Depths of Lake (16 page)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

There is no training or riding Friday.
 
The entire day, Lake and I spend framing the new barn.
 
Jesse comes over for a few hours in the evening, and surprisingly, so does Anita.
 
Together, we get the entire building framed.
 

It’s straightforward, nothing special to it.
 
But it’ll do the job.

I set my alarm for six-thirty Saturday morning.
 
I change into work clothes and walk downstairs to find Mom cooking up a storm in the kitchen already.

“If they’re going to help out for free, the least I can do is feed them all,” she says as she hands me over a plate.
 
I smile at her and start piling food on it.

A few minutes later, Lake walks in, dressed to work.
 
“Morning,” he says.

“Morning,” Mom says back cheerily.
 
“Eat up.
 
The first shift of troops should be here soon.”

Lake and I sit across the table from one another.
 
I fork some homemade pancakes into my mouth.

“How’d we do on all the lumber and materials?” I ask.
 

He takes a second to finish chewing his bite.
 
“Everything came in at just under thirteen thousand.
 
I’m sure I’m going to have to run back for a few things today, but we should come in a thousand, at least, under budget.
 
And that includes the concrete Rocky poured.”

“That’s great,” I respond.

And just then, there’s a knock at the front door.
 

“Got it,” I say, stuffing another bite into my mouth and getting up from the chair.
 
I open the door and find Drake, Kyle, Jesse, and someone who must be Lake’s father standing there.

“I hear someone needs extra hands,” he says.
 
He smiles, lopsided as all his sons.

“Good morning,” I say to everyone as I open the door wide and let everyone in.
 
“Mom’s got breakfast for a small army made, so go eat up.”

“At least if she’s summoning her minions she’s feeding us,” Kyle says as he heads for the kitchen.
 
Jesse follows him, giving me a small smile as he passes by.
 
I turn to see Lake standing behind me, watching us all.
 
I hear Mom greet Kyle warmly.
 
She’s moved past our damaged past, too.
 
She also has a hug for Jesse.

“I’m Robert McCain, by the way,” the man who had to be the sire of such wonderful boys says.
 
He smiles as he extends his hand.
 
I take it, giving him a firm shake.

“It’s really nice to meet you,” I say.
 
“It’s very generous of you and your family to help us out so much.”

“I’m just happy to be of some use,” Robert says, putting an arm across my shoulders and pulling me to his side like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
 
“All these kids of mine seem to think I’m old and frail.
 
Won’t let me do anything these days.”

“You are old and frail,” Lake
teases
, that lopsided smile of his on his lips.

“I could still do one handed push-ups up until about two years ago,” he says, a gleam in his eyes.
 
“I might have to use both hands now, but I am nowhere near frail.”

“Come on, Grandpa,” Drake says, placing a hand on his father’s shoulder and leading him toward the kitchen.
 
“Let’s get you some food before you get cranky.”

“You see how these kids treat me?” Robert says, winking at me before they all pile into the kitchen.

Lake meets my eyes when everyone’s walked in to be fed and gives a little smile.
 
I can’t help but give one back.

Lake and I head outside while everyone else eats.
 
The new barn is a skeleton right now, just frames and bones.
 
But it’s beautiful.
 
The sun breaks over the mountain, illuminating the morning with brilliance.

“Thank you,” I say, sliding my hands into my back pockets.
 
“You really saved this place.
 
I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”

“Maybe we’re just about even then,” he says, looking over at me.

In a move that is braver than I thought I was, I close the small distance between us, and wrap my arms around his waist.
 
He stiffens for just a moment, caught off guard.
 
And then he relaxes, wrapping his arms around me, one hand on my back, the other on the back of my head.

It’s hard, trying to be tough and strong all the time.
 
It’s hard holding yourself together when everything just keeps trying to tear you down.
 

So it’s incredibly nice to have someone hold me, for just a moment.
 
Even nicer that it’s Lake, who I trust and know I can rely on.
 
Always.

Lake runs his hand slowly up and down my back, sending goosebumps flashing across my skin.
 
His chest muscles tighten and flex just slightly when he does that.
 
His hand on the back of my head is warm and comforting.

I’m listening to the sound of Lake’s heartbeat, smelling the clean and crisp scent of him that mixes with the smell of the mountain and trees and the ranch.
 

Home is the word that comes to mind, right here in this moment.

And I feel peace.

“Let’s get this thing erected!”

I step away from Lake and turn to see Kyle walking across the lawn toward us.
 
He’s got a smug smile on his face that says he knows the awkward joke he made while I was wrapped up with another man.
 
I shake my head at him when he gives us a wink.

I look back at Lake and feel my cheeks blush.
 
He looks back at me, and there’s a small, peaceful smile on his face too.

Slowly, everyone comes out, and Lake and Robert take charge.

We finish framing.
 
Walls tall enough for horses.
 
The building will be long enough to house a dozen of them.
 
It’s wide enough that there’s a twelve-foot overhang for an event area.
 
We install posts.
 
Start on the siding.

The sun rises, heading toward noon.

Mom keeps running back and forth, bringing water and lemonade and snacks.

