Diana came around Shay and held out her hand. “Hi, Mr. Crawford. Call me Diana. I’m Chuck’s wife. We own the gas station on the north end of town.”
Ray grudgingly gave Diana’s hand a tepid shake. “That old gas station? It was broken down and dying the last I heard.”
Diana smiled at Shay and turned her attention to Ray. “Well, it was, Mr. Crawford. My husband and I rebuilt it two years ago, and we’re just fine now.”
Grumping under his breath, Ray turned his attention to the spectacle going on around him.
Diana gave Shay a merry look. “Why don’t you take off? I know Steve and Reese need you out there. I’ll take care of your father’s requests.”
“Thanks,” Shay murmured. She leaned down, her hand on her father’s shoulder. “I’ll try to drop by later when I get a chance, Father. We’ll have lunch together.”
Ray turned, regarding her. “Why can’t you stay?”
“Because,” Shay told him firmly, “I’m part of a three-person team coordinating the building schedule. I can’t do both. But, I am glad you came out to see what is going on.”
“Hmph.”
Okay, so much for being understanding, Shay thought. Diana gave her a sympathetic look, said nothing, but squeezed her hand as she turned to walk down the stairs. Shay hurried toward the path that led to the busy barn in the distance. So far, so good. She had been pleasant but firm with Ray. Reese and Garret would be proud of her.
And yet, her heart ached because she could see her father struggling to be “nice” to her. Why? Why was it so hard for him to be nice to people around him? Did he realize how hard and harsh he was on everyone? She felt very sorry for Troy, who had been his chief caretaker for a year now. But the big man, who was a physical therapist, too, seemed unaffected by Ray’s outbursts, irritability, and anger. He was as placid and easygoing as Reese was, she decided, climbing the gravel slope up to the barn.
When she reached their table in the aisle, the place was crowded with people coming and going. Shay saw Reese look up the instant she entered the area. There was concern in his face, but she also felt the warmth of his gaze on her, too. Shay smiled at him. When she reached their desks, she saw Steve was busy with the four indoor house crews, who were now coming in to work. Reese had just gotten off the radio with the backhoe operator down below the barn. He turned.
“How did it go with your father?”
“Okay.” She held out her arm. “No bites so far.”
Reese grinned sourly. “Good to know. How did Ray like his new babysitter?”
“He tried to make me feel guilty and wanted me to stay instead of Diana,” Shay said, picking up her sheaf of papers. “I told him I couldn’t and why.” She saw Reese beam at her. It felt good. “Honestly? I felt like I won that pitched battle with him.”
Reese squeezed her shoulder. “You did, Shay. I’m proud of you.”
She was proud of herself, her skin radiating heat where he’d laid his large hand briefly on her shoulder. It sent a river of heat to her breasts and her nipples hardened. That was how Reese affected her. A little shaken, she said, “Well, one battle. It’s not the war.”
Reese nodded, handing her the radio that blared to life. “Stick with the fact that you won one battle. That’s as good as it gets.” He winked at her.
There was such camaraderie between them. Despite the people milling around the different desks, the noise volume high, the air filled with the sounds of construction, Reese made her feel damned good about herself. He had the ability to lift her, help focus her, and point out the positives, not the negatives.
Chapter Nineteen
Shay tried to contain her emotional reaction as she and Reese had lunch with her father up on the porch. Troy had thoughtfully brought out a card table with a chair for each of them. Reese had told him to go to the food tent and grab a bite to eat. Troy smiled and thanked them, leaving Ray in their hands.
“Your favorite,” Shay told Ray, giving him a paper plate that had barbecued beef ribs, macaroni salad, a huge mound of kernel corn with a slab of melting butter on top, and Texas garlic toast.
“Smells real good,” Ray admitted gruffly, pulling the plate closer with his left hand.
Shay picked up his fork and knife. “Let me cut the meat from the bone for you?”
He gave his daughter a scowl. “I suppose . . .”
Paying no attention to him, Shay quickly separated the fragrant meat from the bone. “There. Do you need any other help, Father?” Shay placed the fork near his left hand.
“No, this’ll do.”
Reese said nothing, noting Ray couldn’t even tell Shay thank-you for her thoughtfulness. He pulled out the chair for her. Then, he sat down next to her. There was nervousness in Shay’s eyes, but Reese doubted Ray was aware of anything or anyone but himself.