The Hard Land-Part 29
A story of love and Survival
Thomas stepped off the train at Cache Junction, and the heat of July swept over him. He pushed back his straw hat and walked the length of the platform, searching for Earl among the passengers and porters. He spotted his brother’s black Stetson hat and waved.
Earl drove the wagon alongside the freight platform where Thomas’s trunk was waiting. The two men slid the trunk into the wagon with some effort and climbed onto the seat.
“How was the train ride?” Earl asked, cracking the whip.
“Long and boring,” Thomas said, “but I’m glad to be here.”
The wagon rattled along the dirt road, leaving the station behind. Earl kept the team rushing along the road, reaching Franklin by early afternoon.
Earl glanced at his brother. “You don’t mind if we stop at Sparrow’s Dry Goods store to pick up a few things, do you?”
The wagon rolled down Franklin’s main street, alive with people and horses. Thomas could hear hammering from the blacksmith shop and smell the leather from the saddlery.
“Nah. Take your time.” He jumped off the wagon and strolled along the street while Earl shopped. He remembered his first trip here. On this street, he’d seen Amanda Nash from a distance, like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Now, he worked for her father and would see her often. What a difference a year makes.
Earl looked at his brother with a sly grin. “How are things with Amanda?”
Thomas felt a surge of warmth in his chest and a flush on his face. Had Earl read his mind? He tried to sound casual and said, “Good, I think. We’ve been writing regularly, and she says Harry still wants me to be a foreman on the threshing crew.” He hoped Earl would drop the subject but knew he wouldn’t.
Earl raised his eyebrows. “Sounds serious. I hope you can find time to spend with Amanda. I’ve seen what Harry expects of his foremen. They put in a lot of hours,” he paused and added, “and a lot of sweat and blood.”
“I know,” Thomas said, shaking his head. “I watched a couple of the foremen last year, and they worked from daylight to dark.” He looked at Earl. “I’m not afraid of hard work, and I’m not giving up on Amanda.” He clenched his fists and stared at the road ahead. He was determined to spend time with Amanda, no matter what.
They rode on through the afternoon, and the sun sank low in the sky before they reached the farm. Thomas felt a pang of nostalgia as he saw the familiar fields and buildings. He wondered how much had changed since he left.
Earl pulled the wagon up in front of Frank’s house and helped Thomas unload the trunk. Thomas climbed onto the porch house, and Earl took the team and wagon to the barn to care for them. Meanwhile, Thomas knocked at the door, and Hank jerked it open as if he’d been waiting. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his face spread into a wide grin.
“Thomas, it is so good to see you. I have my room ready for you. We are going to be roommates again this summer.” He hugged Thomas and pulled him inside.
Thomas tousled the boy’s hair and smiled back. “Yes, we are.”
Hank grabbed Thomas’s hand and led him to the room. It was set up much as the previous summer, except Hank’s side of the room was neater, and his bed was made. It was clear that Hank was growing up, and being the only boy in the family gave him an additional sense of responsibility.
Thomas was arranging his things in the small bedroom when Frank poked his head into the room. “I hear you’re going to be the foreman on one of the threshing crews this year.”
“Yeah,” Thomas shrugged. “I know it will be demanding, but there is a little bump in pay for doing it.” He tried to sound confident but felt nervous about his new role. He wondered if he could handle the pressure and the expectations. If he did well, he could impress Amanda’s father, but if not…
“And a lot more responsibility,” Frank said. “It’s good to see Harry is putting some trust in you. You must have impressed him last year.” He clapped Thomas on the shoulder and winked.
“I tried to do a good job for him,” Thomas said.
“When do you start work?”
Thomas sighed. “Tomorrow. Harvest is less than a week away, and there is a lot to get done.” He looked out the window and saw the sun setting over the fields, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread.
“Supper will be ready in about half an hour,” Frank said, leaving Thomas to unpack.
Thomas smelled the roast chicken and apple pie and felt hungry. He hadn’t eaten much since he left the train. He also felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering the meals the harvest crews shared.
He joined the family at the table and was greeted with warm smiles and hugs.
Charlotte served him generous portions of roast chicken and apple pie and said, “I hope you like it. I made it myself.”
Thomas tasted it. “It’s delicious,” he said. “You’re quite the cook. You could open your own restaurant.”
Charlotte blushed. “Thank you, Uncle Thomas. That’s very kind of you, but I’m only eleven”.
Anna smiled at her daughter, but Thomas noticed that Anna looked tired and pale. She was rocking the baby gently in her arms.
Thomas asked her,” How are you, and how is the baby?”
“We’re fine,” Anna said. “Thank you for asking. The baby’s name is Helen, by the way. She’s a good baby but keeps me up at night.”
Thomas felt a pang of guilt. He realized Anna was doing too much, and he was adding to her workload. He vowed he’d do all he could to help. Maybe he’d learn to do his own laundry and sew on his own buttons. Could he shoulder more responsibility at the house and still perform his foreman duties for Harry Nash? And what about spending time with Amanda? It was going to be a challenging summer.
