Chapter Twenty-One
At the beginning of their fourth week of working together, Beth arrived at the farm with coffee and pastries, but Drew was already out in the field, working.
She watched for chances to talk to him throughout the day, but he seemed to purposely make himself scarce. By the time she left that evening, she’d given up and left him a note with questions about the orchard and when they could meet with an expert, something that had been near the top of their list since they’d started.
The following morning, she arrived with Molly and Callie, who’d agreed to help with the Fairwind Farm Market. When she knocked on the side door of the farmhouse, there was no answer, and she could only assume Drew was already outside somewhere. Never mind that up until yesterday he’d always waited to get to work until they touched base in the mornings.
She’d grown to enjoy their little tradition. What had changed?
She pushed the door open. “Why don’t we get started in here?” she said to Molly and Callie, hoping her disappointment didn’t show on her face.
“As long as I get the apple fritter,” Callie said.
Beth set the bag of pastries down on the table and glanced out at the yard. No sign of Drew, only the crew who’d started to wander in from the parking lot.
“I’ve got some creamer in the fridge,” she said. “Let me get it.” She pulled it out and was closing the refrigerator door when something in the trash can caught her eye.
The note she’d left the night before about the orchard.
It had been pulled off the fridge, crumpled up and discarded, like a nuisance. Not that she’d expected him to pin it up to his bulletin board like some keepsake, but seeing it in the trash like that put Beth right back in the conference room at Whitaker Mowers, desperately trying to sound like she knew what she was talking about, that she deserved respect.
She’d been striving to prove that she was more than just Jed Whitaker’s daughter since the day she’d graduated college. She’d known she’d never accomplish everything she was meant to if she wasn’t able to make these people take her seriously.
She brushed the thought away. This wasn’t that. Drew was hardly the staff at her dad’s company, and a crumpled-up note was hardly a brush-off. She knew a brush-off. Being asked to resign from your own father’s company—now that was a brush-off.
“Beth?” Callie’s hand on her shoulder pulled her back to reality.
“Sorry,” she said. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“Well, let’s get to work, then.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of research,” Beth said, sitting down at the table across from them. “There’s a whole community of artists, makers and vintage vendors with huge followings.”
“Duh.” Molly took a bite of one of Callie’s freshly baked apple fritters.
“You knew this?”
“You didn’t?”
Beth frowned.
“You’ve spent way too much time in your office.”
“How’s that going, by the way?” Callie broke a piece off an apple fritter and popped it in her mouth.
“Work?” Beth’s stomach dropped. Can we not talk about work?
“Yeah, how are they handling it with you out here every day?”
Beth met Callie’s eyes. She should’ve told her the truth. Should’ve told Molly. She’d made this whole thing worse. It was humiliating.
“She took a leave,” Molly said. “I’m sure they don’t mind. They’re probably just so happy you’re still on their staff.”
I. Was. Wrong.
The words echoed through Beth’s mind. Why was saying it aloud still so difficult?
“Well, that’s true.” Callie laughed.
Molly smacked her hand down on the table. “So, the Fairwind Farm Market.”
“Right.” Beth opened her laptop. “I didn’t realize these markets could be such a draw. But we have the perfect venue to make this a huge success.”
“I’m starting to realize what I’ve gotten myself into,” Callie said. “I forgot you don’t do anything small.”
That included making mistakes.
Ugh. What was wrong with her? Why did a crumpled-up note in a trash can have this kind of effect on her?
“I think we can really create an event that will put Fairwind back on the map,” she said, forcing the ugly thoughts out of her mind. “That means a whole lot more work than we anticipated.”
“Sounds good to me,” Molly said. “It’s not like we can do much else around here. There’s only so many times I can mow the lawn and you can water your vegetables.”
“I resent that,” Beth said. “If we had time, we could learn to do all this stuff.”
“Oh, I forgot. You’re all ‘I am woman, hear me roar.’” Molly rolled her eyes.
