Page 64 of Traces Of You

Lexi laughed as she looked over at the men helping today. Most of them were from the mill that Reenie had seen before, some others that worked the grounds in the distance.

There was so much going on around them here, and there were still animals and the crops to be cared for.

It was a beehive of activity that had her feeling content as if she lived on a compound.

Stupid too, to think that way, but it was a community and culture more than anything.

She was surrounded by people who shared her work ethic. She wouldn’t go so far as to say she trusted them, not when they were constantly looking into her. But she’d given them enough reasons to be suspicious, so she couldn’t really blame them.

And the only person she trusted was Ford. Even if he went through her stuff, she still trusted him.

She needed someone in her life she could count on.

“Sure, you do that,” Lexi said, waving her hand. “I’m going to ask the real men.”

“Hey, Rod and Pete,” Reenie shouted. “What are your thoughts of the lights? Like this or in a square framing the bar?”

“I like that better,” Rod said. “Lexi’s way was boring.”

“Were you watching us?” she asked. She didn’t like knowing anyone was watching her without her knowledge.

“Rod watches everyone,” Pete said. “He’s always been creepy that way.”

She knew she paled at those words, but Rod pushed Pete, and the two guys shoved each other until they laughed.

“Don’t listen to Pete,” Rod said. “He’s busting my ass because I didn’t say Lexi’s way was best. He’s got a thing for her, but she has a thing for someone else who doesn’t see her the way she wants.”

“That stinks for Pete and her, but I’m only concerned about the lights.”

“I like them that way better too,” Pete said. “See, it has nothing to do with Lexi.”

“We’ll see what Clay says.”

“The guys said they will be here in twenty minutes,” Lexi said, running back in. “The fence is almost done. It looksawesome out there too. I’m going to put a bunch of flowers in the beds. Clay left everything to be planted and said I could go ahead.”

“Do you need help?” Reenie asked.

“I’ve got it,” Lexi said, her voice more curt than normal. Then she seemed to catch herself. “I enjoy playing in the dirt.”

“She’s more a guy than a girl,” Rod said, smiling at her when Lexi was outside.

Reenie moved behind the bar and cleaned up any of the dust that fell when they were hanging the lights. Tables and chairs were moved around and spread out, stools along bars on the walls where people could sit or stand and place their drinks down.

“I like being basic too.”

In her mind, Lexi didn’t look much different than her.

They were both in jeans, a T-shirt, sneakers, their hair pulled back, no makeup on. Lexi had a ball cap on too, but that was about the only difference.

“I’m more of a basic guy myself,” Rod said. “Where are you from? I haven’t seen you around before until you worked here.”

“I’ve traveled a lot,” she said. “I’m going to clean the kitchen and get some things in order there.”

“Where’s Reenie?” she heard thirty minutes later.

“I think in the kitchen,” someone said. “Maybe. Rod was hitting on her and she took off.”

She turned when she heard footsteps. “Hey,” she said to Ford. He was in jeans and a black T-shirt. It wasn’t tucked in, but wasn’t long. Fitted to his body with his large biceps bulging. He’d gotten so much bigger in adulthood.