Thirteen

It took three days to get the necessary legal papers to be able to install a septic tank and put in a cistern for his cabin. Only three days. Nick knew God had performed a small miracle on his behalf. Now, if He would work an even bigger one.

Addy had already picked out a paint color for his farmhouse’s living room and was working on different shades of what he thought she said was sage for the kitchen. He was as attentive as he could possibly be when she talked to him about it, but really all he wanted was for her to be there with him. She could do whatever she liked, and if it made her happy, he was fine with it.

Nick flipped open his phone and pushed Drew’s number. When Drew’s voice sounded over the line, Nick said, “I’ve got the permits. You ready?”

“Yep. Wyatt got the materials in yesterday. Dad and I can go pick up one load, and Wyatt will bring another, if you can go get the backhoe.”

Excitement welled in Nick’s heart. “Well, of course I can. I’ll have Mike drive it over. He’s been waiting for me to call.”

He closed the phone and shoved it into his pocket. Jingling his keys in his hand, he made his way to the pickup. God, it’s happening. We’re going to get that cabin so dolled up Addy won’t know what to think.

He hopped into the cab, turned the ignition, and the engine roared to life. I’d do anything for her, Lord.

He picked up Mike then drove to the supply store, paid for the backhoe rental, and within half an hour he was headed back to the farm. He’d spent the last three days, while he waited for the permit, mowing out a road of sorts to his cabin so they could get the equipment back there. With Wyatt’s help, he’d picked out a simple sink and toilet and a fancier Jacuzzi tub.

After the first day, he’d realized he’d need more help than just the guys, so he told his parents and Addy’s parents of the plan. Any concern he may have had about them not liking the idea of the match was squelched when he saw the elation on their faces.

By the time Nick got back to the cabin, Drew, his dad, Bryan, Wyatt, and Nick’s dad were already there, putting the walls in the bathroom addition to the cabin.

“It’s about time.” Bryan walked toward him. Mike hopped out of the backhoe, and Bryan jumped inside. “I’ve been getting anxious to dig a couple of holes.”

Nick walked to the addition and helped his friends finish putting up the drywall. With mounds of piping laid out in a certain order on tarps all around the cabin, Nick wanted Bryan to hurry up so they could fix the septic tank and cistern.

Thankfulness swelled within his heart as he watched his family and friends tackle the project. He was fortunate to have friends and family who knew so much about construction. But then they’d built his parents’ home together as well as Mike’s home. It would just be a matter of time before Drew would be ready to build his own place. They’d always helped each other out, no matter what the need.

Mike wiped sweat from his brow then patted Nick’s shoulder. “It’s gonna look nice, Nick.”

Wyatt stood and arched his back. “Yep. It sure will. I can’t believe you built this place out here and didn’t tell anybody about it.”

Nick shrugged. “I’d have gotten around to it. I just had this notion to put a pond back here, to have a place to kinda get away. This was always my favorite spot on the farm when I was a kid.”

His dad walked up beside him. He pointed to a wooded section on the other side of the pond. “Yeah. I remember. You had a little deer stand just over there. I used to have a time getting you to come down from that thing, even when it was so cold I thought my toes would freeze off.”

Nick smiled at the memory. “And you didn’t even mind the cold, Dad.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I didn’t either.” Nostalgia wrapped itself around him as he remembered being a preteen boy sitting in his deer stand, practically swaddled in hunting clothes with hand warmers in his gloves and foot warmers in his boots. Several acorn trees dotted the bank of where his pond now stood. Does and their fawns used to venture onto the field to nibble on the treat. Of course, he wasn’t interested in shooting the does and their babies, so he’d watched them glide through the natural dips of the field. He often thought it would be the perfect place for a pond. Looking out at the man-made pool, he knew he’d been right.

“Well, you’re going to have to let us fish out here now, ya know.” Drew’s voice broke him from his reverie.

Nick laughed. “I know. I know. If y’all want to come out early tomorrow, we could fish then.”

“Wouldn’t I love to.” Drew smacked his hands against his pants. “But I’m thinking we’ll have to get a few things done on our farms before we head out here.”

Wyatt nodded. “I don’t have a farm to worry about, but I will need to check inventory before I head out here.”

Nick scratched his jaw. His project was causing a lot of extra work for his friends. He needed them to know just how much he appreciated them. “Guys, listen, I can’t thank you enough—”

Drew raised his hand to stop him. “Don’t even say it. You’d do it for every one of us in a heartbeat.”

Nick nodded. He would. He’d help his friends in any way he could.

“Besides, this is my sister we’re talking about.” Drew pointed to his chest. “And I expect the very best for her.”