“You forgot that?” Callie asked. “She came out of the womb roaring.”
Molly laughed. “That’s true. Who needs a man? Not my sister! They’ll just get in her way.”
Beth straightened. “That’s not true.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “Beth. Please. Do you know yourself at all?”
She looked away. “We need to talk about this sale. We need to make it the event of the year. I was thinking of asking Dina Larson for some help.”
Both Callie and Molly stopped moving and stared at her, wide-eyed.
“I’m sorry, what?” Callie set her muffin down. “Dina Larson?”
“She was out here last week. Said she’d help with advertising for the farm. I’m sure she’d help with this too.”
“We can’t afford her,” Molly said.
“She said she’d give me the best-friend discount.”
“She’s not your best friend.” Callie sounded defensive.
“I know,” Beth said. “But she offered.”
Callie took a bite, chewed it slowly. “It would probably be good for her, I guess.”
Beth frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I hear things sometimes,” she said. “At work.”
Molly’s eyes darted to Beth, then back to Callie. “And?”
“I heard her husband is leaving her. Her grandma Ginny told my mom.”
Beth’s shoulders slumped at the news. What if Dina hadn’t come out to Fairwind to rub her success in Beth’s face at all? What if she’d simply needed a friend? Beth hadn’t been what she was looking for, she was sure. She’d been far too untrusting to see Dina’s actions as anything other than patronizing.
What if Dina Larson’s perfect life . . . wasn’t?
“I’ll reach out to her,” Beth said. “And I’ll work on a website. Molly, can you reach out to vendors, since you seem to understand the way this world works?”
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll start today.”
“Okay, but I need a list of everyone you contact.”
Molly shot her an exasperated look. “I can do this, Beth. I promise.”
“All right, let’s go outside and map out where we want everything,” Beth said, gathering her notes. “That way, if there’s something we need cleaned or repaired before the day of the event, we can let Drew and the other guys know.”
Saying his name aloud made her feel naked, like it was some sort of admission that she spent more time than she should thinking about him.
The three of them headed out toward the barn, Beth’s uneasiness bubbling inside of her. After their day planting the garden, she’d expected her friendship with Drew to settle into a nice rhythm, but the opposite had happened. She hadn’t thought it was possible, but he’d grown even more withdrawn than before. She didn’t like that he seemed to have any hold over the way she felt, but between the note in the trash and the obvious distance he’d put between them, she could tell something was wrong.
Why did she care? He was her employee, not her boyfriend.
Even the thought of that sent heat to her cheeks.
“How do you get anything done with all these hot guys around all day?” Callie watched as two of Drew’s guys walked out of the main barn.
“Oh, Beth only has eyes for one hot guy,” Molly said.
Beth stopped walking and stared at her sister. “What? No, I don’t.”
Molly waggled her eyebrows in typical kid-sister fashion. “She’s in denial.”
“I am not,” Beth said. A few more of the crew strolled around the property as if they had all the time in the world. “Don’t they know we’re on a really tight deadline?”
“Maybe they’re on break,” Molly said. “They get those.”
They came up to the main barn, and she saw more men sitting around. Laughing. Taking it easy. Perhaps she’d put too much faith in Drew’s ability to manage these men. All this time, she thought he’d insist on them working at his pace—not a snail’s.
Inside, another small group stood in a circle shooting the breeze. Not a single one of them seemed to notice she was there. Shouldn’t they at least pretend to be working, considering she’d be the one who signed their paychecks?
She scanned the barn for Drew, but he was nowhere to be found.
“Unbelievable.”
“Beth, let’s let Drew handle the staff,” Molly said.
“That’s what I thought we were doing,” she said.
She and Molly deserved their respect too, and they clearly didn’t have it. Beth had to prove herself competent, even if she felt anything but.
“Excuse me?” Her voice did nothing to end the chatter. If anything, the volume of their voices increased, swallowing hers up.
“Excuse me?” Louder and with more authority.
