“That is fun for him,” she said. “Sean knows the workings of this inn better than I do. Macy taught him everything before she left and he likes doing it.”
“But he’s ten,” Toby argued. “What ten year old anticipates being alone to do his homework?”
“Sean,” she said simply.
Toby thought about that a moment. She could tell it still made no sense, but he accepted it with a shrug.
“All right then.” He stalked past her and opened the backdoor. “Let’s see the troops.”
They walked to the stables and the children waiting none too patiently. A few spotted them coming and immediately started bouncing around in excitement. Cheers rose through the crisp air. It drew Mr. LaRue from inside. His rail thin frame seemed even thinner beneath the heavy coat stooping his shoulders. His faded gray eyes squinted against the sun as he studied Addy from a narrow face.
Addy went to him. “Hello Mr. LaRue.” She offered him a smile. “You’re here early.”
Reaching well into his seventies, Kevin LaRue had been the inn’s stable hand since Macy bought the place. He lived down the road with his dog who was probably older than he was and made the journey of checking on the horses three times a day, every day. Addy didn’t know what she’d do without him. Macy had taught her the odd thing about horses, but it wasn’t nearly enough to properly care for the creatures.
“Was just about to leave,” he grumbled in his raspy, smoker’s voice. “I’ll be back later tonight to put the horses to bed.”
Addy nodded. “Thank you.”
He bobbed his head on a neck that could have doubled as a twig. His gaze shot past her to Toby.
“Oh!” Feeling incredibly rude, Addy shifted back so the two could properly see each other. “Mr. LaRue, this is Toby McClain. He’s here to help make some repairs around the place. Mr. McClain, this is—”
“I know who you are,” Mr. LaRue cut in. “Whole town knows your family.”
It was unclear if that was a compliment or an insult, but Toby accepted it with a slow nod.
“There are many of us,” he agreed. “We’re planning world domination.”
Mr. LaRue was unimpressed by the remark. He regarded Toby with a look of pure annoyance.
“I’ll be back later,” he said to Addy, but kept glowering at Toby. “Don’t kill the horses.”
He ambled back towards the house without another word. They watched him go until he was a tiny speck in the distance.
Addy turned to Toby. “I’m so sorry about that. He’s not normally so prickly.”
“Not your fault. Mentions of my family either bring smiles or frowns. I’ve learned to accept it.”
Oddly enough, that confession didn’t surprise her. The McClain family was infamous in the sleepy town of Willow Creek. Their antics had reached even the isolated corners of her world. Everything she’d heard was second hand from Macy or the occasional passerby. At no time did she ever believe everything, but there had been enough to make her nervous about having her name associated with them. Her mother used to tell her she was the people she associated with and the wrong kind could damage her reputation beyond repair. That had never felt truer until now. It really only took one person to cast her entire world into chaos, one person to really question her presence in Willow Creek. Questions were a phobia of hers.
“Hey.” Five blunt fingers wound around her elbow. “You okay?”
She forced herself to nod and smile, and both felt exorbitantly painful. “Yes.” She tugged her arm free. “I … the kids are waiting.”
Mind a tangled mess of all the errors of her decisions, Addy hurried away from him with her head ducked and her strides long. Her chest hurt by the time she reached the head of the group. Silence descended without a word from her and all eyes focused. She offered the small faces her best smile as she rattled off the rules. She didn’t have many, but the few she did, she enforced with severity. It took no time at all to get the eager nods and an excited little hop from Kari.
The idea to give lessons had been hers. She’d never ridden a horse in her life before that day, but Macy had the creatures and they only ever saw real exercise during big events and holidays. Macy had leaped on the idea, pointing out it would also give Hanna and Sean other kids their age to play with twice a week. That was also the reason Addy had continued the tradition after Macy had left.
“Okay, get your horses and remember, no yelling or running in the stable.
She followed them in. Mr. LaRue had already brushed and saddled the horses. Rosie retrieved the ponies for the younger children and helped Owen with his mare, but the rest got their own. Addy waited until everyone was out on the field before getting Lady out of her stall. She patted the mare’s caramel coat.
“Ready, girl?”
The horse clomped a hoof against the concrete that Addy took as excitement. With her reins in hand, Addy led the mare out onto the field. Rosie was lifting Kari onto her pony. The others were already mounted. Everything seemed in order, except…
“Are you coming with us?”
The man stood a few yards away, one hand tucked lazily in the pocket of his form fitting jeans. He seemed comfortable and in no hurry to move.
“Not this time,” he said, captivating her with those intense eyes of his. “I want to start measuring the porch and getting a few more things knocked off the list before this weekend.”
Since that first riding out, he hadn’t gone on any of the other lessons. He remained behind to work, which was something he did with a single minded determination. His dedication astonished her, especially when his movement was restricted by a length of metal and rubber. It also heightened her respect for him. He never let his injury stop him from accomplishing what needed to be done. He wasn’t bitter or aggressive. If anything, he was too perfect and that made her equally wary.
Leaving him there, she quickly mounted Lady and started the assembly. The children pulled their horses in the direction of their familiar path and followed. They circled the property at a slow clip, enjoying the change of colors in the trees and the quiet whisper of secrets being told amongst the leaves. Their progress added to the calm in an almost soothing musical. At the back, Rosie followed on Nightmare.
