When Bruce Met Cyn by Lori Foster Page B

husband has passed on. She’s offering a small salary plus a room that was put into the loft of the barn. It’s not fancy accommodations, but it is less costly until you find something better.”
    Bruce looked from one woman to the other. “But…a barn?”
    â€œIt’s finished off,” Julie promised, and handed the piece of paper to Cyn. “She showed it to me the other day, and asked me to spread the word around. You’d have your own bed and bath, but no cooking. I’m afraid you’d have to rely on the local eateries for meals.”
    â€œNo sweat.” Cyn read the address and frowned.
    â€œI don’t know much about horses.”
    â€œMary can teach you. The work is physical, but you look young and healthy.”
    â€œHer ankle is hurt,” Bruce protested.
    â€œIt’s nothing.” Cyn gave him a quelling look that Bruce visibly ignored.
    Julie dismissed their sniping with little notice. “From what Mary told me, the chores won’t take up much of your time.” She shrugged. “You feed the horses twice a day, muck out the barn, throw down new straw, stuff like that.”
    â€œSo I should have plenty of free time to work at another job, too?”
    â€œIf you can work out the hours. I know Mary wouldn’t mind that at all. Unfortunately, there’s not much work opportunity in Visitation. Have you tried the factory?”
    â€œI didn’t know there was one.” Cyn, the paper clutched in her hand, returned her attention to Bruce. “Where is it?”
    â€œWe passed it coming into Visitation, but you were almost asleep then. It’s assembly line work.”
    â€œNo skills needed—right up my alley.” Cyn’s eyes lit with optimism. “It would be too perfect if I could get both jobs.”
    Bryan had never seen anyone so thrilled at the prospect of hard work. Knowing his wife was about to burst, he asked, “Any other ideas, Shay?”
    Shay pounced on the chance to contribute. “As a matter of fact, yes. There are still all kinds of things to be done for the new church, jobs that aren’t part of the contractor’s agreement, but are more than the volunteers can handle. There’s regular cleaning, bookkeeping, lawn maintenance, stuff like that. And I could use help with some of my other projects. There’s—”
    â€œThat’s generous of you,” Cyn interrupted, polite but firm. She pushed back her chair and stood.
    â€œBut I don’t want to impose.”
    â€œYou’d be doing me a favor,” Shay insisted as she, too, came to her feet.
    Bryan could tell by Cyn’s expression—she didn’t believe that.
    â€œI appreciate it, I really do. Still, if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to check out the horse care and the factory first.”
    Shay subsided, but she didn’t look happy about it. “Of course.” She dug a card out of her purse. “Here’s my number, in case either of those don’t work out. You can call me anytime, okay?”
    With some reservations, Cyn accepted the card. “Okay. Thanks again.”
    Bruce let out a big breath. “If you want to check out those places, I’ll take you.”
    â€œNo, that’s—”
    â€œI’ll take you.”
    Bryan raised his eyebrows at his brother’s unusually commanding tone. Wow. He’d never heard Bruce be quite so forceful, especially not with a woman. Cajoling, yes. Sympathetic and gentle, all the time. But not insistent.
    Mutinous, Cyn said, “Fine.”
    â€œGood.”
    Julie looked between the two of them and laughed. “I’ll call Mary and tell her you’re stopping by today. She’ll be thrilled. Now, I’d better be off.” She waved a hand at Bruce when he started to follow her. “No need to walk me out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    With everyone else standing, Bryan scooted back his own