Susannah's Garden (Blossom Street #3)(31)

“Grady was on the stacker when he keeled over. God only knows what might’ve happened if that guy hadn’t been mowing the lawn.” The office had a small yard with some shrubs and basic flower beds, which required routine maintenance. “Before anyone else realized what was going on, this guy—Dave’s his name—got to Grady.”

“I know Dave Langevin,” Carolyn said casually.

Jim finished the story, succinctly describing what had happened. “He administered CPR until the paramedics arrived. The EMT said Grady would’ve been dead without Dave’s help.”

Carolyn hadn’t seen the landscaping truck in the parking lot. “Has he left? I’d like to thank him.”

“I thought you might, but he said he had some other work that needed to be done today. As soon as he saw that Grady was in good hands, he went back to mowing the lawn and took off shortly afterward.”

Carolyn would seek him out later and thank him. “It sounds like you had an exciting afternoon.”

“We did,” Jim concurred wryly. “But I can live without that kind of excitement.”

Carolyn agreed. “I’ll have Gloria check on Grady so you can let everyone know how he’s doing.” Gloria, her assistant, was about as organized as they come. Her father had drilled into Carolyn the importance of surrounding herself with competent employees, and it was probably the most valuable lesson he’d taught her.

Jim revealed a hint of a smile. “Gloria’s already on it.”

Carolyn should’ve guessed as much.

“Grady might need heart surgery later,” Jim said, “but for now the danger has passed.”

“I’m grateful for that,” she said as she headed toward her car.

“Gloria’s arranged for flowers to be sent and she’s taken care of the insurance stuff.” He gestured toward the office. “She left early to meet Grady’s family at the hospital.”

“Good. I wondered where she’d gone.”

“You can always count on Gloria,” he said warmly. Reverting to a more businesslike tone, he added, “I’ll have an accident report on your desk first thing in the morning.”

“Thanks.” Carolyn turned back, deciding to spend another half hour at the office. Her dinner preparations were under control and her house was clean. “If you see Dave before I do, would you tell him I’d like to talk to him?”

Jim smiled and promised he would.

Carolyn had been walking on air after closing the deal, but this near-disaster had brought her back to earth fast enough. Strolling beside Jim, she’d almost reached the office when he commented, “I’ve seen Dave around and I like his work ethic.”

“I do, too.” She didn’t mention that her yard at the house hadn’t looked this good in years.

“I offered him a job.”

That had been Carolyn’s intention. She was grateful for his quick action in saving Grady’s life; his decisiveness and commitment made him the kind of employee she wanted at the mill. Whatever she invested in training him would be worth it.

“He thanked me for the offer,” Jim continued, “but said he liked his current job just fine. I told him what his starting wage would be and I’m sure it’s more than he’s making now, but he wasn’t interested.”

Carolyn didn’t know whether she should be disappointed or gratified on behalf of her garden. She was pleased with the work he was doing, but surprised that he’d walked away from a job offer that would likely double his income.

She shrugged. “It’s his choice.”

“I think he drifts around a lot,” Jim said. “I asked him where he was from and he told me he’d been living in California, and before that, Arizona and that he picked fruit in Yakima for a season. I’ve met men like him before. They don’t put down roots.”

Carolyn nodded, inhaling deeply. Ponderosa pine and fir scented the afternoon air. As a child, she’d loved the smell of her father’s clothes. Now her own shirts carried the same woodsy fragrance. To her, it was more enticing than the most exotic perfume.

They turned the corner just as the whistle blew. All around her the crew shut down their machines and, within moments, the buildings and yards emptied as men sauntered past, their black lunch boxes in hand. She enjoyed the sound of their talk and laughter, and the fact that they acknowledged her with nods or waves.

Carolyn ended up staying for an extra hour. She finished reading through her e-mail, checked on Grady’s condition—which was improving—and then closed her computer before going home.

As she made her way down the long driveway, she noticed the landscaping truck parked outside her house. The bed was loaded with beauty bark, which Dave Langevin had begun spreading over her flower beds. Carolyn was pleased to see him.

She parked in the garage, then stepped out of her vehicle and walked toward him.

Dave was a middle-aged man with dark hair, callused hands and deep-set dark eyes. He wore nondescript work clothes and a big straw hat that shaded his face. As she drew closer, he thrust his shovel into the earth and leaned against the handle.

“I didn’t realize you’d be here,” she said.

He wiped the back of one hand across his brow. “Your housekeeper said you were having dinner guests, and I wanted to get this beauty bark spread before they arrived.”