Her Believing Heart (The Surveyor's Daughters Book 1)
Author: Budge, Vicki Hunt
Date: 2019-07-30
Rights: Copyright 2019 Vicki Hunt Budge. All rights reserved.

Her Believing Heart

Vicki Hunt Budge

Eastwood Press

Copyright

Copyright © 2019 by Vicki Hunt Budge

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

For my Grandma Hunt

Introduction

Nellie Gardner is ecstatic when her father hires dashing Evan Howell to help with a summer road survey. Some people say Evan will turn out like his father, a vagabond who disappears for months, and doesn’t support his family. Nellie will be the judge of that when she cooks for the survey crew in some of Idaho’s wild, untamed territory.

Evan has wanted to marry his best friend for years, but he comes from the poorest family in town and Nellie’s family is one of the wealthiest. Evan is determined to work hard for the survey crew. He will do almost anything to help provide for his mother and younger sisters, and he will do whatever it takes to win the hand of the lovely Nellie Gardner.

Will the summer survey be enough time for Nellie to sort through her concerns about Evan? Will the most grueling job on the survey crew allow Evan to earn the respect of the girl he loves?

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Author’s Note

The Next Book

Also by Vicki Hunt Budge

Acknowledgments

About the Author

* * *

It was the compass and chain
that won the west,
not the six-shooter!

David Garcelon

1

Nellie Gardner and her younger sister, Ruby, brought two of the family horses out of the barn, stopping them several feet in front of a large wagon. The girls worked quickly, gently placing the horse collars over the horses’ heads and twisting the collars around to the correct position. After buckling the traces to the collars, Nellie scanned the barn’s open doorway. She could hitch a horse to a wagon as fast as any man, but she wouldn’t decline assistance from dashing Evan Howell if he offered to help.

Evan and Charlie Gardner, Nellie’s twin brother, busied themselves on the other side of the barn sharpening tools for a day of weeding in the potato fields. “Do you need help?” Evan called, dropping his hoe and hurrying over to Nellie and Ruby.

“Thank you,” Nellie said, brushing a lock of blond hair behind her ear. It was tempting to stand back while Evan finished harnessing the horses. For one thing, she could watch him while he worked. She rubbed Sage and Venus along their necks, gave them each a small carrot, and smiled at Evan. It went against her character to act weak around boys, so she added, “I’ll help you. These gentle ladies may tower over me, but they usually do whatever I ask.”

“I don’t blame them,” Evan said. “I’d do whatever you asked too.”

Color rose to Nellie’s cheeks. She had known Evan since her family trekked to Idaho ten years ago when she was nearly nine. Although Evan had been more than a year older than Nellie and Charlie, he had been kind to them on their first day of school. He’d given Nellie a wildflower, and he’d given Charlie a shiny marble. The three of them had been best friends ever since. Nellie still had the flower pressed in the family Bible along with remnants of other wildflowers Evan had given her over the years.

Nellie motioned for Ruby to step aside while she helped Evan finish harnessing the horses and hitching them to the wagon. Her hand touched Evan’s every time she handed him a strap or the lines, sending ripples of warmth through her and color to her face. “I’m driving Ma and the girls into Clover Creek,” she said, hoping a little conversation would calm her heart. “We’re making quilts for the church bazaar.”

Evan tipped his hat. “That’s right kind of you,” he said. “And I’m getting paid by your pa to hoe spuds, so I’d better get out to that field with your brother and start working.” He grinned and took off on a run to join Charlie.

“Well that was clever,” Ruby said, rising from a bale of hay near the barn. “Batting your eyes and getting Evan to help with the horses. He’s so good-looking. Too bad his family’s so down-and-out poor.”

Nellie clenched her jaw to prevent herself from making an unkind retort. She didn’t like anyone talking about Evan’s family as if being poor were a disgrace. “Evan takes care of his Ma and sisters,” was all she said.

Ruby bolted for the house, and Nellie watched Evan bend to the task of hoeing weeds out in the field. There was something about Evan that intrigued her. It was more than his friendship and good looks. She couldn’t place her finger on exactly what she liked, but there was something that made him stand out from the other boys in the area. The fact that he came from the poorest family in the community did bother her. Evan’s father was a known wanderer and gambler, who didn’t support his family. How many times had Nellie heard some of the women in town say that Evan was destined to be just like his father?

Nellie walked Sage and Venus a few steps, tightened the girth straps, and pulled two more carrots from her apron pocket. After rechecking all the straps and buckles, she climbed onto the wagon and drove it over to the back porch. With two fingers in her mouth, she let out a shrill whistle and jumped down to wait for her mother and sisters. One by one, all seven of her younger sisters trooped out through the kitchen door, talking, laughing, and carrying baskets of sewing supplies and food. Nellie helped them arrange their baskets in the wagon, and then waited for her mother.

“I wish you wouldn’t whistle like that,” Mrs. Gardner said as she settled onto the wagon seat beside Nellie. “It’s so unlike a lady. You should have come into the house and offered to help everyone out to the wagon. That would have been much more dignified.”

“I know, Ma,” Nellie said, “and I’m sorry. It’s just that . . . well, when you’re trying to round up seven sisters, whistling is just more efficient. Pa and Charlie both do it when we’re out working in one of the fields.”

“Were your sisters and I out in a field?” Mrs. Gardner asked.

“No . . . you were in the house.”

“See the difference?”

Nellie smiled and nodded at her mother. Mrs. Gardner was a perfect lady, and even though Nellie had the energy of a new colt and worked as hard as her brother, she wanted to be a lady like her mother. One thing was certain; thanks to the quilting bee today, Nellie and her sisters would sit in a lovely home, visiting with ladies from the community, instead of hoeing spuds in the hot sun alongside Evan and Charlie.

Nellie turned to make sure her sisters were settled in the back of the wagon before she started the horses walking. She stopped by her father’s workshop next to the barn where he was working on plans for the upcoming survey route. Mr. Gardner walked out to see his wife and daughters off.

“Have a fun day,” Mr. Gardner said, reaching into the wagon to kiss his wife on her cheek. He didn’t get away with only one kiss. Every girl scrambled to the side of the wagon to receive a kiss on the cheek, including Nellie. Then Nellie started the horses walking again. The girls all waved to Evan and Charlie as Sage and Venus clopped down the dirt road toward town.

Over the last few years, Nellie’s father had hired Evan to work for him whenever he needed extra help with the farm. This year, with the girls going into town for a whole day, and a big land survey starting the following week, Mr. Gardner had hired Evan to help with the farm and with the survey.

Working in the spuds might not have been such a bad thing today. The thought made Nellie smile, and she turned for one last glimpse of Evan working beside her brother. She turned back to watch the road, and started humming a pleasant tune.

“You’re certainly chipper today,” Ruby said.

“It’s a good day,” Nellie replied. She kept humming as she thought about her father’s survey crew camping in the wild and mapping out a new road for the next few weeks. This was her fourth year to cook for the survey crew, but this year was the most exciting survey yet. Evan Howell was going along to help with the survey.

She would see him every day for weeks!

The sun drew high in the eastern sky as Sage and Venus pulled the wagon away from the homestead. The large two-story house and outbuildings lay nestled close to a tall lava ridge jutting out of the flat plain. The ridge formed a natural wind break for the buildings. Behind the ridge, gentle hills rose, and in the far distance in several directions, rugged mountain peaks filled the landscape. On the other side of the hills behind the homestead, lay a small valley with good soil. Mr. Gardner had been hired by the state of Idaho to survey for a road across that valley. More and more farmers were coming to the area, bringing their families, and wanting to settle on the unbroken land.

Mile after mile of the Snake River plain stretched in front of the ridge as Nellie guided the horses toward Clover Creek. The plain had proven so fertile for alfalfa hay, potatoes, and other crops that little by little, weary pioneers on the Oregon Trail had started ending their journey in southern Idaho wherever water was available. Scrubby trees, sagebrush, and more lava rock dotted the landscape along with fields, homes, and outbuildings. When the Gardner wagon arrived at a crossroads, Nellie turned the horses to the right for the short ride into town. They hadn’t gone far when they crossed a wooden bridge over the creek.

Inhaling a breath of sweet-smelling air, Nellie smiled as they rode beside the creek. It was a beautiful summer day and the creek bubbled along lazily. The Gardners hardly needed to drive all the way into town for a quilting bee, for there were enough Gardner girls to have a quilting bee in their own parlor. But Nellie’s mother liked the girls to serve others, and all of the proceeds from selling the quilts were to be donated to needy families in the community.

Mrs. Gardner also liked the girls to practice their manners in social situations. Nellie could hear her mother’s words in her mind. She had grown up with those words over the years. “Just because we’re a big rowdy family doesn’t mean that we don’t have any manners.”

* * *

When Nellie and her family arrived at Jepson’s mercantile, Nellie tended to the horses while her mother and sisters went upstairs to the Jepson family living quarters. The Jepson’s son, George, met her behind the store and helped her with the horses.

“You look right smart, Nellie,” George said. “Is that a new dress you’re wearing?” Without waiting for her answer, he continued. “You should always wear blue. It brings out the blue in your eyes. You have enchanting eyes.”

Nellie blushed. A lot of people told her she looked nice in blue and that it brought out the color of her eyes. But since she was wearing an older blue gingham, it seemed to her that George was intentionally complementing her simply to win her favor. Perhaps, he was fishing for a compliment too. He did look rather stylish in his white shirt, light trousers, and a black bowtie at his neck. Over the shirt, he wore one of his colorful silk vests.

“Thank you, George,” Nellie said, smiling. “You look nice too. I like your vest.”

“It’s quite new. Came in yesterday in an order from New York.” George puffed out his chest and turned slightly, reminding Nellie of the models in her mother’s mail-order catalog.

“Do you like my two-toned shoes?” George added, sticking one foot out in front for her inspection. “They came in yesterday too.”

Nellie tightened her upper lip to keep from giggling. “I love your boots,” she said once she felt like she could speak without a snicker. She didn’t care for George’s pompous attitude when it came to dress and appearance. She liked the straightforward way her parents raised her and her siblings. Her parents dressed neatly and they had a nice home, but they never tried to say or do things to make themselves look fancy or better than other people in the community. George Jepson, although always considerate to her, cared more about his clothing and appearance than most people she knew.

And he wasn’t always the most caring person in town when it came to other people.

“Well, I’d better join the ladies at your mother’s quilting party,” Nellie said, smiling at George once again. “Thank you for helping me with the horses.”

After Nellie climbed the stairs to the Jepson family living quarters, she saw two quilts in frames, ready for lively fingers. One quilt top was patched together squares of colorful fabric. The other top had two triangles of fabric pieced together to form a square. Both tops were ready to be quilted, and sure to bring a sense of warmth and joy to a family in the community.

Laughter filled the air as about twenty-five ladies and girls chatted and enjoyed each other’s company. The dining room table, already set up for the luncheon with an ornate embroidered tablecloth, looked lovely. The centerpiece, a porcelain vase filled with yellow roses, added a sweet fragrance to the room. Three bundles of stick candy to be given out later as door prizes perched next to the vase. Mrs. Jepson proudly informed her guests in her nasal voice that, “the tablecloth and vase are heirlooms and both are over a hundred years old.”

The smell of baked apples and cinnamon permeated the room, causing Nellie to think about Evan, Charlie, and her father. Her mother had left stew simmering on the stove top for them to eat and bread baked from yesterday, but no apple pie. Mr. Gardner loved apple pie, and so did Evan and Charlie. Nellie’s eyes brightened as an idea formed in her mind. I’ll bake pies to take on the survey. There’s room in the wagon to squeeze in Ma’s pie safe.

Nellie didn’t understand why thoughts of Evan and the survey job kept intruding on her mind. But for some silly reason, as she entered the Jepson’s home with all the sprightly talk and laughter, she wished she were back home hoeing weeds in the hot sun with Evan.

“Come sit by me, Nellie,” Lucretia Jepson called out, patting the chair next to her. Lucretia, a friend of Nellie’s, had already positioned herself at the quilt frame near a large window. Soon all the guests were seated at the quilt frames or along the sidelines piecing more quilt blocks together. “Tell me all the news since I saw you on Sunday.”

Nellie tapped her fingers to her lips. There wasn’t much news to tell. Lucretia already knew about Mr. Gardner’s survey job, and that Nellie and one of her younger sisters would be going to cook for the crew. Nellie was excited to be part of the camping trip in the outdoors, but Lucretia wouldn’t want to hear about that. Lucretia was an indoor girl, whose interests were clothes, boys, and more clothes.

Other than family fun in the evenings, it was just work, work, work around the Gardner house, and Nellie couldn’t think of anything exciting to share with her friend. “Um, our cat had kittens,” she finally said, remembering that small piece of news.

“I have news from back east,” an older gray-haired lady said loudly, before grabbing the chair across from Lucretia. When she plopped into the chair, she bumped the quilt frame causing it to nearly topple into Nellie’s lap. Mrs. Stribling, a stalwart in the community, and practically a member of the Gardner family, settled into her chair. Her eyes twinkled as she fished in her dress pocket and produced a thin yellow envelope with loops and curlicues decorating her name and address.

“From my sister, Doris,” Mrs. Stribling said, waving her letter. “Don’t you just love how fast we get news from back east since the railroad came through? My sister and I used to number our letters. That way we tracked which ones we got and which ones got lost. Far too many of our letters were never seen again. Hmm, now that I think about it, one of my latest letters probably got lost somewhere along the way, and that’s why my sister thinks I haven’t written lately. Perhaps we’ll have to start numbering our letters again.”

Lucretia looked at Nellie and raised her brows as Mrs. Stribling took a deep breath, preparing to read her letter. But the woman paused as another thought seemed to take charge of her mind. “Some people say I should move back east and live with my sister since Mr. Stribling passed last winter, but you know, I don’t want to move. Clover Creek is my home. All my friends are here, and my Walter is buried here.”

Nellie felt a kick against her foot. She looked at Lucretia, who grimaced and batted her eyelashes, implying that she had heard enough about Mrs. Stribling and her sister. But Mrs. Stribling pressed on, and began reading in her rather loud voice.

“My dear sister, Rolla,” Mrs. Stribling stated clearly, looking up and nodding her head at Nellie and Lucretia. “Did you know my first name is Rolla. It’s short for Rollalinda, but I never go by that name.”

Lucretia sighed, but Nellie smiled. “Rollalinda is a beautiful name,” Nellie said.

“Thank you, dear,” Mrs. Stribling purred, and then once again started reading her sister’s letter. “I was happy to get your letter. I was beginning to wonder if they have pen and paper out there in Idaho. I’m still upright, but not getting out of the house except for my bridge club, and when my grandson, Harvey, comes to get me for Sunday dinner. I wish Sunday came every day. Harvey and his friends went for a tramp in the woods recently and ran into poison ivy. Did you know cucumber calms the poison ivy rash, and banana peel cools the itch? Harvey wouldn’t let me pour apple cider vinegar on his rash, so the poison spread. Young people—I don’t know about this upcoming generation.”

Mrs. Stribling stopped reading and looked over her glasses to Nellie and Lucretia. She winked, and said, “I think you young girls are perfectly grand. Don’t let my sister’s words dishearten you.”

The older woman went on reading loudly enough for the women clear across the room to hear. When she finished, Lucretia let out a small cough, as though relieved to be at the end of the letter, but Mrs. Stribling wasn’t quite finished.

“P. S. Here’s a scrap of fabric from a dress I had made. Add it to one of your quilts to remember me by.” Mrs. Stribling then produced a folded swatch of purple fabric from her pocket. She patted the fabric to her cheek before unfolding it and holding it up for the girls to admire.

After the letter recitation, the room quickly buzzed with multiple conversations again.

“Are you going to the dance Saturday night?” Lucretia asked, keeping her voice low as though she didn’t want Mrs. Stribling to join in their conversation.

“Absolutely,” Nellie said. “I love to dance!”

“I’ll make sure my brother dances with you, and some of his friends too.”

Nellie nearly burst out laughing. She didn’t need Lucretia to arrange dances for her. In fact, she wished she didn’t have to dance with so many boys and could dance more with Evan.

“I just want to keep that Evan Howell away from you,” Lucretia said. “We need to make it clear to him that you’re not interested.”

“But what if I am interested?”

Lucretia gasped and covered her mouth. Then leaning close to Nellie, she whispered. “Don’t you know his father comes and goes as he pleases and never supports his family? My mother says Evan will turn out just like his pa. Like father, like son, you know. You don’t want to marry someone that leaves his wife and family for months and years at a time, never supporting them. You’d be penniless for the rest of your life.”

“Of course, I don’t want to marry someone like Evan’s father,” Nellie said, “but I don’t think Evan is like him.”

Lucretia leaned in closer, whispering again. “Oh, he will be. My mother says he’ll turn out to be just like his pa because character traits are passed from parent to child. I’d stay as far away from him as I could if I were you. Think of your future children, if not yourself.”

Nellie pursed her lips, wondering if what Lucretia said could possibly be true. Perhaps she should quit thinking about Evan so much. Perhaps she should consider George Jepson as a suitor. George seemed to like her. And whoever married Lucretia’s brother was sure to have a secure family life since his father owned the mercantile.

2

Evan Howell stretched his back, took out his neckerchief, and wiped sweat and dirt from his face. He chuckled, picturing Nellie managing the work horses with the gentleness of a woman, and yet handling the harnesses as competently as any man. He had never known a girl as strong as her, or as hard-working. Well, his mother, but his mother worked harder than most women, taking in laundry, sewing, and baking for people because she had to. It seemed like Nellie enjoyed work, and she was certainly full of energy.

“What are you over there chuckling about?” Charlie asked. He straightened from working around a potato plant and looked Evan’s way.

Evan shook his head, embarrassed at any chance that Charlie could read his mind.

