Truth and Humility

by J. A. Dennam

  Without pause, Austin slapped the paper down on his desk and rose to his feet. “Now, you don’t have to.”

  End of subject.

  ____________

  What the holy hell am I doing? Danny asked herself as she stood rooted to the pavement in front of the big gate. Fifty yards to her left was the white two-story Colonial-style house that was, as history states, her great-great-great grandfather’s home. The old salvage yard was somewhere behind it, she knew.

  Chimneys on each side, wood lap siding, columns and shutters, pristine landscaping...the place was beautiful. Much more grand than her family’s large-but-modest two-story Cape. While this place had abundant space for a large family, theirhavamily, s had been cramped with three kids to a room at one point.

  But the Cahill home, as well as the twenty wooded acres it rested on, had been off-limits to the Bennett clan for over a century since they’d been kicked out and pushed way south of Springfield. Now, on the north side of Missouri’s third-largest city, completely out of her element, Danny raised a finger and pushed the intercom button. She noticed the security camera above it.

  Well...no turning back now.

  As she contemplated the level of her sanity, she reminded herself why she was there. College.

  In short, she was a Bennett boldly entering Cahill territory in a desperate attempt to pay for a higher education. But, as was her motto, what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Cahills didn’t work. They paid people to do it for them and the odds were in her favor that if she kept her cap low, she’d hide in plain sight with all the other workers. Never lay eyes on a Cahill.

  Besides, she wasn’t here to cause trouble. Far from it. In fact, she despised everything about the feud. She’d lost some good friends because of it and Derek... well, he’d fallen victim to it years ago despite his secret childhood friendship with Austin Cahill.

  Of course, the feud wasn’t the only problem she was facing. There was that little matter of gender. Orientation was bound to be eventful when they found out Dan Connor was a woman. But she didn’t lie on her application, just left a few things out of it; like a handful of letters in her first name, her entire last name and gender. She figured that would come out in the interview, of course. The first step is getting one at all, and she knew it would never happen if the applicant were a woman.

  But imagine her surprise when she was granted the job without an interview. Apparently getting a job was easier than she’d imagined, but this particular job was a dream-come-true rolled into one small classified ad. The pay was unbelievable, it came with full benefits including dental insurance, rooms were available for a reasonable rent, and two meals a day were provided on workdays.

  Room and board? Who the hell did that?

  It just didn’t get any better, and the lure of such promise was too tempting to turn her back on. If she didn’t at least try, she’d have to live with the doubt. And Danny Bennett was no coward. She’d managed to get away with a lot in her lifetime. Like taking one year of on-line engineering courses without her father knowing.

  A shudder ran through her when the thought of their last argument rose to the surface.

  Danielle Bennett, what the hell has gotten into you? Your brothers are perfectly happy working for our family. How dare you apply for college without consulting with me first?

  I did consult with you, Dad. You said I was too busy to go to college, but you just won’t accept the fact I’m tired of tearing things down! I want to build. I want to create.

  We all want things we can’t have, young lady. But you, just like everyone else, have responsibilities here.

  Columbia accepted me. I’ve been granted scholarships. I’m going.

  Her father’s look of rage had scared the pants off of her.

  Then you’ll be doing it without my help.

  That was one week ago. Derek had begged her to stay, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. She’d always looked up to her older brother, was closer to him than anyone else. Hell, she was mentored by him. But she was an adult, twenty-one years old and fully capable of living on her own, making a living outside the family business. She just needed to build a little capital first. She’d already blown her entire savings on the first – and now second – year of on-line courses. The scholarships weren’t enough to cover a quarter of her tuition. Columbia may have to wait a year, but she would be ahead of the game come first semester.

  “You gonna stand out here all morning or are you gonna state your business?”

  Her small frame jumped a foot at the unexpected command coming from beside her. As soon as her heart caught up, her lungs began to function again and she nodded at the middle-aged man addressing her with curious fascination. He looked friendly enough, a rascally gleam to the hazel eyes, thick grey eyebrows, full mustache that hid most of his mouth but curled up slightly past the sides and, she figured, a whole world of experience behind that weathered skin.

  “Oh, hi,” she stammered then straightened her spine a notch. “I’m Danny Connor. Reporting for my first day of work, sir.” She extended her hand, but the man ignored it, instead looked her up and down real slowly. She forced herself not to swallow.

  Tom was having a moment. Normally a polite fellow, he stood there dumbfounded before summoning his manners. A woman. Dan Connor was a goddamned woman, which suddenly explained the deceptive application. It all made sense now.

  But, how would Boss take the news that he hadn’t hired a Bennett after all? His shoulders moved in a silent laugh and he clasped her hand in his own. “Tom Shue, head foreman.”

  Danny, expecting that kind of reaction, was ready for it. The corners of her soft mouth drew up and she shook her head at the ground. “I can handle anything you throw at me, Mr. Shue. You won’t bethau won disappointed. In fact I’ve put in three years as job foreman myself.”

