By 7:00 A.M. on Saturday, all the equipment, vendors, and supplies, along with seventy-five volunteers, had arrived. It was cold, in the forties, everyone huddled in a large semicircle in the barn, dealing with directions and instructions from the various team leaders who would work on the arena roof or start creating those four houses.
Steve Whitcomb, Reese, and Shay, were in the main barn, both doors open, sitting at a makeshift plywood desk, built Friday so they each had a spot to work from. Max, Shay’s golden retriever, lay at her feet, only his eyes moving, watching the comings and goings of so many people.
There was joviality, excitement, and vitality in the air. The wives, girlfriends, sisters, and aunts, were staffing the food tents below the barns. Busy men and women lined up, waiting for a hearty breakfast to be served on paper plates. Hot, steaming coffee was being poured liberally into waiting paper cups. Reese divided his attention between his responsibilities and keeping tabs on Shay.
He saw the smudges beneath her eyes, knowing full well she hadn’t slept at all last night. He had, thankfully. The other vet leaders—Garret, Harper, and Noah—were at their makeshift desks out in the aisleway, each having management responsibility for different phases of the house building.
As the men and women filed in after eating a quick breakfast at the picnic tables set up in neat rows near the food tents, they received their work assignments. The air was festive and laughter was often heard. He saw Shay’s spirit being lifted by the good-hearted people arriving to help her. Many of them came over and gave her a hug. Reese began to see the worry in her expression diminish over the next two hours.
As things got organized—on Friday the vendors had already brought in the materials needed—and the crane was in place next to the arena, Reese wanted to pull Shay aside and give her a break. She was looking a little strained. He knew at 10:00 A.M. her father would arrive in the van driven by Troy. It was on her mind and he could feel it. Walking over to her, he slipped his hand beneath her elbow to get her attention.
“Hey, let’s take a break,” he urged her. “How about some hot coffee, get out in the sunlight and warm up? Steve will pinch-hit for us.”
Shay straightened and turned. “But can Steve handle all this by himself?” She turned, worriedly looking over at him.
“Everything’s under control,” Reese assured her. “Come on. Walk with me?”
“Let’s see if we can get Steve something before we leave. Maybe he wants a cup of coffee, too. It’s cold out here this time of morning.”
Releasing her elbow, Reese nodded and stepped aside. How like Shay to think of others first. A fierce emotion swept through him, gripping his heart, gripping him. Reese kept trying to avoid the word “love” when it came to Shay, but he was old enough, experienced enough, to realize he was falling in love with this wounded but stalwart woman. The glistening look in her eyes as she came back from giving Steve a cup of coffee, smiling up at him, stole his breath away for a moment. Shay’s light brown hair was loose around her shoulders. Like everyone else, she wore a down nylon coat to keep warm, jeans, and boots. He read such hope in her eyes as he walked at her side down the aisle and out into the morning sunlight.
The ranch looked like a busy ant colony hard at work. The noise of the bulldozer, the crane, and a backhoe, filled the air. The sharp rap of nail guns shooting nails into wood, was nonstop. As Reese guided her down the gravel slope, his hand cupping her elbow, he saw the trenches being not only dug, but the necessary sewer piping already being installed above the concrete foundations poured last week.
There were four hardworking house crews preparing the plumbing, which was the first step above ground, to manifest a house. There were a number of women working with the men, equally handy and knowledgeable about building a house. Ranch women were just as skilled as any male wrangler on their ranch. They had to be.
“Well?” Reese asked, pointing Shay toward the food tents that sat between the main house and barn. “What do you think so far?”
Shay smiled. “It’s all working. I’m amazed, Reese.” She gave him a proud look. “You and Steve are a great team.”
Warmth stole through Reese and it felt good to be admired by her. “It’s about teamwork,” he agreed, returning her winsome smile. Right now, Shay looked so young, relieved, and joyous. The people who were working knew what they were doing. And the camaraderie was the glue that bound the group together. As they approached the food tents, he slowed.
“Are you hungry?” Shay hadn’t eaten anything this morning, too upset and nervous.
“Some eggs, maybe?”
“Toast?”
“Yes.”
“Strawberry jam on the side?”
Shay laughed and slid her arm around his waist, giving him a hug. “You know me so well. Yes, that sounds great. Thank you.”