They rode up a long slope and topped out, overlooking a small fenced-in valley. It was situated in such a way that it collected all the moisture from the hills and appeared to be planted in alfalfa. At one end of the field was a lean-to shelter with some kind of equipment stored under it.
He kicked his horse into motion and she followed him down the hill to the shed. Inside the lean-to was a menagerie of antique farm equipment. All were in excellent condition and she suspected that he probably used them regularly. An old sickle mower and rake with their high metal seats were the only items she recognized. She glanced at him and smiled.
"Horse drawn equipment. I remember seeing some pictures of Granddad on an old rake like that." She dismounted and examined the equipment more closely.
Cade joined her and climbed up into the seat on the sickle. "You use this lever to lower the sickle, like this and then lift it over stumps and such." He went to the rake. "You lower the tines until they touch the ground. When the tines get full of hay, you lift it. If you dump them evenly you have rows of hay. Then you use the old baler to scoop the hay up. You have to tie the bales by hand, though. It gets tedious, but I get a kick out of doing it that way."
She ran her hand over the smooth clean surface of the baler. How did he manage to keep everything in such good condition? Cade was a worker; there was no doubt about that. No wonder he wasn't interested in a wife. He didn't have the time. Yet he had found the time to invite her on this ride. She glanced up again and realized he was waiting for some kind of response. She smiled.
"You keep it all in such fine condition. You obviously appreciate it. Has it always been on the farm?"
"No, I searched a long time before I found each one and I paid dearly. I suppose there are some people who would consider it unthinkable to keep it in operation. Actually, I've had to have some replacement parts specially made."
"I think it's wonderful that you have preserved an old way of life. It's just too bad that you're the only one who gets to enjoy them. You know, Cade, there are others who feel the same way you do about the old ways."
He frowned. "So what do you want me to do, make a museum out of this place? No, I may be selfish, but I don't want a bunch of tourists traipsing around my property."