Around eleven-thirty, two more figures
start
walking out toward us.
 
I shield my eyes from the sun and squint in their direction.

“I was starting to think you softies weren’t going to show,” Lake calls from inside.
 
It’s going up surprisingly fast.
 
We’ll be ninety percent finished, at least, by the end of the day with the additional hands.

“I would have been here sooner, but Kale refused to rise from the dead until about thirty minutes ago,” Julian says with a smile as they walk up.
 
I take my gloves off and walk over with Lake.

“Give me a break,” Kale says.
 
“I just flew in from Japan last night.
 
I didn’t get to their house until about midnight.”

“That’s still nearly eleven hours of sleep,” Julian says, shaking his head with a smile.

“Ever heard of jetlag?
 
And they don’t call it beauty sleep for no reason,” Kale responds as he winks at me.
 
“Morning, beautiful.”

“Morning,” I reply awkwardly with a little smile.
 
It’s hard not to laugh at the two of them.
 
They’re both wearing jeans that look like they cost more than my truck is worth.
 
Kale is wearing this plaid shirt and a white undershirt.
 
But his entire outfit looks brand new.

Julian wears a T-shirt advertising some band named
Suit
.
 
His arms are exposed, revealing the endless tattoos that sleeve them both.

It’s kind of hard imagining Sage, who is so put together and sophisticated, falling for this guy that’s covered in tattoos and definitely looks like a bad boy.

I guess some people just find love in unexpected places.

“Well, don’t just stand around, let’s get this done,” Lake says, nodding his head back toward the work.

I go back to helping put up the siding and Lake
heads
to the roof to help his dad, Jesse, and Drake put down the plywood.
 
Julian and Kale awkwardly try to help me.
 
They don’t have any clue as to what they’re doing, but they’re making a good effort.

It only takes about ten minutes of work before Kale takes his shirt off.
 
It doesn’t seem to faze him, like this is his natural state.
 
His brothers, dad, and brother-in-law don’t even seem to notice.

A half hour later, the group from church shows up, along with Sheriff Akins, his wife, and Anita.
 
Mom brings out lunch, we take a quick break to eat, and then we’re back to work.

With so many hands, it’s all coming together really quick.
 
By two o’clock, we get the siding all up.
 
One of the church guys, an electrician, gets all the wiring run for the lights and power done.
 

Sweat drips from my brow as the hour stretches toward five o’clock.
 
I took my T-shirt off long ago, wearing a tank top only.
 
Most of the guys now have taken off their shirts.
 
It’s certainly not a bad sight.
 
I keep catching Anita checking Kale and Lake out.
 
I know inwardly, she’s been having a total freak-out at having
the Kale McCain
here in the flesh.
 
Exposing lots of it.

I look out toward the house when I hear the door close and see Mom walking toward us with others around her.
 
As they get closer, I recognize Kaylee.
 
She’s accompanied by a woman who looks just like an older version of Sage, and a girl and a boy.
 
Mom carries another little girl on her hip, and Lake’s mom carries another.

“Well, look at this!” Lake’s mom calls when they get close.
 
“My boys working as a team, giving service like the little angels they are.”

Everyone chuckles, and I smile at them as I take my gloves off and walk over.

“You must be Riley,” she says with a smile.
 
I’m about to extend my hand for a shake, when she just ignores it and pulls me into a hug.
 
“Lake’s told us about you.”

“Not a whole lot,” Kaylee says as she hugs me too.
 
“Cause as you know, my brother isn’t one much for words.
 
But it’s all been good.”

“I don’t know that it’s really all good, but it’s nice of you to say that,” I say with a chuckle.
 
“And, yes, I’m Riley.
 
You must be Mom to the clan.”

“That’s one way to put it,” she says with a chuckle.
 
“My name is Robin.”

“Well, thank you for lending me your boys today.
 
We really appreciate it.”

“Yes, we do,” Mom says, cooing to the little girl she’s holding.
 
She has white-blonde curls, a halo around her head.
 
She looks like she’s just over a year old.

“And who’s this?” I ask as I reach out and shake her little pudgy hand.

“That’s Quinn,” Kaylee starts introducing.
 
“And Mom has Afton.
 
They’re eighteen months old.
 
And that little monster trying to help the guys out is Lucian.
 
He’s almost four.”

I look after him.
 
He’s got a hammer and is chasing Kale around with it.
 
Kale screams dramatically and runs away.
 
Lucian then turns on Julian.
 
He’s got the lot of them laughing.

“And this is Paisley,” Kaylee introduces the young lady standing at her side.
 

“I’m six,” she says quietly, like she’s shy, but wants to be a part of our adult conversation.

“Would you like to see my horse, Paisley?” I ask, because her eyes keep darting toward the barn.

Her face breaks out in a huge grin, and she nods vigorously.
 

We cross over to the barn.
 
I look over my shoulder once as we go and see Lake watching us from the entrance to the new barn.
 
He gives me one wink before going back inside.

Something gives my heart a quick, little kick.

“This is where you work, all the time?” Paisley asks as we walk between stalls.
 
I introduce her to each horse as we go.