Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (21 page)

***

“Never seen this kind of house go up before.” Mr. Graysen scratched his head.

“Me neither,” Mr. Riehl hollered from across the building, fourth tier. He and Jacob had been working their way across the back wall.

“I’ll give you the tour, if you like.” It was about the only thing Jo was good at with the stupid broken arm.

Mr. Graysen nodded. “I’d like that. How come it’s u-shaped?”

“We figure on a solar room in the center of the south wall with living spaces protecting it from either side. The living and dining rooms are here on the west side. The window next to Sierra’s dad is in the back entry. Bathroom’s next to it, then the bedrooms down the east wing.” Jo pointed across the U.

He glanced at the old trailer. “Be a bit of a step up for you girls.”

Jo laughed. “Yeah, we’re hoping so, though it’s still not big by modern standards.”

“I see that.” He hefted his hammer. “Not sure if one of these is useful. Can’t much pound nails into bales. What about the roof?” He followed Jo in through the gap for the main door.

“We ordered trusses.” Much against their will, but even they had to be reasonable sometimes. “They’re arriving Monday.”

Mr. Graysen nodded, though it looked like the acknowledgment was for the whole project rather than merely the joists. “They putting them up with a crane?”

“That’s the plan.” Jo only hoped the small crew could keep up. Nothing irritated her more than watching instead of helping.
God, why?
What stupid timing to fall out of Zach’s dumb tree house. She still couldn’t believe it.

“What about utilities? What have you got planned there?”

“We’re going solar on the electrical. Sierra took some classes on wiring at Home Depot. We’ll need to have it inspected before we plaster over it. If solar isn’t enough, we plan to install a windmill next year. We get a stiff breeze down the valley quite a few days of the year.”

“Wind. Yes, we get a lot of that. And sun.” Clearly he was trying to latch onto the parts he understood.

“Folks use too much power in general. We’re trying to make do with less. A sustainable amount.”

He scratched his chin. “That wind you mentioned also brings cold air down the valley. What about heat?”

“Yeah, that trailer doesn’t have much insulation. We only moved in last March, but even then there were days we could feel the wind howling through.” She patted the nearest straw bale. “This is a good insulator, and the house is sited to make the best use of solar heat. We’re figuring on wood backup.”

“You sure you won’t be attracting mice with all that straw?”

Jo shuddered. “We’ll seal both sides, so there will be no way for them to get into the walls.” She could hardly wait for the end of rodents. That would be even better than having room to spread out.

Mr. Graysen’s eyes narrowed. Jo could practically hear his brain gears grinding as he contemplated the building. “Plumbing? I suppose you’re doing something fancy there, too.”

Now that was a sore spot. Jo forced a laugh. “Not fancy, so much. We’re on a spring here with plenty of good water, but we don’t want to waste it, of course.” She’d taken the basic plumbing class at Home Depot before she left Seattle. This was supposed to be her department, and look at her. Like she could do any of it with one hand.

“Of course.” He shook his head, but a glimmer of a grin played around his lips. “Let me guess. Gray water system and a composting toilet?”

By this time they stood in what would become the kitchen. “Yep. How’d you know?”

“Lucky guess. Where are the wet areas?”

“See, the sink will be here, looking out into the dining room. And the bathroom and laundry are right close by. We tried to group everything to save on pipes and labor.”

Mr. Graysen nodded. “Good thinking. Now, this is something I can do. Ever drive past Ed’s Plumbing Shop out on the highway? That was mine, before I retired. They just kept the name.”

Jo stared at him, unable to believe his offer. “You’d do the plumbing?”

He waved his hand. “I’d love to keep my hand in.”

“We’d pay, of course.”

“We’ll see, we’ll see. Now show me your water line. Is it in place yet? Hot water on demand or tank?”

Jo led the way to the back of the trailer where the water line extension would start. She pulled aside the skirting and listened as Mr. Graysen crawled underneath, muttering to himself about the supplies he’d need.

Wow. Huge answer to prayer. Of course, lately most of Jo’s requests had been kind of demanding. She wanted God to snap His fingers and heal her arm. She wanted Him to throttle her mother. She wanted Him to smack Zachary Nemesek upside the head. She wanted Him to take away the longing she felt for the guy. Mostly Jo was disgruntled and taking it out on God as well as the humans in her life.

