Benson’s crew had finished the house roof. The slate gray metal looked strong against the backdrop of a sapphire sky. The clear, clean lines made him want to finish the porch in quick order. A coat of white paint would give the fresh appearance he wanted for Lucy and these kids, and he’d noted several windows in need of replacement. He wanted that done before the weather turned this fall. Lucy and the kids would have a snug, warm house to face the coming winter. Would she think of him then?
She will if you stay. Sell your place in Tennessee and move home. What are you waiting for? A written invitation? I do believe your father has already issued one of those.
From the greenhouse area, Cody’s voice joined Cade’s as Trey moved up the porch steps. They sounded happy and energized, a wonderful difference.
Ashley was coming out as he was going in. Would she be pleasant or resentful? He held the door wide and waited for her to pass through. “Everything go all right at the ranch after school?”
“You guys have a lot of bossy people over there.”
He knew the truth in that. “Pretty much with any job, I suppose. I thought you weren’t starting work until tomorrow?”
“Isabo needed help, and then Elsa needed help, but when I went to help her, the pudding burned and the whole house smelled horrible.”
“Who would have thought that pudding needed undivided attention?”
She made a face. “Not me, that’s for sure.”
“They just made more, didn’t they?”
“I don’t know.” She stared down, embarrassed. “I went outside.”
“Ah.” He didn’t say anything more, just waited. Jenna’s soft voice, relating a story about a bear who found all kinds of little creatures seeking unexpected refuge in his den, rose and fell on the far side of the porch.
Two teens, so different. One calm and steady, looking forward.
The other restless and quick to battle.
“Maybe I’m not good enough to work at the Double S.”
“Are we talking capable good or behaviorally good?”
She groaned and put her head in her hands. Trey found the theatrical move reassuring. If she had enough energy to be dramatic, she had enough chutzpah to handle things at the Double S, as long as she didn’t mess around. “Stay away from temptation and you’ll be fine.”
She frowned but didn’t growl. He counted that as a plus.
“And listen to Isabo,” he added. “She’s no nonsense—”
“That’s for sure.”
He smiled inside and continued, “But she’s smart and fair, and she’s tackled into this job like a pro. She’ll be a good boss, Ashley.”
“If I don’t mess up.”
He considered that and shrugged. “Well, now, that part’s up to you. Everyone makes mistakes. But messing up is a whole other level. Want some coffee?”
“Yeah. I’ll make it.” They walked inside together and she withdrew two mugs. “A lot of grown-ups wouldn’t let me have coffee.” She didn’t look at him when she spoke; she kept her eyes on the coffeepot in front of her.
“Cowpokes are raised on coffee from early on. I figured it’s got to work the same for future cowgirls, doesn’t it?”
“You really think they’ll teach me to ride?” She poured his mug first, then hers.
“Stay straight and I’ll teach you myself. And how to take care of your mount. How to find your way around a barn.”
Her eyes flew up to his. “Are you serious?”
“I said it, didn’t I? Unless you’d prefer someone else.”
She swallowed hard while adding milk and sugar to her cup. “No. I—umm—” She stirred the coffee as Lucy crossed the porch behind them. “Do you know how cool that would be?”
He pretended confusion.
“To have a big country singer like you teaching me how to ride? The kids at summer school didn’t believe me when I said you were here, helping us.”
Her tone said more than the basic words, and Trey honed in. “Did they give you a hard time?”
She shrugged. “I just got quiet and figured it would blow over. They weren’t going to believe me anyway.”
“Coffee smells good.” Lucy took an appreciative breath as she opened the screen door.
“It’s fresh.” Trey toasted Ashley with his mug. “And good. Thanks, Ashley.”
“You’re welcome. Want some, Lucy?”
If the girl’s cooperative attitude surprised Lucy, she hid the reaction. “I sure do. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
She crossed the kitchen to wash her hands but shot Trey a look of hopeful surprise behind Ashley’s back.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.” She raised her mug as Trey drained his.
