CHAPTER 4
Colt
I am absolutely frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. Of all the negative thoughts I’ve had about Darby McCulhane over the last few weeks, I was not prepared to have every one of them just melt away the first time I met her because she’s so beautiful.
Like she’s a knockout.
A stunningly gorgeous creature.
Definitely not what I’d stereotyped a female agronomist to look like.
She has the most unusual shade of blonde hair I’ve ever seen.
Or is it red?
The early morning rays from the sun coming through the glass door almost make it seem as if her hair is glowing pinkish-gold. Maybe even the color of a ripe peach.
I shake my head and blink my eyes. She stares back at me with eyes the color of a glacial lake, but they aren’t frosty in the slightest. Freckles are spattered over her nose and cheeks.
We just stare at each other. It’s obvious she knows who I am. Just as I surely know who she is.
I had hoped to avoid this confrontation, but I had stopped by the vet clinic when I saw Laken’s truck out front just to see what she was up to. She told me Darby and her daughter would be coming by this morning. The minute I heard that, I made a quick exit strategy just to avoid this very situation. I was not ready to come face to face with the woman who had become somewhat of an enemy to me even though we didn’t know each other at all.
“Why are you two just staring at each other?” a small voice says, and my gaze drops to the little girl standing in front of Darby.
Laken had told me at some point in passing conversation that the kid’s name was Linnie and she looks exactly like her mother. Same strawberry-gold hair, blue eyes, and freckles. Her blue eyes are magnified times ten by the thick glasses she’s wearing. As if on cue, she pushes them up her nose with her index finger.
She’s staring at me with open hostility, which takes me aback, but then she turns to level the same glare at her mom as she waits for an answer to her question.
Her mother doesn’t answer, so I’m prompted to break the silence. “I’m Colt Mancinkus. Laken’s younger brother.”
My gaze goes back to Darby and I can tell by the way her eyes go round in surprise she didn’t actually know who I was. Her cheeks turn red as it dawns on her I might not exactly be happy to meet her. I’m quite sure Jake filled her in on my reaction to her grant application because I sure showed my butt to him the day I confronted him about it.
Before the situation can get any more embarrassing, we’re saved as Laken comes in from the back. Her voice is a combination of surprise and wariness as she takes us all in, just standing there staring at each other in silence. “Oh… Hey… I see y’all have met.”
Darby seems to be frozen in place, probably feeling as uncomfortable as I do. And the best way to alleviate this awkwardness is for me to implement my original exit strategy.
I give a polite nod to Darby. When I do the same to Linnie, she just rolls her eyes at me. “It’s nice to meet you both, but I’ve got to get going.”
I start to walk past the two girls even though Laken calls behind me, “Colt. Don’t go just yet.”
I don’t even bother to turn around and look at my sister. No way in hell I want her to facilitate some kumbaya meeting between Darby and me. I just call over my shoulder as I open the door to walk out, “Sorry, but I’ve got things to do. Catch y’all later.”
Just before the door swings shut behind me, I think I hear Darby say something like, “Take these boxes, Linnie.”
I can imagine her handing off all the Sweet Cakes boxes she had been carrying to her daughter. In my wild imagination it’s so she can follow me out to talk. I make haste toward my truck, which is parallel parked in front of the clinic right behind Laken’s. Escape is close as I open the driver’s door, but I’m stopped by Darby’s voice calling out, “Colt… can you talk for a minute?”
With a sigh, I shut the door and step back onto the sidewalk to face Darby. I grimace over the fact she looks even more beautiful in the sunlight, and I don’t want to have any positive feelings toward this woman right now. It’s easier to be mired in the negativity.
Still, I manage to put a bland yet polite smile on my face. “What’s up?”
She studies me for a moment as if trying to figure out the best approach to take. Darby doesn’t know me at all, only that I’m not happy she applied for the grant. She also knows her family and mine may ultimately be merged at some point if Laken and Jake were to get married. This makes things a little sticky between us.
