Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
I carried his salad and water to the table, sliding it in front of him. “Start with this. The rest will be out in a couple of minutes.”
“Great.” He cleared his throat. “Can you sit?”
“In a few moments. Eat,” I urged.
He picked up his fork and dug in, crunching the lettuce and cucumbers. “Delish,” he hummed.
I helped Chloe with a couple of things, then headed to the back, picking up the huge plate. The bowl was massive, and I chuckled. “Is that one of our serving dishes?”
Clint grinned. “John is known for his big appetite.”
I carried it to John’s table, sliding it in front of him. His eyes widened at the sight of the meal.
“You joining me?”
“Not to eat.”
“You think I can eat all this?”
I fixed him with a look, and he grinned. “I see my reputation preceded me.”
“It did. Eat. You look like you could fall down.”
He dipped his spoon in the bowl, groaning. “I love beef barley soup.”
“I make it myself.”
“Even better.”
He ate steadily, his manners impeccable. He hummed and praised the food, and I let him eat, pleased to see the color coming back to his face and the light glint in his eyes again.
Chloe cashed out the last table and waved to them as they left. I called out my thanks, then told Chloe to lock up. I grabbed a cup of coffee and slid into the booth across from John.
“I think I’m going to change the hours to three,” I mused. “We rarely get anyone after two-thirty.”
John nodded. “More time with Abby.”
“Yep. I can start on the next day prep and get home sooner.”
“Good plan, then.”
“Why do you look so tired, John?”
He chewed and swallowed a bite of his sandwich, wiping his mouth. “The wire the tenant hit was major. It caused a small fire, which we had to clean up and get checked to make sure there wasn’t more hidden in the walls, then I had to have a bunch of rewiring done. One of my neighbor’s donkeys went rogue and busted down a fence I had to fix before they trampled my crops. Laura’s odd client went crazy and accused her of holding back the perfect house for her. She rampaged her office, and Laura called me, terrified, and Bob and I rushed down and had to call the cops on this woman. Turns out the house she thought Laura was hiding was an ad in the paper she’d seen for a model home in another province that used a small-town background from here. Laura has convinced her to look elsewhere for a house.” He scrubbed his face. “It’s been a hell of a couple of days.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. The woman has moved on. Last Laura heard, she was booking a flight to Ohio. Laura didn’t press charges, but the woman’s husband is paying for all the damages.”
“Wow.”
He reached across the table, taking my hand. “All of that kept me from you, Quinn. I was so exhausted when I got home last night at two a.m., I fell asleep facedown at the kitchen table while eating a bowl of cereal.”
“Good thing you didn’t drown in the milk.”
That made him laugh. “I was up at five working the fields, then back to the house to finish up the interior repairs.”
“Do you pay for that?”
He took another bite, chewing and looking thoughtful. “I shouldn’t. They caused the damage. But I’m helping pay. She was trying to hang their first family picture and somehow missed the stud and went right into the wire running up the side of it. Fred gave me a break on the work, and they will repaint. I’m glad they didn’t burn down the house. They’re a nice young couple. He works in the city hall office.”
“You’re a good man.”
He rolled his eyes. “What good would it do me if I saddled them with a huge bill so they couldn’t pay their rent? I guarantee she’ll be more careful next time. In fact, she’ll call me. Or wait for her husband to get home. Fred advised her to look and see if there was an outlet box on the stud before hammering in a nail next time. I think she learned her lesson.”
“I was worried when you didn’t call,” I confessed. “But I’m glad to see you here.”
He was silent for a moment, finishing his sandwich. “I’m sorry I worried you. I was so busy putting out fires, but I should have texted at least.” He paused and looked dismayed. “Aside from my sister, I’m not used to having someone to worry about me. I’m not used to checking in.”
“I understand.”
“I’ll do better.”
He emptied his soup bowl and sat back. “Incredible,” he muttered.
I got the coffeepot and filled our cups, then slid the last piece of blueberry pie in front of him. Chloe came out from the kitchen, waving goodbye. I locked the door behind her. Clint called out goodnight, leaving from the back.