He nodded. “Garret and Harper have a construction background. We’ll handle it together. And I can work with the time sheets and other details with them.”
Maud rubbed her hands together. “Sounds like military-style teamwork, don’t it, Steve?”
Steve gave his wife a pleased look. “That’s why you and I, when we can, hire military people. We know they’re organized, disciplined, and have the can-do spirit that we need.”
Shay felt her heart bloom fiercely with such joy that she thought she’d explode on the spot. Everyone was so positive, and it lifted her. Money was such a monster in her life that she could never have done something like this alone. She felt such love and gratitude for Maud and Steve. If only the world realized how powerful, wise, and caring they were to the struggling people of this valley. She knew that the younger generation paid no attention to them, and that was their loss. She had always found that these two ranchers provided the life experience she didn’t have. And now, they were helping her to help her vets.
Reese smiled over at Shay. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright with moisture, vulnerable and happy. The shock over this unexpected development had swept her away. It would anyone. He was still catching his breath.
Steve opened up his briefcase and handed Shay and Reese another folder that read HOUSES on the tab.
“Study all the finances and requirements,” he said to them. “I think you’ll find our donation to Shay is all in order. Maud and I would like to spend a bit more time with you this afternoon going over these items.”
Shay nodded, barely skimming her fingers over the folder that meant so much to her. “Of course we can.”
Slipping the folder on top of his others, Reese said, “I can hang around. Let’s do it.”
“Good,” Steve said, handing Maud a folder and opening up the last one in front of him. “We might need more fresh coffee in a bit,” he added, and he grinned at all of them.
Shay nodded. “For sure. I’m so shocked by all of this, if I drank I’d want a shot right now.” But she didn’t drink because of her father. She saw Steve smile; he understood.
Reese couldn’t believe the generosity of these two people, his throat tightening with emotion.
For the next two hours, they pounded out a lot of necessary details. He was glad to have Garret and Harper waiting in the breach. Those two knew construction from different angles, but together, they created the whole package.
“Reese? You and me need to make out not only a budget for each of these projects, but a revised time line,” Steve said.
“Already there,” he agreed. “I’d like to get Garret and Harper in on that side of the planning. They’re very familiar with what it’s going to take out in the field so we can refine these budgets.”
Steve agreed. “Good. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time. We need to get volunteers to come in a week early to first put in a septic tank for each house, lay out the foundation, put in the plumbing, and then pour the concrete for the foundation. It has to cure for seven days. After that, it’s ready for the house to be built on top of it. I can get a group of them together a week early to get that done for you.”
Reese happened to glance across the table at Shay and saw her expression, soft with gratitude, aimed at him. He would be contributing heavily on this project, and it felt so damned good. Shay was finally getting some support. Long overdue and so well deserved. The look of admiration for him in her blue eyes made his heart do funny things in his chest. Made him feel hope. And maybe, something else that he’d thought was out of his reach.
*
Reese didn’t even smile a little as he heard Shay’s bedroom door open and close quietly. It was 3:00 A.M. and he was out in the kitchen making some more of that tasty chamomile tea, unable to sleep. The scrape of her slippers stopped, so he lifted his head in that direction. He heard the clacking of Max’s claws against the cedar floor, following his mistress down the hall. That dog didn’t get much sleep, either, but didn’t seem any worse for wear.
“Not you, too?” Shay croaked, rubbing her eyes.
Max walked around Shay, looked up at Reese, and slowly wagged his tail in a hello to him. Reese smiled down at the golden retriever and ruffled the fur on his neck.
“It’s an epidemic, I guess.”
Shay gave a short laugh and then shook her head, straining to see what he was making. “Tea? You said you didn’t like drinking it.”
“Well, the chamomile tasted good when you gave it to me the other night.” And then he added with an amused tone, “Don’t tell the other guys, who are coffee hounds, that you’ve turned me into a tea drinker.” He saw her lips curve, a glint in her drowsy eyes.
“Yeah, they’ll never let you live that down, will they? A Marine who is a tea drinker. Your secret’s safe with me, Lockhart.”
“They wouldn’t take any prisoners if they found out,” Reese agreed with a chuckle. “Want some tea, too?”
“Yes, please.”
“Go sit at the table. I’ll bring it over.”