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“Maybe.” He didn’t smile when he spoke, and she wondered if he really thought such a thing was possible. Weren’t callings only for preachers and missionaries?
“What exactly is going on out at the Lucky Lady?” she asked.
“You should come see for yourself.”
“I might. When we were kids we’d sneak out there some times and play around. Crazy, I know. The mine has been closed all my life and even with warning signs all around, we were so accustomed to its presence we didn’t consider it dangerous.”
“But it is. The old-style shafts are poorly supported and the potential for cave-in is real.”
“You’ll fix that, I suppose,” she said.
“If the geologists give us the go-ahead. Right now, we’re cleaning and clearing, exploring, determining viability.”
“Any work in our little town is exciting.”
“I hope everyone agrees with you.”
A.J. tried to climb up on the couch next to Brooke. She boosted the diapered bottom, gently dumped him face-down onto the cushions and relished his responding laugh. He looked up, saw her watching and hid his face in the cushions only to peek out again.
“You are such a flirt,” she said and tickled his exposed sides. He giggled again, rolled over and pulled his shirt up to expose his round belly.
“Oh, so you want another tickle, huh?” Brooke wiggled tickle fingers above him and made growling sounds. The child cackled, mouth wide, his little hands splayed protectively on his belly as he waited in wide-eyed anticipation. Brooke pounced and A.J. squealed. She tickled gently and when she stopped, A.J. climbed onto her lap and hugged her neck.
A surge of joy filled her chest.
Did Gabe Wesson know how blessed he was?
She opened her mouth to say so but a ringtone cut her off. “Phone, Daddy. Hi, Manny,” A.J. said.
With an indulgent smile toward his son, Gabe fished a cell phone from his pocket. After a short, concerned conversation, he rang off. He sat for a moment, quiet and staring as he rubbed his chin in thought.
“I have to run out to the mine.”
“Trouble?” Brooke asked.
“I hope not, but we’ve had some incidents.”
He reached for his son, swinging him up and out of Brooke’s lap.
“Thanks for the boost through the window. When the real owners arrive, I’ll tell them you were my accomplice.”
His smile returned. A really nice smile that sent happy waves through her. “What’s the punishment for burglary?”
“Life in Clayton, Colorado, without chance of parole.” Or one very long year.
“Not too stiff.”
That’s what he thought. “It was nice meeting you. You and A.J. are welcome anytime.”
“Same here. Good to know my neighbors.” Gabe started toward the door. “Even if you won’t work for me.”
At least he was good-natured about her refusal. “Bye now. Thanks, again.”
Over his father’s shoulder, A.J.’s small fingers beckoned. “Book, come on.”
Stunned by the child’s request, she lifted a hand. “Bye-bye, A.J.”
“No.” A.J.’s feet thrashed at Gabe’s sides. “Book, come on. Let’s go bye-bye. Book!”
Gabe stopped and turned. He shifted the thrashing child into the other well-honed arm. “He’s not usually like this.”
“He’s not?”
“Something about you—” He shook his head. “Would you ride out with us? Keep an eye on A.J. while I do some troubleshooting?” When she just stood there, he sweetened the pot. “We’ll buy your dinner.”
Her heart thumped hard.
Couldn’t the man take no for an answer?
The Lucky Lady Silver Mine was a giant anthill of activity. Men in hard hats and reflective vests carrying clipboards or handheld computers scoured the site. A group of locals she recognized bagged trash while a giant loader scooped debris onto the back of a dump truck. From somewhere came the racket of a drill. Brooke sat in the car with A.J. and watched as Gabe disappeared into a small trailer a few yards south of the old, board-framed mine shaft. The weather was warm so she rolled down the windows, hoping the dust didn’t find its way inside.
