Not ten seconds later, he got a private text from Finn:What help do you need with Winnie’s car? Anything?
It got pushed into a cement pillar and the front passenger side is pretty dented,Ty said.We left it there but need to get it back here to get it fixed.
Let me talk to Sam,Finn said.He’s been trying to start that roadside assistance thing, and he might have access to tow trucks or a flatbed.
That’d be great,Ty said.Winnie has insurance, and I don’t know what she’ll be able to pay, but I know she needs her car.
Yeah, I’ll text him,Finn said.Glad to hear from you, Ty.
And Ty knew he was too.
He navigated back to the big group text, and others had said they were glad to hear from him as well.
Alex:I’ll get my morning chores done and plan to be at Conrad’s too. They’ve canceled school, so I’ll bring my boys.
Brandon:I’ll come through the forest and ride with you, Alex, if that’s okay.
Alex:Sure thing, brother.
Mitch:I’ll be there as well, and I’d appreciate any help at Signs for Success, but I understand that we’re low on the list, because my dogs can just live in the house with me until we get things fixed.
Trap:What about your windows?My daddy has lots of window contacts.
Mitch:I’ve already texted with him,and we have someone coming tomorrow by six p.m.
Trap:Oh, great. That goes for anyone else who might need windows. My daddy’s able to get them for some reason when other people can’t.
Link:It pays to know people.
That triggered Ty to think about what Winnie had said about only having him to help her. She may have felt like that, but Ty knewit wasn’t true. The community of Three Rivers wouldn’t let anyone go without, and his texts with his friends proved it.
They’d show up for anyone, and Ty would be right there with them, gloves on, pain meds in his truck, ready to work.
Anyone around town would do the same for Winnie.
“But I do want to be that man for her, Lord,” he whispered. He’d caught up with the texts, and he reached over and plugged his phone in and left it on his nightstand, his alarm set to go off at seven-fifteen so that he could get over to Winnie’s and get her to work on time.
Pure exhaustion pulled through him, but he still managed to murmur, “Thank you, God,” believing that God would know that he was grateful for a great many things in his life and just didn’t have the energy to spell them all out right now.
21
Jackie pulled off the road and into a dirt parking lot, with Winnie peering through the windshield for some sign that she’d arrived in the right place. So many people had canceled their PT that day, the clinic had closed at lunchtime and sent everyone home.
She’d immediately texted Ty to find out where he was working, and where she might be able to help.
We just found out that Tate and Clara Jean could use help at their produce farm, he’d told her.We’re done at Conrad’s place, and Mitch says he can fix up his dog enclosure himself. So we’re heading over there.
He’d sent the address, and Winnie now searched for an entrance to the one-story building that had come into view. “I’m sure here is fine,” she said to Jackie, the friend and co-worker she’d asked for a ride here.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
She caught sight of a cowboy walking along a downed line of something, and Winnie nodded. “Yes, I’m sure this is it.”
“I had no idea Wilde and Organic grew a lot of the produce they sell.”
“I just learned that myself.” Winnie smiled over to the other woman. “Thank you so much. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Watch your texts,” she said. “We might close the clinic again.”