  “S’what you said.” Tom sized her up. This girl seemed solid enough for her small size and something about her demeanor and unwavering eye contact told him she wasn’t just telling the truth, but humble enough about it. Couldn’t be more than 5’ 2”, feminine curves beneath denim clothing that fit well, faded work boots that were just as abused as his, pretty face devoid of make-up, soft brown tendrils curling from beneath a worn ball cap that advertised a popular tool manufacturer. The way she stood with her legs apart, hand in one pocket, and loaded duffle bag flung over one shoulder, he got the feeling she was used to dealing with men. “We don’t offer separate facilities for women. The men here won’t tolerate special treatment and you’ll be expected to take on your fair share.”

  “That’s what I expect, too, sir.”

  She had a nice voice. Tom couldn’t imagine her intimidating many men on a job site if she were in charge, but there was also an unspoken vibe that she’d challenge anyone who doubted her abilities. An undersized girl with something to prove could spice things up a bit, light a fire under the crew…as long as she could handle it.

  “Fair enough. Follow me.”

  There was swagger in that gravelly command, as if the old man expected her to fail. Danny pushed air through her lips, adjusted her ball cap and gave the pillared house one last tentative look as she took her first steps into Cahill territory.

  Chapter 2

  Orientation proved rather painless. Now Danny was faced with meeting her new coworkers for the first time. She was confident in her abilities to win them over eventually, but she was no fool. They wouldn’t make it easy for her.

  Tom led her to the commons room that doubled as a good-sized cafeteria. The grounds were so big, she was certain she’d walked a mile already. The main house was hidden well enough from view from the work site by a wall of manicured shrubbery and tall skinny evergreens. The Cahills, she knew, had office buildings downtown and other off-site facilities, but this one was the oldest. This is where it all started. Her grandfather Bennett used to run this place well over a century ago and she drank in every feature like a history junky.

  As far as she
knew, the last Bennett to step foot in these walls never made it out. But that was over fifty years ago and the feud had become almost dormant… until Derek and Austin Cahill fueled it to life again, that is.

  She had already put her belongings in a small private room and parked her red Jeep in the employee parking lot beside it. It was cozy, she thought, like staying in an old motel with about twenty rooms. Located behind the work site, the strip of rooms was old, but the white paint was fresh and well maintained. The paneled walls on the inside were sturdy, the small plain bathroom was cno lean, plain double bed adequate enough, and it came with a kitchenette. According to Tom it was the last available room. She felt lucky to have it. Everyone was responsible for cleaning their own space. If it wasn’t kept up, they lost it. Danny wasn’t worried. She was pretty good at maintaining her environment.

  The offices, commons room, locker room, community showers and restrooms were in a separate building that was attached to the main house by an enclosed breezeway. The white exterior matched the house and other buildings but it didn’t appear dirty despite it’s adjacent location to the work site. Though she hadn’t yet gotten a good look at the work site, she was certain it was as well maintained as everything else.

  “Breakfast and lunch are provided if you want it, but you’re responsible for any other meals. Breakfast is open at six thirty a.m. and lunch is at noon. If you’re late for meals, you miss out, and if you’re late for work you hit the road. Morning toolbox meetings are held at eight a.m. sharp to cover job assignments and safety plans. Yes, they are mandatory.”

  “Got it,” Danny replied obediently as she removed her cap and shook her silky hair until it cascaded in layered waves to her shoulder blades. Before Tom could close his mouth, she had it bundled in a rubber band at her nape and donned the dark green hard hat she was given. Next, she opened her duffel bag and removed her tool belt, strapped it around a narrow waist. She had foregone the use of the Cahill community tools in favor of her own. She was used to them, trusted them and would never part with them, but expected a lot of flack because of their color.

  “You gotta be kidding me,” Tom said behind her with an incredulous laugh.

  Danny twisted around, met his gaze but never paused as she continued to gear up for work. “Is there something wrong with my tools, Mr. Shue?” she asked with feigned innocence as she wiggled her fingers into dark brown suede work gloves.

  Again Tom was taken aback, though he knew he shouldn’t be. Up until this point, he expected Danny Connor to attempt to blend as much as possible. But not only were the tools around her waist a gaudy bright pink, her work gloves had cutesie little pink embroidered flowers on them. Maybe she wasn’t so smart after all. There were more appropriate venues to express one’s femininity.

  “Better call me Tom,” he responded with a shake of his head. “You’re gonna need as many folks on your side as you can get, little lady.”

  The sparkle in her velvet brown eyes told him she knew what she was up against. It was suddenly apparent to him, she would have a hard enough time keeping the men’s hands off her if she kept looking through those thick sooty lashes the way she was now. Her lips were soft, not overly full, but tantalizing when stretched into a naturally crooked grin.

  Was she even aware that the contrast of her femininity to the tough worker facade was extremely appealing? Had she even looked at the racy calendars gracing the walls of men’s garages around the country? Aaaahh, Tom thought. Probably not. And that would be her biggest challenge in this place, with this crew. Something told him she hadn’tintshe had met up with that particular challenge in the past.

  For the love of God, had he hired a child? Austin paused, the hand-drill went slack in his grip as he caught site of the new member of his crew following Tom onto the yard. If not a child, then Dan Connor-a.k.a.-Bennett, was the smallest man he’d ever laid eyes on. According to his memory, Derek’s brother would be twenty-one. Certainly not a child.

