Chapter 34 #2
He lifted his shoulder, his blue eyes keen. “How do you feel about the school Ben thought up? Is it helping you with your decision to stay?”
“Hannah, I really hope you stay,” Cooper cried out. “Papa’s been so happy to have you back. Best friends shouldn’t be apart. That’s what Paisley says.”
She well remembered Paisley from the other night. “A woman always considers her options. Right, Will?”
He nodded agreeably and plucked Cooper off the ground.
“Always. Now, take a good look. Obviously, we haven’t sat down with you and designed the space, but we asked Neil for a few pointers.
There’ll be two bathrooms, a small kitchenette for tea and coffee, which we thought we’d put on the eastern wall.
Thinking one large room for lectures and a soundproof room for your online podcasts and recordings.
Once we’ve roughed in electrical outlets and plumbing, we’ll be good to pour the foundation.
Won’t it look beautiful? Your office could be over here. Let me show you.”
She followed him and Cooper to the cordoned-off area and smiled as he pointed at the various rooms he’d thought would be good.
He was spot-on, if she was honest, which truly amazed her.
They stopped to talk to the Prentice boys, who all looked like capable young men as they worked alongside the others. Boy, they sure were growing up.
When she and Will had traversed the entire foundation, she stood beside him smiling. She was going to do great work here. Heck, she already was. Wild Mountain provided her with almost everything she needed in her supply cabinet. Inhaling the sweet summer air, she placed her hand on Will’s arm.
“It’s going to be a great place, Will. Thanks for asking me to be part of it.”
“Thanks for agreeing.” He sent Cooper a wink as he and Tank zoomed back in after running off like little boys do. “Hey, buckaroo. Can you go over and make sure Gramps has had some water? Grams told me we’re responsible for keeping him well watered.”
“You bet!”
She watched as the little boy ran off with his puppy. Turning to Will, she raised her brow. “Something on your mind?”
“You and Ben seem to be doing well.” He grinned, all dimples. “Looks good on both of you.”
“I thought you knew he wanted a second chance,” she told him with a playful swat.
He laughed. “Be glad I stopped him from finding every wounded animal and person in the area.”
She grinned. “He would, wouldn’t he?”
“There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for you, Hannah.” He sent her a knowing look. “What can I do? Babysit? Take our little rug rat on a camping trip?”
After Cooper had asked what plant could help Amber love him, she wasn’t sure time away from Cooper was a good idea right now. Especially in the wake of him hearing people talking about him being a mistake. “We’ll let you know, but thanks.”
“No problem. Just say the word.”
“Your father and grandfather are still working pretty hard,” she mused as she looked back at the site. “Do I need to worry about some people overdoing it and landing in my healing space?”
When she pointedly looked at his hand, he shrugged.
“I’ve been keeping an eye out. Personally, I fall into bed every night exhausted but happy.
The lumber incident was a punch to the gut, but it’s made me even more determined to see this done.
Hannah, I’m so close to having what I want. I hope you are too.”
The subtext was obvious. “It’s certainly looking good.”
They turned as they spotted Owen Kincaid driving up the road. He had a truckload of lumber in the flatbed. She frowned, not wanting another confrontation. “Will, I’ll see you later.”
Will glanced over. “He give you trouble since you’ve been back?”
Owen’s continued come-ons were old news. “At Jolene’s one night. He hasn’t changed.”
“No, and usually, it’s Paul who comes over. Not Owen. He’s not exactly interested in Cooper, thank God, and Ben doesn’t like him to be around the boy. I’ll take care of him. Can you take Cooper back to the house?”
She nodded, noting that Ben’s father already had Cooper in hand. They were walking from the north end of the foundation and heading out. She patted Will on the arm before striding off in their direction.
“Hey, Hannah!” Owen called out. “Running away?”
She shot him a look over her shoulder before lengthening her strides.
Oh, he was hideous. Until Will’s mention, she hadn’t really thought about Owen being Cooper’s uncle.
She was glad Ben kept the boy away from him.
When she caught up with Ben’s father and Cooper, she fixed a big smile on her face. “Mind if I walk back with you?”
“Do you dislike my uncle Owen too?” Cooper asked, his mouth twisting as he kicked at a rock. “He’s not a very nice man.”
She glanced at Mr. McAllister, whose mouth twisted in agreement.
“No, he’s not,” she agreed. “Hey! How about you come with me and see what space Charlie has rustled up for me to dry plants?”
“Grandpa, can I go?”
“Sure thing, Cooper. I need to get back to the house.”
Ben’s father would never admit he needed to sit a spell, but he looked overheated to her.
They paused as Owen drove by with his truck, smirking at her as he leaned out the window. Of course, he tipped his hat, but he wouldn’t know good manners if a cougar jumped on his back.
“Will must have decided to have him unload the lumber with the rest in the shed,” Mr. Montgomery commented. “I’ll go on and make sure Owen finds it.”
She and Cooper were headed up the steps of Will’s house when she heard, “You bitch!”
She stilled for a second, hearing Amber’s angry voice.
Swinging around, she spotted her old foe striding up from Owen’s truck, where he’d stopped in front of Ben’s house, wearing a red cowboy hat and boots along with a short jean dress that looked more appropriate for a bar on a Friday night.
She braced herself. Then she realized Cooper stood frozen beside her, gazing yearningly at his mother, who was charging up the road toward them. Protectiveness kicked in.
“Cooper, you go on inside now.” She opened the door and started to call for Neil, but he was already rushing toward the entryway, his mouth grim. “Can you see that Cooper’s out of earshot?”
What was about to transpire wasn’t something he needed to see or hear.
Neil’s face held a moment of indecision before he nodded. Plucking the boy off the ground, he headed back inside the house. She stayed on the steps and waited for Amber to reach her.