Finally, she says, “I know you’re angry with me. And I’m sorry for that. Had I known you before I applied for that grant, things might have been different.”
I can’t help raising a skeptical eyebrow. “So now that you know who I am and how important this grant is to my family, are you going to withdraw your application?”
This takes her by surprise. She blinks repeatedly at me while her mouth opens and closes as she tries to answer. I put her on the spot, but I’m genuinely curious as to what her position might now be.
I’m slightly disappointed when she says, “I don’t know. I still don’t know you and why the grant is so important. But I need you to know it’s important to me as well.”
I can’t help but scoff. “Yes, because you need to write a paper about it. I’m sure you must be in a very dire situation.”
She narrows those beautiful eyes at me, which are now very, very frosty. “It may not be dire, but it goes directly to my livelihood. I need this degree in order to provide a good life for my daughter and me.”
I wish she wouldn’t have brought her kid into it because that is actually something that would pull at my heartstrings if I let it. I’ve got to stay focused, though, on the fact my family and our farm is more important than any need that she may have. Before I can tell her that, she asks me, “What exactly would you use the grant for?”
I wasn’t prepared for this question, and I haven’t discussed my plans for a winery with anyone. I think the fear of failure has me hesitant to even voice my plans out loud. Ridiculous, I know, but there it is.
I start to tell her it’s none of her business, but she steps in closer and lowers her voice. Putting a hand on my arm, she says, “I’d be glad to help you with whatever project you have.”
There’s no stopping the sarcastic bubble of a laugh that wells up. “And just how much farming experience do you have?”
I know the answer to this already as Laken had told me enough about Darby McCulhane. She grew up on a commercial farm, which was mostly mechanized production. I doubt she’s ever put her hands in the dirt before.
My surly attitude is not appreciated. Her hand drops from my arm, and she takes a step back while lifting her chin in an aloof manner. She doesn’t reply to my question. “Well, whatever it is you’re doing, I wish you the best of luck. And I wish you luck on the grant as well.”
My jaw locks tight. I can’t wish her luck back because I might jinx myself and not get the grant. And that would be unthinkable.
Darby stares at me for a moment. When she realizes I’m not going to wish her luck back, she understands I’m being a complete jackass. She gives me a curt nod before turning on her heel. A strange sensation bubbles up within me, and I realize I’m being swamped with regret over my manners. My mother raised me better than this. Before I can stop myself, I’m calling out, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a jerk about this.”
Darby whips around to face me, her face awash with surprise, but hesitant to believe my words.
I take a step toward her, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “I just take all of this very personally since it’s my family’s livelihood and has been that way for eight generations.”
Darby’s eyebrows raise upward, and she whistles through her teeth. “Eight generations?”
I nod with a smile. “We were deeded the land from the King of England.”
Darby steps in and tilts her head, lifting her chin slightly. “Seriously… what are you going to use the grant for?”
My eyes cut over to the clinic door as if I expect Laken to be leaning out and eavesdropping. I don’t see her, so I turn back to Darby and decide to let her in on it. “I’d like to plant grapes. I want to open a winery on Mainer Farms.”
There is no mistaking the look of respect on Darby’s face. “Now that sounds like a cool plan. Have you ever grown grapes before?”
I give a shake of my head. “I’ve done a lot of research, and I talked to a man who owns a winery a couple of counties over yesterday. I feel confident I can do it.”
Darby nods in what seems to be agreement in my abilities even though she doesn’t know me from Adam. “Well, I’d be glad to talk about the sciences behind it anytime you want. I’ve actually got a good friend I completed my master’s program with who works at a vineyard out in California if you want me to put you in touch with him.”
This is all kind of weird. Ten minutes ago, this woman was as close to a mortal enemy as I had, and now she’s offering me help on starting a vineyard. Well, not to help but at least to advise. Proves to me Darby McCulhane is good people despite my initial perception about her.
Beautiful and good people. Quite the combination, and it means I can’t stay mad at her.