Where Willows Grow Read Online Free Page B

Because right now I feel about as strong as a newly hatched chick.’’
    Harley stood beside the gate leading to the Berkley dairy farm, his forearm resting on the gate post. He sucked in breaths of hot air meant to calm him before he approached his neighbor. If a man was going to ask a favor, he shouldn’t have anger in his voice when he did it. He’d done a pretty good job of learning to control his temper since he’d married Annie, but today she’d surely tried his patience.
    Couldn’t she see he was only doing what he had to do to keep her farm in the family? For more than two years they’d been scratching by on next to nothing. No point in putting in a crop this year, knowing the ground wouldn’t produce. But with that WPA job, he had the chance to have a steady paycheck, get the girls the things they needed, and make sure the farm would be there when the rains finally fell again so crops could grow. Why’d she have to make it so doggone difficult?
    ‘‘You need Jack’s help,’’ he told himself, ‘‘so put on a smile and be friendly.’’ He pushed off from the post and ambled across the yard, his gaze sweeping the neat grounds and freshly whitewashed outbuildings. Harley experienced the same slap of envy he always did when visiting the Berkleys. The dairy had been in Jack’s family for three generations—just got handed to Jack when his pa turned sixty last year. It didn’t seem fair that some people got things so easy and others had to work so hard to gain what little bit they owned.
    Harley remembered working side-by-side with Annie’s father, never slacking, always willing to do whatever he was asked so the old man would trust him with the farm when the time came. Ben Elliott might’ve left it to Annie, but in Harley’s heart the farm was his. He’d work his heart out to keep it, too, even if he had to leave it and work someplace else for a while. It would be here, waiting for his return. And someday he’d give it to his girls, just like Jack’s pa gave his land to Jack.
    He stood between the house and the fenced pasture where cows, their udders hanging half full, stood in small clusters and eyed him with idle curiosity. He swung his gaze back and forth, seeking Jack, and suddenly from behind the barn a big border collie charged at Harley. The dog’s tail wagged like a flag as the beast barked out a greeting.
    ‘‘Hey, Clem.’’ Harley gave the dog a few friendly pats. ‘‘Where’s your master, huh?’’ The dog leaped in the air, then trotted toward the barn, looking back at Harley as if to say, ‘‘Well, come on.’’ Harley followed and found Jack poking around beneath the hood of his Model T Ford. Another pang of jealousy struck. Now that Harley’d sold the mules, he didn’t even have a wagon to his name. Jack had two wagons and a Model T.
    Nope, some things just weren’t fair.
    Head still under the hood, Jack called, ‘‘Hey. I’ll be with you in a minute. Just want to tighten this bolt good.’’
    Harley squatted down and stroked Clem’s warm back until Jack finished his task. He rose when Jack emerged. ‘‘Hey, Jack.’’
    ‘‘Harley.’’ Jack held out his hand, then grimaced when he spotted the grease stains. ‘‘A howdy will have to do unless you want this on you, too.’’
    Harley grinned. ‘‘Howdy’s fine.’’ He took another step forward, Clem pushing against his legs. ‘‘Came to ask a favor.’’
    Jack clicked the hood closed over the engine and shot Harley an interested look. ‘‘What’s that?’’
    ‘‘I’m heading out tomorrow—taking a job in Lindsborg for a while.’’ He briefly described the project. ‘‘That means Annie an’ the girls won’t have a man around.’’
    Jack held up his hand. ‘‘Say no more, Harley. You know me and Pop will help out Anna Mae any way we can.’’
    ‘‘She’ll probably fight you.’’ Harley shook his head, twisting his lips into a wry smile. ‘‘You know how stubborn she can