Free Plant Them Deep by Aimee & David Thurlo Page A

in her mind. She’d said it well. Herman was a good companion, but Lena and she had shared the birth of their children and the death of their spouses. Through good times and bad, their friendship had been tested, but never found wanting. Because of this shared history and the comfort their friendship gave them, the bond between them had become unbreakable.
    Rose arrived at Professor Wilson Joe’s office an hour later. As she reached his open doorway, she saw him hunched up behind his desk, totally focused on the papers before him. Hating to interrupt, she waited at the door until he looked up.
    “Hello! Come in,” he said quickly, reaching up and adjusting his turquoise and silver bolo tie. “I hope you haven’t been standing there very long. You shouldhave said something!”
    “You seemed so absorbed in what you were doing, I didn’t want to interrupt,” Rose said.
    “I’m used to it,” he said, inviting her to sit down. “What can I do for you?”
    “I’ve come to ask you a favor,” she said. “Have I come at a bad time? I can see how busy you are.”
    “I’m never too busy for you. Now tell me how I can help.”
    Wilson had a pleasant smile and such good manners.He would have made the perfect son-in-law. But, for some reason, Ella had never considered him more than just a good friend.
    Rose told him about the plant survey work she’d accepted. “But to complete the forms they want me to use every time I find one of the endangered plants, I’m going to need a field botanist to insert all the fancy scientific language and geographical terms. I wasn’t ableto keep the young student who was helping me because she didn’t have any experience with local flora. At least that was the tribe’s excuse. Can you suggest someone who can help me with that?”
    “I’ll be happy to lend you a hand whenever I can, but I’m teaching an additional course this semester for another professor who’s on maternity leave. During the daytime, my hours are already set.”
    “Is thereanyone else?”
    “What you’re asking is something that’ll be very time-consuming, especially if it involves fieldwork, and I don’t think any of the professors here have the time or the credentials you need. But I have a suggestion. There’s a retired professor living in Farmington, and he’s written several monographs on Southwest flora. I think I have his card … .” He opened the desk drawer and searchedinside. “Yes, here it is.”
    Rose took it from him and read it silently: Dr. William Hoff, Professor Emeritus, Botany, University of New Mexico .
    “I’ll be glad to give him a call and tell him you’d like to speak with him. He’s an expert on the flora of New Mexico and very highly respected. He’s made himself available before as a consultant, just to keep active. But I should warn you, he’s a biteccentric.”
    “Eccentric means he doesn’t fit the norm, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Rose said with a smile. “I’ve been called that—and far worse,” she added, laughing.
    “Okay, then. I’ll give him a call, and let you know if he’s available. When should I tell him you’d like to meet?”
    “How about this evening, or tomorrow morning? The sooner, the better.”
    “Okay. But if you don’t minda piece of advice?”
    “Go ahead.”
    “I think you should complain to the tribe about the man they assigned you—in writing, if necessary. If he’s not making himself available, and not doing the job, he shouldn’t be paid for it.”
    “I agree. I intend to stop by the tribal offices next, and talk to a councilman face-to-face. Maybe I can get my so-called helper replaced.”
    Rose was in better spirits bythe time she left Wilson’s office. Now, no matter what happened, she had a chance to get someone with academic credentials to back up her findings. One way or another, the job would be completed, and done well.
    Rose arrived at Councilman John Begay’s office a short time later. She’d