  Eyes narrowed, he scrutinized the scene before him. Austin dropped the drill and hopped down from the trailer that was loaded with electrical cabinets from an old sausage plant. The cabinets could wait. His curiosity could not.

  The closer he got to Dan Connor, Austin was able to make the connection. Dammit all to hell, it was worse than he thought. Was this woman even a Bennett after all? Derek never mentioned a sister, but they didn’t discuss their families after a pact had been made not to.

  Her big brown eyes finally connected with his as he approached, and instantly became wary.

  Oh yeah, he thought to himself with a wave of satisfaction. She’s a Bennett, all right. The resemblance to Derek was evident and he was positive she would easily fall into the trap he’d laid out for her. The Bennetts were an arrogant clan when it came to their superior capabilities in the demolition field. The fact he hadn’t known there was a daughter wasn’t hard to figure. The only time he’d laid eyes on Danny was when she was a child as she ran full speed away from him. She’d had short hair and was roaming the outdoors bare-chested, leading him to assume she was a boy. His gaze lowered to the pair of petite breasts now protruding from beneath the denim work shirt.

  Danny’s mouth downright watered when she saw the handsome shirtless bag of muscles approach her...until she realized he was openly scrutinizing her boobs as if he were sizing up a new addition to his harem. Great, she thought with disappointment, One of those.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t expect to be ogled, but this man projected a look of death one minute, and amused arrogance the next. She immediately deduced that, whoever he was, he would be one of her biggest challenges.

  His thorough gaze rested on her tool belt. “Do I even need to ask, Tom?” the man said, his voice breaking the silence in deep, throaty tones.

  Tom looked worriedly between his boss and the new hire. He hoped Austin would reconsider his plan to humiliate Danny Connor since she obviously wasn’t who they thought she was. “Miss Connor understands the climate here,” he said, careful not to call Austin by name until he’d had a chance to talk privately with him. “She’s willing to consider hermanconside first day a trial run, make sure she can handle herself well enough.”

  Austin instantly hardened as he crossed his arms. “None of these men asked to work in a co-ed environment, Miss Connor. It’s on you to deal with whatever attitude is thrown your way, but don’t expect us to show much respect until you earn it.”

  His heart flipped a little when those brown eyes flashed. It made him think of Derek, how things used to be. The friendship they shared another lifetime ago...years before that Bennett bastard murdered his fiancé.

  “I can handle myself,” Danny responded with a hint of temper. And I can handle you. Her visual message had gotten across because he grinned at her. Once again, she nearly gurgled like a star-struck groupie. He had a commanding presence that was extremely sexy coupled with the good looks. Tall, broad-shouldered, tanned and macho with gorgeous black eyes that regarded her beneath full black eyebrows. A small hooked scar beside the left one kept him from being too pretty, which added to the appeal. How did he get it, she wondered, before her eyes moved down the straight nose and charming laugh-lines. Something about the short, corded necklace he wore enhanced the tough exterior and she imagined that the even-white smile could be quite heartbreaking when he wanted it to be.

  “We’ll see,” he replied, his voice serving up a challenge. “I’ll take it from here, Tom.”

  “Sure thing.” Tom’s retreat was a bit reluctant and unsure.

  Danny noticed, fought the urge to swallow nervously now that she’d been turned over to this brute. Not even an introduction. Was she expected to earn that, too?

  The work site was full of crap and materials gutted from the inside of old factories and office buildings. Anything valuable like copper, stainless steel, electric motors or circuit boards would be separated and recycled, the rest hauled to the dump. So far, she’d only been exposed to the salvage yard and it’s meager crew
, despite the fact she’d applied for – and gotten, she thought – the position with the demolition teams.

  The first whistle blew when the handful of workers noticed her slender curves as she walked by. Production came to a halt. Danny would have been amused, but not as she followed in the wake of Conan the Destroyer. The whistles quickly turned to catcalls, then to blatant attempts to get her attention. The one time she spared a glance, she was met with a lewd gesture of which she promptly answered with one of her own. Her middle finger (backed by an impertinent smile) elicited laughter and “ooooooh’s” and an “Any time, baby!” but she knew their attentions would mellow once they got to know her.

  “Hey look, she brought her dolly’s tools.”

  “You made a wrong turn, sweetheart, Toys-n-More is that way!”

  The teasing comments launched at her rapched atfrom almost every direction rolled off her back with ease. Her tools were some of her most prized possessions and could easily out-screw, out-hammer, and out-drill anything those men carried on their hips. They’d learn that soon enough.

  The man she followed stopped in front of a vintage water tower that flanked the far end of the site. It was a gorgeous structure, the round wooden storage tank resting on a square platform that was decorated with an ornate guardrail. It looked as if it had been built with the house sometime in the 1800’s, but the wood had been treated in order to preserve it against the elements. Obviously, it was no longer in use. A protective chain link fence surrounded it like an old museum piece – a relic from a better time when two families lived as one.

  “We’ll start with something simple.”

  Danny wanted to pinch Conan’s head off.

  Austin sensed her anger and all but fed it. “This water tower has been here since the house was built.”