Chapter 17 #4
Jack folded the check and pocketed it. “I hope all those boys have learned a lesson.”
Richard snapped his briefcase closed. “Me too, because I don’t know where to go next if Devon hasn’t learned anything from all this. Y’all have a good day.”
The two guys left, and the crunch of gravel beneath tires said they were on their way back to town. “I wish the alarm had been set, so that man could have seen and heard what will happen if his kid cuts that ankle bracelet off and comes back this way.”
“Maybe we should trip it on purpose, kind of like a fire-drill thing, and video the whole thing for that little gang to see.” Jack chuckled. “But seriously, with all those punishments, I bet that young Devon will be ready for summer to end. I just hope that the military school straightens him out.”
“I didn’t know whether to stay or go, but I hated to leave you alone,” Knox admitted.
Jack clamped a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you stuck around.
I sure wanted to unload on the man, but it’s a good thing I didn’t since he was so apologetic.
And Knox, the check is for more than double what it will take to fix the damage.
I was about to refuse to take that much.
Then that video of Devon flashed through my mind to remind me what a smart ass that kid was to you and Lottie and changed my mind.
I hope Richard makes that kid work off every penny of it at minimum wage. ”
* * *
Lottie did not believe in coincidences, but the morning after the alarm system sounded, she began to have second thoughts.
Had it not been tested, she and Knox would have had sex—mind-blowing, she was sure.
But now she wasn’t so sure that a higher power wasn’t trying to tell her to slow down and give their relationship more time.
“Sorry I’m late,” Knox said when he arrived at the sixth cabin, and then he went on to tell her what had happened.
“I’m glad to hear that our intruders last night weren’t the same ones, and that Devon has reached the end of his tether. Maybe he’ll grow up to be a decent human being after all.”
“One can hope for the best, but if I was his father, I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Knox said.
“Hey, y’all, got time to talk for a minute?” Micah yelled as he walked toward them.
“Sure,” Lottie answered. “What’s on your mind?”
“The single guys and I have decided to take turns staying here on the weekends that are left before we finish up here and move on,” he said. “Lottie, do you think Jack will be offended if we offer or even insist?”
“Jack will be relieved to have some help, and that is a great idea,” she assured him.
“If two of us stay at a time, we can get in some overtime by fixing the rec room, and when that’s done, we can work on the cabins,” Micah said.
“That way, we can even get a little further ahead of schedule. I’d like to get this job finished in time to help Thomas and his family get relocated out to El Paso.
We’re only going to work for Walter through the summer.
That will give him time to get more help hired.
By fall, we plan to start up our own company. ”
“Who’s taking this weekend?” she asked. “I’d offer, but Knox and I already promised to help his family out with an event up in that area.”
“Me and Benny have signed up for the first round. We’ve got volunteers for all three of the remaining weekends, so no worries. Y’all already had your turn,” Micah said. “I’m going to go tell Jack now, and if he gives me any flak, can I count on your support?”
“Just let me know, and I’ll take care of it,” Lottie answered with a smile.
She liked that Jack wouldn’t be at the site alone, but her mind filtered back to what she had been thinking about before—when was really a good time to take her relationship with Knox to the next level. It damn sure hadn’t been the night before.
“What would you say to us going to Spanish Fort tomorrow after work and staying at my new house?” Knox asked.
“We could sleep late on Saturday, take care of our job at the bar, and spend another night in the house and then go to church with the family on Sunday. I’d like to have some time to really take a better look at the land I’m buying. ”
“I would love that,” Lottie said.
Knox picked up the nail gun. “Really? You said before that you didn’t want to go back to Spanish Fort, so I almost didn’t even ask you.”
She held a stud in place, and he popped several nails into it.
“Things have changed. We are dating now, so I won’t be lying to Bernie.
She scares me a little when she stares into my eyes.
It’s like she’s seeing to the depths of my soul and knows all my secrets.
There is electricity and running water in the house, right? ”
He handed the gun off to her and made a mark every sixteen inches. “Tripp went into town for me and had all the utilities put in my name. Other than signing the papers, this is a done deal.”
“I would love a long, soaking bath in that claw-footed tub.” She sighed.
“Together or all alone?” Knox teased.
“Depends on whether you like bubbles and bath salts.”