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“I…uh…well, when you said the bank turned you down for a loan, I got to thinking. So, I asked around town and every signature on this list represents someone who’s willing to offer a small donation toward your new barn.”
He licked his thumb and flipped through the pages.
“By my calculations, there are more than enough names here to cover the cost of materials. And many of them volunteered to help with the rebuilding as well. I wouldn’t say it’s entirely free labor. You’ll have to feed them for a day or two while they work, but…I figured this could get you back on your feet.”
Landon passed the paper over, his gray eyes filled with such a tentative, fragile hope that it made my heart ache. I felt like I was moving in a fog as I accepted the list. The ink swam before my eyes. There were hundreds of names here—people Ididn’t even know, people I’d never met willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand.
“You won’t have to sell Hera either,” Landon added. “Or any of the other horses for that matter.”
At last, I found my voice and looked up.
“You did this?”
Landon scrubbed at the back of his neck with a small nod.
“He called and ran the idea by me,” Grandma Cora put in. “I roped Grady into it because he’s a grumpy old badger. I knew he couldn’t say no to me, though. Landon did the rest. Went around town knocking on every door and talking to folks.”
I stared at him, bewildered. To think that Landon—quiet, serious, reserved Landon Hewitt—had achieved this was incredible. It must have taken a massive amount of effort to pull off.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
Landon shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
“It was the neighborly thing to do.”
My heart felt so full, so relieved. I stepped forward and looped my arms around Landon’s neck. He froze with surprise. The angular planes of his body fit perfectly against my softer, curvier figure, and his stubble rasped against my cheek. I breathed in the scent of him—hay and fresh mountain air and sharp, black coffee.
After a moment, Landon brought his hands up and rested them on my hips. His palms slid around my waist, curving over my back as he returned my hug.
“Thank you,” I mumbled into his neck.
He squeezed a little tighter, his breath warm against my shoulder.
“You’re welcome.”
Chapter Eight
Landon
Two weeks later, it was time for a barn raising. I spent all morning wrestling with the fizzy nerves bubbling in my stomach.
Usually, I wasn’t nervous about these things. I found refuge in the work, taking advantage of the anonymity that came with the labor. Beau was the one who made up a thousand excuses to take a break and socialize. Flirting with the pretty ladies over a slice of pie or a plate of barbecue.
This was Callie’s barn raising though. Every time I was around her brought on a strong case of the butterflies. At night, when the day was done and my eyes grew heavy with sleep, I could have sworn I felt her arms around me, the softness of her body pressed to mine, smelling like sweet peach cobbler.
The worst part was the fact that Callie and Beau were still together. It didn’t matter how strong my feelings for her were. She was my best friend’s lady.
A burst of laughter drew me to the window of my bedroom. Over a dozen cars already lined Callie’s driveway and it was barely nine o’clock in the morning. The smoky scent of barbecue lingered in the air. A herd of children darted around the pasture, playing tag.
Let the festivities begin.
I took one last look in the mirror, smoothing my hand down my front. My palm came to rest against my stomach as if I could tame the butterflies that still tumbled around, tossed by the hurricane of my affection. I bought a brand new pair of jeans specifically for the occasion, since everything else in my closet was worn nearly threadbare. Clean-shaven and dressedin the nicest button-up shirt I owned, I had to tamp down my misgivings.
My father would have scoffed at the sight of me. Trying to impress a woman who loved another man.
Rather than jumping the fence and crossing the pasture like I normally would, I chose to follow the edge of the property instead. It gave me an excuse to put off joining the celebration for a precious minute or two longer.
When I walked up Callie’s driveway, she spotted me within seconds and came trotting over with a smile that stretched ear to ear.
