Jake fell into step beside her without a word.
She gestured at the house with a sweeping motion, her tone matter-of-fact. “I’m thinking we tear it down and start fresh. The place is old, and honestly, it’d be easier to just rebuild.” Then, to emphasize her point, “Money is no object.” She walked to the side of the house so he could get a full view of what they were dealing with.
Jake stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he took in the structure. He didn’t follow her immediately. Instead, he stepped back to get a better look at the house. His gaze roamed over the weathered wood, the sagging porch, and the chipped paint, but there was no disdain in his expression. Instead, there was a kind of reverence, like he was seeing something she wasn’t.
“Hold on a minute,” Jake finally said, his voice steady but firm. “Tear it down? That’s a bold move, but I’m not sure it’s the right one.” He walked up to the porch, running a hand along one of the support beams. “This place has good bones, ma’am. Sure, it’s seen better days, but there’s a lot worth saving here.”
Capri crossed her arms again, her skepticism clear. “First of all, drop the ma’am. It’s Capri.” She followed his gaze. “You see something I don’t?” she challenged, tilting her head slightly.
Jake turned to face her, nodding. “Yeah, I do. Look at these joists—they’re solid. They don’t make them like this anymore. And the foundation, from what I can tell, is still strong. This house has character, history. You tear it down, and you lose all that. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about preserving what’s here, what’s real.”
He took a step closer to her, his voice softening. “I get it. You want something new and shiny. But sometimes the best way to move forward is to work with what you’ve got. Fix what’s broken, restore what’s worn, and keep the soul of the place intact.”
Capri felt a flicker of something—was it doubt? Or was it the beginning of conviction? She glanced back at the house, trying to see it through his eyes. The peeling paint and creaking boards no longer seemed like obstacles but challenges; ones that could be met with the right kind of care. She turned back to Jake, her defenses lowering just a fraction.
“You really think it’s worth it?” she asked, her voice quieter now, less certain.
Jake met her gaze, his expression earnest. “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t. This house has a story, and I think it’s one worth continuing.”
She felt a subtle warmth rise in her chest, one she quickly tried to push aside, telling herself it was just the summer heat.
“Fine,” she said, her voice carrying the same firmness she always used to mask uncertainty. “We’ll do this your way.” The words tasted foreign on her tongue—she wasn’t used to conceding, especially not to someone she barely knew. But there was something about Jake Carrington that made her feel like maybe, just this once, letting someone else take the lead might not be the worst idea.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Jake’s mouth, but he didn’t gloat. Instead, he gave a single nod as if acknowledging the weight of her decision. “You won’t regret it,” he said simply.
Capri nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure she believed him. “Let’s hope not,” she replied, trying to regain some of her usual edge. She turned toward the house again, taking in its weathered facade with a fresh perspective. “So, what’s the next step?”
Jake stepped onto the porch beside her, the boards creaking under his weight. “I’ll put together a detailed plan. We’ll need to assess the full structure, get a list of what needs replacing and what can be restored. It’s going to take time and patience, but if we do it right, this place will be something special.”
She listened, catching the undercurrent of passion in his voice. He wasn’t just talking about a construction project that would make him money; this was about creating something meaningful. The subtle attraction she felt earlier simmered quietly in the background, but she shoved it aside, focusing on the task ahead.
“Alright,” she said, more to herself than to him. “Let’s get started.”
They spent the next hour walking through the house, Jake pointing out details she had overlooked—exposed brick behind the drywall, original wood floors beneath the carpet. He spoke with a reverence for the craftsmanship that had gone into building the home, and Capri found herself drawn to his knowledge, his respect for the past.
They walked through every room, discussing possibilities, and mapping out a vision for the house’s future. By the time they wrapped up, Capri found herself unexpectedly absorbed in the project, his passion for the work subtly infectious.
As they finished, Capri stood in the doorway, watching as Jake packed up his pen and notebook, his movements efficient and sure. She realized she was watching him a little too closely and quickly looked away, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and unease settle in her chest.
“We’ll meet again next week,” Jake said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll have the plan ready by then.”
“Next week,” Capri repeated, more to ground herself than anything else. She needed time to process, to figure out why she was so unsettled by this man.
Jake gave her one last nod before heading to his truck. As he drove away, the rumble of the engine fading into the distance, Capri stood on the porch. The house loomed behind her, a silent witness to the change she’d just set in motion. She wasn’t sure where this project would take her, but for the first time in a long while, she felt something other than the weight of loss.
Capri turned back toward the house, her mind swirling with thoughts she wasn’t ready to unpack. Not yet. But as she walked inside, closing the door behind her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, she was on the brink of something new.
14
Reva stood at the edge of the Moose Chapel grounds, taking in the scene as the final touches were added to the vacation bible school setup. The centerpiece of it all was the massive wooden ark, its beams solid and strong, thanks to the direction of Charlie Grace’s father, Clancy Rivers. The old man sat in his wheelchair nearby, a satisfied smile on his face as he watched a few ranch hands finish up the last of the decorations—Charlie Grace’s ex-husband, Gibbs Nichols, among them.
The ark itself was a sight to behold, stretching nearly the length of the chapel, with hand-painted animals peeking out from every window. Colorful streamers in blue, green, and gold fluttered in the breeze, mimicking the flow of water, while pairs of stuffed animals were scattered across the ground, ready to be collected by eager children.
The scene was set against a backdrop of the majestic Teton mountain peaks and a landscape filled with pastel-colored lupines and dotted with sagebrush. The breeze caught the aspen leaves, making them shimmer like silver coins in the sunlight, while the air was rich with the scent of pine and sagebrush. A few hollyhocks sprouting around the church added a touch of deeper color, their tall stalks swaying gently.
Charlie Grace and Lila were busy organizing the craft stations, making sure the paints and brushes were all in place. Capri, on the other hand, hovered near the edge of the gathering, looking a bit out of place. Reva caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Capri, you okay?” Reva asked, walking over.
