Page 58 of Forbidden Rancher's Return
Rowan comes down twenty minutes later.
He pours himself coffee and stands beside me at the counter and we look out at the burned barn frame in the morning light. The blackened posts, the stone foundation holding, the blue sky above it all.
"It's not as bad as it looked last night," I say.
"No." He studies it. "The foundation is solid. Main posts are ironwood. They'll clean up. We can have a frame up inside two weeks if we get enough hands."
"Beck will help."
"Yes."
"He'll complain the entire time."
"Also yes."
I wrap both hands around my mug. "We need lumber. Hardware. I need to call the insurance company and file the arson report."
"One thing at a time."
I glance at him. He's still looking at the barn. Calm. Unrushed. Like a man who has already sorted the list in his head and is waiting for me to catch up.
"You already made a list," I say.
"Yes."
"In your head."
"While you were sleeping."
I shake my head. But the warmth in my chest says something different than the shake.
We work through morning chores together. The rhythm is easier today. Looser, like something that was held tight has finally been allowed to breathe. Rowan moves through the work with the ease of a man who belongs here.
I catch myself humming again. This time I don't stop.
Rowan hears it. Doesn't comment. But I see the corner of his mouth lift while he's measuring feed. The almost-smile that's becoming my favorite thing on this entire ridge.
Beck arrives at nine.
He pulls into the yard, takes one look at Rowan's truck parked square in front of the house, and stands beside his door for a full ten seconds before walking over.
He doesn't say anything about the truck. He looks at the barn frame. Then at me. Then at Rowan.
"Insurance called back yet," he says.
"I'm calling at ten," I say.
He nods. "I talked to three men last night who'll come up Saturday for the rebuild. Tom Hutchins said he'd bring his crew if we feed them."
"Done."
Beck crouches beside the foundation stones and runs his hand along the base. "This is solid. Grandfather built this right."
"Yes he did."
He stands. Looks at Rowan. "You know framing."
"Yes."