Nick peered into Drew’s eyes. “I can promise you this. That’s what I intend to give her.”

❧

Addy put the paint roller back in the pan. She’d finally finished Nick’s kitchen. Taking a quick break, she walked into the living room and plopped onto the couch.

The room looked very nice. She’d rearranged the furniture so that the focal point of the room was the original brick fireplace. Since Nick was adamant about keeping a television in the room, she’d persuaded him to purchase a plasma one to place above the fireplace. It was her least favorite thing about the room, especially since she wasn’t a big TV watcher, but it was much better than it had been before.

The back door opened, and Addy hopped off the couch. She looked at her watch. It was already lunchtime. She hadn’t realized it was so late. “If Mom hadn’t made me help her get the curtains down this morning,” she muttered under her breath, “I would have been here much earlier.”

She swiped strands of hair away from her eyes with the back of her hand as she walked into the kitchen. The place was a complete wreck, as she hadn’t even begun to clean up the paint.

Nick’s gaze scanned the room. “Looks like you’ve been working hard.”

“Yeah.” Addy fought back the embarrassment she felt. Nick had hired her to do a job, and she’d never had anyone walk in on her lounging on a couch while there was a mess in the kitchen. “I got here a little later than I’d planned. Mom decided she wanted me to help her get down the curtains so she could clean them.”

She smacked her hand to her hip. “Even though Aunt Becky was right there, she just had to have my help.”

A mischievous grin spread across his lips, the same grin he’d sported the time he stuck a lizard inside her dollhouse. If she had a dime for all the times Nick and her brother had tried to scare the life out of her—she blew out a breath. “I’m sorry this place is such a mess.”

“No problem. You’ll get it done.” He swatted the air then pointed to a paper bag on the counter. “I brought some lunch from the diner. Lacy picked out your food, so I hope you like it.”

Addy’s stomach growled at the mention of food. She patted it and chuckled. “I guess I am a little hungry.”

“Then let’s eat.” Nick moved the paint pan and brushes off the plastic-covered table then put the hot plates of food on the table.

The heavenly smell of fried chicken wafted through the room. Addy grabbed water out of the refrigerator and some silverware from the drawer. “I noticed you’re running low on water bottles.”

Nick cleared his throat. “It’s been pretty hot out. I’ve been thirsty.”

Addy pulled off paper towels from the roll and handed one to Nick. “There’s like four whole containers missing.” She looked at the ceiling, trying to do the math in her head. “That’s close to a hundred bottles, Nick.”

Nick shrugged, but Addy could tell he was keeping something from her. Not that missing water bottles meant anything to her. They were his, for him to do with as he pleased. He’d just been acting weird the last week.

They sat across from each other, and without asking, Nick grabbed her hands in his and started to pray.

A longing for this to be her norm assailed Addy’s heart. She wanted this lunch, this prayer, this room, this man to be part of her daily life. He’d been kind and considerate to her like he’d never been before since she started fixing up his house. He’d been gracious when she needed to work on the hotel, and at moments, too many moments, she’d thought she detected love for her in his gaze.

But he never said it. And it made her crazy.

God, I’ve promised to let You guide my life. I feel at peace with You being in control, but I’m dying when it comes to Nick. I told him I love him. I told him straight to his face. He hasn’t pushed me away like he did when I was a kid. In fact, sometimes I think he feels the same way. Do I just finish his house and then leave him alone? I don’t want to keep torturing myself with friendly lunches and shopping trips if he doesn’t love me.

She looked up from her plate and saw that Nick had been staring at her. His face reddened, and he peered down at his food, stabbing his potatoes with the fork.

Ugh, Lord. I don’t know how much longer I can take this.

❧

“I don’t know how much longer I can take this.” Nick leaned against the outside of the cabin. The sun was especially hot, even for July, and he took off his cap and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I wanted to tell her the truth at lunch today.”

“Hang in there, buddy.” Wyatt patted his shoulder then took a long swig from his water bottle. “When I’d decided I wanted to ask Gracie to be my wife, I thought I would have to scream it over the mountains before I could get that ring to come in. I—”

“Ring? I haven’t even thought about a ring.” Nick wiped his hand down his face. “I think I’m trying to do too much.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you through it. The cistern and the septic tank will be finished in less than a week, then we’ll start on the wiring.” Wyatt pushed away from the cabin. “Didn’t you say you need to go pick up the bed frame and mattresses?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, why don’t you head into town, pick up the furniture, then swing by the jewelry store and see what you find?”