“Come on, let’s take a rest, and get some water.” Charlie started walking off the field and motioned for Evan to follow. They walked over to the pump and filled tin cups with cool water, then relaxed in the shade of a nearby cottonwood tree.

Evan gulped his water, and then leaned back, looking through bright green leaves to the blue sky above. He maneuvered his shoulders into the cool grass until they relaxed. With a sigh, he closed his eyes.

“You’re pretty sweet on Nellie,” Charlie said about the time Evan felt himself drifting off to sleep.

“What?” Evan’s eyes flew open, and then he chuckled again. Surely Charlie hadn’t read his mind.

“I’ve even heard Ma and Pa talking about the way you look at her with your puppy-dog eyes.”

Evan sat up and roared with laughter. “I didn’t think it was that obvious,” he said. “But you know I’ve liked Nellie since the three of us went to school together when you were still in short-cut pants.”

“I never wore short-cut pants to school.”

Evan smirked. “I seem to remember—”

“You remember that I was a whole lot shorter than you or Nellie when we moved here, but I never wore short-cut pants. You’re just jealous because I’m taller than both you and Nellie now.”

Evan laughed again, happy that he had turned the teasing to his favor. But it was true that by the time Evan had stopped growing at nineteen, Charlie had already exceeded him in height, reaching well over six feet. “It is getting hard to remember when I was taller than you,” Evan said, frowning and acting contrite.

“Going back to the subject of Nellie, what are your intentions?” Charlie asked.

“Whoa!” Evan grabbed his chest. “Nothing like being direct. Are you the father here, or simply Nellie’s pesky little brother?”

Charlie grinned. “I’m looking out for my twin. She may be the oldest by three minutes, but I’m her only brother. With eight sisters in the family, I take my role as big brother seriously.”

Evan picked a blade of grass and threw it off to the side. How had Charlie turned the conversation from some good-natured ribbing to something more serious? “Can we have this conversation after the survey?” Spending every day for weeks around Nellie and part of her family was going to give Evan a feel for how Nellie and her folks truly regarded him. “With my family background, I’m not exactly a prime candidate for your father’s daughter, you know.”

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the only candidate,” Charlie said.

Evan punched his friend’s shoulder. “Thanks, Charlie. You have no idea what your approval means to me.” Then, because the conversation had taken such a heavy turn, Evan added, “We’d better get back to work. I intend to finish a good portion of this field before your pa comes out to join us.”

Evan went back to hoeing potatoes with a new enthusiasm. Charlie’s endorsement meant the world to him. Evan had wanted to ask for Nellie’s hand for months now, or at least ask if he could court her. But he was afraid. Mr. Gardner was one of the most successful farmers in the area, and with his surveying jobs on the side, he prospered more than anyone in the community except for a few other families. He likely wouldn’t want Nellie to marry someone with Evan’s family background. Even though Nellie worked hard with her family, she was also used to living in a lovely home with nice furnishings and attractive clothes.

As good as Mr. Gardner was to him, it didn’t mean the man would approve of his oldest daughter marrying the poorest kid in town. Even if Evan promised to wait until he turned twenty-one and could homestead in the area, it might not impress Mr. Gardner.

And then there was Nellie. Nellie liked him. Evan felt sure of that. They had been friends for years, but would she want to marry him? Evan didn’t know. He didn’t know if the next few weeks of working on the survey would help his situation, or hurt it, but when he prayed about it, he felt encouraged.

By late afternoon, Mr. Gardner had finished his projects in the workshop and was out hoeing potatoes alongside Evan and Charlie. He commented about how much weeding they had accomplished, and gave them other words of approval. After two more hours of grueling work by the men, Gunner, the family’s black and white border collie, leaped from the front porch and raced down the farm road.

Mr. Gardner leaned on his hoe. “Look who’s coming up the road,” he said.

Nellie brought Sage and Venus up to the side of the field and stopped the wagon. Mr. Gardner walked over to talk to his girls, and Charlie followed. “Come on, Evan,” Charlie called out. “Take a break! Let’s see what the girls have to say.”

Evan trudged toward the wagon. He didn’t want to stop working and have Nellie’s father to think him a loafer. Besides, he was covered in dirt. He raised his eyes to the wagon and found Nellie looking at him, a gentle smile on her face.

“We’ll get busy the minute we get in the house and change our clothes,” Mrs. Gardner said to her husband. “We’ll have supper on the table in less than two hours. You’re welcome to join us, Evan.”

Evan’s eyes widened, and a piece of dirt settled inside one of them, causing him to blink several times. He took off his worn gloves, and pulled at the side of his eye with a dirty finger. He couldn’t go in to the Gardner home and eat with Nellie and her family when he was covered with dirt. It didn’t matter that Charlie was also covered in dirt. When Evan looked up again, everyone in the Gardner family was looking at him expectantly.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” Evan said, still trying to blink the dirt out of his eye. “That is kind of you to offer, but I’d better finish my work and head on home. Ma will be expecting me, and so will the girls.”

* * *

Evan took the long way home after he finished working. He was tired after running most of the way to the Gardner home in the morning, helping with the tools and farm animals, and then hoeing weeds for the rest of the day. His back ached and he had blisters on his hands in spite of his gloves. He didn’t do any running on the way home.

The long way home included a detour to a thick patch of aspen trees along the creek and away from any homesteads. The aspens concealed a natural swimming hole, and Evan couldn’t wait to slip out of his clothes and into the cold water. He didn’t worry about anyone else showing up during the supper hour, but he still stripped out of his clothes behind some bushes, and hid them behind a rock.

Even though Evan didn’t expect any trouble, he was anxious to wash up and get his money home to his mother. Nellie’s father had taken him aside before he left their place and paid him for the day’s work. “You’re a fine worker, Evan,” Mr. Gardner had said, pulling a wad of bills out of his pocket. “For this week, I’ll pay you by the day so you can take care of any financial obligations you need to handle before we head out for the survey next week. Once we start the survey job, I’ll pay you at the end of the job, if that’s fine by you.”

Evan’s face had registered shock at seeing so much money for one day’s worth of work. It had been a long, hard day, he’d admit, but he appreciated the money more than he could say. “Thank you, Mr. Gardner,” he had said, practically stumbling over the words. “My ma will surely appreciate this.”

Evan walked upstream from his clothes where a deep hole awaited, and slipped into the cold water. Once he caught his breath, he turned and floated on his back, letting his sore muscles relax. The only sounds were gurgling water and birds trilling overhead until a jackrabbit crashed through the brush. Evan jerked so quickly, water splashed into his face. Coughing and snorting, he scrubbed as best he could, and then climbed out of the creek. He shook his head like a dog, and walked back to his clothes.

What was left of the sun was hidden by the trees, causing Evan to shiver as he dressed. He, patted the pocket in his coveralls to make sure the money was still there, and headed home. After the soak in the creek and the feel of a full day’s pay in his pocket, he stepped out with vigor.

The sun sank completely behind the mountains to the west as Evan walked into town toward his home. He’d almost made it to his street when a buggy passed him and then stopped. George Jepson waited for him to catch up.

“Hey there, Evan,” George said, leaning out of the buggy. “I heard a rumor today that you’re working fulltime for Mr. Gardner. Going on a survey job even.”

Evan wasn’t sure what to say. George was a year younger than him, but they had never gotten along. George came from one of the wealthiest families in town, and he had never let Evan forget it, nor the fact that Evan’s family was the poorest. Evan didn’t say anything. He simply tightened his jaw, nodded, and kept walking.

George flicked the reins to keep his horse plodding along. He grinned at Evan like they were suddenly best friends. “Some of my friends and I are starting a game of poker Saturday night after the dance. Want to join us since you’re rolling in dough? I’m sure with your cleverness, you’ll be able to double your money before the end of the night. And we won’t care if you do, because we all have access to more money the following day.”

Did George know Evan had cash in his pocket? He seemed to reference the fact that Evan had been the best scholar when they’d been in school, especially in math. George’s last comment also reminded Evan of his place in the community, that George and his friends had access to money because they had prominent fathers.

“No, thanks,” Evan snarled.

“What’s the matter? Think you’re too good to play with the big boys? If your pa was here, he’d join us in a moment.”

Evan balled his hands into fists. “Well, my pa’s not here,” he snapped, and kept walking.

“Think it over,” George called out. “Great chance to double your money!”

“I’ve thought it over since I was a boy,” Evan mumbled as he turned down his street. “Made a promise to Ma that I’d never gamble when I grew big enough to get a job.”

Evan stopped by the Jones’s, his neighbors to the south of his home. “Hey there! How you folks doing?” he called through their open front door. “Need anything before I go on home?”

“Thank you for stopping by,” Mrs. Jones said as she slowly walked to the door. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had been like grandparents to Evan and his sisters, looking out for Evan’s family over the years. “We’re getting by pretty well today. If I could just get Mr. Jones here to quit working in the garden a little earlier, he might last longer. The man is completely worn out. But he promised me he’d go to bed early tonight.”

“Tell him to take care of himself,” Evan said, grinning. “We need him to be healthy so he can keep playing the organ for the Saturday night dances.”

“Won’t you come in for a few minutes, Evan?”

“Thanks, Mrs. Jones, but I’d better get on home. I’ve been gone all day working for the Gardner family.”

Mrs. Jones chuckled. “I’d bet you’re starving after all that hard work.”

“You’d be right,” Evan said, and stepped off their porch. “I’ll talk to Ma and have a couple of the girls come over to help in your garden tomorrow. Ma likes to keep the girls busy working for her or for the neighbors.”

“That’d be right kind of you, Evan.” Mrs. Jones smiled softly. “Your ma . . . she’s the best neighbor in Clover Creek.”

Evan doffed his cap and continued on his way, a smile lighting his face. Stopping to talk to Mrs. Jones had replaced the sour feeling he’d had when talking to George Jepson. It wasn’t much further to his house, and he couldn’t wait to get home. His home was a small cabin with a high-pitched roof in need of repair and windows on both sides of the door. Inside, a wooden ladder led up to the loft where his sisters slept. His mother slept in a small room off the kitchen, and Evan slept on the kitchen floor.

“Evan’s home!” one of his sister’s yelled as Evan approached the cabin. Soon he was smothered with hugs from all four sisters and his mother.

“We’re just sitting down to eat,” Mrs. Howell said. “You must be famished.”

Evan grinned and nodded his head. “I’ve looked forward to a bowl of your beans and good bread all day.”

After the family prayed, the girls filled Evan in on their day while they ate. He told them about the jackrabbit crashing through the brush and scaring him, causing him to inhale a bunch of creek water. “I thought a bunch of ruffians were after my clothes,” he added, laughing as he told the story. He didn’t mention how frightened he’d been about losing his hard-earned money if someone had been after his clothes. He also didn’t tell them about George Jepson trying to get him to gamble with the money he’d just earned.

Evan’s two oldest sisters cleaned the kitchen after they finished their meal. The two younger girls sat across the room and played cat’s cradle with some yellow yarn. Evan and his mother sat at the kitchen table, quietly talking about the best way to use the money that Evan counted out.

“I’ll go to the bank first thing in the morning and make a deposit on one of the back payments we owe on this house,” Mrs. Howell said. “Mr. Myers will be so happy to see this and know more money is coming later in the week. I won’t give all of this money to the bank though. I’ll pay part of our debt at the mercantile with some of it.”

“When I get back from this survey job, we’ll pay off Jepson’s mercantile and order new shoes for everyone,” Evan said. It bothered him that he had already ordered new boots for himself but no shoes for his sisters. Mr. Gardner had told him he’d need good sturdy boots for traipsing over the rough terrain where the survey crew was going.

Mrs. Howell blinked back tears as she gathered up the money. “Thank you, Evan,” she said. “The older girls want to go to the dance with you Saturday night. Do you think it would be okay if I saved out enough money from this to buy fabric so they can make new dresses?”

“Absolutely,” Evan said, patting his mother’s hand. “I’m going to make enough money this summer to get us out of debt. And we’ll have extra for things we’ve been going without. You watch and see.”

Tears filled his mother’s eyes again. “Are you sure you want me to spend all your money on your sisters and me?” she asked.

Evan held his hand out as though to block any of the money coming back to him. “It’s your money, Ma. I’ll be making this much more tomorrow and every day till Sunday. The Gardner family doesn’t work on Sundays, except to take care of their animals.”

“Good people,” Mrs. Howell said, and then added, “thank you again, Evan. You’re the best son a woman could have.”

* * *

Evan went to bed as soon as the sky turned dark, and rose long before the sun came up in the morning. He ate a bowl of leftover beans and corn bread, and took off for the Gardner homestead. He didn’t run this time, but walked briskly, the movement helping his sore muscles loosen up.

Along the way, Evan thought of George Jepson’s offer to play poker with George and his friends. Evan’s father had taught him how to play poker, those times when the man made it home to see his family. What if I could double my money? Evan thought. If I doubled the money Mr. Gardner paid me, I could buy everything I need to establish my own homestead. Just thinking about the possibility of applying for a homestead and hopefully marrying Nellie made him want to give the gamble a try. His mother always said he was a quick thinker and had precise recall when it came to reading and numbers. Surely he would have precise recall in a friendly game of poker.

Even Mr. Gardner had noticed Evan’s ability to learn quickly and remember what he’d learned. The man had mentioned that fact when he asked Evan about helping with the survey. Thinking about his ability to learn quickly made Evan wish he hadn’t had to quit school every time he had a chance to work. If he had more schooling, he could get better jobs and help his mother more. If he had more schooling, he wouldn’t be so poor, and would be a better candidate for Nellie’s hand.

Thinking of what Mr. Gardner said brought Evan to his senses. His father was a quick thinker and had precise recall, too. Trouble was, Evan’s father thought along the very lines that Evan had just been entertaining. And look where that thinking got Evan’s family. That kind of thinking had sucked his father into a life of drifting and gambling. And worse, whenever his father won at poker, the money seldom made it back home to his family.

Evan hung his head and slowed his pace, ashamed that he had allowed his thoughts to dwell on winning a poker game. He recalled the promise he had made to his mother when he was a small boy, the promise to never gamble with his earnings when he got jobs. Tightening his fists, he pledged in his heart once again to never break that promise.

When he arrived at Nellie’s back door, Nellie met him before he could knock.

“Welcome back, Evan,” Nellie said, smiling and holding the door open for him. Have you eaten?”

Nellie wore what was probably her work dress with a dark blue apron over it. It wasn’t as colorful as yesterday’s dress, but she still looked stunning to Evan. He nodded, suddenly feeling nervous about what to say. Here was the woman he wanted to sweep into his arms, and she was all alone in the kitchen. A hug and a sweet kiss from her would be too heavenly to comprehend. But instead of any romantic fantasies happening, he stood there like a bumpkin staring at her, without saying anything intelligent.

He heard the clinking of dishes in the next room and laughter coming from her family. “I’m ready to go to work,” he finally said, sweeping his cap from his head and holding it tight against his chest.

“Wonderful!” Nellie replied, joy filling her eyes. “Because we’re planning a family contest today to see who can hoe half of the second potato field the fastest. It’s the men against the women.”

Suddenly Evan shook himself from his fantasy world to the real world. He liked a challenge, but he had to give her a hard time. “Wait a minute! There’s eight of you girls, nine if your ma helps, and only three of us men.”

Nellie laughed. “Some say that men are stronger than women and can work harder. Looks like we’ll find out today.”

Evan hesitated. He looked at her with probing eyes, uncertain of what to say next. He didn’t want to get into an argument with the person he adored over who was stronger and could work harder, men or women.

Nellie covered her mouth with her hands, giggling as she did so. “I’m teasing,” she finally said, “but you’re so fun to tease. We are having a contest to see if we can all pitch together and weed the second field faster than our previous family best. Pa keeps track of this kind of stuff with his pocket watch and a little record book.”

“He keeps track of how fast your family works?”

“Only for fun,” Nellie replied. “Motivates us all work faster, and today when we finish, we’re going inside to make ice cream. Pa says we should finish much faster this year than last year because everyone’s a year older, and ‘that hardworking Evan Howell is helping today.’”

Evan had no words after that comment. He shook his head and grinned though. He’d never looked forward to hoeing a field of potatoes before, but now, he couldn’t wait to get started.

3

By the time the sun was high in the sky, Nellie had worked two long rows, digging up weeds with her hoe and flipping loose dirt around the potato plants to provide a nice airy bed for them. She was thankful her bonnet hid most of her dirt streaked face. She stopped working and arched her back. While wiping sweat from her face with her apron, she noticed that most of her family had stopped to stretch. Evan, however, continued working almost as quickly as when he had started.

“Let’s take a rest,” Mr. Gardner said, waving everyone toward the house. While everyone stretched out in the shade of the porch or on the steps, Mr. Gardner pumped cool water into a bucket and offered them a drink. He pulled out his timepiece. “We’re going to finish that field in no time,” he said. “Probably two hours faster than last year.”

“Thank goodness,” Nellie said. “I’m about through with weeds and dirt. I’m ready for ice cream.”

“Me too,” her sisters chorused.

Thoughts of a sweet treat reminded Nellie of the stick candy she had won at the quilting party. She raced upstairs to her bedroom and returned with the candy, handing out a couple of sticks to everyone who wanted one. Mrs. Gardner passed out cinnamon rolls.

“You girls sure look cute with streaks of dirt on your face,” Charlie said. “Don’t you agree, Evan?”

Evan grinned and nodded. “Yes, they do,” he said quietly, but the only girl he looked at was Nellie.

Mrs. Gardner soaked a clean towel with the cool water and passed it around. Nellie wanted to cover her face with the towel and breathe in the coolness for a long time, but she cleaned her face instead and passed the towel on to Ruby.

They were heading back to the field after their rest when Gunner started barking. A horse and carriage traveled toward them from town. Nellie was surprised to see George Jepson sitting tall upon the carriage as though he had just stepped out of a mail-order catalog. She didn’t feel the least bit cute as George pulled his carriage to a stop beside them.

