Spencer goes in for a quote.

Just on the outskirts of Avonwick was where a local building company, Monaghan Construction, had their yard. Spencer pulled up to the exposed earth parking area outside the main offices. Stepping out of the car Spencer could see a number of large steel sheds that were used for storing building materials as well as a number of trucks and bobcats used for transporting those materials and the construction itself.

Spencer's shoes crunched on the pebbly ground as he made his way over to the door marked Admin. Pulling it open, he heard a bell rattle above his head as he stepped inside. The room was a showroom of sorts that held displays of different types of roofing materials along with a series of portraits of different barns.

The picture was where he went to look at as he heard a voice call out from a back room, “I’m coming!”

Spencer was joined by a lady in her early thirties that had the palest white skin and long flowing brunette hair. She smiled at Spencer and came to introduce her. “Hi, Massie Monaghan. What can I do for you?”

“Spencer Askren. The property I own used to have a barn and I was looking at rebuilding it,” he told Massie.

“Well, that’s something we can definitely help you with. You’ve found the photos of others we’ve done already. My husband will be able to tell you more. He should be here any minute now. I’ll just take a look in the back and see what sort of pamphlets we have.”

While Massie went to look for the sales brochures Spencer was able to cast a keener eye on the photos up on the way. Most were modern looking shed but there were a couple of older style ones that were more what Spencer was interested in. After a few minutes, a ginger-haired solidly built man entered through the front door like Spencer and came and approached him.

“John Monaghan. I see you looking at our barns.”

“Spencer Askren. That’s why I called in today,” he said.

Massie returned with a collection of printed materials then saying, “Ahh good. You’ve meet Spencer.”

Spencer repeated for John’s benefit how his small property used to have a barn and that he wanted to rebuild it.

“What did you want it for?” John asked forming the details in his mine.

“I’d like to keep a horse in it for my daughter as well as all the other stuff,” Spencer explained.

John began showing Spencer through the different styles of barn they could build for him. Spencer had thought to bring the old photo of the original barn to show the Monaghan’s what he had in mind.

“What your looking at it a Gambrell Attic style barn. Very popular in the olden days.” John thinking for a moment then said, “you’re the guy that redid the old farmhouse down from The Carter trail, aren’t you?”

“That’s me,” Spencer confirmed.

“I heard you did a really nice job on the place. I’d love to take a look sometime,” John told Spencer.

“Go right ahead. It’s almost at a point I’m happy with,” Spencer offered.

“You like craft beer Spencer?”

“I do.”

“What’s say I come out Friday afternoon with a couple of six-packs and I can take a look at the site and start work on a quote for you. We can share a brew and I can have a look at the renovations,” John invited, his friendly business skills coming into play.

“That sounds fantastic. One thing though. I’d kind of like to build it myself though.”

“You can. And when it falls down Massie and me can build it again for you,” John said which gave them all a good laugh.

After leaving Monaghan Construction, it was getting towards lunchtime and Spencer was feeling like he could do with a coffee. Calling in at Corner Coffee House, Spencer joined the line to place his order when he saw the long red tresses of Danielle in front of him.

“Danielle,” Spencer said drawing her attention.

“Spencer. You needed a pick me up too?” she said delighted to have run into him again so soon.

“I did. Did you need yours to go or did you want to sit down for a minute?” he asked.

“I can make time for you Spencer,” Danielle said, practically purring the words.

At the counter, Danielle and Spencer gave their order with Spencer pulling out his wallet without giving Danielle the option of paying. Taking a seat to wait, Danielle found herself having butterflies as she sat opposite the handsome Spencer. If only some of the other women could see her here with the very eligible Spencer.

“So, I was thinking more about what you said and I came up with an idea of what to do,” Spencer began.

“That’s fantastic. What is it?” Danielle asked hoping it had something to do with her and late nights.

“I want to build a barn,” Spencer told her.

“A barn?” That wasn’t what Danielle had in mind.

“Yeah on my property. John Monaghan is going to come out Friday afternoon to do me up a quote.”

“You know you really have to show me this farmhouse of yours sometime Spencer,” Danielle said hoping to salvage the situation.

Their coffees were dropped off to them then which gave Spencer a chance to think. “Why don’t I give John a call and see if he can bring his wife Massie out and we can have dinner together. The four of us and Amy of course.”

Danielle’s heart leapt. An invite to dinner at Spencer’s house! That was all she needed. She would do the rest from there. “That sounds lovely, Spencer. I’ll bring some wine,” Danielle told him before he had a chance to take back the offer.