Rocky Mountain Hero. Audra Harders

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      “Glad he’s trained so well.” Melanie caught her breath. “He’d be a handful if he didn’t listen.”

      “Don’t let him fool you. Fletcher has his own agenda most of the time.”

      Her laughter faded to a smile as she looked around his office. “Nice place you have here.”

      Stacks of paperwork were piled around his desk and heaped onto the floor. Magazines and periodicals flowed over his filing cabinet. A cup of coffee gathered dust on the side table. Gabe winced. “Someday I’ll unearth my desk.”

      “Never know what you’ll find.” She tapped a stack with her finger. “Looks like filing isn’t a priority, is it?”

      “You may not believe this, but I know where to find all the important stuff.”

      She wrinkled her nose. “You’re kidding, right?”

      “I think better when all my work is in front of me.”

      “Looks like you’re shaping a trail to the barn.”

      Her even white teeth matched the sparkle in her eyes. His balance faltered when he realized she smiled at him. Gabe grabbed the folder from the nearest stack and indicated the chairs in front of his desk. “Here, have a seat. I have some news for you.”

      Melanie shot him a wary glance and stood her ground. “Good news or bad? Doesn’t matter. I think I’ll take my news standing up.”

      “I have some of both for you. The good news is that Manny can fix your truck as soon as the parts get here.”

      “That’s great!” She hurried toward the door, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Sorry to bother you, but maybe you can give us a lift into town where we can rent a truck for a few days?”

      “I can take you anywhere you want to go. But wait, there’s a bad side to this news, too.”

      She stopped and turned. Her round eyes narrowed and her slender frame stiffened as if awaiting a blow.

      Gabe drew a breath. “Older trucks like yours are easy to putter with, very few complicated electronic parts to get in the way. The problem you have is the major component you need won’t get here for at least two weeks.” He handed her the page of internet research on parts and ship times.

      “Two weeks?” Her voice remained steady as she scanned the page.

      Gabe glanced at the remaining paperwork in his hand and winced. “There’s more.” He handed her the parts estimate.

      She sucked in a breath and snapped her gaze up to meet his. “Is this a joke?”

      His stomach pitched against tense, tired muscles. “No joke. Your truck may be simple to repair, but the parts aren’t mass-produced any longer. The common parts will be interchangeable, but something as large as a radiator, well…” he trailed, praying for the right words. “Let’s just say it took a bit of searching to find a used one for your make and model that inexpensive. Insurance?”

      Melanie eased into the nearby chair and set her elbows on his desk. “Liability. I can cover the other guy, not myself.”

      His standard offer to pray with her and ask for the Father’s help was on the tip of his tongue, but for some reason, he hesitated. He leaned against the edge of his desk. She’d never indicated how strong her faith was, or even if she had faith at all. Trust in the Almighty remained Gabe’s answer, even if it meant holding his words at the moment. Okay, Lord, so what do I do?

      “I’ve waited so long for a job like this to come up.” Her voice almost a whisper as she compared the two pieces of paper. “Now, even if I get it, I won’t be able to pay this and move.” Eyelids closed, she tipped her head back. “I guess I’ll cash in my vacation time and just go back to work.” She sat up straight and blinked. “I have to tell Jason.”

      Her agony twisted his gut. “How much time did you have?”

      “Three weeks. Three long, glorious weeks.”

      Gabe glanced at his calendar. Just enough time. “I might be able to help you.”

      She looked up. Any spark of light in her eyes, gone.

      It was a long shot, but he’d never know until he asked. “Look around this office. I haven’t a dream of catching up any time soon.”

      She looked around. “Looks more like a nightmare to me.”

      He shook his head. “Seasonal deadlines. Stock reports, financials, the like…and I have this barbecue planned for the Fourth of July.”

      Her brows drew close as if trying to make sense of his rambling.

      “It’s just a simple barbecue picnic to go along with the auction.” He rushed on before she refused. “Plan for about a hundred families. You’ll have help from the local ladies with food. They’ve been this route before—you just need to be the one in charge.” He held his breath as he eyed her frozen features, worried she might explode any moment. “Don’t worry about the auction. I’ll take care of that.”

      Seconds passed before her clenched jaw relaxed. She tilted her chin and squinted up at him. “You want me to plan a party?”

      Gabe leaned across the desk and slipped the two-page estimate from her fingertips. He scanned the amount again before turning the printed sheets toward her. It was worth it to him if it was worth it to her. “If you help me out with this barbecue, I’ll pay for the repairs, provide a place for you to stay, and cover any costs of changing your plans.”

      Melanie reclaimed the sheets from him and stared at the pages. Gabe shot bullets of prayer toward heaven on behalf of her decision. She pressed her lips together and leveled a cold, clear glare in his direction. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

      Nothing could have knocked the air out of him faster than the tone of her accusation. Gabe looked out the window at a tractor idling beside the loading chute. No, he hadn’t given her any choices. In his haste to solve his own problem, he’d never considered the importance of her plans. “Yes, you have a choice.”

      She raised a brow.

      “I’ll loan you a ranch truck free of charge. Use it as long as you need. Return the truck when your pickup is fixed.”

      He pulled out his chair, careful not to topple the pile of statements for Zac. Sinking into his seat, Gabe mentally organized his priorities for the day. He’d hoped to have an early evening tonight, obviously—

      “Why would you offer the use of your truck? You don’t even know me.”

      Suspicion, distrust, anger warred across her face. All thoughts of his personal convenience evaporated as his irritation piqued. “What do I need to know? You need transportation, don’t you?”

      She wrinkled her nose at him, reminding him of Jason when Fletcher wouldn’t release the ball. Guess he knew where the boy got his intense concentration.

      Melanie stood. Her blond hair brushed her shoulder blades as she crossed to the open doorway. Gabe caught his breath when СКАЧАТЬ