Chapter 45
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Ben was sure his luck was turning when Paul Kincaid arrived.
“I’ve brought over every ranch hand I can spare,” he told Ben as he exited his white truck. “We’re going to help you and Will build that rehab center or whatever it’s called if it’s the last thing I do.”
The older man had deep grooves on his face as if he hadn’t slept. Ben knew this was Paul’s way of making up for what had happened.
He extended his hand. “We’re grateful for the help, Paul. The lumber arrived this morning. Now that the foundation is cured, it’s every hand on deck, so to speak.”
“So I heard.” Paul reached inside his vest and pulled out an envelope, handing it to him. “I also wanted to show you this. Ben, I’ve changed my will and made Cooper my beneficiary. He’ll inherit the Flying K—with you as the executor if I pass before he’s of age.”
Ben smashed his lips together, wanting to tread carefully on the man’s family issues. “If that’s what you want, Paul. Does anyone know?”
He tipped his worn cowboy hat back after giving a resigned sigh.
“I wanted to talk to you first. But yes, my plan is to tell Owen and Amber. Neither one is going to like it, but after what they pulled, I’ve had enough.
Owen’s been off with those hell-raisers he calls friends, and you probably heard Amber is out on Taft’s spread doing God knows what.
Makes a father’s blood cold. If that man thinks taking advantage of my daughter is going to give him brownie points with me, he has another thing coming. Told him so to his face too.”
Ben nodded crisply, tucking the envelope inside his work vest. “I wasn’t thrilled to hear it either, Paul.”
“We’ll keep Cooper safe. Anything you need, Ben. That boy is the best of everything in my line. I’m grateful to call him my grandson.”
The man was clearly hurting, weighed down by regrets and disappointments. Ben knew how that felt. But he also knew that Cooper wouldn’t be the awesome kid he was if it weren’t for the many in his circle who loved him unconditionally. Paul Kincaid included.
Not being good with words, he said, “You’re part of why Cooper is a good kid, Paul.”
He cleared his throat at Paul’s quick nod, then clapped him on the back lightly. “Why don’t we head up to the construction site and get started?”
Paul finally gave a short smile. Together, they started walking.
When they reached the site, Ben nearly smiled.
There looked to be about two hundred men milling about the site, hammering and lifting already constructed framing under Will’s and the construction manager’s supervision.
Reba had tables set up with everything from water to snacks and sandwiches.
Yes, they were going to get Will’s center built. Today even. The energy was palpable.
“Grandpa Kincaid!”
Ben watched as Cooper ran toward them, carrying a small hammer of his own.
Tank was herding him like usual. Seeing his son, he felt the weight of the envelope Paul had given him.
His son will inherit the Flying K. If he ended up wanting to ranch like his forefathers, he would be running one of the biggest ranches in Montana.
Looking at him now, with his skinny little body and bright gap-toothed smile, all Ben could see was a boy happy to be out in the sunshine with a purpose.
But he knew his job was to help his son grow into the man he wanted to become. The rest was up to Cooper.
“Cooper!” Paul stepped forward and grabbed him in a bear hug. “Did you see all the help I brought over for your uncle Will?”
“Yeah! It’s so cool. Uncle Will’s nose got all red, he was so happy. We’re going to be able to build the center today, Grandpa McAllister thinks.”
Paul looked around and smiled more easily. “So do I. Want to show me where I can help out?”
“Sure!” Cooper took Paul’s hand. “Papa, are you coming?”
Ben reached out and tousled Cooper’s hair. “In a bit. I need to make the rounds first. You two go off and have fun.”
“We will!” He swung Paul’s hand. “Gramps says this is the kind of day a man never forgets. People coming together to help each other. It’s the best kind of day a man can have.”
Paul looked over and held Ben’s gaze. “I couldn’t agree more. Let’s get started.”
Ben inclined his chin and watched as they walked off. Will spied him and lifted his hand, making his way over to where he was standing. “Can you believe this? Brother, we’re going to get this center done today with all the extra help. Like a barn raising of old.”
He clapped him on the back. “It’s terrific, Will. I couldn’t be happier for you.”
Will’s eyes narrowed, and his dimpled smile disappeared from his face. “Then what’s troubling you?”
He should have known Will would see. “Paul just gave me papers making Cooper his sole beneficiary. He’s to inherit the Flying K.”
Will made a sound between a whistle and a sigh. “Whoa, that’s…”
“Yeah,” Ben added, exhaling heavily.
“But Owen and Amber won’t like it.”
Taft won’t either, Ben thought with a twist to his guts, and that meant more trouble. “When did those two like anything?”
“Do they know yet?”
Ben shook his head. “Expect fireworks when they do. But that’s not for today. So where can I help out?”
“You want me to put you to work?” Will asked brightly, his excitement contagious.
“I’m not going to stand here all day and watch.”
Will nudged him in the arm. “No? Then you’d best come with me. I’d be happy to show you what you can do.”
“I’ll bet.” But he was already grinning. Good, solid work had its own rewards, and when it was done on a beautiful summer day, few things were better.
He hammered the framing into place along with the rest, and then they worked together to lift it and secure it in place. The walls went up pretty fast, and as the sun passed overhead, Ben didn’t notice the smell of sulfur as much anymore; the progress was clear.
The original project Grandma Elena had envisioned well over a hundred years ago was finally becoming a reality. The thought had him smiling as he and the others started putting in the flooring.
Paul had brought over his best electrical guys, and soon they were even teaching Cooper how to make an electrical pigtail.
His son was a respectful helper and stayed close to Paul, likely sensing that his grandfather needed companionship.