“Good morning, Mr. Nash,” Thomas called out as he rode into the yard on the horse he borrowed from his brother Frank, grateful for the support he was getting from his brothers and their wives.
Harry Nash slid out from under the threshing machine and stood. “Good morning, Thomas. Since we’re going to be working closely, it’s Harry. Put your horse in the corral and come with me.” He led Thomas to a shed near the barn and pushed open the door.
Thomas followed him inside and gasped. There were more tools than he’d ever seen: hammers, wrenches, pliers, saws, drills, and more. They were neatly arranged on shelves or hooks or stored in boxes or drawers. Thomas wondered what they were all for. He noticed the bundle carrier chain lay spread across the floor. Several wooden slats were worn thin, and a few were broken.
“We need to get the infeed chain fixed up and ready to go,” Harry said, pointing to a stack of wooden slats.
“What do you need me to do?” Thomas asked, unsure of the process.
Harry showed him how to drill holes in the slats and rivet them to the chain. He handed Thoams the rivets and the drill. “You can do the rest. I’ve got other things to do.” He left Thomas to work on the chain.
Thomas drilled and riveted the slats one by one. He tried to be careful and precise but also fast and efficient. He wanted to impress Harry and prove himself. He finished the last rivet when Harry came back into the shop.
Harry looked at the chain and nodded. “Good job,” Harry said after inspecting Thomas’s work. “After dinner, we’ll install it. Get washed up and come through the back door.”
Thomas pumped water over his hands and washed them with the bar of soap sitting next to the pump. He felt the cold water and the rough soap on his skin, and he scrubbed off the dirt and grease from his hands. He dried off on the towel hanging from the post and climbed the steps to the back porch. He reached for the door, hoping to see Amanda. He had been thinking about her all day and wanted to talk to her. He wondered if she missed him as much as he missed her. As he touched the door handle, the door swung open, and he found himself face-to-face with Amanda. His heart skipped a beat, and he smiled. She looked stunning with her golden locks brushing her shoulders and her blue dress with white lace.
She smiled back at him, and her blue eyes sparkled. “Hello, Thomas,” she said brightly. “You’re just in time for dinner. Have a seat at the table. Mother and I are dishing up the food right now.” She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
The aroma of roast beef filled his nostrils, and his mouth watered as he took the chair Amanda pointed at.
Harry entered a few minutes later and took the chair at the head of the table. Amanda and her mother joined them, and Harry blessed the food.
“Dig in,” Harry said, handing Thomas the plate of roast beef.
Thomas stabbed a piece of meat and passed the platter to Amanda. Their hands touched as she took the plate from him, sending ripples through his stomach. He pulled his hand away as soon as she had taken the plate, wondering if Mrs. Nash had noticed his reaction.
“We’re glad you’re here,” Mrs. Nash said. “How are Anna and the baby?”
“They’re doing well,” Thomas said, looking at his plate and avoiding eye contact.
“I’ll go visit her soon,” Mrs. Nash said. “I didn’t want to be that busybody that had to be there as soon as the baby came.”
“I’m sure she’d appreciate a visit,” Thomas said reluctantly, remembering how tired Anna had looked.
“We’ll send some of this roast home with you,” Mrs. Nash said. “I know how hard it is to get things done with a baby in your arms. Stop by after work, and I’ll have it ready for you.”
“Thank you.” Thomas sipped a glass of lemonade, feeling the cool liquid soothe his throat.
After a long afternoon of pulling the drag chain into the thresher infeed, Thomas and Harry finally finished the hard work. Thomas felt a wave of relief wash over him and was grateful Harry didn’t bring up his reaction to touching Amanda’s hand during the meal. He cleaned up and knocked on the back door, hoping to see her again.
Mrs. Nash handed him a package filled with roast beef. “Tell Anna that you can return the pan whenever it is empty. I don’t need it right away.” She smiled at him warmly, unaware of his feelings for her daughter.
Thomas nodded and turned toward the yard, his heart sinking as he realized Amanda was not there. He reached the corral and caught his horse. He slipped the bridle over the animal’s head and turned to grab the saddle, only to find Amanda holding a surprise for him.
She held her hands behind her back and smiled. “I brought you a pie to go with the roast beef.” She looked at him with her shining blue eyes.
Thomas put the saddle on the horse and slid the roast beef into the saddle bag. He then swung into the saddle, feeling a surge of joy. “Hand me up the pie,” he said, reaching out his hand, eager to touch hers.
Amanda reached up to hand him the pie, and Thomas leaned down and kissed her. Her face reddened as she looked around to see if her mother was watching. When she saw no one was looking, she stepped onto her tiptoes and kissed Thomas. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she whispered in his ear.
With a gentle tongue click, Thomas urged the horse to walk out of the yard. He turned his head and waved to Amanda, standing by the corral. She waved back, her smile radiant like the sun, setting his heart on fire.