“Good morning,” George said looking down from the carriage. He looked mortified by the sun-beaten crew before him. “I wondered if I could have a word with Nellie.”

Nellie approached the carriage while Evan and the rest of her family went on to the field. She wished George would climb down from the carriage so she didn’t have to tip her head back so far to see him.

“I’d like to escort you to the dance Saturday night,” George said. He smiled, but didn’t leave the carriage. “I know your family comes to the dance, but I’d be happy to ride back out here for the opportunity to escort you.”

Nellie leaned her hoe against her body and held the brim of her sunbonnet in a manner that allowed her to see George, but shade her eyes from the sun. The hoe immediately fell to the ground, and she struggled to pick it up. She was flattered that George wanted to escort her to the dance, but under the circumstances, she wished he would go away. Her thoughts flew back and forth as she tried to think how to answer and get him on his way. “Thank you, George,” she finally said. “I . . . um, since my family is going to the dance, perhaps I could just see you there. It’ll save you the drive out here.”

Disappointment registered on George’s face.

“I promise to save the first dance for you,” Nellie added cheerfully, trying to smooth over the awkwardness of the situation.

“All right,” George said. “First dance. Don’t forget. I’ll see you Saturday.” He snapped the reins and his carriage moved forward a little too fast, causing Nellie to step back so quickly she almost stumbled.

Digging into the dirt with a vengeance, and throwing dirt onto the base of the potato plants, wasn’t simply a way to catch up with her share of the work. Nellie was irritated. Irritated that George had been rude. Irritated with herself for not accepting his offer to escort her to the dance. Hadn’t she already decided that she should entertain George’s interest in her? After all, he had ridden all the way out from town to see her. Maybe he hadn’t meant to be rude. Maybe he’d simply been embarrassed because she’d turned down his offer. He came from such a respectable family. Not only was his father the owner of the mercantile, but his sister was one of Nellie’s best friends.

Something else irritated her, but she wasn’t quite sure what it was. She glanced toward Evan as he struck the ground with his hoe, weeding and building dirt mounds around the potato plants. From what she’d seen of the way Evan worked, he had more character than most of the young men in the valley, including George Jepson. So why did some people say Evan wouldn’t make a good husband and father? He wasn’t compelled to follow in his father’s footsteps. He could be his own person, couldn’t he?

Evan worked long hours beside Nellie and her family for the rest of the week. They worked to get the fields, ditches, barn, and garden in order before Mr. Gardner took off with his survey crew.

On Friday morning, the wind picked up before the last field was completely weeded. When the gusts grew stronger, Mr. Gardner, Evan, and Charlie finished the field while the rest of the family went inside to prepare dinner. Once dinner was ready, Mrs. Gardner insisted that Evan dine with them. Everyone sat around the massive table eating ham, cheese, bread, carrots, and cucumbers.

Mr. Gardner sighed contentedly when he finished. “Well, all the fields are weeded,” he said. “The irrigation ditches are shoveled out, the barn stalls cleaned, and the supplies for the survey are stacked in the barn, ready to load into wagons Monday morning. There’s a few things to take care of tomorrow, but other than that, I think we’re ready to go.”

“Then it’s a perfect afternoon to can apricots,” Mrs. Gardner said, raising her brows and smiling. “The apricots are ripe, and if the outside work is done, I’d love everyone’s help for a good old canning session.”

“You know what that means, don’t you?” Charlie said nudging Evan’s arm. “It means you and I go out in this wind and pick cots from two swaying trees. It could be worse. We could be in here cleaning the kitchen and washing canning jars.”

“Nellie, Ruby, and I will help you outside,” Mr. Gardner said enthusiastically, as though he found pleasure in the idea of going out to battle the weather again. “In this wind, it will take two of us to hold the ladders while someone picks the cots. On the other hand, this wind might blow most of the cots out of the trees, and it won’t be much of a job at all.”

“I’ll be happy to help,” Evan said. He smiled at Mrs. Gardner, and then turned to look at her husband. “I’ve helped my mother can apples and applesauce, but you don’t need to pay me for helping with the apricots. That’s not what you hired me to do.”

“No, son,” Mr. Gardner said. He placed his napkin next to his plate and pushed his chair back. “I’ll pay you for a day’s work like I agreed. I hired you to help with whatever I needed around here this week and with the survey for the next few weeks. Today, I need you to help with the cots.”

Two hours later, the kitchen was tidy, clean jars were stacked everywhere, and hot water simmered on the stove. Five bushels of apricots sat on the back porch. “Are we going to have a contest, Pa?” one of the younger girls asked.

“Great idea!” Mr. Gardner said. “I’ll get my record book.” He turned on his heel, and strode out of the kitchen.

“Does your Pa make a contest out of everything?” Evan asked when Mr. Gardner left the room.

His question made the sisters, and even Charlie laugh and nod their heads.

Mr. Gardner returned with a little book that looked weathered around the edges. He hummed a cheery tune and thumbed through the book as he walked. “By golly, we did time ourselves last year and the year before when the cots were ripe. We should be able to beat our best time with Evan here to help us.” He looked up and wagged his eyebrows at Evan.

After a short scurry of last minute preparations, Mr. Gardner checked his timepiece and declared, “Let the contest begin!” An assembly line began where apricots were washed, inspected, cut open, pitted, stuffed in jars, covered with a light syrup and lids, and set in a hot-water bath. All the overripe and gooey apricots were set aside for jam or eaten by the helpers, unless they had worms. The apricots with worms were pitted and thrown in a discard pile for the pigs.

The family started singing Shenandoah and other favorite songs as they worked. At one point, when it seemed like there were too many people in the kitchen, Mr. Gardner shooed Ruby into the parlor where the family’s old reed organ sat. Ruby belted out the melody to I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, and the work tempo picked up.

Hours later, after apricot and jam bottles lined the kitchen table and the kitchen was clean, Mr. Gardner took out his timepiece and declared them all winners. “We beat our best time by over forty-five minutes!” he shouted.

“And this year there was an abundance of cots!”

* * *

Early Saturday morning, Nellie saw flashes of lightning through her window and heard deep rolls of thunder. She snuggled deeper under the covers she shared with Ruby. With the rain pelting the roof, Nellie wondered if Evan would even show up for work today. All the farm work for which Evan had been hired was completed anyway.

Nellie lay in her warm bed, staring at nothing until another streak of lightening lit the sky and part of her room. She smiled, picturing Evan with his shirt sleeves rolled up past his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. Sticky apricot juice ran over those brawny forearms while he cut the apricots in half and dropped them in bottles.

The smell in the kitchen yesterday afternoon had been heavenly, and after the work, the family had enjoyed fresh-out-of-the-oven bread with butter and warm apricot jam. Evan had stayed long enough to enjoy the warm bread and jam before he had headed home. No matter how hard Nellie tried, she could not conjure up a vision of George Jepson canning apricots with her family.

When Nellie heard Gunner bark, she flew out of bed, threw her clothes on, and tied her hair back. Gunner’s bark meant that Evan was coming up the road. She reached the kitchen just before he knocked. “Good morning,” she said, practically pulling him in out of the rain. “Come in and sit by the stove.”

“Sorry about the mud,” Evan said, standing in the middle of a braided rug and taking off an old leather hat that dripped with rain water.

Nellie sighed at Evan’s drenched appearance. Her heart ached at the thought of him walking all the way from town in the downpour. “Don’t worry about anything,” she said. “Just wipe your feet on the rug the best you can. We’ll clean the floor after the rain stops.”

“Welcome back,” Mr. Gardner said when Evan entered the dining area. “Come have a cup of coffee and get warm. Mrs. Gardner and I were just going over the job lists for the day. Hopefully, this rain won’t last too long.”

Nellie’s mother poured the coffee and motioned for Evan to sit at the end of the table nearest the stove. As most of Nellie’s siblings joined them at the table, Mrs. Gardner served bacon, eggs, and bread to everyone, including Evan.

Evan tried to protest, claiming he’d eaten at home, but Mrs. Gardner placed the food in front of him and pushed a jar of apricot jam his way. “Help yourself,” she said.

“Evan and Charlie will take the wagon into town to pick up the shovels and ax being repaired at the blacksmith’s shop,” Mr. Gardner said. “I also have a list of a few more supplies from the mercantile.”

“Can I go with them, Pa?” Nellie asked. “I could gather the supplies while they’re at the blacksmith’s.” Nellie was so used to working beside Evan all week that she was disappointed when her father didn’t include her in his assigned task for the day. She was more disappointed when Mr. Gardner shook his head.

“Too many inside chores have been neglected this week because of helping with the farm. I want you to help your Ma and sisters catch up things in the house since you’ll be gone for the next few weeks.”

Nellie nodded, but couldn’t stop the disappointment that flooded through her. It looked like Evan was disappointed too, which made her feel better.

“By the way,” Evan said to Mrs. Gardner as he spread apricot jam on his bread, “Ma and my sisters thank you for the jars of jam you sent home yesterday. They sure loved having that jam on their bread last night.”

“Tell them they’re very welcome,” Mrs. Gardner said. “I want you to take some jars of canned apricots tonight. They’ll be tastier after they set a while, but I’d like your family to have them.”

“I hate to send you boys out in the rain,” Mr. Gardner said after looking over his lists. “But I think the rain’s letting up, and you’ll be all right. Just stay on the road so the wagon doesn’t get bogged down. Here’s the list of supplies I need from town.” He downed the last of his coffee, handed the list to Charlie, and took his coat off a peg by the kitchen door. “I’ll be in my workshop if anyone needs me.”

Once Mr. Gardner, Charlie and Evan were out the door to their various destinations, Mrs. Gardner tasked the girls with baking bread, preparing stew, cleaning the kitchen, scrubbing floors, emptying the ash box, and cleaning the glass chimneys for the kerosene lamps. Everyone that is, except for Nellie and her sister Alice. Nellie along with Alice, who had recently turned thirteen, were assigned to wash the rags.

Alice’s eyes widened when the rag assignment was made. She had never been included in that little chore before.

Nellie put her arm around her sister and led her to the covered back porch where the wash tubs were stored. She faced her younger sister over one of the wash tubs and spoke to her in a soothing tone. “Mother said since you’ve started your monthlies it’s time you start helping with the rags.”

Alice’s thin arms hung limp by her side. Her shoulders slumped. “I know,” she whined. “But the rags are gross.”

Nellie didn’t like the job either, but it was a chore that had to be done. She made sure water was heating on the stove, and then she and Alice laboriously filled two of the wash tubs with cold water. “Look at it this way,” Nellie said, trying to cajole Alice into smiling, “now that you’re old enough to wash the rags, it means that you’re a young lady, and old enough to dance with the boys tonight.”

Alice’s cheeks filled with color. “No boys are going to ask me to dance.”

“You might be surprised,” Nellie said, laughing. “Especially if you leave that scowl behind when we leave for the dance.” Thoughts of the dance reminded Nellie that she had promised the first dance to George Jepson. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that now. A niggling feeling made her wish the first dance was with Evan Howell.

One thing was certain. Nellie was thankful there was a dance to attend. Until the new school teacher moved to town recently, there hadn’t been anyone to play for a dance in Clover Creek for several months. The new school teacher cleared the one-room schoolhouse every Saturday evening and played his fiddle to the delight of the whole town. Elderly Mr. Jones accompanied him on the reed organ placed in the corner of the schoolroom.

The Saturday night dance was the highlight of Nellie’s life.

Nellie pushed all thoughts of the dance from her mind. She had a job to do and didn’t want to take all morning doing it. Evan and Charlie would be coming back from town in a few hours, and she wanted the rags washed and hung up in the cellar before they returned. And she wanted plenty of time to get ready for the dance.

“How about we make a competition out of washing the rags?” Nellie said. “Like Dad says, ‘a fun competition makes time go faster for any job.’”

Alice pouted and wrinkled her nose when Nellie dumped the rags that had been collecting into the tub of cold water. Rain still drizzled down around the wooden porch and dark clouds hung in the sky.

“Well,” Nellie said, her hands firmly planted on her hips. “Do you want to spend one hour washing rags, or three?”

“One,” Alice whimpered, her face resembling a wilted flower.

“Run and look at the clock. Let’s see if we can wash these rags and have them hung up to dry in one hour. Since it’s still raining, we’ll hang them in the cellar.”

“It’s five minutes to nine,” Alice reported upon her quick return from looking at the parlor clock.

“Perfect. We’ll be done by ten if we hurry. Ready, set, go!” Nellie shoved the wash plunger into the murky tub, and jostled the rags around with all her strength. After a few moments, she stopped, and handed the plunger to Alice. “Here,” she said, her breathing heavy. “Keep stirring the rags. I’ll check on the hot water.”

While Alice plunged and shoved at the rags, Nellie returned to the back porch and scooped up a handful of rags from the wash tub. She dropped them into a second tub of cold water and scrubbed them on the washboard. Once she scrubbed the rags to her satisfaction, she wrung them out and set them aside on the back porch to await their hot water bath. “Here, I’ll plunge and you scrub for a while,” she said. She scooped up another batch of rags and started the process over again.

Alice moaned, holding her hands over the tub as if afraid to submerge her fingers into the murky rags.

“Hurry!” Nellie said. “Time’s ticking away. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can start getting ready for the dance.”

“Why can’t Ruby or Belle do this?” Alice whined, referring to two of her older sisters.

“They’re cleaning the house and baking bread. Don’t worry, they take their turns. Ma always has us take turns, so no one person has to wash the rags all the time.”

Alice stuck her finger tips into the water, as if waiting to see if she could survive the experience.

“I’ll curl your hair for the dance,” Nellie said. “Provided we have time after we finish here.”

The promise of curls was all it took. Alice submerged her hands and started scrubbing. Once she started, she worked as quickly as Nellie, and they soon had the rags in a soapy hot bath. After washing the rags in hot water, and two good rinses in clean cold water, they headed to the cellar with their basket of clean rags.

“Whew,” Nellie said once they were tucked away from sight and hanging the last of the rags over the ropes in the cellar. “I was hoping to get done before Evan and Charlie returned.”

“You really like Evan, don’t you?” Alice said.

“Um, he’s a good friend.” Nellie picked up the last two rags to hang. She didn’t like her sisters or anyone asking her about Evan. Too many people thought Evan wasn’t good enough for her because of his station in life. “Why don’t you run upstairs and check the clock. If we didn’t finish in less than an hour, I’ll bet we came close.”

4

Rain turned to drizzle as Evan and Charlie bumped along the muddy road to Clover Creek to take care of Mr. Gardner’s errands. They talked and bantered for a while, but after a short time, the talking ceased. Both men seemed to be caught up in enjoying the fresh smell of wet sagebrush and their own thoughts.

Evan’s thoughts focused on Nellie. He could still picture her working in the field, her slim figure bent over the potato plants, her sunbonnet covering most of her face. She wielded a hoe as quickly and efficiently as he or Charlie. She was a cheerful worker too, never complaining or trying to get out of work.

The whole Gardner family worked hard, causing Evan to admire them and want to have a family like them. His mother was a hard worker, but his father wasn’t. His family’s problems were as simple as that, and the realization had brought Evan sorrow for years.

When Evan thought of Nellie hoeing the field, he couldn’t help but think about George Jepson showing up to talk to her. His heart tightened as he wondered what they talked about. George had so much more to offer Nellie than he did; a ready-made position in his father’s store, and a reputable name in the community. Evan had nothing by comparison.

Trying to shift his thoughts to something more uplifting, Evan remembered the way Mr. Gardner made a competition out of family chores. He loved that the family only competed against their own time, making the chores fun. The time certainly did go faster. He had even suggested the idea to his mother to get his younger sisters more enthusiastic about their chores.

Evan also liked the Gardner family’s reward of making ice cream after completing their field work earlier in the week. He had thoroughly enjoyed the fun and bantering that went along with making the ice cream. Now that he was earning more money, he wanted to order an ice cream maker for his mother and sisters. His family had good memories of reading together and playing games together, but they had never had the means to make ice cream.

Evan and Charlie picked up the tools at the blacksmith shop and covered them in the back of the wagon. Rain still drizzled down on the men, soaking their shirts and running off their hats. The main street through Clover Creek teemed with mud and dung as they climbed back into the wagon.

“Hope this rain lets up today,” Evan said, climbing into the wagon. “We won’t be surveying for that new road if it doesn’t.”

Charlie took the lines and guided the horses into the mire. As they trudged down the street to the mercantile, the horse’s hooves cut through the mud and the wagon wheels splat muck in every direction. “Pa won’t leave Monday if things don’t dry out,” Charlie said. “But I know he’s under pressure to complete the survey as soon as possible. People are coming west every day and clamoring for good Idaho farmland.”

“That’s what I want,” Evan said although his best friend had already heard his dreams hundreds of times over the past years. “A farm of my own where I can get out and work in the soil every day.”

“Then I can’t understand why you didn’t walk to the store while I picked up the tools,” Charlie said. “All that dirt you’re so fond of is mixed with good rain water today, plus a few other earthy components. If you weren’t afraid of a little mud, you could have had my pa’s order ready to load by now. You must be getting soft.”

Evan took off his hat and dumped the drops of rain water off to the side of the wagon. He ran his hand through his dark hair before shoving the hat back on his head. “Yeah, if I would have run through the muck and turned in your dad’s order for supplies, we could be done by now and on our way back to your house. Then you’d have more time to spruce up for tonight’s dance. The young ladies will line up waiting for a chance to dance with the esteemed Charlie Gardner.”

Charlie grinned. “You’re as anxious to spruce up for the dance as me. In fact, if we don’t hurry and get back so you have time to clean up, my sister—”

“Hold on!” Evan called out. He jumped out of the wagon and sprinted across the street on muddy bricks that had been laid for rainy days like this one. The bricks were supposed to make crossing the street easier when the street was ankle-deep in mud, but sludge from constant wagon traffic had made the bricks practically as muddy as the street.

