I eventually had to drive the Jeep to pick them up and take them to my cabin. I want to take my time going through all of them. There are more than pictures here—there are crafts, letters, and who knows what else.
Me:
I finished. You have another task for me?
Lilly:
Already?
Me:
Yup. I told you I could do it.
Lilly:
I’m in bed already. Can we meet in the morning after second breakfast?
Me:
Yup. See ya!
I look up from my phone to find Dom getting out of his truck.
“Howdy!” I shout.
“Ready?”
“Actually, I just took the boxes to my cabin. I was coming to see if I could take the ladder back to the shed, but you beat me to it.”
“I can do that.”
He emerges effortlessly carrying the ladder, his large frame gliding across the ground in long, smooth strides. Moments later, he steps back out, casually dusting his hands on his worn jeans.
That man is a work of art, and the urge to take a picture and paint him is strong.
“Thanks again.” I hop off the back of my Henry.
“I thought you said running kept you alive and all,” he says, looking at all my Jeep’s shiny orange glory.
“It does, but I also know my limits.”
“I guess this is it then.”
“That’s all. Thank you. How can I repay you for all your kindness?”
“You already did. Dinner last night, remember? Which was already too much. I don’t need you to pay. I’m just doing my job.”
“Sure, but there’s more to it. You went out of your way multiple times for me, and my mini pot pie you didn’t even eat is not enough. So, what can I do? Paint your walls? Clean your cabin? Feed the horses?”
He chuckles. “Stay away from the horses. I wouldn’t want you getting hurt.”
Hurt? Not physically, that’s for sure. Horses—barrel racing, to be exact—were my whole life. Emotionally destroyed by memories hitting me harder than a mad bull? For sure. “If only you knew.”
He eyes me in question, but I don’t say more. That’s all he needs for now. “No, for real, what can I do?”
“How about you let me sleep more than three hours tonight. Deal?”
“No lights, no music, got it.”
