of a few people who hoard it and never really live a happy life. A person needs to have money to travel, do some fun leisurely things sometimes, instead of just working their fingers to the bone. Mining will secure my future much faster than a sheep ranch.”
“That’s easy to say if you succeed. A lot of men die trying. Besides, mining is a dirty business and a dangerous job.” Her tone sounded bitter.
Josh laughed heartily. “And raising sheep isn’t?” He knew she was really thinking about her own father and probably carried a bad image of miners in her head.
Juliana bristled. “So what do you intend to do with the sheep?”
“Oh, I’ll keep them too. I’ll just hire more help. Not a problem with all the money I’ll make from the sapphires. Wouldn’t you like to have plenty of money?”
Juliana harrumphed. “Sure, I think about money, but I don’t want it at any cost, and mining is a high price to pay. I’ve seen firsthand how it destroys families. I intend to earn money and save it to find my own place to live. I can’t always live with the Stocktons. I’m not their responsibility.”
“I’m sure they don’t look at you as a burden but as someone they want to help and protect.” I could protect her and take good care of her, if she’d let me , he thought. “The house is coming up just above the crest. I wanted it to overlook the valley so when I’m old and gray, I can sit on the front porch and watch the sunset. That time will be here sooner rather than later.” He chuckled and looked into her cornflower-blue eyes for a reaction.
“You’re not that old! At least you don’t look old to me.” She scrutinized his face from under her thick lashes until a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, showing her white teeth.
“Well, let’s just say I’m old enough to know better than to flirt with a pretty young lady like you.”
She flushed pink and looked away quickly. “Maybe I’m older than you think. I’ll be eighteen in May. Maybe I could introduce you to Marion Stockton. She’s probably about your age.”
“You don’t say?” He didn’t know whether to be offended or not. She must think he was too old for her if she wanted to set him up with Marion. “I would have thought you were at least twenty-five,” he teased. “I’m thirty. And I remember Marion from the hotel. Her father owns it. I’ll have to keep her in mind.” Josh trotted up toward the ridge with Juliana following suit.
His house had a magnificent view of the valley below and the mountain range to the west. Unadorned glass windows lined the front of the sprawling two-story clapboard structure with a large front porch, all in the final stages of construction. Several rockers were scattered about. He knew his unfinished home lacked a woman’s touch and hoped Juliana could help him out with that. Perhaps she wouldn’t be too disappointed.
Juliana’s first thoughts upon entering Josh’s home were that things were a little cluttered. A pile of boots and fishing gear sat in the foyer. The coat rack had one too many things hanging on it, and it threatened to topple when he took her coat to add it to the rest. It was obvious by the dust on the furniture in the parlor that the place was in need of cleaning, and his cluttered desk, tucked into a corner with stacks of newspapers, catalogs, and mail, was in need of attention. She tried not to act surprised. He was a bachelor, after all. What could she expect?
“Sorry, but I haven’t been here the last couple of weeks to keep things tidy. I try to work toward that end on Sunday afternoons. I still have some boxes I’ve never unpacked,” he said sheepishly. “Not all the rooms are completed. Come this way, and I’ll show you what I’ve started with the kitchen.”
Juliana followed him to the spacious room that would become the kitchen, which held a stove and a fireplace on one side. A table made of two-by-fours and two benches appeared hastily constructed.
“That’s easy to say if you succeed. A lot of men die trying. Besides, mining is a dirty business and a dangerous job.” Her tone sounded bitter.
Josh laughed heartily. “And raising sheep isn’t?” He knew she was really thinking about her own father and probably carried a bad image of miners in her head.
Juliana bristled. “So what do you intend to do with the sheep?”
“Oh, I’ll keep them too. I’ll just hire more help. Not a problem with all the money I’ll make from the sapphires. Wouldn’t you like to have plenty of money?”
Juliana harrumphed. “Sure, I think about money, but I don’t want it at any cost, and mining is a high price to pay. I’ve seen firsthand how it destroys families. I intend to earn money and save it to find my own place to live. I can’t always live with the Stocktons. I’m not their responsibility.”
“I’m sure they don’t look at you as a burden but as someone they want to help and protect.” I could protect her and take good care of her, if she’d let me , he thought. “The house is coming up just above the crest. I wanted it to overlook the valley so when I’m old and gray, I can sit on the front porch and watch the sunset. That time will be here sooner rather than later.” He chuckled and looked into her cornflower-blue eyes for a reaction.
“You’re not that old! At least you don’t look old to me.” She scrutinized his face from under her thick lashes until a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, showing her white teeth.
“Well, let’s just say I’m old enough to know better than to flirt with a pretty young lady like you.”
She flushed pink and looked away quickly. “Maybe I’m older than you think. I’ll be eighteen in May. Maybe I could introduce you to Marion Stockton. She’s probably about your age.”
“You don’t say?” He didn’t know whether to be offended or not. She must think he was too old for her if she wanted to set him up with Marion. “I would have thought you were at least twenty-five,” he teased. “I’m thirty. And I remember Marion from the hotel. Her father owns it. I’ll have to keep her in mind.” Josh trotted up toward the ridge with Juliana following suit.
His house had a magnificent view of the valley below and the mountain range to the west. Unadorned glass windows lined the front of the sprawling two-story clapboard structure with a large front porch, all in the final stages of construction. Several rockers were scattered about. He knew his unfinished home lacked a woman’s touch and hoped Juliana could help him out with that. Perhaps she wouldn’t be too disappointed.
Juliana’s first thoughts upon entering Josh’s home were that things were a little cluttered. A pile of boots and fishing gear sat in the foyer. The coat rack had one too many things hanging on it, and it threatened to topple when he took her coat to add it to the rest. It was obvious by the dust on the furniture in the parlor that the place was in need of cleaning, and his cluttered desk, tucked into a corner with stacks of newspapers, catalogs, and mail, was in need of attention. She tried not to act surprised. He was a bachelor, after all. What could she expect?
“Sorry, but I haven’t been here the last couple of weeks to keep things tidy. I try to work toward that end on Sunday afternoons. I still have some boxes I’ve never unpacked,” he said sheepishly. “Not all the rooms are completed. Come this way, and I’ll show you what I’ve started with the kitchen.”
Juliana followed him to the spacious room that would become the kitchen, which held a stove and a fireplace on one side. A table made of two-by-fours and two benches appeared hastily constructed.
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