and pulled out a pebble and then a dried piece of grass. With a glance back to her father, she knew it was up to her to keep trying. “It’s good to know you won’t be selling”—that sounded far too self-serving—“not that you couldn’t if you wanted to.” Oh, she’d stuck her foot in her mouth this time. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business. But those fossils are quite precious.” She wasn’t helping matters.
She tentatively stepped back toward her father, hoping and praying that Julian would follow.
He did.
“So...” She bit her lip and then released it. “What do you think of allowing us to dig on your property?”
“You’ll stay over on that side?”
“Of course.”
He released a shaky breath. “Good. I don’t want anything to happen to my garden, you see. I have a large shipment of plants coming in soon.”
She held up her hands. “We will not come close to the garden or the house, I promise.” Glancing at her dad, she waved him closer.
“Yes, of course.” Dad cleared his throat. “We wouldn’t dare encroach on any other part of your property.”
Julian shrugged. “Then you have my permission.”
Anna hugged her father and then grabbed Julian’s hand and shook it vigorously. “Oh, thank you, thank you!”
“I’ll have the paperwork drawn up immediately.” Her father smiled at Julian. “Thank you, son. This means a great deal to me.” He walked over to Julian and held out a hand.
“I’ll let my foreman know.” The big man shook hands with Dad and shrugged. “It’s the least I can do to help with your scientific discovery.”
After they shook, Anna beamed at the man who’d been herbest friend’s project. Perhaps she should take the time to see what Mary saw in him....
A shiver raced up her spine as she gazed back out at the gulley.
Julian Walker had granted them their request. It was the dream of a lifetime.
They were digging for dinosaurs!
six
“Today the earth is a paradise. Almost every disagreeable thing is covered with Eden-like beauty.”
~Earl Douglass
SATURDAY, JUNE8
The sun was high in the sky as Julian worked a fresh layer of manure into his garden soil. When the train arrived in Green River with all his plants and flowers, he would be ready. The garden would flourish again.