Nick shook his head. “I’m not leaving y’all to do all the work. It’s not—”

Wyatt pointed toward the septic tank. “Look, your dad and Drew’s dad are laying the pipe. Drew’s just standing there watching them. He’s an extra hand. And I’m just standing here chomping the jaw with you. We can handle this right now.”

Nick looked down at the guys. “I don’t—”

“Hey, y’all,” Wyatt cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled. “Tell Nick to head into town and pick up the furniture.”

“That sounds great,” his dad called. “When you come back, bring some more glue for the pipes.”

“And some more pipe cleaner,” Bryan added.

“And some more waters,” yelled Drew. “We’re on the last package.”

Wyatt smacked his hands together. “See that. They need you to head into town.”

“All right. Fine.” Nick pulled his keys out of his front pocket and hopped into the truck. He stuck his head out the window. “Is there anything you need, Wyatt?”

“I’ve got a hankering for something sweet. See if Gracie’s made any cookies.”

Nick laughed. “All right.”

He drove down the trail until he could see his house. Addy was sitting at the table on the back porch. It looked like she was painting something. He waved to her, noting the look of confusion that etched her expression as she waved back.

He knew she wondered what he was doing at the back of his property every day. With her fixing up his farmhouse, it had been quite a chore making sure she wasn’t there when the guys showed up or when they had to transport materials.

He grinned when he thought of the frustration she’d expressed at her mom making her help take down curtains. Amanda had done the best job of keeping Addy in the dark about what Nick had planned.

Knowing he didn’t want to ride around town with the furniture in the back of his truck, Nick picked up the supplies he needed to get first then drove to the jewelry store.

A bell sounded above his head, and a wave of cool air smacked his face as he walked inside. A man in a suit and tie extended his hand to him. “Welcome. How may I help you?”

Nick cleared his throat. “I’m looking to buy an—” The words stuck in his mouth. It was the first time he’d actually said them out loud. “Engagement ring.”

The man’s face lit with pleasure, and Nick couldn’t help but wonder how much money the guy was going to be getting out of him. And he’d spent a bushel of money already. Thankfully, having spent the last nine years as a bachelor and having been diligent to pay off his loan to his dad and having been blessed with good cattle sales, Nick had the money to spend. But still, he was beginning to learn that a wife would cost him a lot of money.

He thought of Addy’s sweet smile, her beautiful green eyes, her excitement when she painted the mural at the church. She was worth every penny.

“What price range are you looking at?”

Nick shrugged. He had no idea how much an engagement ring would cost. It had only been in the last few months that he’d even entertained the idea of liking Addy, let alone marrying her. “Why don’t you just show me a few things?”

The man’s eyebrows raised, and his features shifted to that of a vulture about to devour its prey. Nick wasn’t fazed by his expression. He might be ignorant about jewelry, but he wasn’t about to let the man take advantage of him either.

The guy lifted an exceptionally large diamond ring from a tray beneath the glass and held it out to Nick. “This ring is a beauty. The one-carat diamond is registered perfect and is accented by two smaller diamonds on each side, as you can see.”

Nick held the ring between his index finger and thumb. It was the gaudiest thing he’d ever seen. Not at all what he would want to give to Addy.

“It’s a terrific price at only. . .”

Nick thought he would swallow his tongue when the man said the ring cost several thousand dollars. Who in his right mind would buy that? Not Nick. He was a simple man, with simple thinking, and to him it was a downright sin to spend that much money on a trinket of jewelry.

Nick pushed the ring into the man’s hand. “I don’t think so. How ’bout I just look a little bit. Which ones are engagement rings?”

Obviously flustered, the man took the ring and placed it back in the tray, pointed to the trays of engagements rings, then sat on a stool behind the counter.

Nick’s gaze traveled the rows of rings. Some were too simple, only a single circle or square-shaped diamond. Addy was a designer. She would want something unique. But she was also practical. He knew she wouldn’t want something gaudy.

A ring caught his eye. He pointed at the glass. “Can I see that one? Second tray, second row, fourth from the left.”

The man lifted the ring out of the tray and handed it to Nick. It had a white band with five diamonds on the top, but it had an older look to it.

“That’s a very nice setting,” the man said. “It’s an antique style. The largest stone is one-third carat with the next two stones one-fifth each. The last two are very small, as you can see. The square design around the largest diamond was a popular design about a hundred years ago.”

The man didn’t need to say any more. Nick knew this was the ring he wanted. When he asked about the price, he felt good about paying that amount. Having called Addy’s mom to find out her ring size before he came, he learned they’d have to alter the ring. He paid the man then folded the receipt and put it in his wallet. “How long until it’s ready?”

“One week from today.”

Nick grinned. They only needed one more week to finish the cabin. “Perfect.”