Maybe her roommates had been uttering the prayer that was currently being answered. She sure hadn’t been. A pang of remorse angled through her. She didn’t even like herself anymore.

Chapter 20

“Thanks for coming with me, son.” Zach’s mother smiled at him as he opened the car door for her in the church parking lot.

He was here under false pretenses. She thought he’d offered to come this morning because God was working in his life. Well, who knew? She might be right. But the real truth was that he hadn’t seen Jo for way too long. He’d been by the nursing home twice last week and hadn’t seen her at all. He couldn’t muster the courage to go over to the trailer — or the new house site — and talk to her there. He’d tried, but his feet wouldn’t take him even though Domino would be more than willing.

He’d parked beside the VW Golf. If Mom noticed, she didn’t say anything. Hey, it was the first empty stall. Zach took a deep breath and tugged his sweater hem straight. He’d even worn dress pants.

“Nemesek!” Gabe’s voice boomed across the lot.

“Hey, man.” Mom might be fooled as to why Zach had come to church, but Gabe wouldn’t be.

Gabe clapped him on the back. “Good to see you. Want to sit with me and Bethany?”

“Maybe.” Why not? His mother had her own routine, her own preferred pew, anyway.

Gabe held the church door for all of them. Zach shot a quick glance around the foyer. Jo! He forced his gaze on past, but Gabe’s elbow had already connected with Zach’s ribs. “Yeah, she’s here.”

Zach focused on his friend. “So how you doing, man?”

A grin played around Gabe’s mouth as he reached behind him and pulled Bethany around. “Pretty decent, all things considered.”

Zach gave Bethany a quick side-hug. “Hey, you. How’s the kiddo?”

“Growing. All is well.” She spread her hands across her belly, revealing her increased bulge.

Gabe slid his arm around his wife and looked down at her, eyes alight with pride. “The twelve-hour shifts are proving nasty, though. Ankles swollen and all.”

“Oh, you.” She shrugged his arm away. “I’ll be fine. It’s way too early to take maternity leave.” Bethany looked up at Zach and batted her eyelashes. “He’s just complaining because all I want to do when I’m home is sit around with my feet up, so he’s doing the cooking and cleaning.”

Her lips still moved but the sound faded away as Jo turned. Sierra caught sight of Zach and grinned, fluttering her fingers. But Jo’s gaze locked onto his with all the force of an electrical surge. He took an involuntary step forward.

“We lost him,” Gabe said with a laugh, but Zach didn’t turn back.

Jo linked arms with Sierra and Claire, all but pulling her friends into the sanctuary. Protecting herself.

Zach could chase her down, but he’d look a fool. That nearly didn’t stop him. After church. He’d talk to her then. Patience was a virtue.

***

Whatever Pastor Ron said during his sermon was lost on Jo. Her mind was imprinted with Zach’s face and the expression when their eyes had locked. Desperation. Regret. Something else she didn’t want to see or acknowledge. If her heart were to heal, she’d need to keep away from him, but that might be difficult until he returned to the city.

Like now after church. He’d looked determined to speak with her, but she couldn’t locate him to avoid him. Leaving the sanctuary was slow going as everyone felt the need to shake hands with the pastor. It seemed rude to dodge between folks and escape. Besides, her friends seemed content to poke through line.

“You should see what these girls are doing out at the farm.” Mr. Graysen’s voice boomed across the foyer, diverting Jo’s attention. “That’s quite a house they have going up. The walls are made of straw bales.”

She strained to see whom he was talking to, but all she could make out was the back of an older man’s head. He was shorter than Mr. Graysen.

“And when the big bad wolf comes along, it’ll blow down.” The man snorted. “That’s not a civilized way to build a house.”

“Mr. Leask?” Sierra whispered from beside Jo’s elbow.

“I think so. He never has anything good to say about anyone.”

She laughed, but without humor. “Especially not one of us. He’s like our archenemy with that feedlot of his.”

Jo felt Zach behind her. Might not have been true, but her pulse always seemed to know which direction he was, like a compass pointed north.

“Hey, girl! How’s the arm?” Bethany hurried over to the girls, dragging Gabe by the hand.

