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it. The chain was old and worn and kept jumping off its track. And sometimes it hit a large stone. Then Julio would have to stop and Jack would help dig the stone out.
    Julio took the opportunity to have a little discussion with Jack during one such effort.
    “Tell me again how you know Meg,” Julio asked.
    Jack opted for a version of the truth. “She’s a friend of a friend, someone I knew back in college. When I found myself in need of work and in this part of the world, I looked her up.”
    “She’s a good woman,” Julio said. “I’ve known her since she was a child,” he said, holding his hand low to indicate a height at waist level, “ever since I started working for her papa. She’s kind and generous. Maybe too generous,” he said pointedly.
    Jack stopped digging for a moment and looked Julio in the eye. “Well, I’m thankful for that. There are times in a man’s life when he needs a little generosity.”
    Julio regarded him for a long moment. Then he picked up a shovel and resumed their task.
    When the day ended, they had two trenches dug smooth, ready for the irrigation pipe they would lay tomorrow.
    But when Julio brought the power trencher to the truck for loading, he expressed his concerns. “Meg, this machine needs work. We were lucky to be able to finish the job today.”
    “I know, Julio,” Meg said. “But just now I haven’t got the cash to get it serviced.”
    “I don’t know what to tell you, Meg. We got to get the thing fixed if we want to take on more work.”
    “Let me see what I can do.”
    The power trencher wasn’t the only thing on its last legs. Jack, too, was all in. As he and Julio loaded up the equipment, he could feel Julio’s eyes on him, so he kept his posture ramrod straight and refused to let his fatigue show.
    As soon as they were out of sight of Julio and Manny, Jack allowed himself to slump in the truck. Meg laughed.
    “What?” Jack said.
    “Men,” Meg said. “I saw you and Julio measuring each other up out there. Why do men do that?”
    “Come on, Meg. Julio is as protective of you as an old dog. It was pretty obvious he didn’t want me around. I mean, who was I to you, really? For all he knew, I was some gigolo trying to take advantage of you. I had to work my ass off just to prove him wrong.”
    “Well, you did. And I thank you. Don’t worry. Julio will come around. If you keep working like you did today.”
    “Yeah, if it doesn’t kill me first.”
    Meg laughed again. It was soft and full of mirth. Jack snorted, then pulled his cap over his face and closed his eyes for the rest of the trip.
    When they arrived home, they wrestled the power trencher out of the truck.
    “Meg,” Jack said, “let me take a look at this. I’ve done quite a bit of work on machinery. Maybe I can get it back in running order.”
    “Anything you can do to get these old things running will be such a great help,” Meg said. “And, Jack, I know it’s hard for a proud man to be dependent on someone else, especially a complete stranger. But try, if you can, to make yourself at home while you’re here. There’s beer in the refrigerator and chairs on the deck overlooking the creek. Mi casa es tu casa .
    When she looked at him, her dark eyes were soft with compassion. And he knew he was in trouble. For there was nothing he wanted more at that moment than to lean over and press his lips to hers. Instead, he pulled away and opened the truck door.
    “You’re very kind, Meg. I don’t how I can ever repay you.”
    “Would you stop already? Didn’t you just ‘work your ass off’ all day to repay me? Now go on with you and get yourself a beer.”
    * * *
    Jack grabbed a cold beer and immediately returned to the shed. There was something he needed to do and this was the first chance he had. Being AWOL was a very serious offense, one that he wouldn’t tolerate on his record. He had always prided himself as a man of honor. If he said he would do something, then he did it. If he