“Same here.” Eliza released a sigh. “Let’s cross the creek and check in with Deborah.”
“Sounds good.”
Though the other woman had been within sight and probably earshot as well, they crossed the creek and dismounted.
Deborah was crouched over something. Using a small hand shovel, she was carefully displacing dirt. “What do you think, Eliza? Is this something?”
A little thrill shot up Eliza’s spine as she crouched down next to her friend and studied what she’d found. Then she stood and surveyed the creek bed around them. There was a good-sized rock layer under several inches of mud and dirt. Probably at least twenty feet by forty feet long.
Devin stepped over next to her. “I know that look. You’re thinking there’s something under all this mud.”
“Yep.” She continued to scan the area. She held back her excitement. It was Deborah’s first dig—she didn’t want to get her hopes up just yet. “While the slope isn’t as steep as down closer to the ranch house, it intrigues me. Obviously when the creek swells, its depth covers this whole area, thus the mud.”
“What do you think?” Deborah called from where she’d been digging to get to the rock layer.
Eliza made her way over and leaned in close. “That, my friend, looks like a fossil.” She waved at Devin. “Quick, bring me my shovel, you should grab yours too.” Her heart lifted.Thank You, God. I needed this little bit of encouragement today.
Devin ran over with the shovels.
Eliza stood and marched about twenty feet down the creek bed where it narrowed. “Devin, you start down here. The goal is to get all the mud and dirt off this rock layer so we can examine it. Go all the way up the slope until you reach the grass line. That should be the end of the rock layer. Deborah and I will work from up there and make our way to you.”
“On it, boss.” He winked at her again, his smile stretching wide.
It warmed her heart and gave her a bounce in her step as she walked back.
For the next hour, they shoveled in relative quiet since it took a lot of energy to heft the mud and throw it away from their site. The more of the stone layer they uncovered, the more excited Eliza became. She leaned on her shovel at one point to catch her breath and couldn’t believe what was before her eyes. Fossilized bones for certain. But they’d have to wait until they removed all the mud before she could analyze it for size and species.
“Go find me a dinosaur.”Instead of producing massive tears like they had last night, this time Grandfather’s words made her smile.
Devin looked up and caught her eye. He grinned and nodded. He knew. How wonderful to have him here to share this discovery. No matter what it was, she would be happy. Hopefully, Mr. Meyer would allow them to continue digging. They might have to temporarily reroute the creek, which he might not like. But she wouldn’t know for sure until she saw what was here and then asked his permission.
Another hour later, they all stood back huffing and puffing and surveying their work.
“That, my friends, has got to be a dinosaur. It’s larger than any other animal.”
Deborah clapped her hands together and jumped up and down. “I knew it, I just could feel it in my bones! Pardon the expression.” She giggled. “I’m so excited!” She ran over to Eliza and grabbed her hands.
After they hugged and rejoiced together, Eliza went over to Devin and hugged him.
“What? No spinning or twirling? I’m disappointed.”
“We’re standing on a thirty-five-to-forty-degree slope, silly. If I started twirling around, I’d surely end up in the creek.” She hugged him again, and he beamed at her.
What would she do when he had to go back to Pittsburgh? It wasn’t the same without him. Could she ask him to stay?Probably not. Not with his job. And she’d never want to put that at risk. But that would mean weeks without him. The thought didn’t settle well.
“What now, boss?” Devin stood next to her as they stared at the layer of rock together.
“Well, I should speak to Mr. Meyer and get his full permission now that we’ve found this. Then, tomorrow, that means we can divert the creek and start excavating the bones.”
Deborah reached over and hugged her around the waist. “Thank you, Eliza. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.” She put her hand to her throat. “I never knew true joy could come from this.”
Her friend was correct. There was nothing like a new find. The excitement of the dig. The hope for what they might uncover. The eagerness to see if it was an intact skeleton and what species. It was the reward of days and months of what often seemed like fruitless labor.
“Miss Mills.”
Eliza whirled around and spotted a group of ... one, two, three, four,fivepeople walking toward them. All of them dressed in their finery—probably wealthy tourists. The man in front looked familiar. He’d been out at the quarry multiple times, if she wasn’t mistaken. “Yes? How may I help you?” Her brow dipped low under her wide hat as she studied the approaching group.
The man out in front stepped down the creek bank toward her and held out a hand. “I’m Dr. Finley Masterson.” His British accent was strong. “And these two lovely couples are the Stansons and the Bufords. We all must get back to New York and since the quarry was closed, I’ve hunted you down. I hope we’re not intruding?”
