he’s in love with someone I’ve pretended to be.” Rip shook his head. “He’s in love with you, Lessy Green. Believe me, when that man is kissing your sweet lips, the last thing he’s thinking about is what occupies your mind during Sunday School.”
That was the problem, Lessy thought with despair. He didn’t seem to want to kiss her.
The rain finally stopped late in the day, and the sun came out with blistering ferocity. Steam rose from the ground in eerie little patches, and the men were as wet from sweat as if they were still working in the rain.
Because dinner was early and the day had been a slow one, it was expected that Vass and Lessy would walk out after supper. Both knew that it would appear strange if they did not. But both would have forgone the experience if they’d been offered the chance.
Vass rose from the table and offered Lessy his arm in a most gentlemanly fashion. This action drew a tableful of catcalls, and the two embarrassed young people could not get away from the group quickly enough. They walked in silence as far as the peach orchard, when the strain became too much for Lessy.
“I’m sorry about the song,” she said. She didn’t look at him, and unable to gauge his reaction, she blundered on. “It was the kind of distressing moment that a woman should have just forced herself to immediately forget. I should never have passed on the incident like a careless piece of gossip.”
“It was all my fault, Lessy, and I do beg your forgiveness. But please let us not talk about it anymore.”
Lessy nodded agreeably as she mentally berated herself for once again bringing the subject up. Talking so openly and easily with Rip had loosened her guard. She had to remind herself how Vass preferred women who were more upstanding.
Conversation waned as Vass was loath to bring up the farm for discussion and Lessy was second-guessing every thought that came to mind.
“Did you know that Mr. Ripley does mechanical drawing?” she asked finally.
Vass looked at her curiously. In memory he could see the two of them with their heads together giggling like children. It was an incongruous image, but one that had him stinging with jealousy. “No, I was not aware of that,” he said.
“Well, I saw some of his drawings today, and I really think that you should have a look at them.”
“Really?”
With the natural confusion of the nonmechanically minded, Lessy explained the side-loading packer binder, the double row corn planter, and the other implements that she had seen. Vass listened with some interest as he watched the enthusiastic expression on Lessy’s face. Was she enthusiastic about the machines or about the man?
“He’s really quite talented, and I thought you might look at his work and give him your opinion.”
Vass nodded. “Well, certainly I would. Roscoe said that he was very handy with the equipment, but I never would have guessed he had ideas for machines of his own.”
Lessy smiled. “He says the implement companies are not interested in inventions from outsiders. But I think he could go into business for himself if his ideas were sound and he had some farmer investors to back him.”
“It’s certainly possible,” Vass said, slightly surprised by her enthusiasm. He’d never doubted that Lessy had a keen mind; she always agreed with him. But she’d never come up with ideas of her own.
“You like Ripley, don’t you?” His question was somewhat abrupt.
Lessy was momentarily taken aback. “Well, yes, of course I like him. He’s a very entertaining man. He tells such funny stories, I swan, he has me laughing all the time.”
Vass wondered if he himself ever made her laugh. At that moment he couldn’t remember a single time.
“The fellows tell me he’s very popular with women,” Vass said tentatively.
Lessy grinned. “I’m sure that he is. My lands, the things he says! He must be breaking hearts all across Arkansas.”
Because she said it with good humor, Vass
That was the problem, Lessy thought with despair. He didn’t seem to want to kiss her.
The rain finally stopped late in the day, and the sun came out with blistering ferocity. Steam rose from the ground in eerie little patches, and the men were as wet from sweat as if they were still working in the rain.
Because dinner was early and the day had been a slow one, it was expected that Vass and Lessy would walk out after supper. Both knew that it would appear strange if they did not. But both would have forgone the experience if they’d been offered the chance.
Vass rose from the table and offered Lessy his arm in a most gentlemanly fashion. This action drew a tableful of catcalls, and the two embarrassed young people could not get away from the group quickly enough. They walked in silence as far as the peach orchard, when the strain became too much for Lessy.
“I’m sorry about the song,” she said. She didn’t look at him, and unable to gauge his reaction, she blundered on. “It was the kind of distressing moment that a woman should have just forced herself to immediately forget. I should never have passed on the incident like a careless piece of gossip.”
“It was all my fault, Lessy, and I do beg your forgiveness. But please let us not talk about it anymore.”
Lessy nodded agreeably as she mentally berated herself for once again bringing the subject up. Talking so openly and easily with Rip had loosened her guard. She had to remind herself how Vass preferred women who were more upstanding.
Conversation waned as Vass was loath to bring up the farm for discussion and Lessy was second-guessing every thought that came to mind.
“Did you know that Mr. Ripley does mechanical drawing?” she asked finally.
Vass looked at her curiously. In memory he could see the two of them with their heads together giggling like children. It was an incongruous image, but one that had him stinging with jealousy. “No, I was not aware of that,” he said.
“Well, I saw some of his drawings today, and I really think that you should have a look at them.”
“Really?”
With the natural confusion of the nonmechanically minded, Lessy explained the side-loading packer binder, the double row corn planter, and the other implements that she had seen. Vass listened with some interest as he watched the enthusiastic expression on Lessy’s face. Was she enthusiastic about the machines or about the man?
“He’s really quite talented, and I thought you might look at his work and give him your opinion.”
Vass nodded. “Well, certainly I would. Roscoe said that he was very handy with the equipment, but I never would have guessed he had ideas for machines of his own.”
Lessy smiled. “He says the implement companies are not interested in inventions from outsiders. But I think he could go into business for himself if his ideas were sound and he had some farmer investors to back him.”
“It’s certainly possible,” Vass said, slightly surprised by her enthusiasm. He’d never doubted that Lessy had a keen mind; she always agreed with him. But she’d never come up with ideas of her own.
“You like Ripley, don’t you?” His question was somewhat abrupt.
Lessy was momentarily taken aback. “Well, yes, of course I like him. He’s a very entertaining man. He tells such funny stories, I swan, he has me laughing all the time.”
Vass wondered if he himself ever made her laugh. At that moment he couldn’t remember a single time.
“The fellows tell me he’s very popular with women,” Vass said tentatively.
Lessy grinned. “I’m sure that he is. My lands, the things he says! He must be breaking hearts all across Arkansas.”
Because she said it with good humor, Vass
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