“Don’t feel bad, he never mentioned you either.”  Ashley felt a little saddened by the fact.

“Aiden’s weird like that.  When I left it was crazy hard on both of us.  I guess we just didn’t want to talk about what we were missing in each other’s lives.”

“Makes sense, still sucks though.”  Ashley grinned.  She tossed the used sandpaper aside and dusted her hands off.  “I say we make up for lost time.”  Kasey nodded in agreement.  “Let’s start by staining.”  Ashley laughed, dipping her brush in the tray and smearing a line across Kasey’s cheek.

“Niiiice but you know what?  I’ll be the bigger person and let that one slide.”  Kasey grimaced, desperately trying not to laugh.  Ashley did the same.  She nodded knowing all too well that Kasey wouldn’t let it go so easily.

Just as Ashley turned to begin staining the wagon she felt a large splat of gooey liquid hit her forehead.  Kasey smiled impishly; the brush that she had flicked at Ashley was still in her hands dripping with stain.  The short haired brunette shrugged as if not knowing how that had happened.

“So much for letting it slide, huh?”  Ashley wiped the stain from her forehead and giggled.

***

The stain was finally dry and their work was over.  It was now time for the unveiling.  “I’ll go get Chuck and Blanche…You just stay here and uh, I dunno look perdy?”  Kasey stuck her tongue out as Ashley left the barn in search of the Ranch owners.

They had worked hard on the wagon and it was well worth it.  As Blanche and Chuck rounded the corner their eyes lit up and swelled with tears.  Ashley had brilliantly remembered a picture hanging in one their corridors in their home.  The photo was of this wagon in its early years.  The two girls traced out the word ‘Blanche’ on the wagon’s sides just as it had been done in the photo.

“Oh my…”  Blanche couldn’t finish her sentence.  Instead she gripped onto Ashley and hugged her dearly.

Chuck quickly wiped away the moisture and made his way next to the refinished wagon.  His eyes did most of the talking.  Quietly he ran an index across the stain and then over the word that was so carefully and proudly painted in white.

“Mighty fine work ladies.”  He smiled widely.  Kasey extended her hand in hopes of shaking it, not sure with what to do with herself in this situation.  Chuck reached out and pulled her into a hug of her own.  Blanche joined them still teary eyed from the revelation.

“I didn’t know you were going to..”  Ashley stepped in, placing a hand on her arm.  “We wanted to bring Blanche back…exactly the way she was back then.  I hope you like it.”

“We love it Ashley.”  Chuck let go of Kasey and wrapped his arms around the young Davies woman.

“You…this is…Kasey come ‘ere!”  Blanche demanded with a smile, embracing her with all of her strength.

A few moments later, everyone broke off, standing back and admiring the beauty of such an important object.  It took everything in their being to keep Ashley and Kasey from crying as they watched their dear old friends gawk over their work.

Kasey had only met them a few days ago but she knew they held an important place in her heart from this day on.  The expressions on their faces said it all.  The aching muscles and hours of hard work paid off.  Ashley also knew that this moment would forever remain special in her heart; Chuck and Blanche deserved this more than anyone she knew.

Ashley glanced over at Kasey and hip checked her, causing the girl to smile and look over in her direction.  “Spence is gonna love this Ash.”  Here they were, three days until Christmas and they were standing in a barn eyeing a large wooden wagon that they had just refinished.  ‘It doesn’t get any better than this.’  They thought.