“Mrs. Jones!” Evan called to his neighbor as she stood on the opposite side of the street from the store. “Do you need to cross over to the store?”

Mrs. Jones held an umbrella over her head and was wrapped in a weathered shawl. “I thought the rain had stopped when I started out,” she said. “I should have stayed home, but Marv’s come down with a cough. I wanted to get some flaxseed to make a poultice for his chest. Besides, we’re out of coffee, and Marv can’t go a day without his coffee.”

Evan scooped Mrs. Jones into his arms so quickly, she let out a little squeal. Walking carefully back across the bricks, to be sure he didn’t slip and dump them both into the mire, Evan carried her across the street and deposited her on the boardwalk in front of the mercantile. “There you go, Mrs. Jones,” he said, making sure she stayed upright before letting go of her. “While you get the things you need, Charlie and I will gather our supplies. We won’t take long, and then we’ll give you a ride home in Charlie’s wagon.”

“It’s not that far to walk,” Mrs. Jones said.

“It is on a day like today.” Evan winked at her. “And we’re going right past your place anyway.”

“Bless you, Evan Howell,” Mrs. Jones said, patting his cheek. “You are such a dear boy. I won’t be but a few minutes.”

While Charlie finished ordering supplies from Mr. Jepson, Evan stopped in front of the candy counter. Mrs. Jepson walked up and stood across from him, her lips pursed, her arms crossed over her chest. “Can I help you?” she asked in a stern voice.

Evan smiled at the woman. He pulled a few coins from his pocket like he always did, to show that he was a paying customer, and asked for a small scoop of lemon drops to take to his sisters. His mother had trained him to hold his head up when treated rudely, and look beyond other people’s character weaknesses.

Evan paid for his lemon drops and pocketed them. Then he helped Charlie load the supplies into the wagon, making sure everything was covered and tied down for the ride back to the Gardner place. He found Mrs. Jones and helped her into the wagon, climbing in beside her. The rain had tapered off, and a break in the clouds revealed a blue sky on the horizon.

Charlie took the lines and once again guided the horses into the muddy road, this time carefully turning them back the way they had come. The air smelled clean and pure once they got away from the main road. A few minutes later, Charlie pulled the horses to a stop in front of the Jones home.

“Look at that rainbow,” Mrs. Jones said, twisting her face around and pointing at the sky. “Two rainbows! Can you see the second one? It’s a little weaker, but it’s beautiful.”

“I see them,” Evan said. “They are beautiful.”

Mrs. Jones nudged Evan’s arm. “I’ve heard that when you see a rainbow blessings are coming your way if you’re following your heart. Perhaps double blessings are coming your way, Evan since there’s a double rainbow.”

“What about me?” Charlie said, grinning at Mrs. Jones as he waited for Evan to help her out of the wagon. “Can I count on blessings of the heart?”

Mrs. Jones patted Charlie’s arm in a motherly way. “Charlie Gardner, you’re just a young pup. Plenty of time for you to grow up yet. Now Evan here is old enough to think about settling down with a nice young lady and starting a family.”

“But he’s only a year older than me,” Charlie said in a distinctly complaining voice.

Mrs. Jones nodded, her eyes twinkling. “A year more mature,” she said.

Evan helped the older lady into the house, and then stacked a bunch of firewood on her porch. When he leaped back into the wagon, he apologized to Charlie. “Sorry that took so long. I figured I’d better get some firewood ready for them. This rain has cooled things down.”

“So, you’re old enough to settle down with a nice young lady, and I’m still an immature youngster,” Charlie said, giving Evan a nudge on the arm. “What’ll you bet I dance with more young ladies than you tonight?”

“I wouldn’t take on that bet,” Evan said. “I’d be sure to lose.”

“I wonder if Nellie’s going to the dance tonight,” Charlie said, a teasing look in his eyes. “I’ll have to dance with her if she does. Family rule, you know. Dance with your sisters and make sure they have a good time. I have so many sisters that it cuts into my dance time with all the young ladies in town. Unless, of course, my best friend comes to the rescue and helps me out by dancing with my sisters, especially the oldest one.”

Evan chuckled, but kept his eyes straight ahead and pulled his hat down. He was used to Charlie’s teasing, but he was sure his cheeks were blazing. He’d be happy to dance every single dance with Charlie’s oldest sister if he could. He tried to keep his feelings to himself when he was around the Gardner family, but it was hard when all he wanted to do was watch every move Nellie made.

By the time Evan and Charlie returned from town, unloaded the wagon, and found Mr. Gardner in the kitchen, it was late in the afternoon.

“Thanks again for all your help,” Mr. Gardner said to Evan. He paid Evan for the day’s work as he had at the end of each day during the past week. “We’ll look forward to seeing you here bright and early Monday morning, ready to take off for the survey. Will your family be all right while you’re gone for several weeks?”

“They should be fine,” Evan said. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones promised to look after them.”

The two men stood near the kitchen door. Nellie and her sisters were helping their mother prepare the evening meal. Nellie looked up and smiled, causing Evan’s heart to race. Before he made it out the door, he heard Mrs. Gardner make a request.

“Nellie, will you run to the cellar when you’re finished slicing the bread, and bring up a jar of pickles?”

Evan bolted. “I’ll get the pickles for you,” he called out cheerfully and leaped off the porch, headed for the cellar. He and Charlie had played in that cellar so many times, Evan knew his way around. He hadn’t even made it to the cellar door before Nellie nearly caught up to him. “Evan!” she called, her voice a high-pitched shriek. “I’ll get the pickles!” Her hands reached out and clasped his when he reached for the cellar door. She wedged her way in front of the door and didn’t release his hands, causing them to stand merely inches apart.

“Your hands are trembling,” Evan said.

Nellie smiled so sweetly, he thought his legs might buckle.

“I just wanted to see you off,” she said, breathlessly.

For some reason that Evan couldn’t understand, Nellie still clung to his hands. She stood so close, he worried he might get mud on her dress. The scent of lilac in her hair drove him out of his mind. “You must be going to the dance,” he said, his stuttering voice almost a croak.

“I am. Are you?”

“I promised to take my two oldest sisters.”

Nellie still clung to his hands, smiling, her face flushed, filling him with a longing he hadn’t known could be so strong. “Will you promise me a dance?” He almost whispered the words.

“Oh, yes.”

“Two dances?” he asked softly.

She nodded.

Evan didn’t even feel crushed when she released his hands and straightened her back against the cellar door, almost like she was guarding it.

“I promised the first dance to George,” Nellie said, “but now I’m promising the second and last dances to you.”

Evan stepped back, forgetting about pickles, and only thinking about lilacs and dancing with Nellie.

“I guess I’d better get going,” he said, in spite of the fact that she looked so adorable, he didn’t want to leave. He wished he dared take her in his arms and kiss her, but that wouldn’t do. She was ready for the dance, and he was ready for a wash tub and a good clean scrubbing. “I look forward to those two dances.”

“As do I,” she said.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help you get those pickles?”

She shook her head, smiling again, her eyes sparkling.

As Evan walked off down the road, he wondered if Nellie looked so happy because she had only one dance with George Jepson and two dances with him. He also thought she had acted a little strange though. He couldn’t help wondering if there was something in the cellar that she didn’t want him to see.

5

The rain had completely stopped that evening when the Gardner family rolled into Clover Creek in two wagons. Blue sky and streaks of brilliant sunlight broke through the remaining clouds.

Charlie and most of Nellie’s sisters headed to the school in one wagon. Mr. Gardner drove his wife and two oldest daughters toward Mrs. Stribling’s house. When Charlie was in the mercantile earlier in the day, he learned that Mrs. Stribling had taken a fall and hurt her arm and wrist. Mrs. Gardner, Nellie and Ruby were taking the ailing woman a pot of stew, a loaf of bread, and an apple pie.

“Thank you, thank you. You’re so very kind,” Mrs. Stribling said in her loud voice when they entered her kitchen and placed the food on her table. “Please sit down and enjoy a cup of tea with me.” Mrs. Stribling’s wrist was bound, and a sling around her neck kept her arm tucked snugly to her chest.

“We’ll sit a minute, but we’ll have to pass on the tea,” Mrs. Gardner said, taking a chair and motioning for Nellie and Ruby to sit. Mr. Gardner pulled up a chair near his wife. “The girls are anxious to get to the dance.”

“I’m so clumsy,” Mrs. Stribling said, raising her arm out in front of her. “I wanted to attend the dance tonight to visit with everyone and enjoy the fun fiddle music. Now, I don’t feel like going anywhere.”

“You probably need your rest,” Mrs. Gardner said. “And if you leave your windows open, you might hear the music all the way over here.”

Mrs. Stribling’s laugh was hearty. “A splendid idea,” she said loudly, and then turning to Nellie and Ruby, she quizzed them in a softer voice. “And who might you young ladies be dancing with tonight? Oh, how I wish I could watch. I used to be quite the dancer, you know. Why, my Walter and I were known as one of the best dance couples in our day.”

“Nellie’s dancing with George Jepson and Evan Howell,” Ruby said, placing a huge amount of emphasis on both names. “She’s already promised them.” She grinned at Nellie, as though she knew she was embarrassing her sister. “As for me, I’m hoping to dance with anyone. But if I don’t, that’s fine too. I’m like you, Mrs. Stribling. I’m happy to just be around the fiddle music. I can’t tell you how much that music thrills me.”

Mrs. Stribling beamed. “Are the Jepson and Howell boys courting you, Nellie? Is anything getting serious with either of them?”

“Oh, no,” Nellie said, almost stammering. She wanted to kick Ruby for placing so much emphasis on who she was dancing with. “They’re both quite nice, though.” Nellie didn’t care to give a lengthy explanation about the attention of either Evan or George. Besides, if she and Ruby weren’t careful, they might be sitting out the dance in Mrs. Stribling’s kitchen, answering questions instead of enjoying the dance.

Mrs. Stribling showed no intention of dismissing her company any time soon. She was known for freely giving out advice, and that seemed to be her intent now. “Here’s what my mother taught me,” she said, leaning forward and obviously trying to soften her voice. “Watch the boys, and see how they treat their family members. That is how they will treat you, once you marry them and the honeymoon wears off.”

Nellie blushed at the mention of a honeymoon. She certainly didn’t want any more matrimonial advice. “Thank you for the counsel,” she said, taking Ruby by the arm and nudging her toward standing. “I think we’d better set out or we’ll miss the first dance.”

Ruby stood, but stopped abruptly, causing Nellie to bump into her and sit back down. “And we can’t miss the first dance,” she said sweetly. “Because Nellie promised the very first dance to George.”

“Really?” Mrs. Stribling’s eyes widened. “Oh, how I hate to miss that.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Mrs. Gardner asked. “We’d be happy to help you get ready.”

“You know what?” Mrs. Stribling replied, her eyes now sparkling. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to sit home by myself all evening. Are you sure you don’t mind waiting for me?”

“We’d be happy to have you join us,” Mr. Gardner said, “and what’s more, we’ll bring you home any time you want to leave, whether the dance is over or not.”

“I’ll have to change my dress,” Mrs. Stribling said, glancing down at her old housedress. “Will it hold you up too much?”

Nellie was quick to offer help. “Nonsense,” she said, knowing they’d have to hurry if they were to make the first dance. She stood and offered her hand to Mrs. Stribling. “Ruby and I will help you and we’ll be on our way in no time.”

It took nearly fifteen minutes for Nellie, Ruby, and their mother to help Mrs. Stribling into an evening dress, and for Ruby to arrange Mrs. Stribling’s hair. But soon, they were all in the wagon headed back to the dance.

“Why does Mrs. Stribling talk so loud?” Ruby whispered to Nellie as they walked into the schoolhouse.

“Don’t you know she’s hard of hearing,” Nellie whispered back. “That’s probably why she decided to come with us at the last minute. Perhaps she realized she wouldn’t hear the music unless she was practically under the schoolteacher’s fiddle.”

“Oh.” Ruby frowned and shook her head slightly. “That would be so terrible not to hear the music.”

When they entered the schoolroom, Nellie was practically pounced upon by her friend, Lucretia Jepson. “My brother’s been looking for you,” Lucretia said, squeezing Nellie’s arm. “He told me you promised him the first dance.”

Nellie nodded. The room was filled with happy, jovial folks, and it was already getting hard to hear anything except the schoolteacher warming up with his fiddle. Mr. Jones sat at the reed organ, looking happy and ready to play.

Lucretia leaned closer to Nellie. “I’m so glad you made it,” she said. “I hope you and George marry. Then we’ll be sisters.”

Nellie blushed. She was hardly planning to marry George, although the possibility kept entering her mind. But every time she entertained the idea, it only seemed like a practical idea, not a romantic one. Her thoughts of Evan Howell were always romantic thoughts, like every time he had given her a wildflower, and like today when she was holding his hands in front of the cellar door. Were those waves of excitement that had flooded through her from fear Evan would enter the cellar and see what was hanging on the ropes, or was the excitement because of the touch of his hands? It was the touch of his hands, Nellie was sure, but still, she cringed, thinking about how close Evan had come to entering the cellar.

Lucretia leaned in again as if she had somehow discerned Nellie’s thoughts. “Now don’t entertain thoughts about Evan Howell. He’s the last person you want to think about marrying. You don’t want the whole town feeling sorry for you.”

Nellie pursed her lips and looked out over the dance floor. Couples were lined up to dance, the fiddler and organ player were ready to begin, and George was walking toward her.

“Ah, you’re here,” George said and bowed slightly. “Shall we?” He took her hand and led her to the end of the line, turning to face her just as the fiddler struck the first chord.

The fiddler and the organ player burst into motion, putting heart and soul into a wave of lively music. All thoughts of Evan Howell receded from Nellie’s mind as stomping, twirling, and clapping took over. After a seemingly long time, the fiddle music faded to nothing, and Nellie, along with George and the other dancers stopped to catch their breath.

“Oh, my goodness!” Nellie exclaimed, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her face. “That was so fun!”

“Let’s get some cool air,” George said, quickly leading her off the center of the floor toward the door. Once they were outside, he led her to the side of the building.

“George . . . it’s muddy out here,” Nellie said. The evening air felt refreshing, but Nellie wanted to return to the schoolroom before the next dance started. “And I’m supposed to dance the next dance with Evan.”

“A little mud won’t hurt your shoes,” George said. He led her forward a few more steps until they were out of sight of anyone near the door. “Relax, Nellie. Take a look at that beautiful sunset.”

Nellie looked up just in time to see George’s face closing in on hers. He pulled her closer and their lips nearly touched before Nellie jerked her head to the side, and tried to free herself from his grasp.

“No, George,” she yelped, squirming to get away from him.

George forced her face back toward his. He nearly completed the kiss when he was suddenly thrust backwards by Nellie’s fierce kick to his shin.

A familiar voice roared from behind George, and Nellie saw Evan charging toward them.

“The lady said, ‘No!’” Evan shouted, his voice grinding out the words. He grabbed George by the shoulders and shoved him into the side of building. Then he took Nellie’s hand and carefully escorted her back to the schoolhouse. He bowed slightly as the music started playing, this time a waltz.

“Well done, my lady,” Evan said gently, leaning close to Nellie’s ear. “You put the rogue in his place. Are you all right?”

Tears welled in her eyes. Romantic music filled the schoolroom and couples slowly whirled past them, shoes and boots gliding across the wooden floor, skirts swishing gently.

“I believe this is my dance,” Evan said, smiling at her in a most kindly manner. “But only if you feel like dancing.”

“My shoes,” Nellie said, her shaky voice almost a sob. “They’re all muddy.” She was actually more upset with George’s brazen behavior than she was with her muddy shoes.

Evan escorted her to a bench, and after a while he took off his boots. “My boots are muddy too,” he said. “But who needs shoes or boots for a night of dancing?”

Nellie’s grin broke like a light in the darkness. She was not about to let George’s poor behavior ruin her evening for another minute. “Who needs shoes, indeed,” she said, quickly pulling off her muddy shoes and tucking them under the bench. They joined the circle where the dancers were already swaying to the rhythm of the waltz. The touch of Evan’s hands and the close proximity to him calmed her trembling heart. When the dance ended, Evan walked her to an empty chair next to Mrs. Stribling, and offered to bring her something to drink.

“Would you like some cider?” Evan asked Mrs. Stribling.

“What’s that?” Mrs. Stribling said, leaning forward.

Speaking louder over the din of the townsfolk, Evan tried again. “Would you like some cider!”

“Oh, yes, please,” Mrs. Stribling said, nodding.

While Evan was gone, Mrs. Stribling practically yelled in Nellie’s ear. “Your young men are impressive. You certainly have chosen young men with good manners.”

Nellie smiled, but she didn’t reply. If Mrs. Stribling only knew, she thought. She would surely change her tune about George.

Later that night, Nellie lay in bed thinking about the events at the dance. George had been rude beyond belief. He never came near her until the end of the evening, and it was a good thing. She had been so furious with him, she would have kicked him in the other shin. His ungentlemanly actions still bothered her, but he had apologized to her just before the last dance. The last dance. She smiled when she thought about it. She had danced with her father, her brother, and several other young men, but she had saved the last dance for Evan. Thanks to Evan, her Saturday night dance had turned out to be delightful instead of ruined.

In outward appearances, George might be the best match for a husband, and he had apologized. But Nellie shook her head as she lay in bed next to her sleeping sister. Mrs. Stribling’s words about watching for the way a boy treats his family ran through her mind. As far as Nellie knew, George treated his family with respect. But the way he had treated her tonight at the side of the schoolhouse certainly hadn’t shown any respect for her.

The most frustrating thing for Nellie was that Evan was a far better person than George, but most of the people in Clover Creek didn’t realize that. She couldn’t understand why so many people thought Evan would turn out to be a drifter like his father. When Nellie finally quit thinking about the dance and let herself slip into a dream world, her dreams were filled with dancing to a waltz in the arms of Evan Howell.

