Page 5

L ynda balanced at the top of the ladder, stretching to secure a string of twinkling lights to a wooden beam.

The cavernous old barn at the edge of Sapphire Bay had been used for community events for decades.

Transforming it from a blank canvas into something magical for the fundraiser was proving to be a challenge.

“A little to the left,” Carol called from below, squinting up at Lynda’s handiwork. “We need to make sure the lights cascade evenly across the dance floor.”

“Like this?” Lynda asked, shifting the strand of lights.

“Perfect!” Carol smiled for what seemed like the first time that afternoon. “You’re a lifesaver. I don’t know how I would have managed all this without your help.”

Lynda carefully made her way down the ladder. “Happy to help,” she said, meaning it despite her aching shoulders. “Though I’m pretty sure I’ve hung more fairy lights in the past two hours than I have in my entire life.”

She surveyed their progress. The barn was slowly being transformed.

White fabric draped from the ceiling beams, creating the illusion of clouds, while the lights twinkled like stars above what would be the dance floor.

Long tables lined one wall, waiting for the auction items, and a make-shift stage had been set up for the local band who’d volunteered to play.

Carol checked items off her clipboard. “Lights, check. Stage, check. Now we need to finish setting up the tables for the silent auction items and then arrange the hay bales for additional seating.”

“How many people are you expecting?” Lynda asked, taking a sip from her water bottle.

“We’ve sold over two hundred tickets,” Carol said, her pride evident. “It’s our biggest turnout ever. If the auction goes well, we might raise enough for the new kennels.”

Lynda knew how badly the shelter needed the renovations. The current kennels were functional but outdated, and they needed proper isolation areas for sick animals. The barn fundraiser was their best chance at gathering enough money to make it happen.

Carol frowned. “The only thing I’m worried about is the weather. If the storm comes through like it’s supposed to, it might stop people from coming to the barn.”

From what Lynda had heard, a little wild weather wouldn’t stop anyone. “Everyone’s super excited,” she reassured Carol. “I don’t think anything will stop the community from supporting the animal shelter.”

“I hope you’re right.” Carol straightened her shoulders. “But I can’t let that worry me. We have a fabulous venue and lots of donated prizes for everyone.”

“Including a basket of books from Isabel,” Lynda told Carol. “And Kathleen’s giving us a ‘coffee and pastries for a month’ package from her café.”

“That’s wonderful,” Carol said as she wrote the donations on her clipboard. “The community’s support has been amazing.”

The barn door swung open, flooding the room with late afternoon sunlight. Lynda’s heart jumped when she saw Matt standing in the doorway.

“I can’t believe how good the barn looks,” he called out as he made his way toward them.

Lynda tugged self-consciously at her old t-shirt, suddenly aware of how hot and sweaty she must look. Her hair had mostly escaped its practical bun, and she’d long since abandoned her sweater in the unseasonable warmth of the day.

“Matt! Thank goodness,” Carol rushed over to him. “Please tell me you brought the updated auction list.”

He pulled a folder from under his arm. “Brenda ran after me when I left the clinic without it. Is she here yet?”

The barn door opened again, and Brenda hurried inside. “I hope I’m not too late.”

Carol gave her friend a quick hug. “Your timing’s perfect. Matt just gave me the updated auction list. We can add some extra gift boxes to the table to match the donations.”

Brenda glanced around the barn, her eyes lingering on the lights above them. “It looks incredible in here.”

“Lynda’s been here since one o’clock,” Carol told her. “She hung all the fairy lights.”

Matt’s gaze shifted to Lynda. The warmth in his blue eyes made her feel oddly flustered.

“You’ve done an incredible job,” he said. “I didn’t know veterinary school included a specialty in event decoration.”

“It was an elective,” Lynda replied dryly. “Right after ‘Dealing with Difficult Cats’ and before ‘The Art of Adding Pills to Peanut Butter.’”

Matt laughed, the sound echoing pleasantly in the barn. “Well, they taught you well. This place looks completely different.”

“It’s still a work in progress,” Lynda said, gesturing to the stacks of hay bales yet to be arranged and the tables pushed against the far wall.

“Then put me to work,” Matt said, rolling up his sleeves. “I’m all yours for the next few hours.”

The phrase sent an unexpected tingle down Lynda’s spine.

If she didn’t get a grip on her emotions, she’d never be able to look Matt in the eyes again.

