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Lily patted Slade’s shoulder as she followed his mother inside, Allie turning to go with them. She was more reserved than Allie, yet both women were perfect matches for his older brothers. He was reaping more than one benefit by welcoming them into the family.
While they ate, talk around the table bounced from topic to topic, most of which he listened to more than participating. Sinking his teeth into a sauerkraut-covered sausage slathered with mustard, his thoughts again drifted to Nicole, pondering on whether she would take a break from work or not. Why should he worry if she pushed herself? Damn it, he wasn’t her keeper; he’d barely met the woman. Her input in their short conversation consisted of telling him to go away. She’d made it clear she didn’t want help and preferred to be left alone, so why was he itching to do the opposite and go bug the crap out of her?
Slade jolted when Allie waved a hand in front of his face. “Earth to Slade. Pass the carrots, please.” Her curious look wasn’t the only one.
“Sorry. Daydreaming.” He handed her the bowl of chopped carrots glistening with caramelization.
“Duh.” Across the table, Reed raised a brow and rested an arm atop Lily’s chair beside him. “Anything you want to share?”
Might as well,he mused. The idea that popped into his head would require enlisting their help if he went through with it. “I met the new neighbor. She bought the Studman farm. From our brief conversation, she appeared to be tackling the repairs needed for an animal rescue by herself.” He shrugged, hoping the gesture conveyed this was no big deal when he asked, “Anyone want to help me haul some lumber over and help put up a new fence?”
His mother and Allie beamed at him and replied at the same time. “She?”
“You never get involved with neighbors,” Brett stated.
Slade glared at the three of them. “It’s only a short fence, and we have plenty of wood slats, so don’t make anything more of it than a few hours of neighborly help. Are you in or not?” he asked his brothers.
“I am,” Reed said. “Lily’s brother won’t be in until this evening.”
“Yes. Levi texted and said it would be around seven. I appreciate you changing dinner to earlier, today, Andrea, so I can be home when he arrives.”
“Not a problem, Lily, dear. I think that’s a wonderful idea, Slade.” She sent Brett a pointed look.
“Yes, of course I’ll help,” he answered as Allie stood to gather plates with Lily.
“If you have time, Lily, we can run over some sandwiches later. I’d like to meet...what’s her name?”
He rose and narrowed his eyes at Allie. “Don’t even think about pulling any matchmaking stunts.”
Smiling, she quipped, “I won’t. Just following your example and making a neighborly visit, that’s all.”
As she and Lily carried dishes into the kitchen, he turned to Brett. “Keep an eye on her.” Allie had good intentions, but he still didn’t want her butting into his personal life.
“I always do,” he replied with amusement.
***
SLADE ARRIVED AT THEIRstorage barn before his brothers, who were dropping off Lily and Allie first, and he backed up to the wide sliding doors to make it easier and faster to hook up the flatbed. With around four hours of daylight left to work outside, they should get a majority of the fence enclosing half an acre behind Nicole’s house replaced. If she balked at accepting their help, he could always point out how much work she faced building a shelter, he mused, sliding out to open up the doors.
Brett finished backing into the barn close enough to attach the flatbed, Reed riding with him. “So, you’ve already met the new neighbor,” he stated, reaching for his hat sitting on the dash before shutting his truck door.
Reed strolled up to Slade, grinning, and clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re trying to figure out how that happened. Being the least sociable, you didn’t piss her off already, did you?”
“Not yet, but there’s time. She has an attitude to rival mine and won’t be happy to see us.” Slade jerked his head toward the open barn. “Shall we?”
“Then why are we doing this?” Brett asked, following him inside.
Slade pulled his work gloves from his belt and put them on then bent to attach the trailer to the back of his truck. “Because she’s attempting to shore up a fence that’s too rotted with age to make it worth the time and effort.”
Reed hefted a stack of boards from the stash along the side, grunting. “Will she welcome our help or boot us off her property?”
“She won’t welcome us, and she’ll likely try to get us to go,” he replied, filling his arms with lumber.
Brett followed and lowered his load onto the trailer. “She must have made quite an impression to get you to return of your own volition. I like her already.”
“Don’t make more out of this than a friendly gesture from neighbors.”
He returned inside to get another load, ignoring his brother’s laughter. It was easier to let them think what they wanted than to argue. Besides, he couldn’t help admiring Nicole’s grit and determination in taking on the large project of opening a shelter without seeking help. Maybe a little assistance here and there would keep her from burning out sooner rather than later.
