What was she doing wrong? Abigail surveyed the vegetable garden—or rather, the rectangle of dirt where the vegetables were supposed to be sprouting. Greta said gardening was easy, but if it were so easy, where were her seedlings? They’d worked hard, had taken two afternoons just for planting, and that didn’t count the tilling and soil preparation.
Abigail squatted in the dirt, hoping for a microscopic sign of green. Nothing. Stupid sprinkler. She gave it a glare. What was she doing wrong? She’d ask Aunt Lucy for help, but the woman would probably advise her to stick plastic vegetables in the dirt.
“How’s the garden?”
She hadn’t heard Wade’s approach. She stood and turned, glad things had grown less awkward over the past two days. She couldn’t help but notice that he cut a fine figure against the Montana skyline in his Western shirt and faded jeans.
“Nonexistent,” she said. “Don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I picked a sunny spot and followed the planting directions. Guess I really am a city girl.”
He surveyed the barren soil. “What’d you plant?”
“Potatoes and corn mostly.”
“Maddy’s favorites.”
She shrugged. “How do you think I got her to help?”
He grinned. “You watering?”
“Every day.”
“How long?”
“Timer’s set for fifteen minutes.”
“Not long enough. A shallow watering dampens the soil but won’t reach the roots. Run it an hour every few days. A thorough soaking makes for strong, healthy roots.”
“Oh.” Abigail looked at the damp soil. “Is it too late to fix? It’s been almost three weeks since we planted.”
He shrugged. “Try and see. Where’s Maddy?”
“Upstairs, cleaning her room.”
Wade’s brows lifted. “How’d you manage that?”
“I told her we were going to redecorate.” She hoped he remembered her asking a few weeks ago. “That still okay?”
He shrugged. “Fine by me.” His eyes grew shadowed, and he frowned. “Guess her room is kind of bland. Probably should’ve done it before now.”
“It’ll be a fun project for us. Hopefully it’ll go better than the garden.”
“Just cosmetic stuff?”
“That’s the plan. Can I borrow the truck when Maddy’s finished? I thought we could run to town and pick out the paint.”
He tucked his hands in his pockets. “I was just headed there.”
“Can we can come along? I can get Maddy now if you’re in a hurry.” Two birds with one stone.
“I can wait. It’s not every day my daughter cleans her room.”
Abigail changed the timer on the sprinkler, then went to tell Maddy her dad was waiting. Forty minutes later they were tucked into the truck’s cab, an excited Maddy fidgeting in the middle.
“I can’t get over your room,” Wade said. “Hasn’t been that clean since we moved in.”
Maddy’s smile made her face glow. “I can’t wait to redecorate!”
Abigail noticed a new bracelet on Maddy’s wrist. “Hey, it matches your necklace.” She turned the knotted hemp on the girl’s wrist.
“Olivia made it for me. She’s really good at jewelry.”
“That was nice of her,” Abigail said. Olivia was sure a giving little girl. She was glad Maddy had given her a second chance.
“What about lime green paint?” Maddy asked a moment later.
“On the walls?” Wade frowned as he turned onto the main road.
“That might be a little . . . bright,” Abigail said.
“But it’s my favorite color, and you said I could pick.”
Rats. She had said that.
Wade’s scowl passed over his daughter’s head and landed on Abigail.
“What if we make lime green your accent color?” Abigail said.
“What’s an accent color?”
“The color for things like throw pillows, lamps, your new rug. Things like that. That way if your favorite color is purple in two years, you can easily change it.”
“Rug?” Wade asked. “Her room is carpeted.”
Whoops. “I was thinking we could pull up the carpet and see if there’s hardwood underneath.”
“And if there isn’t?”
She shrugged and winced. “Cross that bridge when we come to it?”
“Please, Dad? I hate that old brown carpet. And I want a rug with my accent color.” She looked to Abigail for approval on her new word.
Abigail winked at her.
“I can see when I’m outnumbered.” Wade shifted in his seat. “Guess I should be glad she’s not wanting lime green carpet,” he mumbled.
