Page 27

T he next morning Timber hopped out of bed, thankful nothing woke him up last night but still knowing that the day would be crazy.

In fact, it was the start of several crazy days, which, according to Badger, were necessary.

Timber knew it was necessary, but he would have gotten there on his own eventually.

It’s just that the thought of getting some of this work taken off his to-do list, so he could get a start on all the other things that needed to be done, was massive.

As he walked into the kitchen, Dwight was already scrambling a big batch of eggs.

Dwight looked over at him and nodded. “Breakfast in a little bit. Also found a bunch of rotting fish on the driveway outside this morning.”

Timber groaned. “Max, of course.”

Dwight nodded.

“Sorry you had to deal with that.” Timber nodded his thanks. “You know you don’t have to cook, right?”

“I like cooking,” he stated in his brisk way. “Toby’s out feeding Sparky and Danny, but he’ll join me in the kitchen in just a bit. I figured we could make up a bunch of sandwiches for lunchtime, when the big crew gets here later.”

“Good idea,” Timber added, with gratitude. “I was trying to figure out how to handle the food, as the crew grew bigger.”

“Kat dropped off a crap load of food last night, but it won’t last long, not once we start divvying it up by a dozen men or so.

” Dwight turned to point the spatula at Timber.

“And you’re lucky if it’s only a dozen men.

Knowing Badger and Kat and the growing crew that’s at their place, we need to plan on a lot more than just twelve extra mouths to feed.

So we’ve got to be ready. Not just for breakfast but for lunch and dinner, as well. We do need to feed the crew.”

“When Badger told me he was sending over a crew, I didn’t even ask him how many guys he was talking about,” Timber muttered, as he stared out the door.

“Wouldn’t matter,” Dwight replied. “Even if the number started at twelve, by the time they drove over here, another dozen or two could have insisted on coming too.”

Timber frowned at the possibility of thirty or so guys coming to help. He shook his head at the generosity of veterans working for Badger. Timber glanced at the front door. It was wide open, and he could already see Toby coming back from the barn. “You guys have been a godsend.”

“And in a way you’ve been a godsend for us,” Dwight shared. “Don’t ever forget it’s a two-way street. We all know the power of helping each other out because it comes back to help heal us as well. We’re happy to help.”

“Even if it’s not over with Max?”

“Absolutely. However, it would be the best if he never showed his face again,” Dwight noted. “Regardless, I won’t back down from a fight, but I’m not here to look for one.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Timber said, “because, for me, it’ll always be about the animals first.”

“I can see that,” Dwight replied, with a gentle smile. “And you can do a whole lot worse than that lady vet you chased away.”

“I didn’t chase her away,” Timber protested.

“You might as well have,” Dwight grumbled. “I get that it was crappy timing, and I was serious about what I said about Max, but you really should have set up another date with her.”

“That wasn’t exactly a date, and, according to Kat, Tiffany’s coming tonight.”

“Oh, so there we go, even more mouths to feed,” he quipped, pulling on his scraggly beard.

“Yeah, something else I hadn’t thought about,” Timber admitted. “Maybe burgers would be the easiest.”

“Burgers would be easier,” Dwight agreed, “but maybe we should make something else to fill their stomachs too.”

“Like what?” Timber asked, turning to look at him.

“Maybe a potato salad. We’ve got load of spuds,” Dwight muttered. “I can bake them right now, then turn them into a really good potato salad to go with the burgers.”

Timber nodded. “You want to do that, fly at it. I do like to cook, but I am a little bit lost at the idea of cooking for that many people three times a day for… quite a while.”

“I’m not,” Dwight declared. “I’ve got this.” He plated up breakfast for Timber and put it in front of him. “You eat this, and I’ll be out to help you in a few minutes.”

“What will you do that will get you out of the kitchen in a few minutes?”

“I’ll throw forty potatoes in the oven to bake. I’ll handle them later,” he explained. “We’ve got lots of hamburger defrosting for the burgers, but I need to check if we’ve got enough buns. If not, we can text Kat and ask her to bring some.”

“Yeah, that we can do,” Timber agreed.

Dwight frowned. “I can bake bread myself, but I should have started it already, if that were the case.” He shook his head.

“I can bake bread too,” Timber shared, “but I sure can’t produce hamburger buns for a large crowd in twenty minutes.”

“Me neither, not in twenty minutes anyway, but we’ve got a couple hours still,” Dwight pointed out.

“Yet it’s more about where our time is better spent.

So, right now, if Kat can bring buns, that’s a better answer.

” And, with that decided, Dwight called Toby in for breakfast. Dwight hitched a thumb over his shoulder.

“I’ll go wash up those potatoes in the big utility room sink. ” And he was gone.

As Toby arrived, Timber asked him, “Everything okay?”

