The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [20]
Maybe he should have laughed or grinned at what other men would have thought a joke. But John didn’t imagine the 5T would ever be a threat to Oberlander’s profits. At least not any time soon. “Maybe in about ten years. I promised myself when my brothers turned eighteen, I’d give them a plot of land so they can start their own ranching or do whatever they want. Evan will be of age in two days.”
“Is that what brought you here last week?”
This time a smile tugged at John’s mouth. “I don’t normally carry that much money with me.”
Oberlander removed his cigar and studied it as though his answers were written on the brown, tightly wound tobacco leaves. “I suppose we could work out something. I’ve got plenty of land as it is. I know we already have a deal to breed Queen Victoria to your stallion, but it would sweeten the deal if I could bring other mares.”
Whatever it takes to sweeten the deal. “Bring her over whenever you’re ready. And we can talk about breeding more in the future.”
“Your brothers are pretty lucky to have you looking out for them.”
“My pa would have wanted them to have a good start. Evan plans to be a vet so I don’t know what he’ll eventually do with the land.”
“What if he wants to sell it back to you? Costs money to go to school.”
“Then I’ll buy it.”
“Tough paying for land twice.” Oberlander stood. “I respect what you’re doing for your brothers. Let’s ride over to the piece you’ve got your eye on. How many acres are you wanting?”
“Six hundred forty.”
“If you have the money, we can make a deal.”
The first thing that had gone right in two weeks.
Bert sat on the front step and listened to Davis read from the Bible. The boy knew more words than she did. In fact, her reading and writing were pitiful. Pa had seen no use in sending her to school, said she didn’t need to know a thing but women chores. Gideon had taught her anyway until Pa found out and threatened to kick him out. That happened before a horse threw Pa. He couldn’t walk anymore or use the leather strap on Bert, but he sure could holler and swear.
“Would you like to read from the Bible?” Miss Leah said from the rocker. “I know it’s new to you, but I could pick out something easier to understand than what Davis is reading.”
Heat rose up Bert’s neck. “No thank you, ma’am. Listening to Davis is fine with me.”
“I have other books, if you’d like to look through them.”
“Don’t you think Davis and I should finish picking and shelling the peas before they get too hard?”
“I’d rather read,” Davis said. “Can I look through the books?”
“You know where they are under my bed.” Miss Leah watched him disappear into the house, then stood and took a seat beside Bert on the porch steps. “My dear, do you have trouble reading?”
Bert inwardly moaned. No point in lying. She already had too many of those smacking her in the face. “I don’t read much.”
“Would you like for me to help you?”
Bert’s heart thumped like a rabbit’s hind foot. “I’d be embarrassed for the others to find out.”
Miss Leah tilted her head and touched Bert’s cheek. “Seems to me admitting those things that don’t come easy would say more for your integrity than running from them.”
Bert had no idea what “integrity” meant, but she did know what running was all about. “Why would you want to help me?”
“Because I see a young woman who’s beautiful, and I think her beauty is inside as well as out. I also see a young woman who’s frightened, and the best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on with knowledge.”
Up to this moment, Bert detested being a girl—boys were able to do what they wanted with their lives. Spending time with Leah was slowly changing her thinking. Being a girl might not be so bad after all. She liked Leah, and sometimes she wondered if her own ma had been like this good woman. But Bert hoped the kindness wasn’t a trick to get her to tell things she couldn’t. “Picking and shelling peas I can do.”
“Of all the vegetables that come on in the garden, shelling peas is my least favorite. But doing what I don’t enjoy means we’ll have peas when the winter winds blow. We’ll get the