The adjudicator hesitated, "Terri-Lee did say you could be a bull dog," he laughed and pulled out a sheaf of papers and a pen, "please sign here, here and here, and initial over there." He waited, "Thank you. Mr Franks, please go ahead with the removal and reconstruction, all damages will be covered by Ms Barnes insurance policy, though our company does require that the rest of that tree be removed in order to renew the policy or this type of damage will not be covered in future." He turned to Maisey, "We'll be in touch if further signatures are required."
"Just like that," Maisey raised an eyebrow.
"Just like that," he responded. "Terri-Lee called me yesterday and told me to be prepared, said you could be like a bull in a china shop when you wanted to be. Glad to have had the warning." He closed his car door and started the engine.
"Does that mean we're headed back now?" Kyle asked.
"You go, Kyle, let Chris know I will be in tomorrow morning to see what other direction is needed, but I'm pretty sure he and Kurt have it figured out and Monica should be all set." Kyle saluted, "Oh! and you stay out of the shop until I'm finished, I've got a special project in there and I'm not ready for you to see it yet."
"Yes boss," he called over his shoulder.
She waited for Kyle to pull away before turning her attention to Brett. "Do you mind showing me around? I really would like to see this place and hear a little about what I was like before the accident."
"Sure," he said, "I'll take you to your favorite place on the whole ranch."
She followed him into the nearest barn and was surprised when he stopped in front of a pen with young cows. She accepted a bottle and watched as the smallest animal pushed toward her. Brett offered some direction and sat back watching. If he allowed himself to, he was sure he could forget that she'd been away for so long and pretend that she had never left. While she was busy he slammed into the office, startling the young animals and slammed his fist into the wall several times.
"That won't help," she said softly, motioning for him to show her his now bloody knuckles. "I am sorry," she told him, cradling his hand over a small sink, "I didn't mean to cause you pain."
Brett inhaled sharply, the frustration evident, "No," he said, "I'm sorry." He forced himself to breath, "Its my fault any of this happened and it is not your fault you can't remember."
"I must have meant a lot to you." She said softly.
"I loved you." Brett told her.
"Did I love you?" She asked.
"I hoped so, but you were so unsure of anything because of your ex you wouldn't trust yourself enough to admit it." He didn't know if he should be telling her any of this, but saying it out loud couldn't be any worse than bottling it up.
She nodded and went back to cleaning his knuckles. "Is it painful?"
"The worst pain I've ever felt." He admitted, holding her gaze and she knew he wasn't talking about her knuckles.
"I should go," she broke their gaze, "Kyle wasn't kidding about my schedule, we're days away from launching and I have a lot to finish before the week is out." She stepped back into the barn, "I'm sorry for your pain. Please let me know if the insurance people need my signature on anything else."
She fled, she couldn't think of any other way to describe it. She didn't wait, she didn't slow down when he called after her, she got back into her little blue sports car and sped out of the driveway. She felt heaviness in her chest and sorrow for the pain she had caused him by coming there. She wished there had been some other way that hadn't involved hurting him. She hadn't considered what her appearance at his doorstep would do to him, she'd just wanted to see what being there would do for her.
She drove all the way back to Medicine Hat and sat in her car, fighting tears. After several minutes she got out, fixing her purple wig in place and calling for Henry. At that moment she realized two things: Henry wasn't with her, and she still had his boots. She looked at the clock and wondered what cowboys usually had for dinner--she was dreading going back but she needed to get Henry. She could send Kyle but that seemed a little cold.
It was after dusk when she pulled into the driveway of the ranch in Blindloss. She wondered why it was called the Bogs. There were a few lights on in the yard, but the house and barn was dark, she wondered if she should have called ahead and then realized she couldn't have, she didn't have his number anymore. She was wondering what to do when her phone rang.
"Terri-Lee, just who I was thinking of."
"Where are you? Kyle said you haven't been back to town yet, are you okay?"
"I got all the way home and realized Henry wasn't with me, I just got back to the ranch but either no one is here or everyone is asleep." she told the lawyer, "I don't have any phone numbers."
"Give me five minutes."
It took less than five minutes for her phone to ring, it was an unfamiliar number, but the voice on the other end was familiar, "I hear you're at my ranch." Brett said.
"I forgot Henry."
"Henry's with me." He told her.
"Where can I meet you to pick him up?" She asked.
"I'm at your...house." He told her. She groaned. "I'll go see Uncle Ned while you drive back to town," he told her, "I'm overdue for a visit."
"Thank you, I shouldn't be long."
"Take all the time you need and watch for wildlife."
The lights of Medicine Hat came into view about an hour later. She was tired of driving and sore: her head hurt and she just wanted to lay down. There were no other vehicles in the parking lot. She let herself into her suite--it was the only space granted occupancy until Thursday. Thursday they were set to take their first of many guests. Pushing out of the boots she dialed the number he'd called from.
"Hullo," he yawned, "you made it into town alright?"
"Yes," she told him, "Are you able to bring Henry home? I don't sleep well without him guarding the door."
She could hear him yawn through the phone, "I'll be over in a few minutes, I'm just a few blocks away." Relief flooded her.
The lights of his truck filled her window and she heard the engine turn off, Brett walked Henry to the door and knocked. Maisey threw open the door and hugged him impulsively before chattering at and patting Henry. "Thank you for bringing him," she told Brett, "I was a little rattled when I left."
"It's okay," Brett told her, "I'm happy to help, but I should head out, it's getting late and I don't want to be driving too late." He yawned.
"If it's not too awkward for you, I have a spare room, you could get some rest first and leave in the morning."
Brett hesitated but he was more tired than he had wanted to admit, "Are you sure you're okay with that?"
She nodded, "No problem at all," she told him and showed him where the spare room was. "I have an early morning myself so I'm going to turn in, but thank you again for bringing Henry home." She closed her bedroom door: "Henry, guard."
He smiled when he heard the whispered command and turned in.
Maisey was gone when he got up in the morning to leave, a note was on the table, 'Thanks again, drive safe, and call me if you need anything.' it read. He was disappointed but he understood, she had a whole life that he was not a part of--she didn't even know him.
Maisey studied the Armory--she hadn't been able to sleep with Brett there in the other room, so she had unpacked and set up the entire store. Henry snored by the doors. She surveyed her work: everything was coming to life--in just a few days they would open their doors to 180 gamers plus families and had fully booked facilities for six months. The most exciting part of the room were the modular tables and the memorial to Kyle's dad--she was anxious to show him what they'd done. Chris had the idea to set up the Dale Morgan Scholarship and Maisey had spoken to the local college to arrange it. A plaque would hang on display under a photo of Dale and Kyle painting miniatures together.
The tables had been sculpted, carved and painted to demonstrate the possibilities but also to be used to demonstrate the game system that she had grasped at during her healing. She admired the armies in the display cabinets: Chris, Kyle and her own armies were displayed around the store. She was most excited about the Armory and hoped that Kyle was able to show as much energy for it in this type of setting as he did at the hospital when he'd shared it with her.