“Is the van loaded?”
She nodded. “And parked in the shade with windows open. It’s going to be cool tonight, so that’s an unexpected but perfect plus.”
“Do you care if I get some time in on the porch before it gets dark?”
“Why would I?” She looked genuinely confused.
“It’s noisy and bothersome, and I figured you might be ready for a rest.”
“A rest.” She drew a deep breath and gazed outside as if seeing something special. So special. “I’ve imagined what this old house could look like for a lot of years. Seeing things start to take shape is exciting. Plenty of time to rest this winter.”
“I’ll get on it, then.” He spent the next two hours wrapping the four-by-four supports. He wolfed down two hot dogs when Lucy roasted a double pack on the grill, and ate a helping of the best tuna-and-pasta salad he’d ever had.
Simple food.
Simple times.
Simple enjoyment.
Except not so simple for a guy who tours six months of the year.
He considered that as he finished the last beam. Was he ready to minimize touring? Could his career afford that change? Ed would go ballistic at the very idea, but Ed didn’t have to leave Nashville very often. He could stay there, tucked in his spacious country home, while the wheels of country music churned around him.
Rye had picked up Jenna. Belle was in bed, and Ashley was stowed away in her room. The boys were lolling in front of the TV, watching a nature show about big cats.
Peace reigned.
He wasn’t stupid enough to put much stock in that, because kids and peace didn’t exactly mesh, but he soaked the moment in. He found Lucy shaking off laundry on the back line. He shoved his hands into his pockets when he walked up beside her. “Elsa’s keeping the kids at the ranch tomorrow, isn’t she?”
She treated him offhand, as if their conversation was casual, but after that kiss, nothing he did around Lucy Carlton felt casual. “Yes. It feels like I’m taking advantage—”
“You’re not,” he interrupted her. He backed up a step, wishing he didn’t have to. “We’re making up for lost time, Lucy. You’re not taking advantage of a thing. There’s a lot of payback involved.”
Her hands paused near the clothespins as she digested the words and his stance. “And it’s much appreciated.”
A cool thanks, what he thought he wanted. For both of them to step back to being nothing more than neighbors.
He’d rather kiss her, and then go right on kissing her, but he didn’t have that right. And if she hated him later, well, he’d take that chance. It was his turn to cowboy up, no matter how hard it might be. Walking to his SUV, climbing in, and driving away without even a backward glance…He hated it. He hated treading water with no clear end in sight. He’d gotten where he was by planning his work and working his plan, every day. Every week. But his personal horizons were fogged, and there was no shore to swim to. Not yet. Not until fate and medicine decreed his outcome. So until then—
He shoved his hat back on his head and scowled as he turned onto the graveled drive leading up to the cabin.
Until then he’d keep his distance, best he was able. But he didn’t have to like it.
She’d been shrug
ged off before, so why was she expecting anything else? Lucy wondered as she drove into the Ellensburg open market the next morning. Yes, she’d been attracted to Trey. Was still attracted, she admitted to herself, but she owned that grudgingly. Who wouldn’t be? Between the sweet smiles, the cowboy manners, the down-home affect he adopted so well…the country singer had it all.
She’d had a few days of fantasy land before Trey stepped back to reality. She did likewise, trying to convince herself it was better this way.
She didn’t need drama. Life came with a generous serving of theatrics, and she’d had her share.
She didn’t need sorrow or disappointment either. She had to be at the top of her game to be a good parent to all these kids.
She loved the home improvements, the new van was a dream ride, and if she’d grown a little greedy about the whole Cinderella story and happily-ever-afters, who could blame her? She would cling to these sweet contentments, like Paul when addressing the people of Thessalonica. He understood need and abundance and taught himself to be at peace with either.
So would she.
“Are we going to be here all day?” Cade grumbled from his side of the van. “This isn’t fair, you know. Cody gets to go ride horses and I have to help with dumb flowers.”
