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"My father would ask me or the high schoolers to do this or that, but I think I might need a firmer..." She trailed off. "Thank you for hiring me."
He nodded. "Of course," he said. "I'm so glad I heard the radio ad."
"Oh, good! I was wondering how you heard about the company."
"Yes. Well, if you want to order someone around, I'll be your man as soon as I get my other chores done."
"Goodbye," she said with a wave and a laugh.
He was dawdling. His mom always hated when he dawdled, but he didn't want to leave Beverly's side. Still, they walked together a little bit before she broke off for the toolshed and he went to the office.
Thankfully, Colton wasn't inside because Roy didn't want to have to answer any questions about Beverly. Not that he thought Colton would ask any personal questions or assume anything was going on between Roy and Beverly. Not that anything was. But that didn't mean that maybe one day once the project was finished...
Then again, Roy and the others had all teased Colton when he had reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Susan. Colton might want payback.
Roy shook his head as he shut the fridge. He hadn't eaten all of his sub either, mostly because he had been so busy talking to Beverly. She was just easy to talk to, and he enjoyed getting to know her more.
Still, it was well past time to get to work.
He strode out of the office with a purpose and was soon heading to the fields, knowing that he had to get his chores finished as quickly and efficiently as possible. Still, his mind wandered back to her every now and then.
He grabbed the hoe from the shed and began weeding near the fruit bushes. Thoughts of Beverly stayed with him every step of the way.
He completed each chore with precision, though not without daydreaming about what it would be like if they spent more time together working on the orchard.
His brothers noticed how quick he was finishing tasks but could only laugh at his speed. None knew why he was so motivated today.
Roy tried to concentrate on his work, but it was hard not to stop and take a few seconds here or there to think about Beverly. He pushed himself faster and harder than usual so that he could finish up sooner and he could get back to working with Beverly again.
Finally, he finished feeding the pigs. He would wash his hands and head on over and—
"I don't think you've ever worked so fast in your entire life," Jack said. "Does it have anything to do with the female construction worker doing the work you said you would do and refused to let any of us help you with? Are we not good enough or something?"
Despite Jack's teasing tone, Roy gulped.
The jig was up.
ChapterEight
Beverly took a second to wipe the sweat from her brow. The skeletal bones of the toolshed were already in place, and so far, she couldn't be happier with how it was turning out. She still had to figure out which material would be best for the roof, but the progress she was making, between earlier with Roy's help and now by herself, she was pleased.
Even though she knew that, with future jobs, she would either have to work alone entirely or else try to expand the company and maybe even hire someone else to work with her full-time, she found herself wishing Roy would hurry up and return. The cowboy was fun and helped to make the time pass by so very quickly, but even more than that, when he was around, she just simply didn't feel as lonely.
It was when she was lonely that she missed her father the most.
Roy bringing up his faith and God... Beverly hadn't known what to think. He had been so earnest but not pushy about it, and honestly, even before Beverly had lost her father, her life had felt like she was missing something.
Or maybe someone.
Someone? As in Someone? God? She did pray from time to time, but mostly it was because she needed something, especially if something was lost. Somehow, she knew that shouldn't be the case. Even giving thanks to God probably wasn't enough.
But she had no idea where to start.
Maybe she could talk to her father, though? As if he were still here with her? Or would his lack of ability to talk back to her only make her grief and sorrow worse?
She glanced around to see if anyone was close enough that if she chose to speak to her deceased father aloud, they would overhear, and it was a good thing she had checked because Roy and two other cowboys were heading straight for her.
She waved and waited for them to approach.
