The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,29

he looked strong enough. “And Brett’s boy, Reid.”

“Sure,” Bear said. “Thanks for coming, you guys. I haven’t seen you at the other ranches.”

“That’s because we’ve been working them to death at Three Rivers,” Squire said with a smile. “At least if you ask them.” He shook Bear’s hand, the laugh lines around his eyes testifying that Squire had indeed lived a good life. He was a couple of years younger than Bear, but he felt so much farther ahead of him.

Teenage kids. Married for a dozen years. Bear didn’t have any of those things, but he kept his smile in place.

Pete Marshall arrived next, and he’d brought his two oldest children too. Ethan Green arrived with Garth Alhstrom, his son, and Cal Hodgkins. Beau Patterson and Bennett Lancaster came in another truck, with Tanner Wolfe, Gavin Redd, and a few more teen boys that looked like they could hold hammers.

Ranger had brought out a table and set up the pastries Cactus and the women had made, and he said, “Come get something to eat, everyone,” which caused a big uproar.

The Rhinehart’s arrived, as did Tammy Fullerton, her husband, and four of her orchard workers. Bear didn’t even know what to do with all the people.

And when the Walkers showed up, the party really started. Only Tripp brought his son, Oliver, as the rest of the Walker kids were tiny. Every man was there though, and they looked like a wall of solid muscle, loud voices, and big personalities.

After ten or fifteen minutes, he raised both hands and whistled through his teeth. That got everyone to settle down, and he said in a loud voice, “We’ve got most of the ranch put back together. Thank you all for coming. Ranger and I and the other boys appreciate it.” He looked out at them, such a sense of community moving through him.

“The real problem is my mother’s house,” he said. “I got all the materials I could, and we’ll do the best we can with the time and goods we’ve got.” They definitely had enough people, and Bear thought they just might be able to get the house livable in just one day.

He nodded down the road a bit. “It’s up that road a few miles. We can pile into trucks, as many as we can fit. There’s not a lot of room up there to park.”

“Let’s move out!” Ranger yelled, and everyone started walking to nearby trucks as conversations broke out again.

Bear just watched for a moment, his heart full. “Thank you, Lord,” he whispered. “Please keep us all safe and well. Help those who don’t have a crew like this to help them, and bless us all that we can be aware of those around us who need help we can give.”

With that, he headed for Ranger’s truck. Before he could get in, a big, blue truck Bear knew he’d seen before came trundling up to his house. Sammy got out, a smile on her face. “I’m not too late, good.”

“Not too late,” he said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to work.” She put her hands on her hips. “We’re heading up the road?” She turned and watched the trucks as they started to move out. “Looks like I need a ride.” She walked toward him, and Bear wasn’t sure how to greet her with Ranger standing right there and Bishop, Judge, Mister, and Preacher all sitting in the back.

She didn’t look at any of them. She stepped right into his personal space and balanced herself by lightly touching his shoulders. She swept a kiss across his cheek and said, “I guess I missed breakfast,” as she settled on her feet again.

Bear’s mind blanked. His cheek burned, and that fire licked up into his brain, rendering him thoughtless.

“There’s more inside,” Ranger said, his voice somewhat awed. “Want me to grab you something?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Sammy said with a smile. “Is there room up front? Or should I pile in the back with your brothers?” She moved toward the tailgate, and that got Bear to thaw.

“Sammy,” he said. “Have you met all my brothers?” He cleared his throat as he looked at the gaggle of them in the truck bed. “This here’s Judge, Bishop, Mister, and Preacher. And my cousin, Ranger. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Sammy Benton.” He nearly choked on the word girlfriend, but Sammy just beamed up at him like he’d spoken normally.

He hadn’t seen her much over the past several days, but he did text