Chapters (51)
- Cover
- Books by Elizabeth Camden
- Title Page
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Historical Note
- Questions for Discussion
- In 2020, look forCaroline Delacroix’sstory in
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
Within ten minutes the city was behind them. How quickly the stone buildings and telephone wires gave way to open fields and white farmhouses. The train sped past cabbage fields, and then a pair of young men rolling hay into bales. Would the Department of Agriculture’s new seeds ever reach this farm? Or their bulletins about crop rotation and soil amendments? She hoped so. How desperately she wanted good things for every farmer in America. For a few short months, she had gotten to be part of the wonderful crusade to make that happen.
She’d even helped change Gray’s mind about things. Someday when she was old and wrinkled, that bit of effort in recruiting Gray to the department’s mission might prove to be the biggest contribution of her life. It had been fun too. It was hard, challenging, and sometimes painful, but oh, how she had loved working alongside him.
She balled her fists and blinked faster.
“Don’t cry,” Maude said, not unkindly.
Annabelle dared not turn her gaze from the cabbage fields outside the window or the tears would spill over. “I won’t,” she said quietly. Maybe someday remembering wouldn’t hurt so much.
There was a knock on their door, and Roy opened it for the porter, who brought a teapot and four cups. “A gentleman asked to join you,” the porter said.
Annabelle sucked in a quick breath, for Gray stood behind the porter, looking nervous and ill at ease.
Roy stood. “I didn’t realize you were on board.”
Gray locked gazes with her. “I’ve got a seat a few cars down. My ticket only goes to Stanton, but your compartment has room for six, if I’m welcome to go on to Kansas with you.”
“Why would you want to go to Kansas?” Annabelle asked, not quite believing this moment was happening.
Gray ducked his head to step inside the compartment and sat on the bench beside her. The porter slid the door closed, and all of them sat in exquisite discomfort.
“I’ve been to China and India and Africa,” Gray finally said. “Last year I traveled from Siberia to Ceylon, but I’ve never been to Kansas. The main thing I’ve learned from traveling all over the world is that it isn’t the place that matters, it’s the people. It’s you, Annabelle. I want to go to Kansas because it is a huge and important part of you.”