The following morning, Nellie took a basket containing corn bread and apricot jam with her to church. She intended to take the bread and jam to Mrs. Stribling if the older woman didn’t make it to church. Sure enough, there wasn’t a sign of Mrs. Stribling throughout the sermon.

George was at church, but Nellie ignored him. She stayed close to her parents and her siblings when church was over.

“I need to run this bread and jam over to Mrs. Stribling.” Nellie said as her family neared their wagons.

Several of her sisters groaned.

“Mrs. Stribling talks too much,” Alice whined.

“Hush, now,” Mrs. Gardner said. “Taking food to Mrs. Stribling is very thoughtful of Nellie. Charlie, will you drive your sister and anyone else who wants to go with her? The rest of us will take the other wagon home and get dinner on the table.”

“I’ll go with Nellie and Charlie,” Ruby said. “But I may wait outside in the wagon. I have a headache and the fresh air feels good.”

Nellie was thrilled when Charlie offered to wait with Ruby. She had a personal reason to want to see Mrs. Stribling one more time before she left for a few weeks as part of her father’s survey crew. “I won’t be too long,” she said when Charlie helped her down from the wagon.

Mrs. Stribling’s face lit up when she opened her door and saw Nellie standing there with another basket of food. “Oh, you sweet girl,” she said. “I shouldn’t have gone out last night, even though I’m glad I did. Now, I’m completely worn out, and my wrist aches.”

“Would you like to come out and have dinner with us?” Nellie asked. “We’d bring you home whenever you wanted to leave.”

“Thank you, my dear. I think I’ll stay home today and get my rest.”

Nellie helped the older lady sit at her kitchen table and fixed her a piece of the corn bread and jam. As soon as she dared, she sat down opposite her and brought up the other reason for her visit.

“Mrs. Stribling, you gave Ruby and I some good advice last night concerning boys.”

“What was it? Oh, yes.” Mrs. Stribling lowered her voice somewhat. “Watch how a boy treats his family. That’s very important. But there’s another critical trait to watch for in the man you want to marry.”

Nellie’s eyes widened. That was exactly why she had come—to see if Mrs. Stribling had any more good advice for her. “What is it?” she asked, placing her hands on the table and leaning forward. She hoped Mrs. Stribling wouldn’t tell her not to marry a man whose father didn’t support his family.

“Look for a man who loves the Lord. If a man truly loves the Lord, he will love his wife and family as he should, and devote his life to caring for them.”

Nellie sat back, blowing out the breath she’d been holding. Someone who loves the Lord? She hadn’t seen Evan or his family at church for months. On the other hand, George Jepson never missed. Mrs. Stribling would certainly have observed who went to church and who didn’t. Did Mrs. Stribling think George was the better option?

“Now don’t think I know who is the best person for you,” Mrs. Stribling said, as though she had read Nellie’s mind. “And don’t worry if you don’t know who the best person is yet. Just be your happy self and watch and observe. Your heart will know who the right person is as you come to know them better.”

Nellie thanked her friend and explained that she needed to get on home to help her mother with dinner. “I’m leaving in the morning for a few weeks to cook for Pa’s survey crew,” she said. “I’m sure Ma and some of my sisters will check up on you this week to see how you’re doing.”

“Oh, thank you, dear,” Mrs. Stribling said. “You and your family are so good to me. Look for a good man like your pa.”

Nellie wondered what to think as she left the house. Did the fact that Evan and his family had not attended church in months mean that they didn’t love the Lord? And what about George? She had been too embarrassed to tell Mrs. Stribling what had happened with George the night before. George came from a good family. And he had apologized. Should I overlook George’s behavior last night? Perhaps he was simply wound up after that first dance and forgot himself? Should I have let him kiss me without making a fuss?

All the way home, Nellie stewed about finding the right person to share her life with. But then she realized that no one had asked her to marry them anyway. Perhaps, she should try to enjoy each day and not fret over the future.

6

Monday morning dawned cool and clear with the promise of a pleasant day for a country ride. Evan breathed deeply of the refreshing air as he helped Charlie harness three work teams, hitch them to three supply wagons, and line them up in front of the Gardner barn. He kept glancing toward the Gardner home, but he had yet to see Nellie. Warmth radiated through him as he anticipated working in close contact with her for the next few weeks. Just thinking about being in her presence every day set his heart racing.

By the time Evan brought out the chuck wagon and lined it up behind the supply wagons, a few of the horses snorted and pawed at the ground, adding to Evan’s excitement . He figured the horses were as anxious to get moving as he was. He had never considered survey work before Mr. Gardner approached him about the job, but now he couldn’t wait to get started.

“Okay, boys,” Mr. Gardner said after the chuck wagon was in line. “Recheck all the straps and buckles to make sure everything is secure. I think we’re ready to move out. I’ll go inside and see where our cooks are.”

When Mr. Gardner returned, the whole family followed him to see everyone off. Nellie was the last one out the door, and Evan’s heart drummed in his chest when he saw her. She was wearing a blue dress that matched the sky, and she smiled and waved to him as she stepped down from the porch. Evan wanted to throw his hat in the air.

Mr. Gardner kissed his wife and the daughters who were staying behind. Mrs. Gardner hugged everyone, including Evan. Gunner flitted from person to person, wagging his tail vigorously and whining. He nuzzled Mr. Gardner’s legs, like he had caught the enthusiasm of going somewhere and wanted to be a part of it. Mr. Gardner patted the dog on his head and scratched behind his ears. “I know you want to go,” he said, “but I need you to stay behind and look after the family.”

For some strange reason that Evan couldn’t understand, his throat swelled as he watched the parting scene before him. His mother had gotten up to fix his breakfast and see him off, but he had left his home before the break of day, too early for any of his sisters to be awake. His father had never been there to see him off on a job that he could remember.

Evan pursed his lips. There was no point in thinking about what he didn’t have. He had a job to do and he was thankful for it. In fact, he was thrilled for this particular job, and to be a part of this family for this moment in time.

“I’ll drive the first team,” Mr. Gardner said. “Charlie, you take the second, Evan the third, and Nellie the chuck wagon. Alice, you can ride with Nellie. We’ll pick up Nelson at the crossroads. Nelson, the blacksmith’s oldest son, had helped Mr. Gardner with his survey jobs for several years now.

Evan watched Nellie and her sister climb into the chuck wagon. His natural instinct was to go help her into the wagon, but he realized his help would be out of place today. She was as important to the work crew as any other person, but she was also independent and competent. She wouldn’t appreciate his help today. He swallowed and forced himself to stop watching her like a besotted boy. Swinging into his wagon, he tugged his hat lower on his head, and waited for Mr. Gardner’s signal to move his team forward.

Finally, Mr. Gardner gave one last wave to his family, and spoke to his horses. The horses leaned into their harnesses as one and moved on down the road. Charlie followed in his wagon, and Evan picked up his lines. “Okay boys,” he said to his team. “Let’s go.”

The first wagon held the brass transit for taking measurements during the survey. The delicate instrument with its glassed-in compass was stored safely in a wooden box. Two metal clasps held the door to the box shut and kept the instrument from jostling around during the bumpy ride. The wood and brass tripod that supported the transit once the work began lay in a canvas bag on the floor of the wagon. The long red and white ranging rods used for sighting points and lines lay next to the tripod. Other instruments like the chain, plumb bob, and graphometer filled the rest of the wagon. In addition to the equipment, Mr. Gardner’s wagon also carried a large heavy tent, bedding for the men, two rifles, and extra ammo.

The second wagon held crow bars, shovels, picks, axes, hatchets, tape, and twine, along with two sawhorses and wooden planks to construct a makeshift table. The third wagon carried spare wheels, ropes, more tools, and an abundance of spare parts in case any of the wagons broke down.

Nellie’s chuck wagon, with its canvas bonnet, held a Dutch oven, frying pans, boiling pots, roasting spits, a coffee grinder, and other supplies for cooking for the crew. There were dishes, first aid supplies, and mending supplies. The wagon had a small make-shift bed for Nellie and Alice, and crammed in next to the bed was a wooden pie safe with five apple pies on individual shelves.

Every wagon seat was covered with a folded blanket or two, making the hard seats more bearable as they traveled over the rugged, rutted roads. The previous sunny day had dried the roads for the most part, but there were still muddy sections here and there.

When the wagons rolled to a stop at the crossroad, Evan expected to see the blacksmith delivering his son to the survey crew. Instead, he saw Nelson jump down from George Jepson’s buggy. Mr. Gardner climbed down to talk to Nelson. Charlie, Alice, and Nellie climbed down from their wagons, so Evan did too. The four of them stood out in the sun, talking and laughing, until George climbed down from his buggy and took Nellie aside. Was that a small bouquet of flowers he handed her?

George and Nellie talked for several minutes while Evan watched and fumed. He hoped George couldn’t sweet talk Nellie into thinking that his behavior at the dance was forgivable. Evan had too many memories of his father being rough with his mother when his father used to come around. As far as Evan was concerned, behavior of the sort George portrayed Saturday night might be forgivable, but never acceptable. Evan might not be good enough for Nellie, but neither was George Jepson. George had money and prestige going for him, but in Evan’s opinion, that didn’t count for much.

The weather promised to be another scorcher like the day before, and Evan hoped George’s flowers wilted quickly and died in the hot sun. After their big rainstorm on Saturday, there wasn’t a cloud left in the sky.

When Mr. Gardner finally walked back to Evan and the group standing in the road, he had rearranged the driving order. “Nelson will drive the third wagon,” he said. “Evan, I’d like you to ride with me.”

“Yes, sir,” Evan said. Once the wagons started rolling again, he twisted around in the wagon seat to watch George walking alongside of Nellie’s wagon. Evan smiled as Nellie slowly but surely moved her horses along, eventually leaving George behind.

Evan would have preferred to keep driving the wagon in front of Nellie’s, but he didn’t say anything to Mr. Gardner. He could handle a heavy wagon and a team of horses, but he was the least experienced of anyone on the survey crew and he knew it. His title was ax man, and he had heard from Charlie that being the ax man was the lowest and worst job on the crew. Evan didn’t care. He planned to work hard at whatever Mr. Gardner asked of him, no matter how difficult or how miserable the work might be. He was simply thankful for the job and for the opportunity to learn.

“I surely appreciate your help during the past week,” Mr. Gardner said as the horses plodded along.

Evan straightened in the wagon seat. “I was happy to have the work,” he said. “And it helped my family that you already paid me for those days. Ma was able to make up some back payments to the bank and stock up on food stuffs.” Evan looked down at his new boots that he had ordered through the mercantile. His only regret was that he hadn’t had enough money to pay for new gloves when he ordered the boots. He planned to make do with the gloves he had.

“I thought of you when one of the members of my survey crew moved away a few months ago,” Mr. Gardner said. “Nellie told me you had a gift for math in school.”

Evan felt heat spread to his face. “I, uh, I don’t know about a gift, but I’ve always liked math and numbers.”

Mr. Gardner kept talking as the wagon rattled along, taking off his hat and waving it at a bee that nearly hit him in the face. “Math skills are essential for a surveyor,” he said. “Not that you’ll need the skills this trip. You and Charlie will be doing the grunt work, so to speak. Charlie hates surveying. He’d rather farm, and that’s a good thing for our family. But if you enjoy survey work, Evan, I’ll be happy to teach you how to take measurements and calculate the terrain for the best route. There’s a lot to learn, but there will be other surveys if you’re interested.”

Evan couldn’t believe what he heard. “I’m interested!” he said, not holding back the excitement he felt.

“For this job, you’ll mostly be dragging the chain through sagebrush or carrying a bag of stakes and pounding them in the ground. You’ll also be doing a lot of bushwhacking, chopping down trees and bushes so we can cut a line through. Not easy work.”

“I’m happy to have it,” Evan said, looking at Mr. Gardner with a sense of wonder.

“That’s one of the other reasons I hired you for the survey. I’ve noticed over the past few years that you’re not afraid of hard work.”

Evan felt heat fill his face again, but the feeling that came with it felt like an explosion of pride inside of him. Not many people commented on how hard he worked. He always felt most people regarded him as the offspring of his father.

“Sleeping on the ground isn’t the most comfortable place you’ll ever sleep,” Mr. Gardner said. “But you’ll be so tired at the end of the day, you’ll sleep like a baby. And the grub will be good. Nellie’s a good cook like her ma. She even brought along some apple pies she stayed up late to bake.”

Evan looked out to the distant mountains and sage brush hills in front of him. He didn’t dare look at Mr. Gardner when the man mentioned Nellie. He was afraid his face would give away his feelings for the man’s daughter. “How long do you figure it will take us to get where we’re camping tonight?” he asked.

“Oh, not long,” Mr. Gardner said, guiding the horses to the left to avoid a big mud hole on the road. “The valley on the other side of these hills isn’t far away. We’ll have plenty of time to set up camp and get our equipment in order for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a long day I’m afraid.”

Within moments of saying the next valley wasn’t far away, Mr. Gardner and Evan heard a shrill whistle and looked back to see Charlie motioning to them. The third wagon in the caravan, the one with the heaviest load, had bogged down in the mud hole. The whole caravan came to a halt.

Mr. Gardner carried a block and tackle in the wagon that was bogged down, but found that it was useless in this location. There wasn’t a tree or boulder within reach to secure the ropes. Evan rolled up his sleeves after looking at the situation. He worked along with every member of the crew shoveling rock and dirt in front of the wagon wheels. Nellie and Alice gathered all the rocks they could carry, dumped them near the wagon, and went in search of more. Once Mr. Gardner felt they had enough rocks packed under the wheels and in front of them, he and the men doubled up the horse teams on this wagon to pull it free.

Four hours from the time the wagon bogged down, it was out of the mud, and the extra horses were hitched back up to their assigned wagon. Every member of the crew was filthy and exhausted.

Shortly after freeing the wagon, the caravan turned south and followed a nearly obscure wagon trail over low hills into the next valley. When they started a slow descent into the valley, Mr. Gardner told Evan more about the survey they were doing.

“The original survey in this valley created a map with a few land boundaries. That was done by the government eight years ago. They’re just now ready to open the valley for homesteading. For our job, surveying for a main road through the valley, we want to see what’s really here for a road crew to work with. It’s more than just walking through the area. We have to measure each section of the land that we pass through for elevation, compass directions, grade, and distance. We have to decide if we want the main road to go in this direction or that direction.” He swept his arm to the left, and then to the right as he spoke. “Or straight through. It all depends on the terrain and obstacles we find, like that swampy area that we just passed through, or like lava rock outcroppings for example. We can chop down trees, but we can’t move swampy areas or lava ridges.”

Mr. Gardner raised his arm to let the other wagon drivers know he was stopping. “My best assumption is that the main road should wind down to that clump of trees over there, and then bear left at nearly a straight line through the valley. We won’t know what obstacles might prevent that until we take some of the horses and ride over it, and more importantly walk it. Once we find the location of the original survey marker, we’ll work from there. Finding the original marker won’t be easy. A lot of snow, rain, and dirt have blown through this valley in the past eight years. But I have the measurements of where the marker should be.”

They stopped by a meandering stream lined with a cluster of aspen trees, and Mr. Gardner announced that they’d set up their first base camp there. Evan and Nelson were assigned to take care of the horses. Charlie and Mr. Gardner set up the tent. Nellie and Alice got a fire going and started supper, a hearty meal of boiled ham, fried potatoes, cheese, and biscuits.

“My back aches from that bumpy ride,” Alice said once they had finished eating dinner. She sat on one of two fallen trees that Evan and Nelson had dragged to the campsite. Evan had trimmed the branches with a hatchet, making a place to sit.

“Everyone’s tired,” Mr. Gardner said. “It’s been a long hard day.”

Nellie stood and walked toward the chuck wagon. “I have something that will cheer everyone up,” she called over her shoulder. After climbing into the wagon and kneeling in front of her mother’s pie safe, she removed the front panel and took out one of her apple pies.

Five weary faces brightened as she climbed back out of the wagon and held out the pie.

“You are an angel,” Nelson said.

“Yes, you are,” Charlie added, holding out his empty plate.

Nellie cut the pie into six pieces and placed a piece on each of the tin plates they had used for their dinner.

“Hey, I think Evan got the biggest piece,” Charlie said, using a complaining tone. But he grinned at Nellie when he said it.

Nellie blushed for a moment, but then retaliated. “You don’t have anything to complain about, Charlie Gardner. All you men got bigger pieces that Alice and I.”

“Yeah, Charlie,” Alice said. “We won’t give you any more pie if you’re going to be a complainer.”

“Who me?” Charlie said. “I was just commenting on the fact that it’s nice Evan came to help this year. And it’s nice that he’s been rewarded with the biggest piece of pie.”

Evan grinned. “I might need more pie than Charlie because I’m the ax man. I’ll be working twice as hard as Charlie for the next few weeks.”

“Exactly,” Charlie said, agreeing. “That’s why I stated that it was nice to have you with us. I was the ax man the last four years. I’ll happily give you more of my pie just for being here and working that position this year.”

“Personally,” Mr. Gardner said, “I’m just happy that Nellie brought the pies. You’re all going to earn your pay and your pie on this trip.”

As soon as they finished eating pie, Nellie and Alice cleared away what was left of supper and washed the plates in the stream. Mr. Gardner spent about thirty minutes going over the men’s assignments for the next day. Then everyone prepared for the much-anticipated falling into their makeshift beds. It had started to cool down, and mosquitos began buzzing around, welcoming the weary travelers in their special way.

Charlie, Nelson, and Mr. Gardner had opted to sleep in the tent with its mosquito netting. Evan chose to sleep out in the open near the tent, but he pulled his covers over his head. Nellie and Alice snuggled into their chuck wagon bed which had been placed a short distance away under a tree. Their bed was also outfitted with mosquito netting.