He’d run over to Ben from time to time to show him what he’d done or a new thing he learned before running back over to Paul’s side.
That warmed him to his bones. Since Cooper had been born, he’d lived by one principle as a father. How could your son look up to you if you looked down on him? He was glad his son knew he was a source of encouragement and support.
Ben finally made Gramps sit down in a lawn chair under a nearby tree, and before long, he’d talked his father into doing the same. When he told them about Paul’s will, they didn’t say much either. No one needed to. But he noted they were doing their best to hide their worry along with him.
When Hannah arrived at the site, he watched as Dylan Prentice raced over to welcome her, with Cooper following quickly in his wake.
She listened to what both boys had to say before they ran back to work.
She waved at a few more people she knew—Ford and Luke included—before finally sighting him at the north end of the site.
He finished what he was doing and headed her way.
She was taking a paper cup of water from the table when he arrived. “Here. You men never drink enough.”
He drank almost the whole glass before bending over and pouring the rest over his neck. “Man, that felt good.”
“I’ll bet.” She wiped the droplets off his neck, letting her fingers linger playfully before dropping her hands and pointing at the site. “My goodness! I’d heard Paul had brought nearly every hand on the Flying K over, but it’s like a pack of work ants here.”
He pulled gently on the end of her hair. “Hannah, don’t call men ants. It hurts their dignity.”
“Oh, excuse me.” She wiggled her cute little hips. “How about a bunch of hot studs?”
He rubbed his jaw, considering, before sending her a playful wink. “Better—so long as I’m the only stud you’re interested in.”
She leaned against his side. “You know it, cowboy. How far do you think you’ll get today? I mean, the walls are up already.”
“That part goes pretty fast. It’s the inside stuff that starts to take up the time.
I figure we’ll keep going until dark, so we might get the sheetrock walls done.
We’ve got good electrical and plumbing people here.
Will called in a favor to have the city inspectors come out to make sure everything is up to code and sign off.
I’d say you rubbed some luck onto me but good, wouldn’t you? ”
She gave him a playful swat. “Will must be happy to have all this help.”
“He is.” Putting his arm around her, he inhaled that familiar smell of woman and lavender on her skin.
“So am I. Would you like to see your section? In fact, how about you tell me what you have in mind for cabinetry and we’ll draw it up?
We’ve got some pretty good carpenters. We can get them started today if time permits. ”
Her hands flew to her cheeks. “My cabinets. Oh my goodness. I’m not prepared. I wish Neil was here. He’s usually the one who organizes things.”
Ben bit the inside of his lip, ordering himself to say nothing.
“Of course, I’m sure with your help, I can figure out what I need.” She laid her hand on his chest, cajoling.
He simply took her hand and led her to the center. Her school would come another time since the center was a priority, but he was already looking forward to the happiness he could bring her while building that space for her as well.
For the next hour, they talked out what she needed while he and a few other men constructed what she had in mind.
Since Will was keeping to the rustic look, they wouldn’t need to worry about any painting or varnishing.
He figured they could build the frame and attach it later when the walls went up.
She had ideas for all sorts of cubbies, of course, where she wanted to store things like herbal tinctures and the like.
Much like her apothecary cabinet currently in her healing space.
But for her herbs, she insisted on a closet, saying she didn’t want to expose them to sunlight. They aged faster that way.
He liked the way she’d purse her lips when she was thinking, or how she’d stand in the corner and watch them work, a slight smile on her face. He figured she was learning all over again that he could help her however she needed, and that was the very reminder he’d been waiting to give her.
Neil might have been her right hand while Ben had been out of her life, but he was back. He was here to help her whenever she needed it. Somehow, it was important she remember that.
As the light faded through the new windows the men had installed and sealed, Ben helped rig up a single light for the time being so they could continue to see.
When Will finally called it for the day, everyone felt bolstered by the work they’d completed.
You couldn’t spot a frown among anyone standing there in summer’s waning light.
Holding Hannah’s hand in his, he’d watched Will thank everyone while Paul announced he and the men would be back tomorrow.
Which meant Will had better go shopping for things like lighting fixtures and tile and the like.
Cooper had made everyone laugh when he’d told his uncle he needed to buy some toilets for the bathrooms so they wouldn’t have to go outside.
Even Hannah’s lips had twitched at that.
Somehow, Reba managed to feed the men who didn’t head home to their wives.
She’d made enough sloppy joes for a small army, and as Ben took a hamburger bun and slathered some meat inside for both him and Cooper, he was glad they could sit a spell.
His son was dirty and sweaty and completely tuckered out, but he was happy.
Building had a way of making a man feel good to his core.
There was hope in it, knowing what you’d fashioned would stand.
When you built, you were tending your future.
Ben had more tending on his mind, so he left Cooper sitting with Hannah and Tank and the other Prentice boys who were gobbling up dinner and went to find his brother.
Will was standing in the twilight in front of the center, favoring his leg, but with a soft smile on his face.
“How does it feel to realize your vision?” Ben asked, remembering his brother had mentioned wanting to talk to him about how he felt on important matters.
“Damn good.” He put his arm around Ben’s shoulders.
“You know, I was standing here feeling so grateful. For all the men who’d helped today.
For Hannah agreeing to come and be a part of it.
But mostly for you… You didn’t deck me when I first mentioned it, and because you didn’t question my desire to build it. ”
Ben’s throat thickened. “I suppose since we’re having a moment, I should thank you for bringing Hannah home. Will, when you have the time, will you come with me to buy her engagement ring?”
His brother’s whoop was so loud it echoed all the way up Wild Mountain.
Ben was sure even Sarah must have heard it in heaven.