Skip Jenkins’ arrival had him pausing before going up the road to see Hannah. She hadn’t come down yet from Will’s house, and he’d been anxiously waiting, wanting to show her where they planned to build her school at the construction site. After their closeness on the porch last night, he was eager to make her smile again. She was coming to trust him again, and more than their attraction, that trust meant everything to him.
Ben returned his attention to their neighbor to the south. The eighty-six-year-old man uncurled slowly out of his truck, his weathered face a testament to the sun and wind he’d dealt with day in and day out for decades. Ben looked at men like that and wondered if nature would carve its mark on his features as he aged. He found he didn’t mind. It showed character. “Skip, it’s mighty nice of you to come by.”
“I heard there’d been trouble.” He shook hands with Ben and walked him back to the flatbed. “It’s mostly reclaimed wood paneling, but I might have more exposed wooden ceiling beams and wide-plank hardwood floorboards for you to use if you’re willing to pull them out.”
Ben frowned. “From where?”
The old-timer looked down, and the pause chilled Ben. “From some of the barns and outbuildings on the Diamond J. Ben, I’m thinking about selling some of my land. I’m not getting any younger, and after a recent episode with my heart, I realized I might need to downsize my herd.”
Everything in Ben stilled. Everyone in Sanctuary Springs had wondered what would happen to Skip Jenkins’ place for over fifteen years, but he’d kept going alone after his kids showed no interest in ranching. “I didn’t know you’d had health trouble.”
His wrinkles deepened as he snarled, “Ask your gramps or your father about that funny little pain you get in your sideas you dig fence posts as you get older. It happens. I don’t think it’s much to worry about. Even Paul Kincaid’s had his fair share of issues lately, and he’s still working as hard as he ever did. Good work keeps a man healthy, but let’s face it, I’m as old as dirt. Most men my age are in the ground by now.”
Ben had watched age and health make decisions for his father and Gramps. Every time, the viewing had been painful. “Skip, you need any help on the Diamond J, all you have to do is ask.”
Skip laid a weathered hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Thank you, Ben. But that’s not a sustainable answer. I can always hire more men. It’s the managing of it that keeps you up at night and makes you put in long days. I’m not afraid of hard work, but I’m no spring chicken. Used to be my bones only ached in winter. Now they ache all the time.”
Ben made a show of twisting his spine and groaning. “Hell, Skip, my joints ache. Are you saying I’m no spring chicken?”
The older man laughed heartily. “More like a barred rock rooster. Dependable. Hardy. Friendly. Protective. They do what they’re supposed to.”
Ben chuckled easily. “I’ll take the compliment. Will’s been comparing me to a grizzly. Skip, how much land are we talking? Maybe I could buy some.”
He inwardly cursed at the timing. His emergency fund was going to the lumber, even with his neighbors’ generous help. That meant the bank, and while they’d used loans in the past, the Triple M preferred not to take them. Nature was a fickle creature, and men had gone broke not being able to pay them back.
“That would be my preferred option.” Skip gestured to the ranch with a smile on his face. “I don’t want to sell to an outsider like James Taft, especially if he’s the one behind your shipment going missing. Then again, he’d be continuing the troubles his ancestor was known for. I’m older than you. Iwas weaned on those stories of Elena McAllister challenging him to a poker game in a fancy yellow gown handmade in San Francisco. Of course no one told me as a young’un about the whorehouse deed being the prize. That came later.”
Ben sent him an amused smile while he thought things through. They had to find the money to buy that land. When there was drought, and there had been, Skip let them water their herd on his land to the south. The thought of Taft or anyone else getting their hands on it and then blocking them from that water would turn his hair gray. “I’ll come back to you with an offer straightaway.”
“You do that.” He clapped him on the back. “Well, I’ll help you unload.”
Ben signaled to a few ranch hands who’d been hanging around in the yard, waiting to help. “Thanks, Skip. We’ve got it. Why don’t you head to the main house? Reba made a strawberry pie last night, and I think there’s a slice left.”
“Best news I’ve had all day.” Skip tipped his hat and started for the house.
Ben eyed the lumber. They needed to see how much they could use and divide it between exterior and interior construction, but not right now. Will was up with men laying rebar and wire mesh reinforcement so they could pour the concrete foundation. By the time the concrete cured, they’d have their new lumber shipment. This lumber would work perfectly for Hannah’s school.
“Ben!”
He spun around at the warm, feminine voice he loved so well. Hannah looked much like the girl he remembered, wearing one of her short-sleeved plaid shirts tied at her waist, denim jeans that hugged her sweet little body, and her favorite pair of cowboy boots.So beautiful.His heart ached at the knowledge that he’d almost lost this…the gift of seeing Hannah coming toward him on the ranch. “Hey there. I was waiting for you to come out.”
The delighted flash in her sparkling eyes told him she’d looked forward to seeing him too. Yeah, he hadn’t been reading her wrong last night. At one point, he knew she’d thought about stepping into his arms.
“Neil and I were organizing plants to bring down to my new place. Goodness, it’s been nice seeing people coming around with lumber. I got a little choked up when I saw the first truck arrive.”
“Word got around.” He wanted to touch the lock of auburn hair lying over her shoulder and rub it between his fingers like he used to. “You know how people are.”
“Yeah.” She smiled softly, a smile that took his breath away. “I missed that.”
He’d wondered if people in Scotland had treated her neighborly, but with city living, he doubted it. Who had helped her carry anything heavy when she needed it or helped her lug home her Christmas tree and put it up for her? He now suspected Neil had. “I have something I want to show you.”
“Now?” She anxiously glanced around at all the activity. “You look awfully busy. In fact, I was going to ask you if you wanted to postpone our picnic today.”
No way in hell.He clasped her shoulders, all too aware of the sweet lines of her body. “For you, Hannah, there’s always time.”
She swallowed thickly, her muscles tensing at his touch. “All right. When?”
He eased his hands away, knowing he needed to be patient. Touching her was like lighting a stick of dynamite. They both could feel it. “How about six?” He would talk to Reba about looking after Cooper. “That way I can arrange for some food.” Which also involved another Reba conversation…
