They were so close, their toes could almost touch.
She reached her hand toward his shirt and laid it on his chest. “Can we start over?” Tipping her chin up so she could look at him, she sent him a soft smile.
“I’d love to.”
“Good.” She stepped back and broke the connection. “Maybe one day we can talk about why you didn’t want me to go on paleontological digs with my father.”
“Anna, that’s not what I—”
“It’s one thing for you to not have faith in me, Joshua Ziegler, but don’t you dare disrespect my father’s life work.”
twelve
“And they went, fearless, forward,
For when they but looked back
They saw in the ways of error
Only a blood-stained track.”
~Earl Douglass,
from his poemNature’s Noblemen
THURSDAY, JUNE27
Two riders approached in the early morning hour. Julian watched out the window, and a tingling sensation prickled its way up his spine. Visitors had never been welcomed on the Walker Ranch. And as much as he wanted to be different from his father, he wasn’t too keen on them himself.
The foreman on the ranch—Scottie—was a decent enough fellow. He treated Julian with respect and did whatever he was instructed. But the rest of the hands steered clear of the house and Julian.
Not that he could blame them. Nor did he mind.
They kept the ranch running and making money. That was all that mattered.
“I hate that he left us with this reputation. Just because he was the worst human being since the beginning of time didn’t mean that he had to make the town hate us too.”
Julian was certain his brother’s words were true. “Maybe they don’t hate us. The one good thing our father did was build this ranch. Not that it wasgoodnecessarily, but it has done a lot for the community. And it makes money now. Perhaps good can be done with it.”
“Good. You go right ahead and try that.”
Julian waited for his brother to leave and glanced back at the riders. Why were they coming here?
He filled his lungs and counted to ten. Watched. But as he held his breath, he recognized Anna and Joshua.
Two people he knew wouldn’t try to hurt him.
He went out to meet them and stood by his garden. The seeds he’d planted were beginning to sprout among the other flourishing plants. This fall, he’d plant all the bulbs he ordered. Come spring, the tulips, daffodils, iris, and lilies would paint the area in vivid color.
“Good morning, Julian.” Anna slid off her horse with ease. “I hope it’s not too early to visit?”
“No. I was up.” He needed to do something with his hands, so he shoved them into his pockets.
“Morning.” Joshua greeted him.
Anna stepped forward, her dark brown eyes seeming to peer through to his soul. “I have a request to make, and I’m hoping you’ll be willing to help me.”
“Okay.” What else could she want since he’d already granted them permission to dig on his property?
