Juliet in August Read Online Free PDF Page A

When Astrid was alive, he never wore a wrinkled shirt, even a work shirt, but ironing is something Lee can’t generate much enthusiasm for, although he would make an effort on a special occasion if one arose. In the bathroom, he studies his face in the mirror. Astrid was right when she said he had a baby face. On the rare occasion that he goes into a strange bar and orders a beer, he still half expects to be asked for ID. He’s reminded that Lester’s father was only nineteen years old and knew barely a word of English when he came to Saskatchewan from Norway and staked his claim to the homestead.
    Lee goes downstairs, buttoning and tucking in his shirt, and finds his boots by the door. The night air, although warm, is a relief from the heat of the day before, still trapped in the house. Cracker can’t believe his luck—company at this unusual hour—and he follows Lee out into the pasture toward the sounds of the cattle. Lee’s small herd of cows watches with curiosity as he approaches. Many of them are lying down and they rise and turn toward him. Cracker keeps looking at Lee for clues as to why they’re here, what’s expected of him, but apparently nothing is. Lee walks quietly so as not to get things stirred up, keeping an eye on the one cow in his herd that he doesn’t trust, who just might choose to take a run at him. Although she’s young, he’s already made the decision to cull her after this year’s calf is weaned. He’s got several cows that he wants to cull now that cattle are moving again and he’s facing a hay shortage.
I should have a horse,
he thinks.
    Lester wasn’t really a horseman in spite of his attachment to Rip and Tom. His interest in horses was left over from his father’s need for four-legged horsepower (a need made redundant by the tractor), and his cattle, kept close to home, were not wild range cattle. When Rip and Tom died, they weren’t replaced. Lester did buy one horse for next to nothing at a sale, but he turned out to be lame and Lester sold him again right away to prevent Lee from getting attached to an unsound horse that couldn’t earn his keep. Lee had asked if they’d be getting another horse, but Lester said they didn’t really need one anymore, and that he was glad not to have the extra work. One horse, he’d said, is more trouble than a herd of cows.
    If Lee had asked a few more times, told Lester how much he wanted a horse, one that he could rope calves off and ride for miles in the hills, Lester probably would have bought one for him, but Lee, conscious since the barn fire of his self-proclaimed status as a mere relative, didn’t ask for things. Now, as he surveys his herd on foot, he thinks he should have bought that Hancock-bred mare Blaine Dolson was selling a while back. He’d bid on her at Blaine’s sale, but the bids kept going up and Lee still couldn’t bring himself to spend money in a way that Lester would not have.
    Lee approaches the water trough in the dark and checks the hose. His dugouts are dry, but this home pasture has a spring, and a pump keeps a trough full as long as the hose stays put and doesn’t get knocked loose by the cows. Once he’s ascertained that all is working, he takes the long way back toward the farmyard so he can check the fence. He knows there’s a bad spot in the northeast corner where a couple of the posts have rotted out and are pretty much held upright by the strands of wire. It wouldn’t take much for a cow to walk right through. When he gets there, the fence is still standing, but he makes a note to get a couple of posts out here and do a proper repair.
    About halfway back to the yard, Lee realizes his feet hurt and wishes he’d worn running shoes instead of boots. He’s tired now, although the dog doesn’t seem to be and looks at Lee full of anticipation that more of an unusual nature is in the offing. When they