The first man in line needed no prompting. He ran up the steps leading to the platform, took long strides across the wooden stage, reached into the box, and pulled out a piece of white paper. He peered at it, then held up the slip and shouted, “Number 168!” He jumped off the platform and ran to the map. The next man drew his number and hurried away, then the next and the next. Each man headed out to inspect his land.
Laurel chewed her nails. Her stomach churned. Any minute they'd know which lot belonged to them. She prayed for God's favor. When the man in front of Will went up, Laurel clutched her father's hand.
Then it was Will's turn. He gave the back of Laurel's fingers a quick kiss and hurried up the steps. Reaching into the box, he took out a slip of paper, looked at it, then smiled and jumped down from the platform. “Number ninety-one,” he told Luke and Laurel without stopping, but striding toward the map. “Ninety-one, ninety-one,” he repeated, searching the map. “Here it is.” He poked his finger at a lot with the number ninety-one printed in black.
“How do we know which one it is?” Luke asked.
“Hold your horses.” Will studied the map. “Looks like it's over where we were last night.” He looked around. “We need a ride out there.” He spotted Tom Jenkins who was sitting in his wagon and watching the activity.
Robert ran up to Will. “What number did you get?”
“Ninety-one. You?”
“Ninety.” Robert grinned broadly. “We're neighbors!”
Tom jumped down from the wagon and joined them. “So, what pieces did you draw?”
“Ninety and ninety-one,” Will said. “Looks like they're out by your place.”
Tom scanned the map. “I'll be hanged! Those are the pieces you looked at yesterday!” Grinning, he said, “Welcome, neighbors.” He shook Will and Robert's hands. “I'll take you out.” He led the way to his wagon.
Will, Robert, Laurel, and Luke piled in. Luke took the seat beside Tom. Laurel stood just behind them, hanging onto the back of the seat. The sun felt warm and energizing. In spite of her resistance to the move, she felt a flush of excitement. They owned a piece of land!
When they arrived at the parcels, they realized that Robert had drawn the piece along the creek and the Haspers had the one next to it. Laurel was only slightly disappointed. She'd liked the idea of having land bordered by a stream.
Laurel and Luke walked beside their father. There was plenty of open ground to begin farming right away, but there were also several acres of forest. They'd been promised that if they cut and skidded the trees, the government would pay them sixty dollars per cleared acre. The money would be needed.
Will pointed at a grove of birch. “I think we ought to put the house there, by those trees. They'll give us shade in the summer and will be a windbreak during the winter.” He surveyed the acreage. “We can put in root vegetables over there.” He pointed to a portion of land not far from where the house would sit. “And we'll plant oats there,” he said, nodding toward the north end.
Striding across the adjoining piece of property, Robert joined them. “Nice acreage—all of it.” He let his eyes roam over the land. “But I drew the piece you wanted.”
Will patted Robert's back. “I'm glad you got it. I couldn't have a better neighbor.”
Robert looked at Laurel. “I know you wanted to live by a creek.”
“I did, but this piece will be just fine.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the slip of paper with number ninety written on it. Holding it out to Will, he said, “Me and my family will be just fine on parcel ninety-one.”
“No, son. That's the piece you drew. It's where you belong.”
“I want to make the trade. I want you to have it.”
Will stared at the paper, then looked at Robert. “You sure? With the creek bordering it, it's more valuable.”
“Makes no difference to me.”
Will shook his head. “I can't believe you're doing this.” He pulled out his paper with number ninety-one written on it. “All right then.” They exchanged slips. “You're quite a man.” Will's voice broke. “Anything you need, you let me know. And you can have all the water you want from that creek.” He shook Robert's hand. “Consider yourself family.”
Robert nodded. “Thank you, sir. I count that a privilege.” His eyes settled on Laurel.
She felt a wave of gratitude and admiration for Robert. He was a fine man.
“Well, we need to get our names and pieces of property registered,” Robert said. “We can always come back later and make plans.”
Will threw an arm over Robert's shoulders and headed toward the road. “We've got our places.” He glanced back at Laurel. “Our new home.”
Laurel's eyes took in the open fields, heavy forests, and imposing mountains. She couldn't deny it was extraordinary, and she did feel a sense of hope. Still, it didn't feel like home, and she doubted it ever would.
Chapter Fourteen
HER FATHER ON ONE SIDE AND LUKE ON THE OTHER, LAUREL WALKED DOWN the bustling tent-lined street. A man chopped wood while his wife hung laundry on a makeshift line. They passed a young man hauling water. Another pushed a wheelbarrow filled with coal.
The mud was beginning to dry, and wooden walkways had been laid down, making foot travel easier. Swatting at mosquitoes, Laurel chided herself for forgetting her netted hat. Her mother, Brian, Justin, and Susie were supposed to arrive by train later that day, and she felt her anticipation mounting. “How much longer until the train gets here?”
“We've got a few hours yet,” Will said. “It's supposed to roll in late this afternoon, around four. Your mother will like it here.” With a wry smile, he looked all around at the mud and temporary housing. “Well, not exactly here, but our new place.”
“I'm hungry,” Luke said. “What are we s'posed to do for lunch? Is the camp gonna feed us?”
“Nope. Not today. But we can pick up supplies at the store. Until we get our first crop in and sold, we're supposed to charge at the market. The government's given us five years to start paying back the debt on the land, house, and our other expenses. I don't intend on spending one dime more than we have to.”
“We can do some hunting to keep meat on the table,” Luke said enthusiastically.
“I meant to talk to you about that.” Will cleared his throat. “It'll cost us fifty dollars apiece to hunt.”
“What? Why?”
“They say we're nonresidents and have to buy a special hunting license.”