“Thanks, Daddy!” Maddy wrapped her arm around his bicep and held on.
Abigail watched Wade melt under his daughter’s affection. Abigail had known her dad was putty in her hands, but Maddy seemed unaware of her influence.
“So what about the walls?” Maddy asked.
“Well, since you want a horse theme, maybe you can make your accent colors lime green and brown. Then you can choose something more neutral for your walls.”
“Where you going to sleep while all this painting is going on?” Wade asked.
Abigail hadn’t thought about that. “I guess we won’t be able to get it done in a day’s time.”
“Not hardly.”
“She could sleep in my room,” Abigail offered. “I have a full-sized bed.”
“Maddy thrashes when she sleeps. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
“Heeey . . .” Maddy gave him a mock frown.
Wade shrugged. “I call it like I see it.”
“Fine, I’ll sleep on the couch,” Maddy said. “I can see where I’m not wanted.”
“Better you than me,” Wade said.
Maddy poked him with her elbow.
An hour later, after finally choosing beige paint and a border from the scant selection at Timberline Hardware, Abigail and Maddy stood in front of the store with a sack of supplies and two gallons of paint.
“There he is.” Maddy looked both ways before darting across the street toward the truck.
Wade eyed the paint cans as they piled into the cab. “Tell me it’s not lime green.”
“Plain ol’ beige, Dad, but the horse wallpaper is sweet!”
“Wallpaper?”
“Just a border.” Abigail patted his arm and found it rock solid. “Relax, Dad.”
“Can we start today?” Maddy asked.
“It’s almost suppertime,” Wade said. “And you’ll have to move your things away from the walls and tape off the trim first.”
“Sounds like you’ve done this a time or two,” Abigail said.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t.” Wade turned out of the parking lot.
Abigail lifted her chin. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Like you figured out the garden?”
She sent him an exaggerated glare, which he missed entirely. “Low blow, Ryan.”
“We can move furniture and stuff tonight and paint tomorrow,” Maddy said.
“Tomorrow’s Abigail’s day off, squirt.”
“Will you help me, then?” Maddy asked her dad.
Abigail started to speak, then decided to wait for Wade.
Maddy nestled against Wade’s arm. “Please, Daddy?”
Maybe Maddy was starting to realize her power. Abigail suppressed a smile.
“Suppose we could trim after church and chores.”
“Thanks, Dad!”
“I guess I could help too,” Abigail said.
Wade’s lips pressed together.
Well, tough luck, cowboy. She had to get to know him better if she wanted the truth, and the only way to get to know him was to spend time together. Besides, she thought, assuaging her guilt, it’ll be good for Maddy.
“Can we pull up the carpet?” Maddy asked after they’d piled most of her belongings in the hallway.
Abigail surveyed the ugly carpet. She hadn’t noticed the stains until the room was cleared. “I think we’d better leave it, to catch the drips.”
“Just a peek?”
Wade dumped the painting supplies from the bag. “Suppose so.” He got on his knees and ripped the carpet from the tack strips with ease.
Abigail and Maddy peeked over his shoulder as he pulled the stained pad back.
“Hardwood.” Abigail sighed with relief.
“Yay!”
“Hope it’s in decent shape.” Wade put the carpet back.
“Of course it is. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking there must be a reason someone laid carpet.”
“Oh, Dad.”
Wade and Abigail taped off the wooden trim while Maddy paced the room, eager to wet the first roller. But by the time they finished taping, it was after ten, and Wade declared it quitting time.
“Please, Dad? Can’t we paint a little while? Just one wall?”
Abigail stepped in. “We’ll have all afternoon tomorrow, Maddy. Your dad’s had a long day.”
Maddy’s shoulders drooped. “All right.”
“Let’s grab your pillow and blanket and make up the sofa,” Abigail said.
Maddy exited the room and Abigail followed. She didn’t miss the gleam of appreciation in Wade’s eyes as she squeezed past.