“These flowers help keep the lights on and the mortgage paid,” she reminded him. “Families work together.”
He scowled and slumped farther into the seat, feeling quite sorry for himself.
That made two of them, but Lucy didn’t have the luxury of showing it. She pulled into her rented spot, backed up the sleek, new van, and climbed out.
The cool night was already being chased by a brilliant morning sun. “Time to set things up.”
He pouted as he hopped out of the front seat, but when she let him stand on a step stool to suspend the hanging baskets, he forgot to be grumpy. By the time they’d gotten set up, open-air market shoppers were streaming into the fairgrounds.
Cade motioned to the van. “Can I go sit and read?”
He didn’t want to read. He wanted to hide. She shook her head. “Nope, I’m going to need your help making change and carrying things to people’s cars. Bring your book out here and you can get your reading done between busy spurts.”
He groaned.
She ignored his antics as the wide space between tents filled with avid shoppers. She’d hoped for decent sales and was pleased to be half sold out within ninety minutes. An early drought had nipped folks’ flowers, and a fair share of people were happy to pay good money for a fresh midsummer start.
They’d emptied the van by midmorning. As the market prepared to close, they’d sold all but a few stray floral trays and two baskets.
Cade’s eyes went wide when he saw the clip of bills in her money bag. “Are we rich?”
She felt rich, especially after last weekend’s debacle. “We are considerably more comfortable than we were this morning, my friend. And you did great, once you stopped whining.” She laughed and hugged him, then handed him thirty dollars. “Six dollars an hour, as promised.”
“For me? Really?”
“You put in the time, you get paid for the time.” She finished stowing the last of her supplies and closed the van door. “Let’s grab some lunch, okay?”
“Okay!” Accomplishment had erased any trace of the glum kid she’d brought along. They grabbed quick takeout on the way home, and as Cade munched his chicken tenders, he mused at least two thousand ways to use his money.
Hope had replaced disillusionment in the best way possible. Her son was learning to work for a living. He jumped out of the van as soon as she parked and waved the folded bills at Trey.
“I made money today!” Cade fanned the three ten-dollar bills, then raced for the house. “I’m going to put this in a safe place.”
“He’s excited.” Trey descended the scaffold ladder and came her way as she opened the back of the van. He reached in, then paused, surprised. “This is all that’s left?”
“I’m as amazed as you are,” she told him. She lugged supplies into the back of the greenhouse. He followed with the remaining stack. “We had a great morning, and my grumpy little helper turned out to be a wonderful assistant.”
“There’s something solid about earning your own money.” Trey nestled the empty planting trays into a stack of others. “It’s a good feeling to grow on. I gave the Battaglia boys and Brendan the day off because I wanted this side of the barn done, but they’re coming after church tomorrow to do the ends. And then the trim.”
“It looks wonderful.” She kept her attention on the rehabilitated building, not the industrious cowboy at her side. “What a pleasure it will be to look out at a clean, fresh barn when I work in the kitchen this winter. There’s something uplifting about a cared-for barn against a background of snow.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I miss snow.” Trey studied the barn with her, side by side, but purposely distant. Lucy had to remind herself it was the smarter choice. “When Nick and Colt had to tackle into that storm this past winter, I wanted to be right here with them, heading uphill to bring cattle down.”
“But you couldn’t be here.”
“The tour must go on. But I’m here now, and that’s a good thing.” A muscle in his jaw tensed, then relaxed. “Duty calls.” He touched the brim of his hat and reclaimed his spot on the scaffold. She didn’t stand there and watch him go, her heart on her sleeve like a love-struck teen. She was older than that, and smarter too.
What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you took time to thank God for today?
She loved that reminder. She’d made a poster of those words and hung it in her humble kitchen. She had much to be grateful for. Her faith, her family. Her friends and her home. Her very life. But there were regrets mixed in too, and she needed to face them. One of them lived right next door and was trying to meet her halfway. Sam Stafford had put the ball in her court with his helpful gestures.