Acknowledgment rippled through the group at the same pace the men seemed intent on working. Slow and steady. Eyes finally turned on the three of them.
“Beth, this is a bad idea.”
“Relax, Molly,” she said quietly. “Someone has to show these guys who’s in charge.”
“Does it have to be you?”
“I assume you all know who I am,” Beth said, ignoring her sister. “But if not, let me refresh your memory.” She stood taller, remembering the importance of looking the part. She might be shorter and smaller than every man who now gave her his full attention, but she’d make sure her presence outweighed them by one hundred pounds. At least.
“I’m the one responsible for this farm. I pay the bills. I sign the checks. So when I come out here and find you all sitting around, chatting and laughing like a group of friends on a camping trip, you can imagine it doesn’t sit well with me. In case you missed the memo, guys, we’ve got a deadline. And it’ll be here before we know it. But none of you seem at all interested in working today, so what do you think I should do? Send you all home and find a crew who is actually interested in earning their money?”
Kent Tanner took a step away from the crowd. He still had the same cocky attitude he’d had back in high school; Beth could see it in the way he looked at her now. “Well, look at that, boys. Guess we’ve been told.”
Beth stiffened and reminded herself not to lose her nerve. She should’ve known there would be at least one.
“It’s true what everyone says about you, isn’t it?” Kent took a step in her direction, towering over her. He weighed at least twice as much as she did.
She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes, part of her wishing she’d stayed in the house. “Do you really think I care what anyone around here says about me?”
She did. Did it show?
He smirked, moving in on her. “I heard you’re even more uptight than you were in high school. But then, you always did think you were better than everyone else.”
“Dude, back off.” Molly took a step closer.
Kent didn’t pay attention to her, eyes still locked onto Beth.
“Crying shame you’re so stuck up too. You turned out pretty hot.” He walked around her, eyes full on her in a way that sent a chill straight down her spine.
“Kent, knock it off.” Molly grabbed his arm, but he shook her off.
He leaned in close to Beth so the others couldn’t hear. “Maybe you just need a real man to show you what you’re missing.” He took a strand of her hair and tugged it.
“Tanner!”
Beth turned, still aware of Kent’s unnerving nearness, and saw Drew standing in the doorway.
“Boss.” Kent took a step away, hands on his hips.
Drew looked at Beth, who quickly looked away, embarrassed.
Molly grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Kent.
“Miss Whitaker wanted to know why none of us were at work.” Kent’s glare was full of contempt.
“And you told her that I went to get the dirt and mulch and asked you all to be back at the barn at eleven to help unload, right?” Drew glanced at Beth again.
Was that worry in his eyes?
“Nah, Boss, I was just messing with her.” Kent laughed.
“Messing with her?” Drew glared at him.
“Yeah, we go way back, me and Whitaker.”
“She’s your boss.”
“You’re my boss.”
“Well, she’s my boss, so you do the math.”
“Dude, relax,” Kent said.
Beth, Callie and Molly watched Drew, wide-eyed. The calm, even-keeled cowboy looked a little like he might explode.
“Drew, it’s fine,” Beth said, taking a step toward him.
He held a hand up to warn her not to come any closer, eyes still fixed on Kent. “You can go, Tanner.”
A soft murmur of surprise wound its way around the circle of men.
“You can’t be serious,” Kent scoffed.
Drew walked over to him, fire behind his eyes. “Get out.”
Irritated, Kent shifted his weight, as if unsure of his next move. Finally, he broke his stare, walked off to the side of the barn and picked up his jacket and a lunch box. “Yeah, okay. You all stay here and take orders from the Ice Queen.” He walked toward Beth—stopping right in front of her. Too close. “You happy, Princess?”
She glared up at him, and then, without thinking, Beth hauled off and punched him in the face.
Unlike in the movies, Kent did not fall to the ground. In fact, he barely lost his balance. Beth pulled her hand back and watched, eyes wide, as he covered his nose with his hands, turning away from her.