“Yep, that donkey is quite the character, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, Danny is that.”

“He seems to be getting along just fine with Sparky.”

“That’s good to hear,” Timber replied, with a smile. “Sparky has been a little on the lonely side.”

“I don’t think anybody can be lonely with that donkey around,” Toby declared, laughing. “He’ll be a noisy pain, but a refreshing pain.”

“He’s here and has a home for life, as far as I’m concerned,” Timber declared. “It was Andy’s wife’s pet, making Brian hurting him on purpose even more of an asshole move that hurt his grandfather.”

“Jesus,” Toby muttered, with a headshake. “I sure hope that kid goes into the military, as you suggested.”

“I do too.”

“I don’t know if his grandfather’s got the will to pull it off for him.”

“It’s not even about that,” Timber stated. “I think it’s partly from seeing what the military may have done to his son that has Andy afraid his grandson might come back the same way.”

“And he might. It’s definitely happened before. But that end result can’t be all put on the military. Look at us. None of came back as serial killers.”

“No, we sure didn’t,” Timber confirmed, pushing his hat back and looking out into the distance. “Are you guys okay to stay here for a while? My to-do list isn’t a short one. In fact it just keeps growing, no matter how hard we work.”

Toby looked over at him and nodded. “I’m staying. Something is very healing about being here.” He winced as he moved his arm to grab a plate.

“How are the ribs?” Timber asked.

“I didn’t really expect to have metal in my rib cage at this point in my life, but I guess… it is what it is. We don’t all expect what else is happening around here either.”

“No, we sure don’t. But you take it easy when you need to and don’t injure yourself more.”

“Yeah, not planning on it,” Toby replied. “I’m here to heal, but I have to heal in more than just a physical way. So I’m doing the best I can to heal my soul while I’m here too. You’re lucky that you’ve got this piece of land, Timber. Honestly, I would say it’s pretty special.”

“It is, and I know that Andy was talking about selling off more pieces of it, which is why I’m really hoping to get some more. I just hope he is alive and well enough to see it through.”

“He’s got quite a place here, doesn’t he?” Toby asked.

“He really does, and for the longest time it was a successful working ranch. However, when the family doesn’t want to keep it up, and it’s all left to Andy to handle, then it becomes more of a burden than a joy.

Seems the younger generation just sees dollar signs and wants to sell it, then take the money and run,” Timber explained.

“So, you’re looking to buy more acres?” Toby asked Timber.

Timber nodded. “I’m looking to buy more, if Andy’s willing to sell more.”

“I wouldn’t mind a piece, just a small piece,” Toby noted, “big enough for a little house and a veggie garden, maybe some chickens. I wonder if Andy would be interested in selling parcels like that.”

“He might,” Timber noted. “When we get down to talking about it, I can mention it, if you want.”

Toby smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I would, Timber. Some place a little closer to town, a little closer to the road. And, if you’re looking for somebody long-term to help you run the place, that would suit me to a tee.”

At that, Dwight returned to the kitchen, carrying a bucket of washed potatoes.

“I only heard a part of that, but I could use a piece just big enough to put up a cabin, maybe grow some food. And the same goes if you’re looking for somebody to help out long-term.

I would really like to work just with the animals though.

I’ve got no tolerance for people, but animals?

… Absolutely. Count me in if there comes a time you need full-time help. ”

Timber stared at both of them. “Wow, that’s not what I expected, but I’ll definitely need help.”

“You absolutely will,” Dwight declared, “and, if nothing else, you’ll need somebody to cook. You cannot live on burgers alone.”

“Are you sure?” Timber asked, as he dug into his scrambled eggs. Still, he smelled garlic toast and God-only-knows what else. “Is that bacon?”

“Yeah, it’s bacon. I’ve got it warming in the oven,” Dwight shared. He pulled out a big platter of it and the garlic bread, along with more scrambled eggs. “Let’s eat before Badger’s crew arrives and chaos ensues.”

Toby laughed. “Funny how you think it’ll be all chaos.”

“It will be chaos, but it’ll be a good chaos,” Timber pointed out, with a smile. “So, let’s put our heads together to confirm we’re ready to maximize not only this day but the next few weeks.”

“It’ll be crazy,” Dwight insisted, “but I can’t wait.”

Timber smiled, nodding. “Guys, I can’t thank you enough for all the help and support.”

And, with that, they gathered together and had breakfast.

They had just barely finished breakfast when Timber heard the trucks arriving. He looked over at the two men who had quickly become his friends and asked, “Are you guys ready for this? For building whatever is needed? For cooking for however many men show up? For keeping an eye out for Max?”

“Oh, yeah,” Dwight declared, as he stood up. “When it comes to this shit, I was born ready.”