Free Under the Desert Sky by Sara Luck Page B

harder than ever.”
    â€œI understand, but you won’t have to pay July anything. His salary is already taken care of, and like I said, he’ll be anxious to have something to do. I’m going to ride over to the Prinsens’ and bring him back. And I won’t take no for an answer.” Christian ameliorated his absolute declaration with a smile.

5

    â€œW ell, if it isn’t Mr. De Wet,” Gwen Bucknell said. “If I’m not mistaken, we missed you last night.”
    Christian was in the stable unsaddling his horse and was surprised to meet the farm manager’s wife. “Mrs. Bucknell, it’s my pleasure.”
    â€œI’m sure it has been.” A smile crossed Gwen’s face. “I believe the last time I saw you, you were riding out of here on your way to Phoebe Sloan’s house.”
    â€œThat’s right. I spent the night with her.”
    â€œOh?” Gwen lifted an eyebrow.
    â€œI suppose I should revise that,” Christian said when he saw Gwen’s expression. “When Phoebe and I—that is, Mrs. Sloan and I—got to her house last night, we found her brooder house had been broken into, and every egg broken. They were not only broken, it was apparent that they’d been cracked deliberately.”
    â€œFrank Sloan.” Anger crossed Gwen’s face. “It’s just like that no-good scoundrel to do such a thing. He’s out to ruin Phoebe.”
    â€œI met the man briefly this morning, and I share your opinion. At any rate, I thought it best not to leave Phoebe alone last night after we found the broken eggs.”
    â€œI agree, and under the circumstances, spending the night was absolutely the gentlemanly thing to do.”
    â€œMama, don’t you have your horse saddled yet?” Hannah asked, coming into the stable. “Papa says we should get started before it gets too hot.”
    â€œMy daughters and I are going to be away for a while, but before we come home, we’ll stop by Phoebe’s place,” Gwen said. “I hope nothing else has happened.”
    â€œI’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Christian went in search of Yhomas. He wanted to tell him what had happened at the Sloan place and also tell him of his plan to have July work for Phoebe. When he reached the library, Yhomas was conversing with Benjamin Fowler.
    â€œThere you are, Christian,” Yhomas said when he saw him. “You remember Ben.”
    â€œOf course. As you’re the chairman of the Water Storage Committee, I assume I’ll work for you—that is, if you still want my suggestions.”
    â€œWe very much want to hear what you have to say.” Benjamin Fowler extended his hand. “I’m in contact with a California lawyer who thinks we can get the government to pay for all of this, and with your experience with Cecil Rhodes, you undoubtedly have some insight.”
    Christian rubbed his chin as he weighed his thoughts before he answered. “I’ll say this: I respect Rhodes for his foresight and intentions. I believe he thought he was doing what was best for South Africa, but from my vantage point, I know that some of the people he took into his confidence were unscrupulous. My advice to you would be to make certain that anyone involved in this project is thoroughly vetted and proven to have the utmost integrity.”
    Yhomas Prinsen began clapping his hands as a wide smile crossed his face. “My dear friend Marie Van Koopmans couldn’t have said it better!”
    â€œI can assure you George Maxwell is an honest man,” Fowler said, somewhat taken aback by Christian’s comment, and Yhomas’s reaction.
    â€œI’m sure he is,” Yhomas said. “It’s just that Christian has seen firsthand what corruption can occur when private enterprise colludes with government dollars.”
    â€œThen that’s an even better