“Getting better.” Jo hoped. Couple weeks down, another month to go. “How are seed sales, Gabe?”

His face brightened and he glanced at Sierra. “Pretty good. Thanks for phoning around, Sierra.”

News to Jo. She looked at her friend, eyebrow quirked.

Sierra shrugged. “I called the list of people signed up for the harvest dinner and reminded them Nature’s Pantry now carried organic seed.”

Gabe grinned. “And they told their neighbors. I mean, that component will never haul my business into the black, but I’ve sold enough to justify the experiment.”

“That’s great.”

Bethany looked past Jo. “Hi, Zach.”

Jo’s heart hiccupped, but she didn’t turn.

“Good morning, Bethany, Gabe.” Zach sounded so serious.

Jo focused on feeling his presence behind her. No turning around. No acknowledging his existence.

“Coming for lunch, man?” Gabe’s gaze passed Jo to Zach.

“Yep. Just as soon as I take Mom home.”

If she and Zach hadn’t had the hamburger fight, would Jo have been included in an invitation like that? Well, the argument had occurred.
 

Zach hadn’t shown any interest in dedicating himself to a sustainable lifestyle like she and her roommates had done. Which was why she wasn’t going to see him anymore. No kissing, no hormonal surges, nothing like that.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and then realized she couldn’t feel Zach behind her any longer even though she hadn’t heard him walk away.
 

Sure enough, a few seconds later she caught sight of him over by the foyer door, talking to Rosemary and Mr. Graysen. Being this in tune with his whereabouts irked her no end.

***

Zach wasn’t leaving this spot by the outside door until he’d talked to Jo. No way, no how. His mother and Mr. Graysen had meandered out to the parking lot, still chatting, but Mom would be ready to go home soon. She’d have to wait.

Jo and her friends still stood with Gabe and Bethany, talking and laughing. Until Jo glanced up and saw Zach. The flush on her face deepened, and she said something to Sierra, who looked over at Zach and nodded. Whatever all that was about.

Then she edged her way across the foyer, eyes averted. A kid dodged out the door just in front of her and she jerked back, dropping her Bible.

Zach sprang in front of her and caught it before it hit the concrete steps. He held it out to her.

Her wide brown eyes stared up at him, blurred with a little moistness. “Thanks.” She clutched the leather book to her chest.

It was all Zach could do not to slide his hands around her back and pull her close, but maybe not with the way her jaw set. Not with the memory of that thwack on the cheek a few weeks back. Not with the memory of the quarrel he’d never been able to explain to his grandmother. His mouth turned dry and his pulse hammered. “Jo? How are you?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a tear squeezed out and began the descent of her right cheek.

He watched it slither down, wanting to wipe it away. “Why tears, Jo?” he asked softly. “Does your arm hurt?”

“I-I’m fine.”

But she didn’t sound it, not with her voice cracking.

Zach’s feet remained rooted to the foyer floor. “I’m sorry I made you angry. Can you forgive me? Can we try again?”

Jo shifted, biting her lip and breaking contact with his eyes.

He forced his hands to drop to his sides.

“Try what again?” she whispered, peering at him through lowered lashes.

Caution flew to the wind. “Try
us
again. I know we have some differences, but can we attempt to work things out?” His heart hammered louder than the truck someone revved in the parking lot.

She hesitated, closing her eyes. After eternity had swung by for the second time, she took a deep breath and met his gaze. “I don’t think so, Zach. There’s no point.”

Zach’s balance wavered. A swarm of bees seemed to encircle his head. “But—”

“The things that are vital to me aren’t to you. Some things can be compromised on.” She hesitated. “And some can’t. I’m sorry.”

He stared into her eyes, aware that other tears followed the first on its journey down her cheek. His gut twisted into a pretzel. “Deny we share an attraction,” he ground out.

Jo swallowed hard and looked away.
 

“Deny it.” Gentler this time.

“I-I can’t.”

Hope soared. “Then why? Look, I get that I keep messing up, but I can’t quite figure out why.” So he’d probably do the same again, all unknowing. “Explain it to me. Teach me. I have a high IQ. I can learn.”

She wavered on her feet. Maybe in her resolve? “Zach, our lives aren’t going the same direction. I’m rooting into the land at Green Acres. You want nothing to do with the farm.”