Neither howling coyotes or mosquitos kept any of the survey crew awake for more than a minute.

7

Early the following morning, Nellie threw off her covers, and hurried to dress in the cool morning air. “Wake up sleepy head,” she said poking Alice gently on her shoulder. Alice groaned and rubbed her hands over her face. She leaned up on one elbow and watched while Nellie buttoned her dress and put on a clean apron. Because of the pie safe, there wasn’t room in the chuck wagon for both sisters to stand and dress at the same time.

Alice groaned. “I’m still tired,” she whined.

“You have to get up. You volunteered to come and help cook this year.”

“But I’m so sore from that bumpy ride and helping get the wagon out of the mud.”

“Think of it this way,” Nellie said. “You’re helping build the country. Without surveyors like Pa, this land would never get developed. It would just be miles and miles of mountains and sagebrush. Our job is just as important as President McKinley’s job.”

Alice giggled. “Cooking for Pa’s crew isn’t as important as the president’s job.”

“Well, maybe not.” Nellie tousled Alice’s hair, and then sat beside her sister to pull on her boots. “But cooking breakfast is important to Pa and everyone on the crew.”

“Nellie, I just thought of something.”

“What’s that, Alice?”

“What if you and I have the need for rags out here?”

“Oh, I brought a bunch of them. Just in case.”

“But . . .” Alice scrunched up her nose. “Do we have to wash them in the creek? What if the men come back to camp while we’re washing them?”

“Ma said not to worry about the rags. If either of us needs them while we’re out here, Ma said to just burn them when we get a chance.”

Alice flopped back on the bed, and let out a squeal. “That’s the best news I’ve heard since we left home!”

Nellie released her loose braid and pulled her hair back into a bun. “My hair is going to look terrible for the whole time we’re out here,” she said.

“Your hair never looks terrible. Of course, you have to look nice for Evan.” Alice grinned and dragged out Evan’s name.

Nellie threatened her with a pillow. “Don’t be silly.”

Alice snuggled back under the covers. “I’m not being silly,” she chirped, peeking out with bright eyes. “I’ve seen you gazing dreamily at Evan all week.”

“You need to hurry,” Nellie said, changing the subject. She had no idea her feelings for Evan were so transparent. She wondered if her parents had noticed. Would they even consider Evan for a son-in-law, or would they prefer someone like George Jepson who came from a good family and had a solid career waiting for him? Mr. Jepson was one of her father’s best friends.

“I like sleeping outdoors,” Alice said, finally sitting up and stretching. “I just wish I could sleep longer.”

“You weren’t scared, sleeping out here where nothing’s around except animals?”

Alice shook her head. “I like animals.”

Just as Nellie opened the canvas flap at the front of the wagon, she saw deer walking toward the creek not far from camp—a buck, several does, and two young fawns. She reached back and nudged Alice, motioning for her to get up and look.

“Oh . . . look at the babies,” Alice whispered. “Aren’t they cute?”

The deer weren’t the only wildlife about. When Nellie went to start the fire, a skunk scampered away from the campsite. Nellie almost screamed, but quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

“Now you know why your pa insisted we clean the campsite last night, and burn any food that dropped.”

Nellie spun around. “Oh! You startled me!”

Evan, wearing a red flannel shirt that accented his rugged looks, walked toward her with an armload of firewood. His grin caused warmth to flood her cheeks. “Skunks don’t spray you unless they feel threatened,” he said. “That little guy was just looking for food.”

Evan dropped the armload of firewood by the fire pit. He got the fire going while Nellie hurried back to the wagon for the coffee pot.

“Hey you missed seeing a skunk,” Nellie said cheerfully as Alice scampered down from the wagon.

Alice huffed. “I like animals except for skunks,” she said.

Within minutes, Nellie stalked away from the chuck wagon and found Mr. Gardner stepping out of his tent. The color had left her face and tears filled her eyes. “I forgot the coffee pot!” she whimpered.

She had been so excited to cook for the survey crew, and up until this very moment, she had felt confident in her ability to please everyone. But what group of hard-working men would be happy without their coffee?

Mr. Gardner closed the flap to the tent. He didn’t look the least bit upset. “Then we’ll have cowboy coffee.”

“Cowboy coffee?”

“Yes, I’ve had cowboy coffee many a time on survey jobs. It’s not bad. It’s where you dump ground coffee into a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Just before the water boils, take a stick or a tree branch and give the pot a good smack against the side. That knocks the grounds to the bottom of the pot.” Mr. Gardner grinned at his anxious daughter. “A little spitting here and there takes care of any grounds that don’t sink to the bottom.”

“Disgusting,” Alice said.

“Well, it’s not like we’re sitting around Ma’s dining room table,” Charlie said. He had just stepped out of the tent and was rubbing his hand through his hair.

Nellie shook her head. “At least I didn’t forget the coffee grinder,” she said meekly.

“Of course you didn’t forget the grinder.” Charlie smirked. “It’s mounted to the chuck wagon.”

Nellie narrowed her eyes at her twin. After making such a huge blunder, she didn’t feel like being teased. She turned back to the wagon, climbed in and looked for a pot to make the coffee in. After she found it, she sat on the makeshift bed for a few moments. She had been in such a hurry to get breakfast going for the men that she had forgotten her morning prayer. She bowed her head and prayed now, asking that she be given more insight and help to organize and cook for the men.

She didn’t want to disappoint her father.

And she didn’t want to look foolish in front of Evan.

When Nellie finished her prayer, she climbed back down from the wagon and filled the pot with water from one of the water barrels on the side of the wagon. Then she called to Alice to start grinding the coffee beans. Nellie started to place the pot of water on the fire, but remembered just in time to wait for the ground coffee beans first. Starting coffee in water that was already hot would be another big blunder. She didn’t understand why she felt so flustered about cooking for the survey crew. She had cooked for her father’s crew for the past few years without anything upsetting her or going wrong. Of course, Evan hadn’t been working with the crew until this year.

Nellie pulled down the table at the back of the chuck wagon, making a work space for preparing breakfast. While Alice ground the beans, Nellie took a good-sized pinch of sourdough from a crock and made biscuit dough. Once she had the dough rising in the Dutch oven, she cooked bacon in a cast iron skillet and had Alice crack eggs into a bowl.

Evan and Charlie had gone back into the trees for more firewood, and when they reemerged with their arms full, Nellie turned her back to them. She didn’t want any more teasing from Charlie, and she didn’t want to look at Evan. Evan had to be the reason she was so unsettled about her cooking abilities.

And as Alice had said, Evan was the reason she cared about her hair.

The coffee turned out strong and full of floating grounds, but the rest of the meal came together smoothly. Everyone ate silently until Charlie spoke up. “What’s with this coffee?” he asked as though he didn’t know.

“This coffee’s made to toughen you up,” Evan said. “To see if you’re a real man.”

“Coffee tastes great to me,” Nelson said, chiming in. He had been getting the tables set up for Mr. Gardner while Nellie and Alice prepared breakfast. He had one table set up in the tent and another set up just outside the tent. “It’s strong and hot, just like I like it. You can’t get it this good at home.” He grinned, and then spit a few grounds toward the fire.

Nellie wanted to hide her face. She didn’t think she was being complimented on her coffee by either Evan or Nelson. They were trying to be nice, but it was going to be a long few weeks without properly brewed coffee.

After breakfast, everyone worked close to camp for most of the day. Mr. Gardner figured out the approximate location of the base marker the state had laid out eight years ago, and the men spread out in the sage brush and dirt looking for it.

Nelson found the metal marker buried under a thick layer of sandy soil.

“How do you know where to go with the road, Pa?” Alice asked after Mr. Gardner cleared all the dirt away from the marker.

Mr. Gardner chuckled. “Well, now that we have the base marker located, it will be easier.” He showed the girls a rough map of the area and his notebook with the measurements and notes he had taken so far. “This is just a rough sketch,” he said. “The first thing we have to do is cover the area on foot, and then I make my assumptions.”

“Assumptions?” Nellie said.

“Yes.” Mr. Gardner pointed off in the distance. “Look at that low spot of land where the grass and weeds are growing south of those aspen trees. I assume that is the best way to go because it’s almost in a straight line from where we descended into the valley. There are no hills or rock outcroppings that I can see. But perhaps there’s a bog or a swampy area. The soil might be too sandy. I can make assumptions about where to take the road, but then we have to traverse the land and measure all the angles and curves with the compass and chain. I’m sure we’ll end up changing directions several times.”

“Sounds complicated,” Alice said.

“Sounds fascinating,” Evan said.

“It is fascinating,” Mr. Gardner said. He took a small compass and asked Evan to traverse his assumed route with him. They rode horses out into the brush for most of their search, stopping frequently to dismount and look closer at certain areas. Nelson and Charlie road off on another possible route according to Mr. Gardner’s directions. Both teams measured distance and identified points by pacing the land and recording their findings.

Within a few hours, Mr. Gardner and Nelson had eliminated two obviously unsuitable areas for the route due to lava rock outcroppings and low marshy land. They had also identified a promising route that bypassed those areas. At the end of the day, the men all trudged into camp, tired and dirty from walking the hills. Everyone ate Nellie’s potato cakes and beef jerky, followed by another apple pie. By the time the sun set, the whole crew was bedded down for the night.

The following morning, after breakfast, Mr. Gardner and Nelson took the transit out of its wooden box and attached it to the three-legged tripod. They started taking measurements on their most preferred route. Nellie watched Evan whacking bushes and chopping down scrubby tress. He ran back and forth in the hot sun helping her father with whatever he needed. Watching him work brought a smile to her face. It was absurd for anyone to think that Evan wasn’t a hard-working man.

Nellie and Alice had fixed a good breakfast for the men without any problems or difficulties. Thinking about that brought another smile to Nellie’s face. She reflected on the coffee fiasco of the day before and felt embarrassed all over again. No one complained about today’s coffee, not even Charlie. In fact, Charlie had commented on how the strong brew was just what they needed to get them going for the day.

Evan hadn’t really been making fun of Nellie with his comment about the coffee the day before. She realized now that he had been trying to make light of the situation so she wouldn’t feel badly. And somehow, with this little stretch of time behind her, his good-natured humor worked. She chuckled now, knowing that in the future, even she would laugh about so many coffee grounds floating in everyone’s coffee.

Nellie wished the people who were critical of Evan’s family could see how hard he worked, instead of saying he would turn out like his father. She wanted the townsfolk to respect him. Then she remembered Mrs. Stribling’s advice about finding a man who loved the Lord. Did Evan love the Lord? That same old feeling that nagged her about his absence from church cropped up. Truly, what kind of man was Evan deep inside?

There was a lot of work to do to prepare for the next meal, so Nellie tried to push thoughts of Evan from her mind. It was hard to do, though, when all she had to do was look up to see him out working in the brush with the other men. No matter how far from camp he worked, Nellie could easily spot his red shirt. Once she and Alice had breakfast cleaned up, stew baking in the Dutch oven, and beans soaking for the next day, they hiked out to where Mr. Gardner and the rest of the crew were working.

Nelson had walked to the crest of a small rise and was holding the long red and white rod upright so Mr. Gardner could determine the elevation and angle of that location. Charlie was dragging the steel chain toward Nelson from where he had pounded a stake in the ground and tied a strip of red cloth to it. The heavy chain reminded Nellie of a long metal snake slinking through the sagebrush.

The only part of Evan she could see was the back of his red shirt as he chopped through a bunch of brush and flung the brush out of the way. Nellie saw him take his gloves off more than once. It looked like he might be examining his fingers.

Every few days, the survey crew broke camp and moved to a new location further into the small valley. By the end of three weeks, they were nearing the far end of the valley where the terrain was about to change from small rolling hills and flat sagebrush plains to steeper hills. The hills were lined with patches of dark green cedar trees, and rugged mountains loomed in the distance. Nellie had watched small hummingbirds, mountain bluebirds, and majestic bald eagles during the past few weeks. Black-backed woodpeckers sometimes interrupted her quiet days with their chirps, cackles, and drumming noises.

One morning, Mr. Gardner informed the crew that they only had a couple of more weeks and they’d be done with the survey. Nellie was happy to think of going home in some ways, though she felt a great sense of accomplishment for her part of the survey. Each day, the men had returned to camp dirty, sunburned, footsore, and utterly exhausted. Nellie and Alice always had a good meal ready for them when they came trudging into camp.

The days had been hot and grueling. The work exhausting, but Nellie would miss the wildlife and the pure mountain breezes when they left for home. Mostly she would miss working with Evan every day, looking forward to his endearing smile each time he returned to camp. It saddened her to think there would be days in the near future when she might not see him or his smile at all.

One of the tasks Nellie wouldn’t miss was washing everyone’s clothes in the nearby stream and hanging them out on bushes or trees to dry. Bending over the stream and scrubbing clothes was backbreaking. Listening to Alice whine while she scrubbed clothes in the in the stream was annoying.

One evening after supper, Nellie offered to rub salve into Evan’s sore fingers where the holes in his gloves had allowed thorns and thistles to penetrate and scratch him. Evan, Alice, and Nellie sat on some big rocks in the creek, dangling their bare feet in the cold water. The temperature had cooled, but a steady breeze flitted through the trees, keeping the mosquitos away. The rest of the crew was back at camp, which was up an embankment, and through a cluster of trees.

Nellie turned to Alice. “Will you go find that salve that’s in the first aid box? It’s in our wagon. It’s not in that big wooden box that’s full of medical supplies. It’s in the little box Ma packed for us. I want the salve she made.”

“Sure,” Alice said. “I’ll be right back.”

Evan bent over and swished his sore hands in the creek. “You don’t have to worry about my hands,” he said. “They’ll heal up on their own.”

“Not with the type of work you’re doing.” Nellie took one of his hands in hers and rubbed her fingers lightly over some of the irritated spots. She didn’t know if the salve her mother had sent would help or not, but she thought she should try. Besides, applying the salve was a good excuse to touch his hands. She loved the feel of his hand, even though it was rough and had blisters in addition to the scratches where the thorns had scraped it.

“I wanted to thank you for helping me get away from George at that last dance,” Nellie said. She kept her head down and released his hand as she spoke. She had been wanting to express her appreciation to him, but was nervous and embarrassed about even bringing the subject up.

“I should have slugged the scoundrel,” Evan said.

Nellie kept looking down. “No, I’m glad you didn’t. This way, no one knows what he did except the three of us. George has apologized and said he won’t try anything like that again, and he won’t tell anyone what he did if I don’t.”

“I’ve not told a soul,” Evan said, tenderly, “and I won’t.” He took her hand in his, and their fingers intertwined, causing her breath to come faster and her whole body to tremble. “I hope you didn’t accept his apology,” he said.

“Actually, I did.” Nellie lifted her eyes to his for a moment. “But I also told him I wouldn’t dance with him again, or go anyplace with him. George said he understood and he didn’t blame me. He’s not a bad person deep down.”

Evan huffed. “His pa’s a good man, so I guess George must have some redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, his ma thinks their family is better than most of the people in town. She gives George whatever he wants, so he’s not used to being told no.”

Nellie lifted her eyes again. “Thank you for coming to my rescue. It meant so much to me. I didn’t want my first kiss to be like that.”

Evan looked into her eyes, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “What did you want your first kiss to be like?”

“Well, gentle, something I wanted, not something that was forced upon me.”

“Something like this?” Evan slowly lowered his face to hers as though he was reading her eyes and asking for permission. She blinked, and placed her hand on his scruffy cheek. When she parted her lips slightly, he closed the distance between them.

The kiss was light and soft with a tender and gradual ending. “Yes . . .” Nellie said, breathlessly. “Exactly like that.”

Evan leaned toward her again, but Alice could be heard charging through the trees. “That salve wasn’t in either of those boxes!” she yelled as she broke through the trees. “It was in Pa’s bag.”

Nellie and Evan sat up straight and untangled their fingers. Nellie’s eyes sparkled up at him mischievously. “I knew that,” she whispered.

8

Toward the end of their last week in the field, Evan noticed mountain lion tracks not far from the campsite. He mentioned his discovery to Mr. Gardner, but didn’t say anything to Nellie and Alice. “Do you think the girls are in any danger in camp?” Evan asked.

“Typically, no,” Mr. Gardner said. “Mountain lions usually avoid people. You’re more likely to encounter a mountain lion because you’re the one who hikes so far from camp to cut the bushes or trees.”

“I’m not afraid,” Evan said. “I have my knife.”

“We should be watchful, though,” Mr. Gardner said. “I’ll talk to the girls so they’ll stay close to camp unless one of us is with them.”

Evan worried about Nellie and Alice. Not necessarily that a mountain lion would attack them, but more that they would be frightened when left alone in camp. The men were working further and further from camp each day. Ever since Nellie let him kiss her, his hopes had soared that there might be a chance for him in her life. He smiled when he thought about their kiss and the fact that Nellie had purposely sent her sister off on an errand so she and Evan could be alone. They had not had a chance to be alone since that night, but he hoped another opportunity would present itself soon. He was tempted to talk to Mr. Gardner about his feelings for Nellie right then and there, but he hesitated.

Nellie might have feelings for him, but would her father approve? Evan found that doubtful. Mr. Gardner would probably prefer someone like George Jepson who had a good career ahead of him. If only Mr. Gardner knew what George was really like, Evan thought. But Evan would never tell him. Nellie had made it clear that she was embarrassed about what had taken place at the dance with George, and she didn’t want anyone else to know about it.

One late afternoon toward the middle of the week, Evan trudged up an incline northeast of camp carrying the long red and white rod that enabled Mr. Gardner to determine elevations. He moved as quickly as possible, considering his feet ached and it was nearly supper time. His sunburned face was coated with a thick layer of dirt, and he couldn’t wait to clean up and sit down to one of Nellie’s suppers. Nelson, who usually hiked with the rod for elevation measurements, had sprained his ankle, and was out of commission for the duration of the survey. Fortunately, they had completed most of their work, and Mr. Gardner had already announced they would be going home in three or four days.

