Lois Richer - Rocky Mountain Daddy

“It takes a while to build a really good herd and lots of money to cover the lean years so, no, I don’t. But it’s mainly because my interest has always been horses.” He shrugged, adding before she could question him, “That also takes lots of cash and time to build your stock.”

“I see.” She turned back to survey the window once more. A long time passed before she finally faced him. “There’s nothing here for us?”

Us . He liked the sound of that. As if he wasn’t alone in this new and uncertain world. But only because she’s a friend , his brain reminded.

Olivia frowned at him, waiting for a response.

Gabe simply shook his head. Together they walked to the truck. He held her door until she was inside, then gently closed it. Once he was behind the wheel again he looked at her.

“I guess that’s it,” he muttered.

“You’re giving up already?” She glared at him, eyes shooting silver sparks. “We’ve only been looking for what?” She checked her watch. “Three hours. And you still need a place to live with your son. Let’s go for a drive.”

“A drive?” He wanted to ask why, but faced with her implacable glare, Gabe obediently shifted into gear. “Where to?”

“In the country,” was her only directive.

That was fine by Gabe. He never tired of the densely verdant rolling hills, thickets of green trees, lush meadows and rocky peaks where granite foundations thrust into the light.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Olivia breathed reverently. “Ottawa’s lovely, too, but I never realized how much I’ve missed all these wide-open spaces.”

“Quite a Creator we have,” Gabe agreed.

“Look at that house, nestled against the hillside. It has a wonderful view.”

“That’s the Browns’ place, Evensong. Not much more than a few acres now.” Sadness crept through Gabe. “They bought a big spread five years ago to live out their retirement dream, but they’ve been slowly selling off bits of land to neighbors. Since Mrs. Brown got sick Art just can’t handle it all and look after her.”

“Mavis? Isn’t that her name?” Olivia smiled at his nod. “I think the aunties mentioned this morning that she’s having treatment in Edmonton.”

“Yeah. Would you mind if we stopped for a few minutes? I’d like to see if there’s anything Art needs help with. I think he’s home today to catch up.”

Relieved when Olivia nodded her agreement, Gabe pulled into the yard. He usually stopped over to check the few head of cattle grazing in the pasture and sometimes curried the last two horses the Browns owned. The house looked worse than usual in the bright sunlight. It sure could use a coat of paint. Maybe he could manage that this summer. Somehow.

After he’d figured out fatherhood.

As they pulled into the yard, Art Brown emerged from the shed carrying a gas can and a wrench. To Gabe he looked weary beyond belief.

“How are you doing?” he asked after he’d introduced Olivia. Eli was still sleeping.

“Okay. Hated to leave Mavis in Edmonton alone, but she must be close to the hospital for her treatment and I’ve got to tend things here. All this back and forth is wearing me out,” Art admitted, heaving a sigh. “But you don’t want to hear my woes. Come on inside and I’ll make you a cup of coffee. Place isn’t very tidy but—”

“You have the most glorious deck. Do you mind if we sit out here for a bit? Then Eli, that’s Gabe’s son, will see us when he wakens. And we had coffee earlier so don’t go to any trouble on our account.” Olivia’s smile seemed to put the fatigued man at ease.

“Okay. Have a seat. Son, huh? Good for you, Gabe.” Art sat down gratefully. “Thought maybe I’d mow the yard today. Sure does need it, but that beast won’t start.” He shook his head at the ancient green ride-on mower sitting in the long grass. “Guess it’s getting old, just like me.”

“Mind if I take a look?” Gabe asked. He shot Olivia a questioning glance, relieved when she nodded. “Stay here and relax,” he ordered Art with a grin. “I’m better if I work alone. Or at least I’m less embarrassed when I can’t figure it out.”

“Join my club. Have at it.” Art stretched out his legs when Gabe stepped off the deck and bent to look at the mower.

“My aunts, Tillie and Margaret, send their best wishes to you and Mavis. They’re praying for both of you,” Olivia said quietly. “Is there anything we can do to make things easier for you?”

“Everybody’s already doing so much,” the man said, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. “Embarrassing to ask for more.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Olivia assured him.

Gabe listened in unabashedly, liking the way Olivia deflected the man’s concern.

“We’d like to help if we can, Art,” she said now. “Please tell us how we can best do that.”

Gabe already knew most of the issues at Evensong. He’d been trying to rectify them since the couple had left, but the list seemed to increase daily.

“I’m most worried about the house roof,” the retired man admitted. “God’s blessed us so far this summer and we haven’t had a big deluge. But the next downpour is going to cause huge problems inside.” Art hung his head, obviously ashamed he hadn’t been able to fix it.

“Don’t you dare go up there, Arthur.” Gabe called his warning loudly, hoping the older man would heed him. “Climbing on roofs won’t help that knee of yours.” He glanced at Olivia, surprised to see her writing in a tiny notebook. “We’ll get it done,” he assured his friend with a grin while wondering, When?

“What else needs doing, Art?” Olivia glanced around.

“Well, the cattle and the horses are a worry, of course. Gabe’s been great at taking care of them while I’m gone but we can’t keep relying on him. Guess I’ll have to sell them, though Mavis raised that mare from a foal and she’s attached to it—”

“You know I don’t mind caring for the animals, Art.” Gabe fiddled with the carburetor, then flicked the starter switch. The mower sputtered momentarily but finally came to life. He let it run for a few minutes as he added gas from the nearby can. “I’m going to give it a whirl,” he called to the pair on the deck.

He noticed Art start to rise, saw Olivia restrain him with a gentle hand on his arm. Then, heads bent together, the two chatted and Olivia wrote some more in her book. Gabe was curious about that book, but he concentrated on grass cutting until he saw Eli’s head pop up inside the cab. Then he parked the machine, got off and went to his son.

“Ever ridden on a mower?” Gabe asked. Eyes wide, Eli shook his head. “Come on, you can ride with me while we cut this grass for my friend.” He explained the rules about riding to Eli, then sat him on the back of the long seat. “Hang on to me now,” he ordered, a tiny rush of pleasure surging through him when the small hands wrapped around his waist.

Just then Gabe happened to glance up. Olivia was watching them. She smiled and nodded her approval. For some reason that made him unreasonably happy, and he returned to his mowing with a light heart.

Whatever You have in store for me, God, I thank You for my son and for a friend like Olivia. Underneath that reserve, she’s got a good heart.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.