Saturday morning dawned bright and warm. It was going to be a perfect day for a barn raising. Finishing dressing, Jimmy went out into the kitchen where Abby was already hard at work preparing last minute foods that would help feed the hungry men who would soon be arriving to help raise the barn that they were needing built on their new homestead. Coming up behind her, Jimmy wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her neck. “Mornin’ darlin’,” he said with a smile. There was nothing more he liked then waking up each day with this woman at his side. Turning her head, Abby gave her husband a quick kiss. “I’ve got some breakfast ready warming on the back of the stove,” she told him as she continued to peel and cut potatoes to cook for potato salad. The last of the hams were in the oven baking and the room smelled heavenly to Jimmy as he grabbed his plate and leaned against the counter eating and talking with Abby. “I think we’ll get a lot done today don’t you? I can’t believe that so many people are supposed to come out here to help with the barn. I’m glad Teaspoon worked things out with one of the riders over at the Rocky Ridge Station to take the run later this afternoon for us. Knowing my luck, I would have been the one to get stuck with it otherwise!” he humphed. Abby laughed. She’d heard of how he always seemed to draw the short straw when it came to runs no one wanted. “Oh, I have a feeling that Teaspoon would have let you off the hook this once…” The plans had been made over a month ago to do the barn raising this day and Teaspoon would have been forfeiting his life if he went and messed things up on them. For some reason the stationmaster didn’t like crossing Abby and she couldn’t imagine why. She’d never gotten short tempered with him or any of the other boys but maybe knowing how Emma could get when mad he may have figured she’d be the same way. Jimmy had just finished the last bite of food on his plate when he heard a wagon and horses arriving. “Looks like the first of our guests are here.” He gave her a quick kiss and went to see who it was. “What’s that I’m smelling?” Cody asked with a goofy look on his face as he sniffed the air as he walked up to the house. “Emma fed us already but that makes me hungry all over again!” he declared rubbing his stomach. Rolling his eyes, Jimmy gave Cody a playful shove away from the door. “Not until you do some work,” he told the blond rider with a laugh. “Abby’s inside already at work,” he told Emma taking a basket from her then helped her down from the wagon. “Would you boys mind taking those other baskets for me inside the house?” she asked grabbing another one from the back before following Jimmy inside. “Oh that smells delicious,” Emma told her sister as she gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Looks like you’ve been busy since I last seen you.” The table and counters were covered with desserts, breads and other delectable foods. “The men will enjoy this for sure,” she offered as she set her bonnet on a peg near the door. “What can I help with?” Emma asked rolling up her sleeves as the riders deposited the baskets they were carrying and headed outside once more with ‘good mornings’ to Abby before they left. As the two women continued working in the house, the men walked over to where the new barn was going to be built. “Looks like you plan on a nice sized barn,” Buck offered looking at the outline of stakes and twine that Jimmy had marked the spot with. *Here comes some more help* Ike told them as several more wagons were spotted down the road and a couple of riders along side spurred their horses faster and arrived ahead of them. As the women headed to the house, the men carried tools over to the site where Jimmy greeted them warmly. “I’d like to thank you on behalf of Abby and myself for coming out today to help us with the barn. We both really appreciate it.” Looking around at all the smiling and joking faces, he called out, “Let’s raise the barn!” Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!