She took the wise words to heart, went inside, and baked Sam a batch of her old-fashioned sugar cookies. While they baked, she wrote Sam a note, thanking him for his efforts. As the cookies cooled, she and Cade frosted each one with homemade buttercream. Cade shook bright-colored sprinkles on some, and decorative sugars on others. In the end, they had a tray full of freshly made cookies. She set a plate aside for the kids, tucked the handwritten note inside the bigger tray, and drove up the road.
Sam had been self-centered for decades. Lucy knew that. But if she wanted folks to leave her past settled in the past, she needed to be strong enough to do the same for others. As she pulled into the Double S farmyard, she spotted kids in the distance, fishing on the far side of the pond. A group of cowboy-hat-wearing ranch hands were working a small cattle drive along a long stretch of south-facing hillside. Sam and Hobbs sat on the porch in side-by-side rocking chairs.
Cade raced off to join the other kids as Lucy cut across the grass to the front porch. Construction noise from Nick’s new house drifted up the hill, and the laughter of children wandered back their way every now and again.
But the here and now lay quiet as she climbed the steps. “Hobbs, my boys are mighty taken with you and your cowboy ways.”
Hobbs’s face split in a wide smile.
“They like learnin’, them two, and I don’t mind teachin’. Of course I’d rather be up top, bossing those young upstarts around, but Sam figured I better let Colt and Nick take lead. That don’t mean I’m spendin’ my days on this porch, rockin’, though.” He glared at Sam, and Sam smiled. “You get better, then we can both be up there, showin’ them a thing or two about how it’s done.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Sam breathed short and shallow, then sent Hobbs a droll look. “Once I can breathe again, that is. So, young lady.” He turned back to Lucy and smiled a real, personable smile, not something the people of Gray’s Glen were accustomed to where Sam Stafford was concerned. “Everything all right down below?”
“It is b
etter than all right.” She bent over and set the big plate of cookies on his lap, with the card on top. “I wanted to say thank you for the help.”
“We can’t exactly call it help if I’m the one who caused the problem in the first place,” he reminded her. He looked gruff, then relaxed as he breathed in the sweet aroma of frosted sugar cookies. “But if these are homemade cookies, then I’m pleased to accept.”
“They are, and it is a help because you’re going above and beyond, I believe.” She pulled up another rocker and sat right down with the two of them, and who would have imagined she’d be making herself at home on the Double S a few months back? Not Lucy Carlton, that’s for sure. “The new roofs. The barn, all fixed up. Trey has started rebuilding the porch, and he’s having rails put up, with spindles, pure country.”
“He’s always had a heart for that sort of thing, and for helping others. He got a lot of my mama in him, a quality that seems to have skipped a generation. But I do remember my sister loving to make these when we were kids.” He looked down at the cookies as if surprised by the memory. “She loved doing things like this with our mother. And my mother used to say what a fine mom she’d make someday. I think we both were a disappointment in that department.”
“You won’t hear Trey sayin’ nothin’ like that,” Hobbs argued. “He’s mighty glad you found him and brought him back here. Us too.”
“I’ve got plenty to look back on and regret, Hobbs, and sugarcoating it just wastes a lot of good sugar.”
“Until now.” Lucy waited for him to look her way. “It seems that you’re doing a very nice job of carrying on your mother’s kindnesses now.”
He met her gaze, read her sincerity, and dipped his chin. “Maybe it was there all along and got hidden by my mistakes.”
“Life has a way of doing that to you.” She touched his hand, smiled, and straightened. “I wanted the chance to say ‘thank you’ in person. And nothing says true appreciation like something homemade.”
Sam slipped a cookie out from under the plastic. He took one bite and held the plate out to Hobbs. “We’ll get our share before that band of rowdies comes in.”
Peace in the Valley Page 19