As much as Addy loved giving lessons and seeing the children, part of her was relieved that the season was over. It meant no longer having to deal with people or tiptoe around questions she had no desire to answer. But it did mean the loss of an income and she sorely needed as many of those as possible until spring. More and more, it seemed like the only option she currently had was to bake for Under The Willow and bake well.
The lesson ended with a cheer as they reached the clearing. Addy dismounted.
“Get to the house when you’re done!” she called over the noise. “Snacks will be on the table.” She turned to Rosie. “I’m going to get everything organized if you think you can…”
Rosie nodded. “No problem.”
Leaving Rosie to round up the kids and tuck away the horses, Addy hurried back to the house. She stomped up the steps and straight into the kitchen.
Five fully grown men dominated the usually spacious room with Sean standing mute and small in the doorway, watching with guarded eyes. The intruders stood in a casual circle around her island, eating her glazed pretzels and looking like they belonged on some nature hike catalogue in their jeans and flannels. The only ones she actually recognized were Toby, Damon and Jared. The latter two from having the kids picked up and dropped off when their wives couldn’t. The final two were unfamiliar, but the resemblance to Toby was just enough for her to guess they were related to him somehow.
“Uh…” She shut the door and stared at the group that had stopped and glanced over at her like they couldn’t understand why she was there. “Can I help you, gentlemen?”
Sean hurried over to stand next to her and she set a hand on his shoulder.
“Addy.” Toby broke away from the cluster and started towards her. “Sorry. I should
have told you. I asked them to have a look at what we were dealing with. Oh!” At her confused expression, he paused. “This is Uncle Sloan, my dad Cole, my brother Damon and … who are you?” he asked the final guy, who flipped him off. Toby snorted. “That’s my brother in law Jared.”
“Oh!” Outrageously flustered, Addy hedged closer by a step, faltered, before pushing the rest of the way forward, hand extended. Sloan took it first. “It’s nice to meet you.” She offered her hand to Cole next. “I know your wives, except for yours, but I’ve heard great things.”
Cole chuckled. “That’s my Beth. Not very social. Never really got used to the whole small town thing.”
Cole resembled Toby greatly with the same sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes. There were laugh lines around his eyes and a relaxed calmness around his shoulders, unlike his brother. Sloan was all business. Everything from his tense posture to the wary glint in his eyes made her wonder if he hadn’t been a cop at some point. There were very few laugh lines around his eyes, no amusement around his mouth. This was a man who took his job very seriously.
Then there were the other two. Damon was the only dark haired one in the group. But he had the same intense blue eyes and watchful expression as Owen. Jared was more laid back, like Cole. But he was a bear of a man with hands that looked like they could punch holes into steel. He didn’t need to act intimidating. He just was.
She took a step back, her palms too clammy to dare anymore handshakes. “Thank you for coming.”
“Toby says you want a porch built around the place,” Sloan said when the others only nodded. “I had a look at the one you got now and you’re lucky it hasn’t come down around your head ages ago.”
Addy tried not to grimace. “I did some remodeling a couple of years back. It wasn’t very big. Mostly painted the outside, a few of the rooms and had the floors redone, but the guy I hired said the porch was fine so, I just took his word for it.”
“Sam Hogan?” Sloan muttered dryly.
Addy nodded. “He was recommended—”
“He’s a crook,” Cole interrupted. “He’d sell you snake oil if you let him.”
Addy’s jaw dropped. “What…?”
“He’s not the most reliable source,” Sloan said much more calmly. “I’m going to give the place a once over and we’ll fix whatever needs fixing.”
“What? No! Wait.” She hurried forward when the group actually started moving as though preparing to follow orders. “Hold on! I really, really appreciate you coming and helping with the porch, but I can’t ask you to—”
“You’re not asking,” Sloan interrupted. “We’re offering.”
“But…” She rubbed the tips of her fingers across her brow. “We need to still discuss payment and labor and material, and don’t all of you work? What about your jobs?”
Sloan glanced at Toby. “Payment?”
Toby shrugged. “I recommend the cookies.”
“No!” Addy cut in. “No, I am not paying anyone in cookies! Anyone else!” she added when Toby opened his mouth. “Please, this needs to be done right.”
Sloan surveyed her a long moment. She could feel the others doing the same, but it wasn’t with the same level of scrutiny.
“All right.” Sloan straightened. “Let’s put a proposal on paper.”
Addy exhaled. “Thank you. I’ll—”
The backdoor flew open and a herd of children bulldozed their way into the kitchen, screaming and laughing loud enough to make the windows rattle. Kari spotted her father and squealed in delight. She tore away from the group and launched herself into Damon’s arms. He caught her mid lunge and clasped her to his chest.
“Hey baby.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Have a good lesson?”
The rest of the McClain children walked over to stand with their family. Jared clapped a hand on Colten’s shoulder and turned him to get a better look at the bruise on his cheek. He raised an eyebrow, but Colten shook his head.
“I thought Mom was going to pick us up,” Owen said to his grandfather.
