Harvest Home: American Settlers... | Buy

Bringing in the harvest requires joint effort, and the ability to work well together is a foundation of love. Travel back one hundred years and experience the harvests of wheat, alfalfa, citrus, apples, and . . . love. Various authors contribute to this charming four-novella collection. Come along as the seeds of love are planted, passion grows, and hearts enjoy the harvest of faith.

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Chapter One

Roswell, New Mexico Territory, 1895

Liddy Evans flounced out of the bank, muttering to herself, "How dare he suggest such a thing? How could he even think I would agree to such an arrangement?"

At the end of the boardwalk, she gathered her skirts in one hand and slid a protective arm around her growing abdomen. Her mutterings continued as she stepped down onto Roswell's dusty main street and crossed over, dodging horse-drawn wagons and surveys. Safely across, she stepped up to the walk in front of Emma's Café, all the while fighting the tears that threatened.

Dear Lord, what am I to do? How can I save the farm Matthew worked so hard for?

Nothing had been easy since he'd been killed by a rattlesnake while watering his horse down by the creek. Now this. A whole different sort of snake to contend with. There would be an answer. There just has to be , Liddy thought as she entered her friend's establishment.

Liddy was relieved to find the café nearly empty. Since Matthew's death, and as her delicate condition became more obvious by the day, she dreaded the pitying looks she received from the townsfolk. They meant well. She knew they did. Still, she was not one to pity herself, nor did she want the pity of others.

She sat at a table and looked around. Cal McAllister was the only other person in the café. Well, at least she'd get no pitying looks from Cal. He had suffered his own loss a couple of years back and kept pretty much to himself. As soon as Emma finished serving him, she hurried over.

She took one look at Liddy's face. "It didn't go well, did it?"

Liddy untied her bonnet and shook her head.

"You just relax while I fetch you a cup of tea and a piece of one of your pies." She hurried to the kitchen before Liddy had a chance to tell her that she didn't have much of an appetite.

Liddy leaned back in the chair to ease her aching back. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and prayed silently. Dear Lord, please help me find a way to keep the farm for my child .

Emma set a cup of tea and a large wedge of apple pie in front of her as Liddy breathed an Amen and opened her eyes.

"What did old Harper say to drain the color from your cheeks, Liddy?" Emma asked as she took the seat across from her.

"He won't grant an extension. If I can't make the payment by next week, he'll foreclose." Liddy Shrugged and took a welcome sip of tea. "You know what chance I have of meeting that deadline?"

Emma pounded her fist on the table. "That man! He hasn't given you a moment's rest since Matthew died. I'd like to have him run out of town."

Liddy managed a small smile. "Oh, wait. You haven't heard the worst of it. He say's he's willing to pay off the loan himself, if ..."

"If what?"

"If I'll marry him."

Emma jumped to her feet. "What? Is he crazy?"

"Well, he says it's the only way out."

"Liddy, you aren't thinking of--"

"No, No!" Liddy shook her head adamantly. She shuddered and closed her eyes as though attempting to shut out her pain. "I could never do that. Not even to save the farm for my child."

When she opened her eyes, she saw Calvin McAllister at Emma's side. His gaze rested on Liddy, and his eyes were full of concern.

"I couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation, Mrs. Evans. Is Harper giving you problems?"

Liddy wasn't sure what to say. "I ... he's ..."

Emma turned to Calvin. "He's giving her problems all right, Cal. Harper is threatening to take away Liddy's farm unless she comes up with the payment she owes by next week."

Calvin looked closer at Liddy. "Are you that much past due, Mrs. Evans?"

Liddy opened her mouth to reply that the matter was really none of his concern, but Emma didn't give her a chance.

"She's not really behind at all. She's managed to make the payments from the small amount she and Matthew had saved before he died. But that money has run out, and for the last two months she's straggled to pay, but ..."

"Emma!" Liddy was appalled that Emma was telling Calvin McAllister her life story. He was a neighbor of sorts, but she'd never really gotten to know him. Since his wife's death, he kept pretty much to himself. About the only time she did see him was when he brought his girls to church.

She'd sent Matthew over with food when his Wife passed away, and he'd been at Matthew's funeral. Other than that, she knew nothing at all about this man. Thanks to Emma, he was learning an awful lot about her.

Emma only paused for a moment. "I'm sorry, Liddy. But you aren't going to be able to keep up this pace forever. I need the pies you make and the eggs you sell me. But that heavy laundry you are taking in is going to be too hard on you before long."

Liddy barely noticed when Cal sat down at the table. Emma just kept talking. "And the gardening is going to be too much soon."

"Emma! Stop. Please." Liddy could feel the heat radiating from her face. She'd never been so embarrassed.

Finally Emma stopped her tirade and slumped back into her chair. "I'm sorry, Liddy. I just hate to see you go through this much stress so close to the baby's coming--She clamped a hand over her mouth as if to keep herself from saying anything more.

Liddy sighed in exasperation. She looked up to find Cal's warm gaze on her, a half smile on his lips. She lifted her chin a notch. "I'm sorry Emma has subjected you to my boring life, Mr. McAllister." She glared at her friend. "She's usually more discreet."

Cal chuckled and shook his head. "I don't think we know the same Emma, ma'am. She's always been one to speak her mind to me." He sat up straight. "But I regret that you've been made to feel embarrassed. I know Emma worries about you, and I'm sorry that Harper is giving you such a hard time by threatening to take your land away. His practices leave much to be desired."

"Oh, you haven't heard it all. He'll pay off the loan if she'll marry him! That's ..."

"Unethical." Calvin squared his shoulders and sat straighter in the chair. "Maybe I should go have a talk with Harper."