After Mr. Gardner signaled that his measurements were complete and for Evan to come into camp, Evan stood on top of the rise, and looked out over the valley. He watched Mr. Gardner and Charlie straggle into camp. He knew they were as exhausted as he was. His heart swelled with satisfaction at the work they had accomplished. Someday, this valley would be populated with farms and people, good folks who would work the land and raise their children here. Someday, there might be a general store, a blacksmith’s shop, a school, and a church. Evan couldn’t help hoping that his family might be among the settlers. Once the road into the valley was completed, this community would be less than an hour’s wagon ride from Clover Creek.

Evan turned to take a different way down from the rise. He had run into a lava rock outcropping on his way up, and had startled a rattlesnake. Fortunately, he had heard the movement of the snake as it coiled for a strike. He had changed his course, causing him to shove his way through a bunch of thistle bushes, and he was more careful where he placed his boots after that. Evan was especially careful where he placed his hands. His hands were still sore from all the thistles and thorns that had worked through the holes in his gloves. He didn’t want a snake bite to add to his misery.

Once Evan headed downhill through thick trees and bushes a strange feeling came over him. He felt impressed that someone or something was watching him. He stopped and glanced around, and when he did, his stomach clenched. The muscles in his legs tightened, ready to spring ahead, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. The menacing greenish yellow eyes of a mountain lion leered at him from high in a nearby tree. If the big cat sprang, it would be on him in seconds.

Evan slowly raised one leg and slipped his knife from his boot. All he could think about was how much his family needed him. With his other hand, he raised the red and white rod, holding it straight out in front of him. The cat’s eyes never wavered. The methodic swaying of his tail caused a brief hypnotic feeling in Evan, but a low snarl snapped his mind into action.

Facing the big cat, and standing as tall as possible, Evan began to sing. The first song that came to his mind was Grandfather’s Clock, a song his mother had taught him when he was a little boy, and one that he had sung to his sisters when they were little. Evan sang soothingly to the cat. He took a few steps backward as he sang, all the while holding out the rod and watching for movement. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he stepped backward, trying not to snag his boot, or lose his balance as he crept downhill. He knew that if he fell, he might never make it back to camp.

After slowly taking a few more steps backward, and elevating his singing volume to robust, he reached the chorus of Grandfather’s Clock. He sang the ticking of the clock even louder than the verse. The rhythm of tick tock, tick tock gave him courage, and it seemed to mollify the big cat.

Evan continued to step backward, being extremely careful of his footing. He was just starting to feel like the mountain lion wasn’t interested in him, when the big cat sprang from the tree. Evan’s first impulse was to run, but he clutched the rod and his knife tighter, and stood his ground. His heart pounded and the heavy, musky smell of the cougar made him feel sick. The cat didn’t charge, but stood defiantly in front of Evan, breathing heavily. Evan stepped backward again and started singing a different song. He’d learned this one in church as a boy, and it was a song he loved to sing with his family. Onward, Christian Soldiers burst forth, and when the big cat seemed puzzled, Evan stepped backward again.

Walking downhill through bush and over rocks proved difficult and time consuming. Sweat poured off Evan’s forehead. His stomach growled, his feet hurt, and the repulsive odor in the air threatened to make him throw up. But the cougar slowly placed one paw in front of the other, and Evan sang louder than he had before.

He had just started on the first verse again, when he heard the roar of Mr. Gardner’s rifle.

* * *

Nellie was checking her corn bread when she heard Evan singing. She straightened and looked toward him on the rise in the distance. He was so far away, she wasn’t sure what he was singing at first, but she smiled as his beautiful tenor voice reached her. When his voice grew louder with the tick, tock, tick, tock, she giggled.

“Is that Evan singing?” Alice asked.

Nellie laughed. “Oh, it’s him all right. He’s sure in a good mood for the end of a long hot day.”

“Guess he’s happy that the survey’s almost over.”

“Me too,” Nellie said. “I’m ready for a real bath with warm water and some of Ma’s good cooking.”

Charlie walked up beside them and studied the scene before them. “Evan’s sure happy tonight,” he said. “Must be looking forward to a warm meal prepared by his favorite cook.”

Nellie pushed at his arm. “Don’t be silly,” she said.

“I’m not blind, you know. You two are getting to look like lovesick puppies when you’re around each other.”

Nellie pushed at Charlie’s arm again, harder this time, and then she turned back to checking her corn bread, hoping she wasn’t blushing too much. About that time, Evan disappeared from view, but they could soon hear him belting out Onward Christian Soldiers. After several minutes of that song, Evan’s hat and red shirt appeared again coming out from behind some trees. He was still a long way from camp.

“Why does Evan look weird?” Alice asked.

Nellie squinted and studied Evan off in the distance again. “I think he’s walking backward. Why would he be doing that?”

About that time, Nelson hobbled out of the tent where he and Mr. Gardner had been going over their notes. He watched Evan for a few minutes, and then nudged Charlie. “Get your pa’s rifle,” he said. “Hurry!”

Charlie ducked into the tent, and emerged with Mr. Gardner just as Evan started singing the first verse of Onward Christian Soldiers again. Mr. Gardner took one look at Evan walking backward and singing loudly. He raised his rifle, causing Nellie and Alice to cover their ears and shot into the air. The roar of the rifle bellowed throughout the valley.

“What’s happening, Pa?” Nellie asked, but then she saw Evan charging down the hillside. He crashed through bushes and jumped over lava rocks. And he no longer sang.

“Mountain lion!” Evan called out as he ran into camp. He bent over trying to catch his breath, and then stood. He looked at the bewildered survey crew, threw his head back, and roared. “I never saw an animal move over a hill as fast as that cat when the rifle went off,” he gasped. “Didn’t know I could run so fast either.”

It was all Nellie could do to keep from throwing herself into Evan’s arms. Instead, she clutched her chin and cheeks with both hands. “Are you all right?” she asked.

Evan leaned over again, his hands on his upper legs, his breathing still coming in puffs and pants. But he laughed. “I’m fine,” he said, his huge grin putting everyone at ease. “I don’t know who was more frightened, me or that big cat.”

Nellie pursed her lips, but managed a smile. She felt shaken, almost as if she had faced the mountain lion herself. “I’m so thankful you’re safe,” she said.

Mr. Gardner leaned his rifle up against the tent and grasped Evan by the shoulder. “You have a mighty fine voice,” he said. “And a great sense of composure. Come and eat. I have it on good information that we’re having peach cobbler for dessert.”

Evan grinned. “Best thing I’ve heard all day,” he said.

9

That evening after supper, everyone sat around the fire’s remaining embers. It was still warm enough that mosquitos hadn’t come out, and the crew seemed satisfied to sit and relax for a while. Nellie had served generous portions of peach cobbler from the Dutch oven while Evan shared his experience facing the mountain lion. As Nellie watched Evan’s facial expressions, her heart nearly burst within her. All she could think about was, what if he had been injured or killed?

“Years ago, my neighbor, Mr. Jones, told me what to do if I ever encountered a mountain lion,” Evan said. “He told me to face the big cat and stand tall. Back then, when I was a kid, I thought I was invincible, and strong enough to wrestle any animal. I used to hope I would come face to face with a mountain lion. When that actually happened today, I wasn’t so brave.”

Evan looked at Nellie and heat rushed to her face when he grinned at her. She wanted so much to visit with him down by the creek where they could be alone and talk. She wanted to tell him how thankful she was that he hadn’t been attacked, and that she thought he was extremely brave.

“I would have screamed and ran,” Alice said.

“You would have been supper for that cat,” Charlie said.

“I don’t think we’ll see any more of that mountain lion,” Mr. Gardner said. “He’s long gone over those hills and probably trying to put as many miles as possible between him and us. However, you girls should stay close to camp, and everyone else needs to work in pairs. We’re about ready to wrap up here, and I wouldn’t care for any more excitement.” He stood and thanked Nellie and Alice for the fine supper, and the peach cobbler. “I’d better go finish my reports,” he added.

“I think I’ll go downstream and fish until dark,” Nelson said. “I’m tired, but not too tired to put in a little fishing.”

“I’ll go with you,” Charlie said. “Sitting by a cool creek and fishing sounds good to me. Evan and his mountain lion have stirred things up a bit, and I don’t think I’ll settle down and sleep for another hour or so. Want to come Evan?”

Evan looked at Nellie and Alice. “You girls going down to the creek to wash the dishes?” he asked.

Nellie nodded. She hoped she didn’t look too enamored when he asked about going down to the creek where they had shared their first kiss.

“I’ll help you,” Evan said. “Still got that mountain lion on my mind, and even though the cat’s probably long gone, I’d feel better if someone is with you girls.”

“Thank you, Evan,” Mr. Gardner said.

“If Evan’s helping Nellie, I want to go fishing,” Alice said. “That okay with you Pa?”

Mr. Gardner looked from Alice to Nellie, and then to Evan. “I think that would be fine,” he said.

While the fishers got their supplies together, Nellie and Evan gathered the dishes and cooking pots and headed for the creek. Neither of them said anything until they reached the creek bank.

“You were clever to sing and walk backward when that mountain lion was after you,” Nellie said. She set her dishes in the creek to soak.

“Oh, that was something Mr. Jones had told me to do back when I was a kid.”

“I know, but you remembered to do it. I’m sure I would have panicked and forgot his advice.”

Evan chuckled. “Mr. Jones warned me to stay calm, too, but I didn’t feel calm. I think I kind of froze to the spot for several minutes.”

Nellie took the pots from him, and her hand brushed against his. She inhaled a breath of air, and lowered the pots into the creek. They spoke at the same time.

“I—”

“Nellie—”

She was in his arms in seconds, and he gently kissed her. “Oh, Nellie,” he said, brushing his lips against hers again. Then holding her to his chest, he groaned. “I’m so in love with you, Nellie Gardner, but it’s killing me. I’m not good enough to ask for your hand.”

Nellie stepped back, looking into his dark eyes. “You’re the finest man I know,” she said softly.

He led her to the rocks where they had dangled their feet in the water, and they sat down, taking off their boots and stockings. Once they had their feet relaxing in the cold water, Evan held her hand and rubbed his thumb over her palm. “I come from a poor family,” he said. “My family’s been destitute for years, and your father’s provided a comfortable living for you and your family. I can’t ask you to accept the kind of life I’ve lived.”

Nellie realized that his concerns were the very ones that had been bothering her for weeks. “But you always work so hard,” she said. “I’ve watched you. I believe you’ll be a hard worker and a success all of your life, just like my pa.”

“And it doesn’t bother you about the attitude of some of the people in town?”

“They’ll change their attitudes, and eventually admit they were wrong. I have no doubt about that anymore.”

Evan brought her hand to his lips.

“There is one thing that concerns me,” Nellie said, holding her breath. This could make all the difference in their relationship. She looked at him and bit her upper lip, trying to decide whether to ask her question, or not. She reached down and swished her fingers through the cold water. Finally, knowing the answer was important to her, she spoke. “Why don’t you and your family attend church?”

Evan wrinkled his brow as though surprised at her question. Then he looked off across the creek. It was some time before he spoke. “We don’t attend church because my little sisters have to share shoes,” he finally said. “We haven’t had enough shoes for the girls to go to church or school at the same time. But now, after working for your Pa all these weeks, I plan to order the girls new shoes when I get home. I already promised the girls, and they’re excited.”

“You don’t worship because your family doesn’t have enough shoes? That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Oh, we worship all right, but we worship in our home. Ma doesn’t want one of the girls to attend church with bare feet, or leave anyone home alone. She wants us to worship together as a family. We sing hymns, study the Bible, and pray together.” He shook his head and looked at Nellie with sorrowful eyes. “But it’s true that we haven’t attended church for quite some time. I guess that looks bad in the eyes of the community.”

Nellie thought over what he’d said, and it made sense to her that his sisters wouldn’t want to attend church without shoes. But a persistent concern remained. Did the fact that his family worshiped at home and not at church really matter? It shouldn’t make any difference, but for some reason, it still bothered her. And it bothered her more to think that his sisters had to share shoes. She and her sisters shared ribbons and clothing, but only because they wanted to, never because there weren’t enough to go around. They never shared their shoes.

Nellie brushed at her ear as the buzzing of a mosquito caught her attention. “It’s starting to get dark,” she said. “We’d better get these dishes washed and get back to camp before the mosquitoes feast on us.”

“I’m going to miss seeing you every day,” Evan said. “You’ve no idea how much these past few weeks have meant to me.”

“They’ve meant just as much to me,” Nellie said softly, placing her free hand on the hand that held hers.

Evan stood and pulled Nellie to her feet. “Do you really mean that? Would you really consider spending your life with the poorest man in town?”

Nellie pulled away from him, and placed her hands on her hips, almost slipping off the rock and into the creek. “I’m going to think on that, Evan Howell,” she said. “I’m going to think on that and pray about it. But I don’t want you to ever call yourself the poorest man in town again. You’re not poor. You are one of the richest people I know in what really matters in life.”

Evan responded by gently pulling her into his arms. Their kiss filled her with a pounding in her heart, and with joy and hope for the future.

Two days later, Nellie prepared one of the last meals for the survey crew. She was so happy to have the survey end. She was ready for that warm bath she’d been thinking about and her own bed. She was excited to see the rest of her family. The days had been wonderful out in the open countryside, especially this year with Evan here, but she was tired of dirt, spiders, ants, and the occasional snake in camp.

Nellie thought back to Evan’s kisses and their last conversation. She still wasn’t sure that Evan’s shoe story was reason enough not to go to church, but she had never gone without shoes in her life. How could she judge? Mrs. Stribling had been resolute that she should marry a man who loved the Lord if she wanted to have true happiness. But if his family worships together at home every Sunday like he said, doesn’t that mean that he loves the Lord?

Her thoughts confused her, and made her sigh.

When Nellie and Alice climbed into the wagon that night, they said their prayers as usual. Nellie asked for safety during the night as she had since the first night they camped in the valley. She had prayed about the possibility of marrying Evan for two nights in a row now, but she had not received any type of confirmation that her desire was right for her. She hoped and prayed that Evan was the right man, because the very thought of him filled her soul with a longing that she hadn’t known before.

After brushing their hair and pulling it into loose braids, Nellie and Alice snuggled into bed and pulled up the covers.

“Did Evan kiss you the other night?” Alice asked.

“That’s none of your business,” Nellie said, but she smiled into the darkness.

“It is my business! I’m the one who went fishing so you could be alone with him.”

“Hush, you silly.”

Alice giggled. “I know he kissed you,” she said quietly.

“Goodnight,” Nellie said.

“I hope Evan kissed you because I like him for you.”

“Goodnight, you little rattlebrain.” Nellie was almost asleep, thinking about Evan, when Alice shook her arm.

“Did you hear that?”

“What?” Nellie asked.

“That breathing.”

“What breathing?”

“Listen.”

Nellie listened, and squeezed Alice’s hand. Sure enough, there was a raspy breathing sound, almost a guttural growl that came from the tree branches directly overhead. Along with the raspy breathing came a rank odor and the noise of something slowly shifting in the branches above.

“The mountain lion . . .” Alice’s whispered words were filled with terror, and she dug her fingers into Nellie’s arm.

Nellie inhaled, wanting to scream, but for one terrible moment, was unable to. The only thing between the big cat and them was a sheet of canvas. She remembered Evan’s words about staying calm, but she felt more paralyzed than calm. With a prayer in her heart, she remembered that the noise of the rifle shot had scared the big cat away. “When I say ‘three,’ scream as loud as you can,” she whispered to Alice.

“One . . . two . . . three!”

Both girls screamed in unison, their voices piercing the night air. A distinct ripping of the canvas above them, and then a crash to the ground had them clinging to each other. Evan reached the wagon within seconds, and the rest of the men barreled out of the tent, Mr. Gardner and Charlie each carrying rifles.

“Are you girls all right?” Evan called out.

Mr. Gardner started to climb into the wagon, but Alice appeared in the moonlight and jumped into his arms, knocking him backward.

“Pa! The mountain lion!” she cried.

Mr. Gardner backed away from the wagon and held his younger daughter while Nellie climbed down. Nellie turned about halfway down and jumped to the ground in her nightclothes, flinging herself into Evan’s arms, half laughing, half crying in her terrified state. Then, while Evan held her, she buried her face into his chest and cried some more. When she got control of her emotions, she looked around at Alice and the men standing in the pale light. Everyone was staring at Evan and her. She stepped away from Evan and smoothed her braided hair with her hand. She tried to deflect her actions and the emotions that were surging through her. “I’ve prayed for safety every night since we’ve been here. I’m so glad Alice and I didn’t forget to pray tonight.”

“Me too,” Alice said, still clinging to her father.

Mr. Gardner nodded. He held his rifle in one hand and kept his other arm firmly around Alice.

“We need two prayers tonight,” Evan said, his voice calm and even.

Charlie and Alice responded at the same time. “Two prayers?”

“Yes, Nellie prayed for safety, and she and Alice were protected tonight. We should say another prayer, a prayer of gratitude. I’ll say it if that’s all right.”

“Thank you, Evan,” Mr. Gardner said. “That would surely be appreciated.”

Nellie wanted to return to the security of Evans arms, but knew that was inappropriate. She had made quite a spectacle of herself already. She folded her arms around her chest and bowed her head instead.

The members of the survey crew stood in a circle while Evan prayed. He expressed gratitude for the wonderful few weeks they had shared together, completing the survey. He expressed gratitude that their injuries had been minor, and that Nellie and Alice had been protected from the mountain lion. He expressed gratitude for the beautiful countryside and all of God’s creations. When he finished, the men dragged their bedrolls out of the tent, and placed them near the wagon for the rest of the night. Mr. Gardner insisted that the cougar was on top of a mountain by now, but he kept his rifle at his side.

