No matter what horrors and disreputable activities the two did to one another, it helped her cause now. That was what mattered.
This competition would be civilized. Everyone would play fair. And it wouldn’t matter one bit that she was a woman.
If Mary Anning could dig up fossils in Lyme Regis decades ago, then she could do the same thing here in America. She wasn’t out to prove anything, she simply wanted to be allowed to dig and to be known for her accomplishments. Was that asking too much?
Even with the internal pep talk, the weight of the situation sagged her shoulders.
There wasn’t a lot of time to complete her find. A deadline now loomed over her head.
It might take a bit more begging to her parents—this was sure to cost a great deal more—but in the end they’d allow her to do whatever she wanted. They always did.
The real question was ... did she have a chance at winning?
SATURDAY, APRIL6, 1889•OUTSIDEDENVER
“Glad you’ve done this kind of work before. Can you start right away?” The thin-as-a-rail foreman sent Jacob Duncan a questioning look. A pencil tucked behind his ear and papers in his hand, he appeared a tad overwhelmed.
“Sure. Today? Monday? When do you need me?” His hands tingled with anticipation. After all these years of helping with fossil excavating digs, he was working on adinosaurdig! This was the best news he’d had in the last few years.
He’d been saving his money so he could trek out here to Colorado with hopes of being hired on. After only three weeks, he’d done exactly that. God was good. Wait until he wrote home to his family.
“There’s still plenty of hours to put in a full day today. Then on Monday, I’ll assign you to a specific crew and area of the dig. We’ve been at it a few weeks, but there’s a deadline of end of summer, so we will be working long hours.”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready for whatever you need me to do.” Jacob plopped his hat back on his head.
“Just remember, you signed the agreement to not talk about the dig or alert anyone to its location. This is imperative. Even if you see one of your fellow workers in town, the boss doesn’t want you guys discussing a word about it.”
“Yes, sir.” Wait a second. “Um, sir, is it all right if I tell my family back home?”
The foreman squinted. “They don’t live anywhere around here?”
“No, sir. They don’t even live in Colorado.”
“I can’t see how that would be a problem. As long as you don’t share any details.”
“I won’t, sir. I promise.”
“Good. Put on a pair of gloves and follow me.” The foreman turned and took a brisk pace up the trail behind him.
Jacob tugged on his gloves and followed. The trail was thin and narrow—like the foreman—through the scrubby brush and red-tinted dirt. As they climbed, the ground grew more of a gray color mixed with browns. Then it changed back again. It was fascinating topography and geology here. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountain range outside of Denver, the rolling ridges were dotted with masses of red and white rock plates that stood up at forty-five-degree angles pointing toward the mountains behind them. As Jacob followed the foreman along the trail, he shivered. Though spring had come, the foothills remained at least ten degrees colder than town.
Jacob blew into his hands as he tried to memorize the path to his dig. It was impossible to take it all in. Each turn on the trail revealed a new discovery. Small, spiked bushes grew out of dusty red rocks. The majestic pine trees towered in clusters on the ridge looming above him. Clouds drifted through an otherwise clear blue sky. The Rocky Mountains, still topped with thick white snow, jutted into the heavens.
“I will liftup mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Jacob ran his hand along a jutting ridge of rock, feeling the truth of the Word of God. He knew many men of faith who went to school to become pastors and preach the gospel. Jacob respected and admired those men.
But the glory of God’s creation spoke to him in a way he couldn’t explain. The feeling of dirt in his hands, touching the things of God’s creation, made the Word come alive. Being in a forest or at a dig, chipping away to find what was set in stone ages ago ... Jacob knew the Lord ordained all of it. It fascinated him.
Later, he’d record in his journal everything he saw. Maybe sketch it out if he could. But he’d have plenty of time since he would most likely be making use of this trail each day. In a week, he’d have it memorized.
The foreman proved himself a man of few words as they trekked up the trail.
They crested a ridge and Jacob gaped as he took in the scene before him. A huge quarry rested between two ridges with dozens of men digging, chiseling, and brushing. The clinking of metal against rock echoed around him and mixed with the hum of men talking, shovels scooping up the earth, and his own footsteps.
He had to focus back on the trail as they traversed down toward the quarry. The foreman continued his pace, oblivious to the shifting gravel in his wake. Small rocks rolled beneath the soles of Jacob’s boots. He threw his hand against the small ledge on his right, sweat breaking out on his brow. The incline was much sharper going down into the dig site. Falling on his face wouldn’t make the best impression. Even worse, an injury could keep him from working and he was in desperate need of this job.
After another minute of scrambling down the trail, the foreman stopped and pointed. “Over there. All the rock and debris that has been removed from the site needs to be transferred to a pit on the other side of the ridge. The men will show you where to go.”
