Nicole shook her head. “Not this week. I’ve been so engrossed in getting the last of the corbels done that I haven’t gone much farther than from my truck to the livery and back again.” Her gaze dropped to the paint supplies at Ryan’s feet. “Roller?”
He nodded.
“Not using a sprayer?”
“They didn’t have sprayers a hundred years ago.”
A low chuckle rumbled in her throat and her eyes twinkled with merriment. He’d be happy to say stupid things all day long if he got to hear the laughter and see the amusement in her eyes.“Okay. So you want to roll it. Shouldn’t someone else in the crew be doing this?”
“Why?”
“Why?” Those same sparkling eyes widened with surprise. “Because you’re not a painter? And maybe, because you’re the boss?”
“Thanks for the compliment, but I’m not the boss. And for what it’s worth, we wear a lot of different hats around here. The only thing I won’t touch is electrical. I’m fond of having ten fingers and at the prospect of living a good long life. No sense cutting any of it short playing with fire… or in this case, electricity. Rolling on wood sealer… any moron can do that.”
“Fair enough. Need some help?”
The small back door that had previously led to the alley behind all the shops now led to a new and modern stable for keeping the horses and the carriages.
“Okay. I am duly impressed.” Nicole took short measured steps as she walked around the large space, her head bobbing with every step. “The horses are going to be very happy here.”
“That’s the plan.”
“There you are.” Morgan came through the small doorway. “I was just chatting with the sisters outside of the old brothel.”
Hand on her mouth, Nicole did her best to muffle a small laugh. He had to admit, not many people spoke of brothels anymore. Even if this one was now a bed and breakfast.
“We’re getting more tourists coming to see the town and Sissy thought, until we actually have the carriages ready to go, it could be a good idea to park a couple of horses by the hitching post to draw people to the future carriage rides.”
Ryan looked around at the current facilities. “It’s still going to be a bit before we can house horses here.”
His brother nodded his head. “Agreed. But my money’s on next week being able to bring them over. Of course we’ll have to set a few things up for them.”
“I can make sure the old metal trough we put in storage gets returned to the front of the building. That will add a nice touch.” Ryan ran several things through his mind, starting with which horses would be content to stand out front for several hours in the afternoons.
“Good start. When you’re done here, I’ll help you with the trough.”
Ryan bobbed his head and Morgan turned on his heel. “Oh,” Morgan stopped a few steps away, “I almost forgot. Sissy says that a Mrs. Patrick Farraday booked a room at the brothel, er, hotel for five nights.”
“Mom?”
“Do you know any other Mrs. Patrick Farradays?”
“Hey,” Ryan shrugged, “until a week ago I didn’t think there were any other Seamus O’Farradeighs and yet, you know how that turned out. When is she arriving?”
“It’s booked for Quinn’s wedding date.”
Ryan whistled. “I’ll be danged. Do you think Mom is actually going to show up for a son’s wedding?”
“Looks that way.” Morgan tipped his head. “I’ll know more when I talk to Dad. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
As soon as Morgan was out of earshot, Nicole turned to Ryan. “This is none of my business, and you’re welcome to tell me that, but why is everyone so surprised your mother is coming for her son’s wedding?”
“Because she hasn’t come for any of the others.” When confusion crowded Nicole’s expression, he continued. “Apparently my mother had an issue with the Texas Farradays and has kept us apart for decades. Only recently did ourgeneration re-connect. No one has any idea what caused the rift.”
“Your mother hasn’t said anything?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nope. She even went so far as to say that the Texas Farradays didn’t want to see us anymore.”