“She still is,” Damon answered before Cole could. “We’re here to talk to Ms. …”
“Nixon,” Addy supplied. “But Addy’s fine.”
“Are we still getting snacks?” Kari asked.
“Absolutely!” Addy hurried around the circus that had become her kitchen. “Everyone in your chairs, please!” she shouted over the commotion.
The kids scrambled to the table and took their proper places, everyone, except Sean, who remained frozen in place. Addy quickly scooped handfuls of glazed pretzels into bowls and took them over with glasses of orange juice. Rosie abandoned her seat and hurried over to help distribute. Addy smiled her thanks as the last treat was passed out.
Finished, she dusted off her hands and turned to the men still clustered around her island. “Would you mind just waiting until some of the kids leave? We can go into my office and work the plan out there.”
Sloan nodded. “That sounds fine.”
“What kind of glaze is this?” Jared asked around a mouthful of pretzel.
“Salted caramel,” she said. “It’s homemade.”
Jared stopped chewing and stared at her. “You make homemade caramel?”
Flushing, Addy chuckled. “It’s really not very hard.”
Uncomfortable, she turned her attention on the children, not that she needed to. They were actually behaving, which gave her nothing to do, but stand there and wait. Thankfully, not for long.
No sooner had they finished eating when parents arrived to get their children. One by one, the group diminished until only the McClain crew, Sean, and Hanna remained. Even then, Willa arrived promptly at six. She didn’t seem surprised in the least to find her husband and half her family in Addy’s kitchen.
“Hey everyone!” She hurried over to kiss her father’s cheek first. Then her husband lightly on the mouth. “I’m going to take the children home and give you guys a chance to talk to Addy.” She turned to Addy with a smile. “Are we still on for Monday?” At Addy’s nod, her smile broadened. “Great. I’ll drop by first thing in the morning. Unless you’d like to meet in town?”
Addy shook her head. “Whatever is easiest for you.”
“I can come here,” Willa assured her. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”
She herded the children from the room. Hanna followed, leaving Addy and Sean alone with the five men.
“I’m going to man the front,” Sean muttered when it became apparent that the men weren’t a threat.
“Thank you.” She said as he stalked from the room. She turned her attention to the men. “I’m sorry. You all must be very busy.”
“It’s not a problem.” Sloan straightened. “Do you have some paper and a pen?”
She started to offer they head into her office, but thought better of it. There was no way she could fit all of them in the tiny space. Instead, she hurried out and returned just as quickly with a legal pad and a pen. She offered both to Sloan and watched as he lowered himself onto a stool and began to write.
“All right, so there are five of us,” Sloan began, still writing. “We’ll have to work around Damon and Jared’s jobs, but you’ll have more than half of us here at a time. I think if we hold a steady pace, we could probably get this place up and running in two months. That’s including the porch. In the meantime, I think five hundred up front with an extra five hundred upon completion would work best.”
Addy frowned. “Five hundred for what?”
Sloan raised his head. “Our fee.”
Addy had never been a mathematician, but even she knew that wasn’t right. “That’s only a hundred a person.”
“Two hundred,” Sloan corrected. “Have you talked to Ben Holloway over at the hardware store?”
“Yes, but—”
“He’s putting the order in today for tomorrow,” Toby said at the same time.
Sloan nodded. “Good. Okay.” He set the pen down and fixed Addy with his eyes. “Jared and I will pick up th
e supplies tomorrow and bring it back here. That should be a little after eight, which is the time the hardware store will open. But we’ll be here early after that. Does seven work for you?”
“In the morning?” she blurted.
“The earlier we start, the more we can get done in a day.”
“I have to be home for supper by six,” Jared piped in.
Sloan nodded. “Work will end at five thirty.”
“And no working weekends,” Cole chimed in.
“No weekends,” Sloan agreed. “So every weekday from seven to five thirty. Does that work for you?”
Addy couldn’t get her head around it all. They were talking too fast and throwing too much at her all at once.
“Yes to everything, except the two hundred dollars. For all the work you will be doing, I insist on something higher.”
Sloan looked to Toby, which made Addy wonder what he’d told his family.
“I’m fine with cookies,” he said evenly.
“Two hundred works for me,” Jared said.
Damon shrugged. “Yeah, me too.”
“No!” she protested. “That isn’t fair. You guys are doing such an enormous favor for me and you don’t even know me and I won’t feel right taking advantage of you.”
“All right, how about this.” Sloan shifted on his seat, making the stool squeak. “You throw in lunch—”
“And snacks!” Jared added.
Sloan shot him a sidelong glance before focusing on Addy once more. “You throw in lunch … and snacks, and we’ll call it even. That’s the highest I’m willing to go,” he added when Addy opened her mouth.
She had no idea what the hell kind of logic that was. How … why would they do all that work for nothing? It made no sense. They didn’t know her. They defiantly didn’t owe her anything. Yet there they were, practically handing her everything on a silver platter. Well, she’d had experiences with gleaming plates. She knew they never came for free and the strings that always came attached weren’t worth the metal.
“I will put it all on paper,” Sloan went on almost gently. “We’ll all sign it.”
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