Summer on Kendall Farm(14)

Kelly dropped her shoulders. She felt an allegiance to Jace, although that made no sense. She hadn’t known him well while they were growing up, but he was a Kendall. And this had been his home once.

Maybe she should give him a job. The place could use his help. He could stay until he found a place of his own.

Stepping back, she said, “Yes, that works.” Though her eyes were on the wall, she was talking about Jace.

“Kelll-ly!”

She heard Ari’s sweet voice calling her name.

“Down here,” she hollered.

She heard footsteps running toward the room. The door was already open for ventilation. Ari found her and rushed forward.

“Don’t run,” she told him, lifting a hand to catch him.

Too late. His little body sailed across the drop cloth. His feet came out from under him and he slipped, momentum carrying him several feet before he stopped.

Jace was on his heels behind him. Kelly grabbed the paint tray and held it still. Then she faced Jace.

“Are you all right?” she asked the child.

Ari looked up. “That was fun. Can I do it again?”

Jace let out the breath he must have been holding. “No, you cannot,” he said.

Kelly, who was on her knees, sat back on her legs. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Ari nodded.

Jace looked at the walls and immediately took in the one Kelly had been working on. “Did he do any damage?”

“I don’t think so. But he might have a bruise tomorrow on his legs. There’s hardwood under this tarp.”

Jace examined Ari, pulling his pant leg aside and looking at him.

“Dad,” Ari protested and pulled his clothes back. “Not in front of her.” His voice was a stage whisper.

Kelly turned her head. “I won’t look. I promise.”

“I think you’ll live,” Jace said several seconds later.

“Where are the horses?” Ari asked.

Subject changes were no problem for four-year-olds Kelly was finding.

“We went to the horse barn,” Jace explained. “It’s empty.”

“Well, Ari, the former owner sold the horses in an attempt to pay off the debt on the Kendall.”

Jace’s jaw clenched. She understood his frustration. Since arriving here, everything he thought he knew was gone, starting with Laura. And although Kelly had nothing to do with any of it, she could see that this proud man was hurting.

“What are we gonna do now, Dad?” Ari, unaware of any of the adults’ feelings, was ready for the next adventure.

“Ari, would you like to see some pictures of horses?” she asked.

“Wow, yeah.”

“They’re on the table in the big living room down the hall. Do you remember where that is?”

He looked at his dad as if Jace might deny the chance to him. Jace nodded.

“Yes. I remember.” Ari started to move, but Jace restrained him.

“Walk,” his father said.

The little boy walked out of the room with both adults watching him.

“I have a proposal for you,” she told Jace.

“What is it?”

She saw him stiffen. “You’re an engineer?”

He nodded.

“What kind of engineer?”

“Civil,” he said, his voice almost a challenge.

“Does that mean you know about bridges and roads, things like that?”

“It does. I also know about water lines and—”

“How about construction?” she interrupted.

“Some.”

“I’d like to offer you a job.”

“What?”

“Do you have one? Someplace to go? I thought your showing up here last night was the last stop on a long journey.”

“It was,” he said. “What kind of job?”

“As an engineer, of sorts. Although, I can’t pay you what an engineer probably makes, I can offer room and board for you and Ari and a small wage. You can consider it temporary until you find something better.”

He mulled that over for a moment. “What do I do?”

“You help me get the rest of this property in shape.”

He looked around the library. The ceiling and trim work had been done. She was making headway on the walls. The shelves were gleaming white and leaning against a door on the other side of the room.

“It looks like you have everything under control.” His gaze swept back to her.

“Don’t go by the condition of the house. I have some serious issues that need attention.”

“Like what?”

“Irrigation, for one. You said you knew about water. I want to make sure there’s proper runoff and drainage for the pastures and build safer pathways around the grounds.”

“You expecting a lot of visitors?”

“Yes, hopefully,” she said. “What about it? Will you take the job?”