Early the following morning, Mr. Gardner studied the deep paw prints off to the side of the wagon. “Mountain lion for sure,” he said, and then he reached up to touch the wagon’s torn bonnet. “You girls are great screamers. I think you scared the lion more with your screaming than I did with my rifle shot the other day. I don’t think that cat will bother anyone anymore.”

“That’s what you said before,” Nellie replied.

“I want to go home,” Alice whined.

Mr. Gardner grinned and placed his arm around Alice. “I’m more than ready for home myself. We’ll wrap up the survey this afternoon and head out. There are just a few more measurements we need, and now that the roads are good and dry, we should make it home before dark.”

Nellie and Alice hurried to make breakfast. While they worked, the men took down the tent and packed everything they didn’t need for the day. After breakfast, Mr. Gardner sent Charlie and Nelson off to take the last measurements. He sent Alice to the wagon to pack up the girls’ bedding and make room for the equipment and supplies that needed to be loaded onto the bed.

At last, Mr. Gardner turned to Nellie and Evan. “We need to talk,” he said.

10

Evan’s stomach churned as he waited for his talk with Nellie’s father to begin. What must Mr. Gardner think of him after Nellie had thrown herself into his arms last night? Of course, he had immediately pulled her to his chest and held her. She had been terrified, shaking, almost in hysterics. He had only wanted to comfort her, to help her feel safe and secure.

After what Mr. Gardner witnessed, though, would this be the last time he worked for the Gardner family? Would this be the last time he was allowed to see Nellie? Evan thought back to all the times he’d spent with her over the years. He remembered exactly when he fell in love. Nellie had been ten years old and had climbed a tree outside their schoolroom, daring him to climb up beside her. She was fun and energetic, and she had never looked down on him like so many of the other kids in town.

Evan had spent a lot of time in the Gardner home over the years because of his friendship with both Charlie and Nellie. The Gardner family almost treated him like another son. Would that end now? Would Nellie’s parents ban him from their home? Evan clenched his jaw and rubbed the back of his neck. Everything had been appropriate in his and Nellie’s relationship, he felt sure, but he no longer had any confidence in how Mr. Gardner felt about him.

Once the rest of the crew was busy with their assignments, Mr. Gardner turned his attention to Nellie and Evan. The sky was a perfect blue without a cloud on the horizon. Birds flitted in the trees, chirping and darting from limb to limb. The cool breeze that had greeted them at the beginning of the day had disappeared, leaving the sun beating down in waves of heat.

Mr. Gardner motioned for Evan and Nellie to join him in the shade of some aspen trees. He directed his comments to Evan. “That was a pretty strong show of emotion between you and Nellie last night,” he said. “I need to know what your intentions are regarding my daughter.”

Evan and Nellie looked at each other. When Nellie’s lips curved into the slightest smile, and her hand reached for his, Evan’s fear receded. He took in a huge breath. “I’d like to ask for Nellie’s hand in marriage,” he said, and then hurried on with his request. “I have nothing to offer her now, but I’ll be old enough to apply for land of my own soon. I’ll work hard to provide for us. I . . . I know I’m the poorest . . .”

Evan broke off his sentence when he saw Nellie slowly shake her head.

“I’m a hard worker, Mr. Gardner,” he said. “I promise to devote all of my life to supporting your daughter, to obtaining land to farm, and to build a home for her.” Evan pulled out his neckerchief with his free hand, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The heat from the sun seemed to have intensified in the last few moments.

“I love your daughter, Mr. Gardner.” Evan’s voice mellowed out like the whisper of a calm breeze. “I’ve loved Nellie and your family for a long time.”

Mr. Gardner cleared his throat. “I see,” he said. When he looked at Nellie, his expression softened considerably. “And how do you feel about this?”

Nellie stepped even closer to Evan. “I love Evan,” she said. “I believe he will always be a hard-working man like you, Pa. Have you seen how hard he’s worked these last few weeks? He’s the first to start and the last to quit, and he’s good and kind to me, and to his family. Right now, he gives the money he earns to his ma to take care of her and his sisters.”

Mr. Gardner tipped his hat back on his head and scratched his head. “Now hold on, daughter. I already know all these things about Evan. I simply wanted to know how he feels about you, and how you feel about him. You see, your ma and I have watched Evan and you for a number of years now. We could see what was happening between the two of you. Our concern originally was Evan’s work ethic and how he treated his family.”

Evan slowly inhaled a lungful of air. His hopes crashed. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner would wonder about his work ethic and how he treated his family. Hadn’t they, along with the whole town of Clover Creek, watched as his father disappeared for months and years at a time, and how his mother struggled to care for her children? They probably thought he would turn out to be a drifter like his pa.

Hadn’t he proven anything about his work ethic to anyone over the years?

Mr. Gardner looked Evan in the eye. “Evan, I’ve purposely hired you the last few years to watch you work, and to see how you treated my family, especially Nellie. I’ve never been disappointed. Never. You work harder than most. You’re conscientious and kind. You’re honest. You’re reliable. I could go on. But you need to know that I’ve had an ulterior motive in hiring you for this survey.”

Evan’s eyes widened, his brow raised. Everything that Mr. Gardner had said made him feel confused. What was the man’s true motive?

“Charlie has confided in me that he doesn’t want to take over my surveying business when I’m older,” Mr. Gardner said. “He wants to run the farm. And with all the growth southern Idaho is seeing, I’ll be busier than ever with survey work in the coming years. I’ll need Charlie to run the farm. But I need another surveyor too. Nelson is only interested in helping during the summer. He plans to take over his pa’s blacksmith shop eventually.”

Mr. Gardner took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “More people are coming to this part of the country. More towns and farms need to be mapped out. More roads and canals need to be built, even dams on the rivers. I’m offering you a permanent job, son, if you want it. As you know by now, it’s a very technical job and not an easy one, but you are smart, and yes, you are a hard worker. You will make a fine surveyor if you’re interested.”

Evan grinned as Nellie threw her arms around her father. His grin broadened when she turned back to him and reached for his hand again. “I’d like the job, sir,” he said. “I’ve loved the challenge of these past few weeks, and working alongside the crew. I’m fascinated by your instruments and calculations. I’ll learn everything you want me to learn, and I’ll work hard for you.”

“I know you will,” Mr. Gardner said. “I have no doubt. And don’t forget . . . someday you might be the head surveyor and this business will be yours if you want it. As for my daughter’s hand in marriage, you have my approval . . . and my wife’s approval I might add. We’ve seen this coming and discussed our feelings many times. Mrs. Gardner heartily approves of you, and everything I’ve said to you.”

Evan and Mr. Gardner shook hands. Nellie kissed her pa, and then she kissed Evan on the cheek, right in front of her pa.

* * *

Once the last details of the survey were wrapped up, the campsite cleaned, and the last of the tools and instruments loaded into the wagons, Mr. Gardner changed the order of who rode in which wagon. Nellie had climbed up and sat on the chuck wagon seat, expecting Alice to sit beside her.

Instead, Mr. Gardner announced that he and Alice would take the first wagon, Nelson the second, and Charlie the third. When he announced that Nellie and Evan would bring up the rear in the chuck wagon, Nellie’s heart soared. She had to deal with Alice’s teasing looks, and Charlie’s raised brows, but she didn’t care. When Evan climbed up beside her, she happily offered the lines to him and smiled at her siblings. Her smile may as well have said, Let the whole world know that I am going to be Mrs. Evan Howell in the near future.

As the horses leaned into their harnesses and the wagons rolled forward, Nellie gently placed her hand on Evan’s arm. “Well, Mr. Howell, how do you feel about becoming a surveyor?” she asked.

“Well, Miss Gardner, I’m still reeling from the results of this surveying job. I always assumed Charlie would follow in your father’s footsteps, even though I knew his heart was in farming.”

“What about the other part of becoming a surveyor?”

“You mean the part about marrying the surveyor’s daughter?”

“Definitely,” she said.

“That’s the best part,” he said, patting her hand, and leaning into her shoulder. “But honestly, I’m still in disbelief about the results of this job. I can’t believe that the lovely Nellie Gardner has agreed to marry me. Me of all people! And I can’t believe your pa gave us his permission. The whole thing seems too wonderful to be true.”

“Do you want to know how I made up my mind about wanting to marry you?” Nellie asked.

“I’d love to know.”

“Well, you’re kind and thoughtful, and you’ve rescued me from bad experiences more than once. Do you remember when I climbed that tree at school when we were just kids?”

“Never forgotten it.”

“I was showing off,” Nellie said, “but I went too far out on that limb. You climbed up and helped me down. I’ve never forgotten that.”

Evan kissed the side of her head, and then kissed her cheek.

“You’re so good to your ma and your sisters,” Nellie added, “and to my family. Mrs. Stribling told Ruby and I to look for a man who treats his family with love and respect. I’ve seen that in you so many times over the years.”

“Maybe I should give Mrs. Stribling a kiss on the cheek,” Evan joked.

“Mrs. Stribling also told me to look for a man who loves the Lord. I knew for sure I wanted to marry you when you said we should have two prayers last night. Anyone who thinks to express gratitude at a time like that, knows and loves the Lord.”

Evan grinned at her. “I’m definitely giving Mrs. Stribling a kiss on the cheek when we see her next. Do you want to know how I made up my mind about wanting to marry you?”

“By all means,” Nellie said, scooting herself close enough to him that she could feel the muscles in his arm as he worked with the horses.

“Well, it started up in that tree years ago. You were so cute and fearless until that limb started to bend down. And then, when I helped you, you thanked me. I think you were the first person in that school to thank me for anything.” He chuckled as though he took pleasure in the memory. “But that wasn’t all. I liked the way you treated Charlie. He was so much shorter than both of us at the time, and a pesky brother I might add, but you were always kind to him. I actually took a bigger interest in helping my little sisters after I watched the way you treated Charlie.”

Nellie laid her head on his shoulder for a few moments as the wagon rocked back and forth and the horses climbed the hill out of the valley. She felt content remembering their childhoods and how their feelings for each other had developed over the years.

“Nevertheless, I never thought I had a chance with you because of my family’s circumstances,” Evan said. His voice sounded a little strangled as he spoke. “Until that day in front of your cellar door. Do you remember that day? You chased after me and held my hands in yours just to see me off. That meant so much to me, and I knew then I would never be a happy man without you beside me. Your hands trembled in mine that day, and I wanted to kiss them, or better yet, kiss you, but I didn’t dare.”

Nellie’s giggles filled the air. She straightened on the wagon seat, thinking that maybe someday far in the future she would tell him the real reason why she held his hands and guarded the cellar door. “You can kiss me now,” she said, her eyes dancing and her mind remembering.

“Right here?”

She nodded, and he immediately stopped the horses. “This is the perfect spot,” Evan said. “Look at that little valley behind us. That’s where I’d like to have a home. A place of our own right by that creek where we first kissed.”

“I’d like that too,” Nellie said, softly.

They both looked at the valley for a few moments, and then at each other. Their kiss was warm and sweet, and before it was over, Nellie knew she didn’t want to wait too long to marry this amazing man.

* * *

Author’s Note

When I was a young girl, my grandmother made pies for our extended family picnics. She carried eight or ten pies in her pie safes, two wooden boxes that held four or five pies on individual shelves. A thin board slid into place to keep the pies from spilling out the front and a handle on top made them easy to carry. Grandma ran a pie business during the depression when she was younger and raising her eleven children. When my father was twelve, he used to deliver grandma’s pies in their southern Idaho town along with his dog, Colley. Colley pulled the wagon over the bumpy terrain, and my father walked aside the wagon to make sure the pie safe didn’t tip over.

Pie safes were used by women in the 1800’s before iceboxes came into regular use. Many of the safes were large pieces of furniture about the size of a bureau to store bread, meat, and other perishables. These safes were usually made with long legs to keep them away from the floor, but box safes like my grandmother used were smaller and compact and used to carry pies to a barn dance or a church social.

In Her Believing Heart, and with fond memories of my grandmother’s pies, I knew Nellie wanted to make apple pies for the survey crew, and that she’d transport them over the bumpy wagon roads in her mother’s pie safe.

* * *

Thank you for reading Nellie’s story.

If you’ve enjoyed Her Believing Heart, watch for more books in The Surveyor’s Daughters series. There will be eight books total in the series, and all stand alone. Please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews help more readers find my books and are really appreciated. Thank you so very much.

* * *

I love to hear from readers. You can email me at vicki@vickihuntbudge.com. To hear about the upcoming books you can find me on the web at vickihuntbudge.com or on Facebook at VickiHuntBudgeAuthor.

The Next Book

Watch for Ruby’s Rhapsody.

It is Nellie’s younger sister’s story, and will be available within a few weeks. I’ve included a sneak peek of Ruby’s story here.

* * *

Ruby Gardner tapped her foot on the wooden floor to the sound of the fiddler tuning his fiddle. She and two of her sisters, Belle and Cora, waited together for the dance to start. They stood inside the schoolhouse entrance, waving at some people, hugging others, and helping the older ladies find seats near the music or the food. The Saturday night dance was the biggest event of the week in Clover Creek, Idaho.

Ruby’s mother and her four youngest sisters helped with the food, setting out platters of cake and cookies. Ruby’s brother Charlie helped bring in jugs of fresh apple cider. Everyone laughed and chatted happily, the fiddle music seeming to wash away everyday cares and responsibilities.

After a while, the fiddler brought his warmup music to a close and conferred with Ruby’s father and Mr. Jepson who were standing close by. Mr. Jepson, the owner of the mercantile and post office, called the dances. He shook his head now, as though perplexed about something. Ruby’s father walked over to where Charlie helped at the food table, and spoke to him. Charlie took off out the front door in a sprint.

“Mr. Banks makes that fiddle sing,” Ruby said, sighing. Her toes tapped out part of the last tune he’d whipped through in his warm up. Her blue eyes sparkled. “And he’s so cute.”

“He’d be cuter if he smiled,” Belle said. “He’s the only stone-faced fiddler I’ve ever heard of.”

Ruby shrugged and tucked an errant blond curl behind her ear. “He’s serious about his music.”

“You’re serious about your music,” Cora argued, “but you glow when you play the organ. You’re never gloomy like Mr. Banks.”

“His fiddling isn’t gloomy,” Belle said. “Only his face. His fiddling is wild and fun. Makes me want to dance all night. You’d think he’d be grinning all over the place when he picks up the bow and fiddle.”

“His fiddling takes my breath away.” Ruby sighed, and leaned up on the tips of her toes. The townsfolk who had crowded into the schoolhouse were blocking her view of the fiddler. “Mr. Banks is simply divine, and I adore his music.”

Belle waved to one of her friends who had entered the building, motioning for her to come and join them. “I wish Mr. Banks would hurry and start,” she said. “I’m ready to dance!”

It was then that Ruby noticed the reed organ player hadn’t taken his place at the organ. Where is that man? The fiddler wasn’t the only one who created lively music that made people want to dance, clap, and stomp their feet. Mr. Jones, the older gentleman who played the reed organ like it was an extension of himself, was missing. Ruby adored Mr. Jones. He was the one responsible for her love of playing the organ with gusto, as he had coached her for the past ten years.

Charlie reentered the schoolhouse, a somber look on his face. He walked straight to Ruby and placed his hands on her shoulders. “It’s your turn, little sis,” he said. “Mr. Jones isn’t feeling well. He said that if there’s going to be organ accompaniment tonight, it’s up to you.”

“Me?” Ruby squeaked. She took note of the only exit where more townsfolk streamed in. Ruby loved to play the organ, more than anyone in her family, but not for the dance.

Sometimes her mother and father excused Ruby from family chores to play fast-paced music while they and the others worked. Everyone said they worked twice as fast when Ruby played the organ, and the chores were done in no time.

Charlie winked at Ruby, and then walked across the floor to where their father, Mr. Jepson, and the fiddler stood waiting for him. Ruby could see them conversing and looking her way. She loved playing the organ at home, but she had never played in front of so many people. And besides, Nathan Banks, the fiddle player intimidated her. It wasn’t just his superb fiddling or his dour expression. It was his kindhearted manner in school with her younger siblings, his dignified presence in the community, and his dangerous-looking dark eyes. For the past year and a half, since the schoolteacher had first come to Clover Creek, Ruby had wondered why a man who had to be nearly ten years older than her wasn’t married. She had secretly thought he would make a splendid husband for someone who loved music.

Someone like her.

* * *

Also by Vicki Hunt Budge

Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Hope & Healing Series

Intercession

Renewal

Deliverance

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to you, the reader. You make the whole process worthwhile. I often get lost in time when working with my characters and telling their stories because I enjoy writing about them so much. But nothing thrills me more than to have someone say they loved the book and/or the characters.

I am indebted to Lou Ella, Angie, Mark, and Michelle. Their insights and suggestions were invaluable and greatly improved this book.

A special thank you to Malary Bartholomew for editing this manuscript, and to Erin Dameron-Hill of EDHGraphics for the amazing cover art!

I’d like to express my love and gratitude to my husband and best friend. His devotion and encouragement mean everything to me.

I want to acknowledge the help and guidance I received to countless prayers about my writing. When I prayed, the answers always came. The joy of writing increased tenfold during these moments.

About the Author

Vicki Hunt Budge grew up in southern Idaho with a mother who read to her and a father who taught her to golf and swim. She attended Idaho State University and the University of Utah. Vicki and her husband raised four children on a small peppermint farm in Central Oregon. She has always loved history and the settling of the west because years ago her ancestors broke up sod and sagebrush in southern Idaho to farm and raise their families. In addition to her family, Vicki enjoys reading, family history, long walks along the river trails, writing sweet historical western romance and contemporary women’s fiction, and not cooking. Nothing makes her happier than beating her grandchildren at the game of Aggravation, or their wild celebrations when they beat her.