Page 35 of What it Takes
“Sounds good.” The argument inside was escalating, and Sam looked over his shoulder. “I think we’ll be washing and polishing the engine today. Those two need to spend some time in the fresh air.”
“I’m going to get some fresh air myself. The guys are going out on a ride today after lunch and I might meet up with them out there.”
“Good day for it. Things will start getting busy out there Friday night, once people have arrived and checked into their lodging. But they won’t stray far the first night. Saturday and Sunday will be busy, and—oh crap.”
Ben turned, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“I totally forgot about the library thing.”
Hailey Barnett—town librarian and wife of Matt, the game warden—was walking toward them pushing a stroller and with a black Lab and a half-dozen little kids with her.
Sam stepped through the open doors. “Field trip, boys. Look sharp!”
To buy them a few minutes to tuck in their shirts and make sure everything was reasonably well childproofed, Ben wandered down the sidewalk toward them. “Good morning, everybody.”
The kids all shouted it back at him, and Hailey smiled. “How are you, Ben?”
“I’m good, thanks.” They’d met a couple of times, but he hadn’t met their little girl yet. She was in the stroller, kicking her feet while her hand rested on the neck of the dog, who’d sat down next to her as soon as Hailey stopped.
“This is Amelia. She’s nine months old. And that’s Bear.” The dog’s tail thumped.
“Bear is the dog,” one of the boys offered, apparently thinking Ben might be confused.
“Oh, that makes sense. Bear would be a funny name for a pretty little girl.”
“I saw Sam run away, so I guess it’s safe to assume he forgot the fire station is on our list of free field trips for the summer reading program?”
Ben laughed. “I think he just wanted to spit shine the old bell on the engine so it would be shiny for the kids. You guys want to ring the bell, right?”
His question was met with the kind of enthusiasm fire engines tended to bring out in the elementary age, and he smiled. “You know what’s even cooler than a truck with lights and a siren? An ATV with lights and a siren.”
Judging by theoohsound from the kids, it was going to be a fun morning. Not a bad way to pass the time, he thought.