“The hay bales need to be arranged in conversational groupings,” she instructed, falling back on what needed to be done.

“And we need to cover the hay with the quilts beside them. It’ll make them more comfortable when people sit on them. ”

Matt nodded and immediately went to work, effortlessly lifting hay bales that Lynda had been struggling to drag across the floor. She tried not to notice the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders or the way he positioned the bales so they were perfect for what they needed.

For the next hour, they worked with Carol and Brenda, arranging seating, setting up tables, and helping to organize the auction items.

“So,” Matt said as Lynda covered the final hay bale with a colorful quilt, “Brenda said you’re coming to the fundraiser.”

Lynda nodded. “I was supposed to be on duty at the animal shelter, but another volunteer said they’d look after the animals. Isabel and Kathleen had already bought me a ticket, so it worked out well. Kathleen even convinced Frank and Tommy to come.”

“It should be a good night,” Matt said. He hesitated, then added, “Carol asked me to look after the auction tables, but I’ll have time for a dance or two if you’re interested.”

Lynda’s hands stilled on the quilt. Was Matt asking her to dance? She looked up, trying to read his expression, but Carol called out before she could reply.

“Can you help me with this banner, Matt? It’s too high for me to reach.”

“Be right there,” he called back, then gave Lynda a quick smile. “Duty calls.”

As Matt walked away, Lynda was surprised by how much she was looking forward to dancing with him.

It had been years since she’d danced with anyone.

After the divorce, she’d avoided most social situations where couples were the norm.

But this was Matt. He’d stood beside her as she’d delivered a calf, trudged through ankle-deep mud to rescue a litter of kittens, and made more house calls to sick animals than anyone else she knew.

“Earth to Lynda,” Brenda’s whispered voice broke into her thoughts. “You’re staring.”

Lynda felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I was just thinking about where the rest of the quilts should go.”

Brenda smiled. “You aren’t the only person who’s been distracted. Matt’s been asking everyone if you’re coming to the fundraiser.”

“He has?” Lynda couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.

Brenda nodded. “When Sarah offered to work your shift at the shelter, I thought he’d be happy.”

“It’s probably because we get along so well,” Lynda insisted, busying herself with straightening a quilt that was already perfectly positioned. “It’s always more fun to go somewhere when you know who’ll be there.”

“If you say so.” Brenda shrugged. “All I know is that he smiles more when you’re around. And that didn’t happen much before you arrived in Sapphire Bay.”

Before Lynda could reply, Matt returned from helping Carol. “Banner’s up,” he announced. “What’s next on the list?”

“The centerpieces,” Brenda told him. “Carol wants each table to have a mason jar with a floating candle inside.”

As they walked to the table holding the empty mason jars, Lynda was super-sensitive to Matt standing beside her.

She was caught off guard by the casual brush of his arm against hers as they reached for the same jar, the faint scent of his aftershave, and the way he concentrated on filling each jar with just the right amount of water.

Lynda was grateful when more people arrived to help decorate the barn. The additional volunteers created a welcome buffer, allowing her to collect her thoughts without having to analyze why her heart beat faster whenever Matt was near.

Matt placed a box of candles beside her. “Have you ever been to one of these fundraisers before?”

Lynda shook her head. “This will be my first. We had similar events in Denver, but they were more formal. Most of them were silent auctions in hotel ballrooms, that sort of thing.”

“Our version is a little more rustic,” Matt said with a smile. “But what we lack in glamour, we make up for in heart. Most of the town will be here.”

“It seems that way,” Lynda agreed. “Everyone I’ve met has mentioned coming. It wasn’t so easy to sell tickets to fundraising events in Denver.”

“It’s because we’re doing more than raising money,” Matt explained. “It’s a chance for everyone to catch up with their friends. Plus, there’s something about dancing in a barn that feels timeless. It’s just the mice we have to watch out for.”

The warmth in his voice made Lynda smile. “I’ll make sure I bring a few mousetraps with me.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry. The line dancing should scare away the mouse population. If it doesn’t, the rancher’s resident cats might make an appearance.”

Lynda grinned. His enthusiasm was almost boyish and completely different from the serious, professional mask he usually wore. “You enjoy being part of this town, don’t you?” she asked softly.

Matt nodded. “It’s my home.” He paused, his hands stilling on a mason jar. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”