“I’ll give you a hand. When were you thinking?”
“Next week? Maybe.”
“Want me to pick up the wood?”
The two of them discussed the project and once breakfast was over went out to the fence to determine what to replace and how long it might take.
It was midafternoon by the time Kirk drove into his driveway. He’d had a good visit with Webb Francis and done some shopping in Bryceville. He’d also run by the lumber yard and ordered the wood to repair the fence. He’d pick it up next week.
Once again he noticed the ragged lawn in front of Webb Francis’s house. His own could use a cutting as well. It was hot, but not that hot.
He changed into old clothes, drank a couple of glasses of water and then went to mow his and his neighbor’s lawn.
Having mowed his lawn a couple of weeks ago, it was easy enough to get it taken care of. Webb Francis’s was anothermatter. The tall grass took more effort to mow. He made a dozen or so passes across the width of the lawn and grew hotter with each step. Some of the yard was in shade, but most was in full sun this time of day.
He stripped off his shirt and tossed it onto a bush, pushing the old power mower back and forth. At this rate, it’d be dark before he finished. He should have tackled it earlier.
Sam and Teresa Ann came onto the porch, followed by Angelica. Kirk caught sight of them and waved, not pausing in his task.
The kids each had a glass in hand watching him as they drank. He could use a glass of iced tea right about now. But didn’t want to stop work to go make some. One-third down, another two-thirds to go. If he didn’t finish now, he’d have to plan on it tomorrow. Cutting grass wasn’t his favorite activity. Might as well finish now.
He made two more passes then was startled to see Angelica walking to him a large glass of amber liquid in hand.
“If that’s iced tea, I’ll—”
He stopped suddenly remembering what kissing her caused. He reached for the glass. Heavenly. He drank it all without stopping.
“Hot work,” she said.
At least that’s what he thought she said. It was harder to hear over the roar of the lawn mower.
“Do you want more?” she asked.
“Please. Appreciate it.”
He watched her walk back to the house, speak to the children, and then go inside. Minutes later she was walking across the lawn. He’d done another half swath. She handed him the glass when he stopped.
“I probably should be doing that, I’m staying in Webb Francis’s house,” she said, eyeing the lawn mower with some trepidation.
“Have a shot,” he said, stepping back.
He didn’t know if he wanted to drink the tea or pour it over his body. Being near her wasn’t cooling him down.
She met his eyes and nodded.
“Okay. Just push it?”
He nodded. “Never mowed a lawn before?”
She shook her head as she gripped the handle and pushed. For a second nothing happened, then with a bit more pressure, the lawn mower began to move, spitting out the cut grass as she tried to follow the edge of his last cut. When clumps of tall grass appeared between her path and his, he knew she found it tougher than anticipated. It would have been easier if the grass was shorter to start with. Sipping the tea, he watched her, grinning at the effort—and the missed spots.
Angelica pushed harder. This wasn’t as easy as Kirk made it seem. Finally reaching the edge, she struggled to turn it back. Viewing what she’d cut, she was dismayed to see spots where the machine hadn’t cut straight. There were patches looking like a Mohawk along the edge between Kirk’s cut and her own. Determined to do better, she pushed again, getting the machine going. It wasn’t as hard to keep it going as to start. Still when she reached him, she was burning up with heat—not all attributed to the effort to push the lawn mower.
He handed her the glass and took over without a word. Stepping to one side, she watched him. The muscles contracted when he pushed. Sculpted, they testified to the strength of the man. Working in construction and carving huge pieces of wood required strength. She was fascinated. Wishing she could touch him, she blinked and looked at the house. The two children were watching. She smiled and walked to the porch. He’d made itabundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with her. She needed to remember that.
“You didn’t do so good, Miss Cannon,” Sam said.
She could depend on that child for total honesty.
