page_201 < previous page page_201 next page > Page 201 chance to see you today." He smiled at her, and she felt it all the way to her heart. Jody felt she should break eye contact with him but couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead, she said, "I had thought I might ride out and see the harvest after a while. I've never seen cane being cut before." Although she tried to keep the conversation impersonal, her voice came out softer and sweeter than she had intended. With great effort she made herself look away from him. Will gazed from one to the other. "Maybe you'd like for me to send some of my men over to help. My cotton is finished for the year, and they don't have much to do until we plow again." "Thanks. I could use the help. I'm shorthanded this year." He was still looking at Jody. "Sometimes I miss the old days," Will said. "When it was time to harvest the cane, the slaves worked in shifts around the clock. Cane doesn't get fully ripe here; we have to let it stay in the field as long as possible, then cut it before the first frost." "Cotton prices are still dropping," Micah said as he went to the rail and sat beside Jody. "I'm wondering if I should plant it again next year." "I wonder if you're too far north to grow rice," Jody said. She could feel Micah's eyes upon her and it was making her nerves tingle with excitement. She didn't dare let Will see how Micah's presence was affecting her. "Rice?" Micah asked. "Grow rice as a crop?" Will looked past her thoughtfully at the field. "I never heard of growing rice." Jody knew she had made a mistake but saw no  < previous page page_201 next page >