Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot Read Free Book Online Page B

tongue in your mouth.”
    “Fine.” Jake reached for a slice of bread and slathered butter on it, making it clear that he had no intention of speaking again.
    Daniel had no such compunction. “Jake got to harness the horses. He’s so lucky.”
    Rolled eyes and an exasperated look were Jake’s only response. Harriet turned toward Ruth, who had been unusually silent ever since she had announced that she hated going to the market. “Supper is delicious, Ruth. Thank you for making it.”
    Ruth gave a dramatic sigh and looked at Jake, as if searching for an ally.
    Mary tugged on Harriet’s hand. “I helped too.”
    “Yes, you did. Thank you, Mary.” As her sister smiled, Harriet took a deep breath. At least the three youngest children were happy. Ruth and Jake would adjust. They’d have to.

    “I’m going to do it, Mutter.” Karl Friedrich entered the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively. If he wasn’t mistaken, his mother had made chicken and dumplings, one of his favorite dishes. Had she somehow guessed they would have a reason to celebrate tonight?
    She brushed the flour from her hands and turned to face him. “Do what?”
    “Take me a wife.” He’d been thinking about it ever since last night, and the answer was clear. This was what he was meant to do. “You’ve been saying it was time I married, and you were right. She’s the one for me.”
    A small frown crossed his mother’s face. “Who is this woman?”
    Karl supposed it was only normal that Mutter would be concerned. After all, she would have to share her kitchen with his wife. But when she heard the woman’s name, he knew she would be relieved. “Miss Kirk. Harriet.”
    His mother’s frown did not ease. If anything, it deepened. “But, son, you’ve only just met her. She seems like a fine woman, but . . .”
    “She’ll be perfect. Didn’t you see how she kept those children in line? There’s no nonsense about her. She’ll be a good helpmeet, and those boys can work on the farm. I tell you, Mutter, she’s perfect.”
    His mother folded her hands and was silent for a long moment. This was not what he had expected. He had thought she would be pleased. When she spoke, her voice was solemn. “It is true your father and I would like to see you married. If this were the Old Country, we would already have chosen a bride for you, but it’s not as easy here. We can’t simply go to a woman’s parents and arrange a marriage. Women here expect to be courted.”
    Karl shrugged. Was that all that was bothering Mutter? “So, I’ll court her.” How difficult could it be?

4
    “We need to catch those rustlers,” Lawrence said as he looked at the western end of the Bar C and Lazy B ranches. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins. This was why he’d come to Ladreville, to uphold the law, not to think about marriage, a gray-eyed schoolmarm, and a child who reminded him of the worst day of his life. “The courts may not believe taking a dozen head of cattle is as serious as stealing one horse, but the way I figure it, stealing is stealing, and it’s wrong.”
    “You won’t get an argument from me.” The dark-haired man whose eyes were as blue as the Texas sky tugged on the brim of his hat in a futile attempt to block the sun.
    “Here’s where it happened.” Zach extended his arm to the left.
    Lawrence squinted, then nodded. The rustlers had chosen well. The rolling hills that characterized this part of the state were a bit higher here, and the underbrush showed less evidence of grazing. Combined, the two provided adequate hiding spots for men and horses. The cattle wouldn’t be spooked, and if other humans ventured into the area, the rustlers had cover. Most importantly, two of the hills joined to create a narrow divide, not quite a canyon, but close enough for rustlers’ needs.
    “It makes sense,” Lawrence said. As much as he hated to admire criminals’ brains, he had to admit that these had shown more sense than others he