Page 32 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

After speaking with Manny and determining where the greatest need was, Sam dispersed the volunteers into three groups. He directed four men to the barn to do some cleanup. There was always a barn dance on Saturday night. And this year would be no different. If they couldn’t get a live band in such short notice, they’d find an amateur disc jockey from the high school to do the honors. Four others were interested in helping Seth and Alicia in harvesting pumpkins and transporting them back to the site of the festival. And the last four volunteers got busy constructing booths for the games. Sam worked with the last group, noting that Manny had disappeared inside the house.

At noontime, Manny stepped onto the porch with Alicia by his side.

“Hi Sam,” Alicia said.

“Hi, how’s it going with the harvest?”

“The guys are doing a great job. Seth’s making sure they’re not working too hard. All of them have been so great. Manny and I just made a big potful of chili for them. There’s coffee, too.”

“So that’s what you’ve been doing in there,” Sam said to Manny.

“It’s the least I can do,” Manny said. “I don’t get around much, but I can put some beans and meat together in a pot. With Alicia’s help, of course.”

“That’s real nice. I think we’ll take you up on the chili.”

Sam rounded up the men and led them into the Messina kitchen. Alicia served up big bowls of chili and the men helped themselves to coffee. Sam sat with Adam on the porch steps finishing up his meal.

“You know, Sam. This was a real good idea you had. Getting the men to come out and use their skills to help out the Messina’s. It’s a win-win. I haven’t seen the guys this animated in a long time.”

“They’ve been a big help.”

“You’ve got good organizational skills. Ever think about using them as a career move?”

Adam asked.

“I’ve been thinking and overthinking my next move. Got a buddy in Dallas who’s in the restaurant business. He’s trying to get me to move there. He claims I’d make a good manager. It’s an option anyway.” One he wasn’t thrilled about.

“Yeah, I get it. Don’t mean to rush you. You have time to figure it out.”

“It feels like I’m starting my life all over, you know?”

“Yeah, I know a lot of men who’ve gone through the same thing. It’ll come to you when it’s right.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

At least for the time being, Sam was comfortable here, living in Last Stand, spending time with his sister and making new friends.

Seeing Autumn every day.

He was only fooling himself thinking that kiss didn’t mean anything. Thinking he could put her out of his mind. It seemed his presence here had more to do with Autumn these days than he wanted to admit. He was looking forward to seeing her when she got home from school today. It wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Yet, he couldn’t wait to see her.

No matter what.

*

After school, Autumnleft the parking lot and drove the twenty minutes it took to get to the farm. She loved these fall days, the October sky clear and picture-perfect blue after a storm. The air was fresh and crisp; the birds back to singing their tunes. She slowed the car as she made her way around the bend leading to the house and was completely baffled seeing men crisscrossing the grounds, too busy to notice her pull up. A few were coming out of the barn chatting, several were constructing booths, pounding nails into wood with their hammers. Ole reliable Gerty was being unloaded in the clearing. Seth stood at the back of the truck handing down pumpkins, the assembly line of four men appearing fast and efficient. Goodness. Where did all these men come from?

Autumn stepped out of her car, watching the scene. It was as if the farm had come alive again. The hustle and bustle of workmen tending the farm from days of old. She scanned over the yard and laid eyes on Sam speaking with a man by the barn. His head snapped up and their eyes met. He dropped what he was doing and sauntered over, a toolbelt slung low on his hips, a ball cap sitting backward on his head. Her breath caught in her throat and she averted her gaze to keep Sam from noticing how much he affected her.

He faced her within seconds, his eyes dancing. “Hi, Autumn. Welcome home.”

“Sam, what is all this?”

“This? This is my plan.”

“Your plan?” She shook her head still a bit confused. “The plan you refused to tell me about. Sam, who are these men?”

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