Liddy could stand no more. "No! I couldn't ask you to do that, Mr. McAllister. He'd only get mad and might decide to foreclose now."

"He can't do that, Mrs. Evans. Not legally. Not if your payments are up to date." His warm brown eyes met hers, and Liddy wondered why she had never noticed how good-looking he was.

She dismissed the thought with a shake of her head. "I can't let you do that. It's my problem. I thank you for your offer, though."

"Have you thought of applying for a loan at another bank?"

"Mr. McAllister, I'm a widow, with a farm that's too big for me to handle on my own. Who would give me credit?"

Cal leaned forward and propped his arms on the table. "Don't give up hope, Mrs. Evans. I think it's possible to get you out from under this stress. I'd like to help if I can."

Liddy was speechless. Calvin McAllister didn't know her. Why would he even want to try to help her? She watched as he unfolded his long legs and stood up. He dug in his pocket and pulled out some coins and laid them on the table.

Mighty good lunch, Emma. And that was the best apple pie I believe I've ever tasted, Mrs. Evans. I'll be in touch with you soon." With that, he put his hat on and walked out the door.

Liddy looked across the table and watched a huge grin spread across Emma's face. Her friend got up and came around to hug her. "Oh, Liddy. I know Cal will come up with something! I don't know why I didn't think to ask him to help you before now."

"Emma, I can't believe it. You've been talking to him about me? Before today?"

Emma hugged her once more before reaching for their cups. "I just worry about you, Liddy. I thought he might have an idea of what to do. He's a good man, Liddy. He'll come up with something. I just know he will."

Liddy couldn't think of a reply as she watched Emma head for the kitchen. She felt dazed. It'd been a long day. She'd been up gathering eggs at dawn, after putting six pies in to bake. She'd tended her garden and picked only the best and freshest produce to bring in to Emma. After she'd delivered it all, she'd gone to the bank to ask Mr. Harper, one more time, to give her an extension on this month's payment.

She sighed deeply. What good would an extension have been anyway? Another payment would still be due next month ... and the month after that. There was no end to them. She wanted to keep the farm for the child she was carrying, but, at the moment, there just didn't seem to be any way to do that. Unless she married Harper. A shiver slid down her spine at the very thought and she shook her head. There was no way she could or would agree to that.

Emma returned with fresh tea, and Liddy welcomed it without speaking. After several sips, she felt the anger at her friend drain away. She met Emma's smile with one of her own and shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you, Emma? You shout my life story to anyone who'll listen; make a man I barely know feel that he has to help me, then you sit here grinning like the cat who caught the canary!"

"I'm grinning became, for the first time, I feel that you may be able to keep that farm you love so much. And that Douglas Harper might be thwarted in his plans to have that farm--and you."

Liddy hid her smile behind her teacup. Emma was the best friend she'd ever known, and as exasperating as she was right this minute, she wouldn't know what to do without her. "I can assure you. Douglas Harper may well end up with my farm. But he will never end up with me."

Emma chuckled. "That's a relief. For it would only be over my dead body that I would let you make such a deal."

"Thank you for wanting to help me, Emma. I really do appreciate it. But unless I can figure something out, I think I may have to take you up on your generous offer to stay with you until after the baby is born."

As though on cue, the baby kicked within her. Liddy smiled and placed her hand over the movement.

"My offer still stands. You know that. But now that Cal is trying to figure something out, I don't think it will come to that."

"You seem to have gotten to know him well." Was there something going on between Emma and Calvin? She'd thought that Emma was sweet on the new deputy in town, but ...

"I think he just gets tired of his own cooking. And he brings the girls in a lot, too. He's really good with his girls, Liddy, but I think they need a woman's touch."

"How old are they now? I see them in church, but it's hard to tell."

"Grace is six, and Amy is nine, I believe. They're very sweet, but I think he could use some help with them."

Liddy arched her back, trying to ease the ache she frequently felt. "I'm sure it's not easy to raise children by one's self. I know the thought scares me at times."

Emma reached out and patted her hand. "You're going to do just fine. Any child of yours will be very lucky, indeed."

"I'm the lucky one. I have a part of Matthew left with me. I'Il have someone to care for and love. I just wish that Matthew could have known a little one was on the way." Although she had suspected that she was in the "motherly way," she hadn't voiced her thoughts to Matthew. Her suspicions were confirmed only a few weeks after he died.

"I'm sure he does, Liddy," Emma tried to reassure her.

Liddy nodded. "Yes, I'm sure, too." She didn't need to sit here turning maudlin. She had work to do at home. "I'd better be on my way. You've got your supper crowd to get ready for. I'll get those pies and cakes to you first thing tomorrow." She eased to her feet and retied her bonnet.

She'd left her buckboard tethered around back, so Emma walked Liddy through the kitchen. The fragrant aroma of simmering stew greeted her as she entered the swinging door. Old Ben, who helped in the kitchen, looked up from his work. "How do, Mrs. Evans. Those sure were some pretty pies you brought today. They'll be gone in no time."

"Thank you Ben. I'm glad they sell well."

Emma called out after Liddy as she clambered up into the wagon. "You be careful, you hear? I think I might have to start sending Ben out after your deliveries soon. You could hurt yourself climbing in and out of that wagon."

"I'm fine, Mother , I promise." Liddy grinned at her friend. "I'll let you know when it gets to be too much for me."

"You'd better."

Liddy waved good-bye, and with the flick of the reins, the horse started for home. She told herself she was being silly. There was nothing Calvin McAllister could do. But, hard as she tried, she couldn't stop herself from feeling a small glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Calvin could find a way to help.