Page 13 of Lost and Found Cowboy
“It can be.” He slid two of the empty toy bins into the center of the room. “Bet I can fill this bin with toys faster than you can fill that one. I’ll time us and see who can get more in three minutes?”
Max offered him a cautious side eye then grinned. “Do bigger toys count for two points or one?”
Mack loved a good negotiation. “Two, but only if they’re twice as big as a smaller one you put in. And you can count three points if you toss one and land it in the bin, but only if it’s a stuffed animal and nothing that can break.”
The boy’s eyes widened then he leaned down, picked up a stuffed giraffe and chucked it across the room. It hit the side of one of the bins then dropped in. “I’m winning,” he crowed then raced around the room, ignoring the other toys as he flung every stuffed animal he could find toward his bin.
Mack focused on all the other toys, sweeping them into his arms and depositing them into the tubs. It only took a few minutes to clear the floor, and he declared Max the winner without even counting. “Now, let’s tackle these baskets of laundry.”
“Aww.” Max blew a raspberry. “Do all your games include cleaning?”
He laughed. “Tonight they do. Besides, cleaning up can be fun.”
“You’re weird.”
He chuckled again. “Listen, buddy, your sister isn’t feeling well, and your mom is my friend, so I want to help her. Then when she comes home, she can focus on you and Izzy, and she won’t have to worry about this other stuff.”
Max let out another heaving sigh. “Ohhhhh-kay, I’ll help.” He picked a small blue washcloth out of the basket and grinned slyly as he held it up. “How many points do I get for folding this?”
It only took about ten minutes for them to fold the clothes, then Max showed him where everything went, so they got it all put away as well. Mack pulled out the vacuum, promising to read Max three books if he got his pajamas on and brushed his teeth while he swept the floors.
Mack had vacuumed the living room carpet, the throw rugs, and the hardwood floors and was putting the machine back into the closet when Max raced down the stairs, wearing mismatched pajamas and carrying three books. He crouched down to the boy’s level. “Did you brush your teeth really well?”
Max nodded then blew a minty breath in his face.
Three books, two stories, one hug, and a glass of water later, Mack finally got the little boy to bed. Lorna texted to say the nurse had just brought the discharge papers, so he figured he’d have time to tackle the dishes in the sink before they got home.
He’d loaded the dishwasher, washed the pans, lit one of her fancy-smelling candles, and had just finished wiping down the stove and counters when Lorna walked through the door, the car seat looped over her arm with a sleeping Izzy tucked inside.
“How’s she doing?” he asked quietly, taking the car seat from her and gently setting it on the table.
“Better. The Motrin brought her fever down, and she stopped fussing.” Lorna was still wearing his blue flannel shirt, and the sight of her wrapped up in it made him happy.
Her eyes went wide as she looked around the house, and then she flung her arms around Gertie as the older woman walked into the kitchen. “Wow, thank you, Gertie. The house looks amazing. You picked up the toys and folded that dang laundry I’ve been meaning to get to. And you cleaned the kitchenandran the vacuum. You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I didn’t,” Gertie told her. “I didn’t doanyof it.” She glanced over at Mack, who was leaning his hip against the counter and shaking his head at her as if he didn’t need the credit. “But I can guess who did.”
Lorna turned to Mack, her expression one of surprise. “You did all this? The laundry? The vacuuming? The kitchen?”
He shrugged. “Max helped. He showed me where to put the laundry away, and some of his directions seemed questionable,so if you’re missing something, I’d asked him where to find it.” He grinned at his joke then teasingly held his arms out in case she wanted to give him the same kind of hug she’d given Gertie.
But she didn’t run over and throw her arms around him. Instead, she shifted her weight to one foot and frowned. “But why?”
Gertie cleared her throat. “Ahem. I think what she meant to say wasthank you.”
Mack shook his head. “I didn’t do it for the thanks,” he said, then offered her a teasing grin. “Although I’m a little disappointed to not get one of those big hugs…”
“Then why?” she asked again, her expression still wary.
“Because I wanted to help. Izzy was sick and you were worried, and I felt bad that you missed the end of the reception. And because this is what a friend would do.”
Her expression softened. “Thank you.” Her voice came out as a whisper. “I guess I’m just not used to being offered help.”
“Without strings being attached?”he wanted to ask. But kept his mouth shut.
“Well, I think it was awful sweet of you,” Gertie said. “And I’ll take this kind of help any day. In fact, if you’re free tomorrow, you can come over to my house and run the sweeper, and I’ve got some dusting to do, and the lawn could use a mow. And if you get hot, you can feel free to take your shirt off. I won’t mind a bit.” She winked at Mack and offered him a coy, teasing grin.
He laughed. “I’d be happy to help you, Miss Gertie. Any time. But I’m keeping my shirt on.”
