“Thanks, Pop,” she said. “I owe you.”
“That’s all right,” he told her. “I know where you live.”
An hour later, she was breaking open the bag of concrete with a hoe and removing the paper. Her father manned the hose and added water while they both watched the consistency.
“Nice and slow,” he warned as she folded the water into the mix, watching to make sure it wasn’t dry and crumbly or too wet. “Good. I think you’ve done it.”
“I know how to mix concrete, Pop.”
“I know, but Meg was the one who spent more time learning how to mix up a batch than you.”
She grinned. “I learn things faster than Meg,” she said, flexing her elbows as she picked up the wheelbarrow and rolled it up the makeshift ramp her dad had put together after they’d built the form for the slab.
“Is it too heavy?”
“No,” she said. “I’ve got it.” Shifting the wheelbarrow left and right to empty all of the mix into the form, she backed it up.
“Now,” he said, nodding at the pile, “smooth it out—”
“I know—into an even layer while you get the next bag going,” she called out over her shoulder.
Her father chuckled and did just that.
By the time they’d repeated the process enough times to complete the job, she was ready for a break. “I’m beat.”
“It’s tough work but looks great.” He beamed. “I brought some plastic to lay overtop of the forms so nothing gets into the cement before it dries. Are you going to break for lunch?” he asked. “It’s after one o’clock.”
“Oh no! I have to let Jamie out.”
“OK,” her father said, looking at his watch. “Why don’t you meet me at the shop after you take care of Jamie. I’ll have a sandwich waiting for you.”
She leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best.”
He chuckled. “It’s my cross to bear.”
She was laughing as she turned around and drove to Jack’s house to check on Jamie. The mournful howling had her heart breaking for the little dog. He must have heard her footsteps on the deck because he was jumping up, looking out the back door window.
“Hey there, Jameson,” she called out as she let herself in the back door.
He didn’t make a sound as he launched himself at her. She braced for impact, rubbed his sides until he stopped trying to climb into her arms, then got down on his level. “You’ve got some bad habits we’ll have to work on, dog.”
But Jamie wasn’t listening as he bathed her face with kisses. When he settled down and sat on her lap, she pulled him close and rested her face on his soft puppy fur. “You’re such a lover. I wish Gracie wasn’t allergic to dogs. You’d love it at our house. We’ve got the field in the back and the barn and…” No use thinking about what can’t be. “Maybe Jack can drive you on over to run in the field with us, or maybe if I ask Peggy nicely, she’ll ask her dad if you can visit the McCormack farm—as long as you promise not to chase their chickens.”
Speaking of Jack, Cait wondered if she should just come out and say how she felt. She sensed that he returned part of what she was feeling—the heat was there in his eyes—and she was pretty sure he was beyond interested in the kissing stage.
She was getting hot and bothered just thinking about the last time he’d pulled her into his arms.
As if aware of her inner turmoil, Jamie sat quietly while she talked to him and stroked his head and back. “Mr. Johnson’s riding clinic for kids with disabilities is going to be great.” Jamie seemed to be listening. “Pop’s helping me add on a couple of horse stalls. It feels good to be a part of something important like this.”
Jamie started to squirm, so she let him go outside and do his doggy business. With that done, she gave him fresh water and some kibble to eat. “You’re a good dog,” she told him before asking, “How’s Jack today?”
At the sound of his temporary master’s name, he barked joyfully. “I know,” she confided, pressing her lips to the top of the puppy’s head. “I feel the same way about him. I’m busy tonight and can’t have dinner with you guys, but maybe tomorrow.”
She settled Jamie in his bed and reminded him to be a good boy until Jack got home. His eyes were sad, but he didn’t follow her to the door. He was smart and knew the routine, that Jack would be back in a couple of hours.
Texting Jack to let him know that Jamie was all right and reminding him that she would be working late over at Johnson’s, she got back in her car and drove to town.