Seasons of Bliss (Saskatchewan Saga Book #4) Read Online Free

being given to clearing his throat at auspicious moments. Tierney jumped a bit, startled into giving attention to something other than Robbie Dunbar’s peculiar reaction to an invitation to supper during their final moments together.
    “This place we’re passing,” Herbert said, nodding to his left, “is the homestead of Robert Dunbar’s brother, Allan. As he said, the two places are much alike.”
    Tierney studied with interest the small cabin in the clearing in the bush and the collection of additional buildings, which she supposed were barn, chicken house, and perhaps shed or granary. It was rough, it was raw, it was rudimentary—just thebasic things needed to get started. And yet there was a charm about it that caught and held a breath in Tierney’s throat.
    Perhaps it was the trees, in their crisp new spring green. Perhaps it was the blossoms that graced some of those trees and promised a harvest of fruit, wild though it might be and of a sort unknown to her. Whatever it was, the buildings cuddled in the arms of the bush, Tierney thought fancifully, rather than huddled. Both places—Robbie’s and Allan’s—looked so homey.
    Far from home, still it seemed to Tierney that she had found home.
    It was a strange sensation. And confusing; it was a feeling she would have to explore as time and experience allowed. Perhaps it would pass as the people of the community became known as humans with joys and problems the same as any other spot in the world, their homes just places of abode like everywhere else.
    “Ahem,” Herbert said, getting Tierney’s attention. “Your comment back there—about something being wrong where Robert Dunbar is concerned—”
    “Aye?”
    “Maybe,” Herbert Bloom said, “you are imagining it. You haven’t seen Robert for a while, have you? How can you be certain you are reading the signs correctly? I’d give him the benefit of the doubt, if I were you. This country changes people, you know. Why, I myself—”
    “I know Robbie Dunbar, Mr. Bloom,” Tierney said quietly, though positively.
    Herbert Bloom took a moment to reflect on the fact that indeed even he, a stranger in most ways to Robbie Dunbar, had noticed the definite paling of the ruddy face and the almost stricken look that had touched the gray eyes.
    “Well,” he said placatingly, “it’ll all straighten out tomorrow when you see him. He had to be very surprised, isn’t that so?”
    “Verra surprised indeed,” Tierney confirmed. “As I was to see him. I had no idea he was within a thousand miles o’ here. You see, I left Binkiebrae before his family had heard from him and his brother. I mean, they didn’t know where he was, so theycouldn’t write and tell him I’d coom over too. And even if they had, letters take a long time, goin’ overseas and all.”
    “Yes, I suppose it seems very far indeed. Lydia and I were born in Canada, in the east, actually, so we never had that long ocean voyage to endure, though our parents did, and have told us about it many times. They always talked of taking a trip back—to England, that is—back home. But we never made it, of course. Once here it’s very unusual to be able to afford to go back just for a pleasure trip. No, it’s good-bye for all time.”
    “Aye, and that’s what Robbie and I thought when we parted, he to coom to Canada, me to stay in Binkiebrae. Heaven knows we niver thought to meet up like this. I hoped that in time I’d hear from me brother, and maybe he’d have some idea where Robbie was, and I could write to him. Even then—well, it’s a big land, reet?”
    “Right, a big, big land. It was no picnic for us, either, coming this far west, I can tell you.” Herbert Bloom clucked, as though recalling very difficult days indeed. “Maybe Lydia and I left it too late in life; one needs to be young to make such changes. But our daughter was coming—Lavinia, and her husband, Will. And they moved. And she had our first grandchild.
    “And here we