Page 335 of Conveniently Wed
The men glanced at one another and finally Dent gave her a tight smile. “We’ll give it a chance, but if it looks like it isn’t going to work, will you agree to sell them?”
“Absolutely.” Aundy was glad the conversation went as well as it had. “If you’ll come back just before noon, I’ll feed you lunch and then the sheep should be here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Dent stood and opened the door while the other men filed out. He studied Aundy for a moment, appearing thoughtful. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Me, too,” Aundy said, with a bravado she was far from feeling as Dent went out the door.
After washing the breakfast dishes, she checked on the stew, and finished what lunch preparations she could. She carried in the clean laundry from the line, ironed and then put away the pieces.
A glance at the clock confirmed she had a couple of hours before the men would return to eat. She took a pile of dresses that belonged to Erik’s mother to her bedroom and began trying them on to see if she could wear any of the clothes.
She buttoned a navy calico dress sprigged with dainty pink flowers and ran her hand down the front of the skirt. Although out of style, the dress still had plenty of wear left in it. It billowed around her, but she decided with an apron over the top, it would serve well to wear on the farm. The dark color would help hide dirt or stains and the loose gown would be welcome on hot summer days.
Aundy glanced in the mirror and noticed her petticoat hanging out of the bottom of the dress. She pulled up the hem to see if she could let it out. As she studied it, she heard a commotion outside and the sound of a dog barking. Without taking time to change, she ran to the front of the house and yanked open the door.
Wooly animals milled around as far as she could see, filling the barnyard and trailing down the lane.
Owen O’Connell rode his horse to the end of her walk and waved his hat at her. “Mrs. Erickson! Top o’ the morning to ya.”
She hurried down the steps and across the front walk, grateful for the fence around the yard that kept the sheep away from the flowerbeds she’d carefully weeded. “Mr. O’Connell, I wasn’t expecting you until this afternoon.”
“I know, lassie, but these woolies whispered bright and early they were ready to head to their new home, and moved right along,” O’Connell said with a beaming smile.
At Dent’s approach, Aundy started to make introductions, but her foreman greeted the Irishman by name and shook his hand.
“If you’ll bring the sheep this way, we’ll pasture them in the north section over there.” Dent waved to an area behind the house.
“Sure and certain, Dent,” O’Connell said, herding the sheep in the direction the foreman indicated.
When all the sheep grazed in the pasture, O’Connell returned to the house with a dog and a boy. The dog, a Border collie, wagged his tail in friendly greeting. Aundy had heard that particular breed was excellent at herding sheep.
The boy, who looked to be about fourteen or so, was all skinny arms and legs, with dusty, worn clothes, a happy-go-lucky grin, and a mop of shiny brown hair topped by a bedraggled cap. He carried a small lamb in his arms, giving it a tender glance as he rubbed its head.
Aundy knew right away that the youth had a soft heart and a gentle hand.
“Mrs. Erickson, I’d like ya to meet yer new shepherd. He’ll do a good job for ya, or answer to me.” O’Connell thumped the boy on his shoulder. “Tell her yer name, boyo.”
The boy set the lamb down. It bleated once then nuzzled the grass of Aundy’s yard.
As he swept the cap from his head, the boy bowed and raised big, brown, soulful eyes to Aundy. “I am Nikola Zorian Gandiaga, your humble shepherd.”
Aundy fought down a smile and politely tipped her head to him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nikola Zorian Gandiaga.” Her tongue worked to pronounce the strange name properly. “Is this your dog?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The boy rubbed his hand on the canine’s head. The dog leaned against his leg and looked up affectionately. “This is Bob. He’s a good helper.”
“And how about this little one?” Aundy bent down and rubbed her hand over the lamb. The wool was softer than anything she could have imagined.
“This is a poor orphan baby,” Nikola said, offering Aundy a smile that would someday make women swoon. “Just like me and Bob.”
“An orphan? What happened to his mother?” Aundy turned her gaze to O’Connell.
“When we were passing by a farm this morning, a huge dog ran out and killed one of the ewes before we could stop him. Beast looked more like a wolf than a dog. Came out of nowhere, it did. It’s a bottle for this baby, unless ya can convince one of the mammas to adopt him.”
“I’ll make sure he’s cared for.” Nikola took a protective step toward the lamb.
“Any other mishaps?” Aundy asked, glancing at the Irishman. O’Connell shook his head.
