Where Willows Grow Read Online Free

does, Harley. And just because He hasn’t answered the way we want Him to doesn’t mean He hasn’t been listening. We don’t have any right to think He’s handling things wrong just because we think a different way.’’
    Harley didn’t care for the tone she used—the tone that said she knew more than he did. He uncrossed his arms and pressed his hands onto the worn countertop, his elbows splayed outward. ‘‘You believe your way, an’ I’ll believe mine. We’ve got along fine just lettin’ one another be on that subject.’’
    She pursed her lips and said nothing, but he could tell by her downturned mouth that she didn’t like letting it go.
    ‘‘I know I can’t make it rain for you, but I figure I can do something about the lack of money comin’ in here.’’
    ‘‘What, Harley?’’ She sounded bitter. ‘‘What are you going to sell now?’’
    ‘‘Not selling anything.’’ He took a deep breath, threw back his shoulders, and announced firmly, ‘‘But I ain’t gonna stick around here and try to coax that ground to bring up corn that sells so low I might as well give it away. I’m leavin’, Annie.’’

3
    L EAVING ? H E WAS LEAVING HER ? Anna Mae dropped the plate into the dishpan. Water and suds spattered her front. A few droplets even caught Harley on the arm. She grabbed her apron and reached to dry his shirt-sleeve.
    He caught her wrist. ‘‘Annie, look at me.’’
    But she wouldn’t. As angry as she’d been at his decision to sell those mules, she hadn’t meant to make him go away. If she looked at him, he’d read the begging of her heart— Don’t go! Don’t go! And she couldn’t let him see that before he walked out the door.
    ‘‘Annie!’’ His voice became insistent, although he kept it low. He released her wrist to grasp her chin between his finger and thumb and turn her face upward. But she kept her eyes averted. ‘‘Listen to me, Annie. The WPA is hiring men to build a castle over near Lindsborg. Martin at the store told me that’s in Saline County—only a few hours away. The WPA pays good wages, all things considered. According to Martin, I’d qualify since the farm hasn’t produced enough worth claimin’ for the past two years. He says they might even put me up and feed me, an’ I’d be able to send home maybe twenty-five, thirty dollars a month.’’
    Anna Mae processed what he’d said. He wasn’t leaving for good—just for a while, to take a job. At least, that was what he was telling her . . .
    ‘‘Twenty-five dollars or more a month, Annie!’’ He gave her chin a little jerk that forced her gaze to meet his. His blue eyes—blue as the Kansas sky—captured her heart once more. ‘‘That’d see to you an’ the girls’ needs and then some, what with the egg and milk money that drizzles in. It’d be something to keep us going until farm prices go up again.’’
    Anna Mae pulled loose and busied herself swiping a cloth across the cracked linoleum countertop. ‘‘A . . . a castle?’’ It didn’t seem realistic, to build a castle in the middle of Kansas. Maybe he was making all this up—just a story to give him a reason to leave like so many other men across the country were doing.
    ‘‘Yeah. Martin says it’s supposed to do with some explorer that came through looking for gold.’’
    Anna Mae glanced at him. ‘‘Coronado?’’ Maybe Harley was telling the truth. ‘‘Coronado was looking for a lost city of gold.’’ She frowned, realizing the futility of that search. ‘‘No gold in Kansas, not even in corn or wheat anymore.’’
    ‘‘An’ that’s all the more reason for me to go—to take this job.’’ Harley grabbed her wrist again. The damp cloth hung from her fingers, dripping on the spot of floor between their feet. ‘‘You could see to things here for a few months, Annie. The garden chores, the chickens, and the cow—that’s all that needs tendin’. Dottie’s big enough now to help in the garden and do