His Tempest by Candice Poarch Page B

wasn’t like him at all. Instead of getting back into the swing of things, it seemed the older man was sinking deeper into depression.
    â€œNah. You go ahead.”
    â€œWhat’re you doing?” Colin asked.
    George shook his head.
    â€œDid you go over the payroll?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    â€œCan you take care of that for me?” Colin asked. “I’m running a little behind.”
    George shrugged. “Yeah, sure. I’ll get to it.”
    â€œSo, what do you think of Noelle?” Colin came to stand beside George while he munched on his sandwich.
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œNoelle. What did you think of her?”
    â€œReminds me of her grandmother. Seems nice. Good to have the camp opened again. Mackenzie used to work there, you know. Part-time some summers when he was in college. I never understood it. He had enough work to do around here. But he liked teaching the kids. Especially Noelle. I remembered when he taught her to ride. She was afraid of the horses at first. She wasn’t accustomed to being around them in California. Mackenzie thought since her family was from here, she should know. He was really patient. They would ride for hours. For some reason, he was taken by that girl.” George shook his head. “Don’t know why he took such a liking to her. And she followed him around like a little puppy.” George sighed. “Her grandparents were my very good friends, as close as your grandfather. Seems like everybody’s dying off. I just wish Mackenzie’d had children. He was good with them. Wonder why they never…” George sighed again. “I’ll work on the paperwork later.”
    â€œOkay, George. Why don’t you have some lunch?” The older man had lost so much weight in the last few months, he was melting away. “George?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œHave you given thought to maybe attending a grief-support group or seeing someone who could, you know, help you get through this?”
    He continued to gaze out the window. “Will it bring Mackenzie back?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    â€œThen I’m not wasting my time.”
    â€œIt could make the pain more bearable.”
    He offered a sad smile. “Nothing can do that, son. All my friends are gone. And now my son. It’s just…” He walked off.
    Colin didn’t realize Leila had witnessed the exchange until he heard her sniffle. She wiped the tears from her eyes with her apron.
    â€œLord, that poor man has suffered so,” she said.
    â€œI don’t know what to do, Ms. Leila. I wish I could do something, anything.”
    â€œNothing you can do, child. Time will heal.”
    â€œIt’s like he’s given up on life. I have to help him find a reason to go on. And the farm isn’t enough any longer.”
    â€œLord, child, we work our fingers to the bone to make things better for our children.”
    â€œEven though Dr. Mackenzie didn’t work at the farm.”
    â€œIn a sense he did. As a vet, he loved to care for animals. If he’d had children, one of them might have taken after George.” She dabbed at her eyes and sighed. “Well, it’s too late for that now. He was right about that gal. Dr. Mackenzie doted on her. Of all the children at the camp, she was the one he spent most of his time with. Used to let her stay in his office when she was a little one, talk to her about the animals. He was so patient with her. As patient as he was with his animals.” She blew her nose in the tissue. “Lord knows, he was something with those animals. And they knew he was special. It was like he reserved all his patience for them. Did you give her the food?”
    â€œYes, I did, and she sends her thanks.”
    â€œShe always liked clam chowder, even when she was a little thing. And that brother of hers is at an age that he’ll eat enough for four people.”
    Colin chuckled.
    â€œI can’t