in the sunlight, rejuvenating the old structure. Even the swing and wicker furniture on the porch had been painted to match the trim. Turning toward the horse barn, she watched the three painters putting the finishing touches to its hunter-green trim. Then the fences would be painted white. Satisfaction and pride welled up in her.
Eight days ago she had accepted Slade’s proposal and the next day he’d had painters out here to discuss painting whatever needed to be done. The following day they’d started and had been working nonstop since then. Slade wanted the work done by the time of their wedding in four days. It would be close.
A blue Honda, at least ten years old, pulled into the drive leading to the house. She waited by the gravel road while the man parked and climbed from his vehicle. Approaching him, she extended her hand. “You must be Gus Morris.”
The older man with a full head of white hair pumped her arm. “Yes, ma’am. I sure am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Let’s talk while I show you the operation.” Tory started for the barn.
Gus, who was no more than two inches taller than Tory, fell into step next to her. “It looks like you’re sprucing up the place.”
“Yes.” Tory gestured for Gus to enter the barn first. “I have fifteen horses—five of them mine and one pony. I offer classes, usually in the afternoon. The people who stable their horses here come out and ride, some more than others. I make sure the horses are fed and taken care of each day.” Tory paused in the middle of the barn. “Also, I keep the stalls clean and keep an eye on the various horses. I’ll inform the owner if a problem is developing. As you saw, I have several riding rings and also paddocks and trails for people to use.”
“What will my duties be?”
“Cleaning out the stalls, feeding and watering the horses, keeping the tack in good shape. You’ll be assisting me with whatever needs to be done.”
“Hours?”
“From six in the morning until three in the afternoon. You’ll have an hour off for lunch.”
The short man grinned, his brown eyes twinkling. “As I told you over the phone, I miss my ranch. I miss working with horses. My kids wanted me to move here, but they neglected to give me anything to do. I found retirement isn’t for me.”
“Do you think you can manage the duties?” Tory took in Gus’s wiry frame.
“Been doing that kind of stuff all my life. Don’t you worry about me. I am all muscles, no fat. I’m in good health and driving my daughter bananas. She’s actually the one who saw the advertisement in the paper and showed it to me.”
“Then, Mr. Morris, you’ve got yourself a job and you can start tomorrow if you want.”
“Please, call me Gus. Mr. Morris just makes me seem older than I care to be.”
“Tor-ee—I’m—done.” Mindy came to the entrance of Belle’s stall, holding a curry comb in one hand, hay sticking to her T-shirt.
“Who’s this little lady?” Gus asked.
“This is my helper, Mindy. This is Gus, Mindy. He’ll be working here and helping us.”
Gus covered the distance between Mindy and himself in three strides. “Let me see what you’ve done.” He looked inside the stall and whistled. “That’s a mighty fine job, if I do say so myself.”
Mindy beamed. “Thanks! Belle—is—my—resp—” Her brow knitted as she glanced toward Tory.
“Responsibility,” Tory said for her.
“Belle is one lucky pony then.” Gus turned toward Tory. “I’ll be here tomorrow at six straight up.”
As the old man left, Mindy shut the stall door and made sure the latch was hooked, then she walked toward the tack room to put up her curry comb. “Dad-dy be here—soon?”
“Soon. But you’re staying for dinner again. Your father and I still have to talk about the wedding plans.”
“Four—days. Can’t—wait.”
“Ready to help me with dinner?”
Nodding, Mindy took Tory’s hand.
“I thought we would have hamburgers tonight. What do you think?”
“Yes.”
When a black Taurus headed toward her house, Tory stopped for a moment, trying to make out who was behind the wheel. Judy? She was early.
“Who’s—that?”
“My older sister. She wasn’t supposed to come for the wedding until Thursday.”
“Sis-ter!” Mindy quickened her pace, nearly falling in her haste.
Tory steadied her. “Slow down. After the day we put in, I don’t have that kind of energy. Judy isn’t going anywhere.”
“Will—she—be my—aunt—when—you—mar-ry—Dad-dy?”
“You bet.”
“Neat!”
Judy slid from the car and stretched. “I know I’m early. But Brad told me to come and he’ll bring the kids with him in a few days. How can I pass up a minivacation without the children?”
Tory studied her sister’s face, her expression innocent, and wondered about Judy’s motives behind her early arrival. Her older sister was always trying to protect her. She was sure Judy was here to scout out the situation for Mom and Dad and make a report before they came. “Judy, I want you to meet Mindy. She’s Slade’s daughter.”
Mindy lifted her hand to shake Judy’s. “I—help—Tor-ee.”
“That’s what she said to me. She’s lucky to have such a good helper.”
Mindy preened, a big grin on her face.
“Pop the trunk and I’ll help you with your luggage.” Tory moved around to the back of the car. When she saw the jammed trunk, she laughed. “I should have known you’d bring your whole closet with you.”
Judy bent down and whispered into Mindy’s ear, “Ignore Tory. She likes to make fun of me and what I pack for a trip. My motto is to always be prepared and in order to do that I have to bring choices.”
Mindy giggled.
“And of course, Mom had me bring some wedding gifts for you.”
“Gifts?” Mindy’s eyes grew round. “I’ll—help—open?”
“I wouldn’t ask anyone but you. Come on, we’d better get started or we’ll be out here all night unloading the car.”
“Well, Mindy, I think you did a superb job with the baked beans.” Judy wiped her mouth on her napkin and laid it on the side of her empty dinner plate. “And the hamburgers were great, Slade. Grilled to perfection.”
“Yes—Dad-dy.” Mindy finished off her chocolate milk.
Slade pointed to his mouth and waited until his daughter had used her napkin to clean hers before saying, “With compliments like that, I could get used to cooking.”
Judy rose and began taking the dishes to the sink. “My contribution to this dinner is to clean up.”
“I’ll help.” Tory stacked several plates on top of each other.
“While you two are doing that, Mindy and I will take a walk down to the barn. I wanted to check out how the painters are coming along.”
Tory put the plates into the sink. “If it doesn’t rain, I think they’ll get finished by the wedding.”
When Slade and Mindy left the kitchen, Judy brought a platter and bowl over to the counter. “She’s every bit as cute as you said.”