“You’re crazy!” he shouted, followed by a string of swear words. “What is wrong with you?” He turned back and fixed his glare on her, and she quickly took a step back, grateful when Drew grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him out of the barn.
Molly let out what sounded like an involuntary laugh. “Holy cow! You just punched a guy.”
Beth looked at her hand, which screamed in pain. “I know. It hurt.”
“But it felt good too, right? He deserved it.” Molly held up Beth’s arms like she’d won a boxing match. “In this corner, weighing hardly anything, my sister, Beth Whitaker, the reigning champion of Fairwind Farm.”
Beth pulled her arm away. “Molly, please.”
“What? These guys probably all think you’re totally cool now.”
“These guys have a truck to unload,” Beth said, loud enough for them to hear.
In seconds, the barn emptied.
“I’ll go get you some ice for your hand,” Callie said, running off toward the house.
“I want to help these guys unload,” Molly said. “I’m feeling pumped up after that fistfight.”
Beth watched from inside the barn as Kent’s ratty old truck pulled out of the parking lot, and she tried not to let his insults bother her.
The Ice Queen.
They’d always said she thought she was better than the rest of them. She’d been so intent on getting out of town, they’d said she looked down her nose at everyone who wanted to stay. And maybe they were right. Maybe she had.
And now look at her. She was one of them.
“You okay?” Drew walked toward her, concern on his face. He took her hand and carefully turned it over, brushing her knuckles with his thumb. She grimaced. Punching someone in the face hurt.
“You need ice.” He moved into the empty barn.
“I’m fine.” But even as she said the words, her eyes clouded over, and she begged herself to keep it together at least until she could lock herself in a bathroom.
Drew slipped his hand into hers. “Can you squeeze my fingers?”
She blinked and, to her dismay, a tear fell down her cheek, but she did as she was told and squeezed his hand. Pain shot through her fingers, concentrated around her knuckles.
“They aren’t broken.” Drew kept his voice quiet. “You clocked him pretty good.” He sounded amused. With his free hand, he reached over and wiped the tear from her cheek.
She stiffened at his touch, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he searched her eyes as if still deciding if she was okay.
She took a deep breath and tried not to let her nerves show. It made her mad she’d let Kent get to her. Even madder that she’d let herself cry—even for a moment. No matter what happened, she was stronger than that. “I’ve never punched anybody before.”
“I’d say he was a good first punch.” Drew smiled, then covered her hand with his other one, held it for a minute and, as if he’d come to some unspoken conclusion, let it go.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” she said, the words hard to form around the knot in her throat.
“Anytime.” He said it like he meant it, and his kindness only made the knot bigger.
Her attempt to gain the workers’ respect had backfired in the worst way. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut? She started for the door.
“Beth?”
She stopped but didn’t turn around. The tears were too close. Drew walked toward her—didn’t he know she needed to hide?
He moved around in front of her and stood for a long moment. She kept her eyes down, not wanting him to see her humiliation.
He probably thought she was a frigid ice queen too.
Gently, and careful not to disrupt her swollen hand, Drew reached strong arms around her and pulled her into a safe hug. And while everything within her screamed that she should run the other way, Beth resisted the urge and sank a little deeper into his embrace.
In that moment, her strong façade crumbled, and she realized the burden she’d been carrying around, feeling like this farm restoration was all on her. It was her second chance, and she’d been acting like she was the only one who could make or break it.
But what was it her father used to say? “If you’re going to be strong, you’ve got to learn to ask for help.” Jed Whitaker had said that more than once and in many different ways.
A lesson she’d never really learned.
Standing there in the empty barn, hand in pain and ego bruised, she wondered if Drew could be the first person she asked for help.
He held her until the tears stopped but didn’t say a word. And when she was ready, he knew it and released his hold on her.
But as she walked back to the farmhouse, still aware of his watchful eye, she had a sinking feeling he’d never release his hold on her heart.