Page 6 of Branded Mine

Kacey Marker climbed out, all pressed khakis, polished boots, and a smile that looked practiced. “Lila Shaw?”

“That’s me.”

He introduced himself, shook my hand, and glanced toward Ryder. “And you are…?”

“Neighbor,” Ryder answered.

Kacey nodded politely before turning back to me. “If you’ve got a few minutes, I’d love to take a look inside then walk the property, if that’s alright?”

“Of course.”

We started toward the porch, and Ryder stayed behind.

I assumed he’d gone back to replacing the railing until the screen door creaked open behind us a minute later. He stepped inside carrying his toolbox.

“You don’t have to keep working,” I said.

“Already started.”

Kacey laughed awkwardly. “Guess he’s hard to stop.”

Ryder didn’t even look at him, but I didn’t miss the way his brow furrowed.

While Kacey talked about comparable sales and acreage values, I led him through the downstairs. He scribbled notes about the original hardwood floors and the stone fireplace, occasionally asking questions I couldn’t answer.

“The plumbing?” he asked.

“Works.”

“The electrical?”

I hesitated.

“It’s been updated,” Ryder said from the kitchen doorway.

Kacey looked over. “You’ve done work here?”

“A little.”

I shot Ryder a look. “A little?” I asked.

He shrugged one shoulder. “The back door, a couple of windows, and a leaky pipe under the kitchen sink. Odds and ends.”

I narrowed my eyes and huffed out a breath in annoyance. Who in their right mind fixed things in someone else’s house? Not only that but he was using his own money and doing it without permission. It made no damn sense.

The tour continued outside, but I caught Ryder answering more questions than I did.

The roof.

The well.

The fencing.

He knew every detail without having to think about it.

When Kacey finally thanked me and headed back toward his SUV with promises to send paperwork in a few days, I waited until his vehicle disappeared down the drive before turning toward Ryder.

“You could’ve let me answer.”