Kelly turned her head. “I won’t look. I promise.”
“I think you’ll live,” Jace said several seconds later.
“Where are the horses?” Ari asked.
Subject changes were no problem for four-year-olds Kelly was finding.
“We went to the horse barn,” Jace explained. “It’s empty.”
“Well, Ari, the former owner sold the horses in an attempt to pay off the debt on the Kendall.”
Jace’s jaw clenched. She understood his frustration. Since arriving here, everything he thought he knew was gone, starting with Laura. And although Kelly had nothing to do with any of it, she could see that this proud man was hurting.
“What are we gonna do now, Dad?” Ari, unaware of any of the adults’ feelings, was ready for the next adventure.
“Ari, would you like to see some pictures of horses?” she asked.
“Wow, yeah.”
“They’re on the table in the big living room down the hall. Do you remember where that is?”
He looked at his dad as if Jace might deny the chance to him. Jace nodded.
“Yes. I remember.” Ari started to move, but Jace restrained him.
“Walk,” his father said.
The little boy walked out of the room with both adults watching him.
“I have a proposal for you,” she told Jace.
“What is it?”
She saw him stiffen. “You’re an engineer?”
He nodded.
“What kind of engineer?”
“Civil,” he said, his voice almost a challenge.
“Does that mean you know about bridges and roads, things like that?”
“It does. I also know about water lines and—”
“How about construction?” she interrupted.
“Some.”
“I’d like to offer you a job.”
“What?”
“Do you have one? Someplace to go? I thought your showing up here last night was the last stop on a long journey.”
“It was,” he said. “What kind of job?”
“As an engineer, of sorts. Although, I can’t pay you what an engineer probably makes, I can offer room and board for you and Ari and a small wage. You can consider it temporary until you find something better.”
He mulled that over for a moment. “What do I do?”
“You help me get the rest of this property in shape.”
He looked around the library. The ceiling and trim work had been done. She was making headway on the walls. The shelves were gleaming white and leaning against a door on the other side of the room.
“It looks like you have everything under control.” His gaze swept back to her.
“Don’t go by the condition of the house. I have some serious issues that need attention.”
“Like what?”
“Irrigation, for one. You said you knew about water. I want to make sure there’s proper runoff and drainage for the pastures and build safer pathways around the grounds.”
“You expecting a lot of visitors?”
“Yes, hopefully,” she said. “What about it? Will you take the job?”
“Dad!” Ari came bounding back, running fast and hard. He stopped just before careening into Jace. “Can I get my own horse?”
Jace turned and looked at Kelly. “Maybe,” he said.
WINDSOR HEIGHTS WASN’T exactly on the cutting edge of the twenty-first century, though as Jason drove into town he noticed how different the place looked. Because he had often been away for long periods of time with boarding school, college and working, Jace’s trips back to the Kendall made him more able to see the changes as sweeping rather than subtle. First, the number of cars on the street alone could cause a traffic jam. As far as he knew, there had never been a traffic jam in Windsor Heights. There were new stores along Main Street. He saw that the old dress shop had had a facelift. The bookstore was gone, replaced by an office supply store. The bank, however, was in the same place and while it was five years older, it appeared as new as it had been when it was built.
Jace opened its heavy door and walked through. Nothing here was different. The loan office was in the same place and Jace went directly toward it.
“Jason! Jason Kendall.” Someone called his name. “Is that you? I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen you in years.”
A man behind a glass wall stood up and came out, his hand outstretched. Jace took it, recognizing him only after he was already pumping his hand.
“Kurt Mallard,” Jace said, grateful to find someone he’d once known. “Who would have thought?”
“Come on in and sit down a minute. Tell me what brings you back to Windsor Heights?”
Jace noticed his door had Kurt Mallard, Loan Officer printed on it in small black letters.
“My home,” he said. Jace took a seat. “I’m here about the Kendall.”
Kurt frowned. “It’s a shame about that.” Then his face cleared and the frown was replaced with a smile.
“But it seems the new owner is working miracles restoring it. Have you met her yet?”
Jace didn’t get to answer.
Kurt continued, “She’s a beauty. Got flaming red hair. When she’s in here and the sun shines through that window...” He pointed to a window outside the office “It’s like fire.”
“I’ve met her,” Jace cut in.
Kurt chuckled and cleared away some papers on his desk.
“So you’re the loan officer,” Jace pointed out.
“Never thought I’d make it, did you?”
Kurt had been the other bad boy of Windsor Heights. While the two of them rarely cut up together, Jace knew of him, his antics and the gang he ran around with. None of them were people Jace cared to be associated with. Kurt was on the school’s football team and many people looked the other way at the things he did for that reason. Jace was the prep school kid, the rich kid, the one who lived in the big house. He wasn’t welcome by even the bullies of the area. After that Jace lost track of Kurt. But now Kurt worked at the bank and Jace’s family no longer owned the big house. That privilege was held by a determined redhead unafraid to get her hands dirty.
“Kurt, I’m here for a loan,” Jace said, opting for the cold, hard truth.
Kurt shifted in his chair. “Okay,” he said. “What’s the loan for?”
“I want to buy the Kendall.”
Kurt smiled warmly. “This is great. I’m glad Ms. Ashton is willing to sell it back to you. After all, the Kendall should be owned by a Kendall.” He laughed a hearty sound.
“Well, there’s a slight issue there.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I only got back into town last night. I have a little money, but I’d need a big mortgage.”
Kurt