Caldwell?”
Josh chortled. “She is, too, but I was talking about this sweet little pony. I always had a fondness for her.”
“Of the ones you sold me, she’s my favorite, too.” Galen gently caressed her nose. “Big heart and smart as can be.”
“I promised you first pick of the next ones, and I have three horses about ready to sell. When you get a chance, come on over and take a look.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Don’t take too long. I have Eddie Lufe breathing down my neck about them.”
Galen winced. “Time’s pressing these days. When Da has another good day, I’ll have a wee bit more freedom to come and go.”
“What did Doc say?”
“Nothing good.” The ground beneath Galen’s boots stayed solid, but in his heart, it moved. Da always said the Lord should be a man’s foundation, and Galen believed that to be true, but knowing his father’s days were numbered still sent quakes through him.
Josh squeezed his shoulder. “I’m more sorry than I can say. When you need help, you holler.”
“Ma and I have it under control. School ends in a few weeks. The boys’ll be home during the daytime to pitch in.”
“That Colin”—Josh grinned as he mentioned Galen’s oldest little brother—“I saw him riding off to school. He couldn’t sit taller in the saddle. He’s so proud to have a horse of his own to ride.”
Galen chuckled. “That, he is. If I buy a pair of horses from you, Dale and Sean are going to pester me to let them ride alone instead of share a mount.”
“I’m due to get my new saddle from Independence any day now.” Josh cast a glance at the saddle on his gelding. “This one still has plenty of life in it. You’re welcome to it.”
“Buying the horses’ll be a stretch already.”
“I’m not selling it—” Josh stopped short, then grinned. “Yes, I am. You’re going to have almonds and walnuts this fall. I want the very first pound of each.”
“You can have them, regardless.”
“And you can have the saddle, regardless.” Josh stared him in the eye.
“We’re getting by, Josh. We don’t need charity.”
“I know you don’t need charity.” Josh squinted over at the house, then looked back at him. “I’m offering my friendship and help. Your little brothers are going to have to do some growing up fast. Let’s make it as painless as possible.”
The knowledge that his brothers would be fatherless weighed heavily on Galen. He’d be the man of the house and have to provide a good example. Knowing Josh wanted to help bear the burden— well, that counted as a gift from the Almighty. “God blessed my family the day you moved into the Broken P.”
“I think you got that backward.” Josh let out a hefty sigh. “Hilda’s good at cooking, cleaning, and such, but when it comes to Laney, she’s no help at all. Dad and I are glad that Laney can run over here and talk to your mom.”
“You have Ruth to help with that now.”
“I’m not so sure she’ll be much help. I gather she’s good at getting herself into fixes. So far, she’s proving my theory.”
“Mayhap that streak of independence is what she needs to manage out here.”
A wry smile kicked up the corner of Josh’s lips. “I prayed last Sunday for more patience, and God sent Ruth here. What do you make of that?”
“You’re a brave man to pray for such a thing.” They both laughed.
Hooves beat in the distance. Galen turned to his left and watched as the Pony Express rider approached. Even if his speed didn’t announce his identity, the customary outfit proclaimed it for him. The combination of a broad-brimmed hat, yellow bandana, red shirt, leather vest, and blue jeans was distinctive. “Looks like Sam Hamilton.”
Laney twittered in the background, and soon the flurried sound of petticoats joined the thrumming hoofbeats. Laney and Ruth dashed across the yard and arrived at the fence just as the rider skidded to a halt.
“I’ll get the mail,” Galen said as Sam Hamilton
Josh chortled. “She is, too, but I was talking about this sweet little pony. I always had a fondness for her.”
“Of the ones you sold me, she’s my favorite, too.” Galen gently caressed her nose. “Big heart and smart as can be.”
“I promised you first pick of the next ones, and I have three horses about ready to sell. When you get a chance, come on over and take a look.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Don’t take too long. I have Eddie Lufe breathing down my neck about them.”
Galen winced. “Time’s pressing these days. When Da has another good day, I’ll have a wee bit more freedom to come and go.”
“What did Doc say?”
“Nothing good.” The ground beneath Galen’s boots stayed solid, but in his heart, it moved. Da always said the Lord should be a man’s foundation, and Galen believed that to be true, but knowing his father’s days were numbered still sent quakes through him.
Josh squeezed his shoulder. “I’m more sorry than I can say. When you need help, you holler.”
“Ma and I have it under control. School ends in a few weeks. The boys’ll be home during the daytime to pitch in.”
“That Colin”—Josh grinned as he mentioned Galen’s oldest little brother—“I saw him riding off to school. He couldn’t sit taller in the saddle. He’s so proud to have a horse of his own to ride.”
Galen chuckled. “That, he is. If I buy a pair of horses from you, Dale and Sean are going to pester me to let them ride alone instead of share a mount.”
“I’m due to get my new saddle from Independence any day now.” Josh cast a glance at the saddle on his gelding. “This one still has plenty of life in it. You’re welcome to it.”
“Buying the horses’ll be a stretch already.”
“I’m not selling it—” Josh stopped short, then grinned. “Yes, I am. You’re going to have almonds and walnuts this fall. I want the very first pound of each.”
“You can have them, regardless.”
“And you can have the saddle, regardless.” Josh stared him in the eye.
“We’re getting by, Josh. We don’t need charity.”
“I know you don’t need charity.” Josh squinted over at the house, then looked back at him. “I’m offering my friendship and help. Your little brothers are going to have to do some growing up fast. Let’s make it as painless as possible.”
The knowledge that his brothers would be fatherless weighed heavily on Galen. He’d be the man of the house and have to provide a good example. Knowing Josh wanted to help bear the burden— well, that counted as a gift from the Almighty. “God blessed my family the day you moved into the Broken P.”
“I think you got that backward.” Josh let out a hefty sigh. “Hilda’s good at cooking, cleaning, and such, but when it comes to Laney, she’s no help at all. Dad and I are glad that Laney can run over here and talk to your mom.”
“You have Ruth to help with that now.”
“I’m not so sure she’ll be much help. I gather she’s good at getting herself into fixes. So far, she’s proving my theory.”
“Mayhap that streak of independence is what she needs to manage out here.”
A wry smile kicked up the corner of Josh’s lips. “I prayed last Sunday for more patience, and God sent Ruth here. What do you make of that?”
“You’re a brave man to pray for such a thing.” They both laughed.
Hooves beat in the distance. Galen turned to his left and watched as the Pony Express rider approached. Even if his speed didn’t announce his identity, the customary outfit proclaimed it for him. The combination of a broad-brimmed hat, yellow bandana, red shirt, leather vest, and blue jeans was distinctive. “Looks like Sam Hamilton.”
Laney twittered in the background, and soon the flurried sound of petticoats joined the thrumming hoofbeats. Laney and Ruth dashed across the yard and arrived at the fence just as the rider skidded to a halt.
“I’ll get the mail,” Galen said as Sam Hamilton
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