“Sorry.” He tugged his hat a bit lower. “I’ll get to work with the rest of the guys.”
“Will you help me out at the garden tonight? We’re almost done and Dad loves seeing you.”
“Sure.” Didn’t she know that he would do anything for her?
The afternoon passed in the pinging of his hammer and chisel making progress millimeter by millimeter around a fossil. He’d brush away the rock fragments and then do the same thing. Over and over again.
His left leg had a cramp in it from holding his position. He stood up and stretched. Every muscle in his neck and shoulders screamed at straightening his spine. He needed to pay better attention and move every quarter hour or so. Good grief, he should know better.
He went over and grabbed his canteen under the shade of the canopy. After draining almost half of it, he wiped his mouth on his sleev—
What was this?
Julian Walker was headed in Anna’s direction. A bouquet of flowers in his hand.
Searching around him, Joshua hunted for something—anything—that would give him an excuse to go ask Anna a question.
A tool he hadn’t used before sat in one of the crates. Huh. He grabbed it.
After Julian was at Anna’s side, Joshua casually strolled in their direction and listened in.
“I thought you might like these.” The big man handed the bouquet to Anna.
Her face softened into a smile. “That is so thoughtful of you, Julian. Thank you.”
Julian yanked his hat off his head. “They are some of the same kinds of plants I ordered for you. They should be here tomorrow.” Holding his hat in his hands, he curled the brim.
“Gracious, that was fast. Perhaps we could start planting them on Monday, since tomorrow is Sunday?”
“Sure. I’ll pick them up in Green River tomorrow. I need to meet the train or they’ll get damaged and scorched in the sun.”
She offered the bouquet back to him. “These are lovely, but won’ttheywilt in the sun without any water?”
Walker blinked several times as he studied Anna.
Joshua watched. Something about the expression on the other man’s face reminded him...
Of Julian with Mary.
Julian had looked at Mary the same way every time he brought her a flower from his garden.
Julian Walker was smitten.
With Anna.
A stirring in Joshua’s gut wasn’t pleasant. No one else should look at Anna that way. As soon as his mind registered it, he cringed. Jealousy. Green and ugly.
Julian slapped his hat back on his head and took the flowers. “I’ll take them back to the house and put them in water. Then you can come get them later. Or I can bring them to you. Whatever you like.” With an awkward shrug, he turned on his heel and strode away.
“Thank you for the flowers,” Anna called after him.
Joshua stepped up to her side. “What wasthatabout?”
Her gaze snapped to his, a frown covering her face. “Why the angry tone?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Probably because I didn’t like how you asked it.”
