“The pie will be soggy, though.” He cringed, imagining his trip up to the main house. “Maybe I can talk Grams into making another.”
Her easy laughter had him tugging on the end of her hair quickly before stepping back. “Ben McAllister, you’re shameless.”
“Sometimes. Since Grams can’t cook on the stove anymore, I figure I’m making her happy by asking for a pie.”
“Spoken like a true man. Now try my tea.”
“I was kinda hoping you’d forget.” He ducked as she pretended to punch him in the arm, a sure sign they were moving in the direction he hoped. “I’m kidding. I asked for it, didn’t I?”
Her arched brow made him grin wider. She’d brewed it special for him, so he opened the thermos and tried it.
The taste actually had some bite to it, one he could chewon. “Not bad. I’ll take it with me when I ride over to the construction site. Wanna come? There’s something I’ve been wanting to show you. Besides, Will and the men are finalizing the foundation.”
“I know. He came by the house earlier, asking for help with his hand. He whacked it between a couple of the rails.”
Will hadn’t mentioned anything about his wound last night.Typical Will.When he’d come inside to give Cooper a bath and put him to bed, Will’s door had already been closed. He’d respected his brother’s privacy by not knocking. Now he wondered if Will hadn’t gotten off-balance because of his bad leg and gotten hurt. That alone wouldn’t have made him upset.
The missing lumber shipment and the money had to be eating at him. He thought back to Will saying he wished he could talk to him more like he used to. Well, Ben was going to pull his brother aside as soon as he saw him.
“Thanks for taking care of Will.” He tugged gently on the ends of her hair again and grinned when she didn’t step back. “What’s it to be? You going?”
He watched a wrinkle fill her brow line.
“What’s the matter?” he pressed. “I know that look.”
She bit her lip. “It’s Flame. She still won’t give me the time of day.”
Right. That horse was showing she sure could hold a grudge, which had to hurt like hell. He’d have to think on what he could do to help beyond what he had. “You’re making progress. Maybe she needs a tea.”
“I wish,” she remarked with a long-suffering eye roll. “How about we save that ride for our picnic? Neil and I were going to forage today. More herbs to dry for my healing place.”
“It’s a date.” He touched her nose playfully and watched to make sure she didn’t frown at the term—which she didn’t. “Make sure you wear some sunscreen, so you don’t get all sunburned.”
She gave him a sassy shove, making his day. First, a hip swish, then her consenting to a date, and now an old Hannah favorite. Progress was in the air, all right. “You’re one to talk, cowboy.”
He touched his jaw. “I’m weathered like leather.”
“Uh-huh.” She crossed her arms. “I’ve heard that before.”
“Hannah!”
They turned as Cooper came running up with Tank. “Are you going foraging today? Can I come?”
She glanced at Ben, who was waiting for her answer. “If your papa says it’s okay.”
He turned and grabbed Ben’s shirt. “Please, Papa! Tank and me will be real good, I promise.”
Ben ruffled his hair. “You’realwaysgood, son. You can go. See if you can find me a special rock for my collection.”
Hannah raised her brow. “Since when do you have a rock collection?”
“Since my son here started bringing me rocks.” They shared a tender smile. “It’s tradition now. Well, I need to get on and see how things are going at the site.”
His phone rang, the emergency sound that always made him freeze at first before he ground down. He pulled it out of his back pocket and excused himself. “Yeah.”
“James Taft is at the main gate with a truck filled with lumber,” Dusty told him. “Said he’d heard about the trouble and wanted to help out like a good neighbor. One of the hands called up to ask how to handle it.”
Ben laughed mirthlessly. “That’s somecojones.This dog and pony show I’ve got to see. Let him come up. And Dusty…I want you here right away. I need someone to video the encounter.”
