Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (6 page)

Chapter 5

“Don’t you all have something better to do than watch me?” Claire wiped sweat off her forehead with the back of a gloved hand, leaving a smear of dirt. Good thing she had a clue about mechanical stuff, because Jo sure didn’t. Claire had scrounged up a rototiller in working condition at an auction, but running it looked to be crazy slow going.

Sierra and Jo looked at each other. T
hey’d kept busy all morning pruning out the old raspberry canes. Claire was only on the third length of the berry beds, with three more rows to go. To say nothing of the herb garden. And the overgrown vegetable plot. And adding soil amendments for all those and tilling them in, too.

Jo had offered to spell Claire but the handles came almost to her shoulders.

“Never mind.” Claire struggled to turn the tiller around at the end of the row.

Jo shook her head. “This isn’t going to work.”
News flash
.

Claire grunted. “Steve Nemesek might’ve told Sierra he’d be happy to help us, but he’s in the hospital. Not much help there.” She lined the tiller up for its return trip.

“Ah, but he has a son.” Sierra hip-checked Jo. “I bet Zach can drive his dad’s tractor.”

Trust Sierra to bring the guy up. She was just looking for an excuse to see him again. But hey, two could play that game. “Good idea. I’ll go ask him.”

“I’m not needed here. I’ll come with you.” Sierra peeled off her gloves and smacked them together. Clumped dirt flew off.

Jo tried to douse the flare of resentment that shot through her. “Sure, let’s go.”

“You might want to comb your hair.”

Jo had thought of doing just that, but not anymore. “Not trying to impress anyone.” She shrugged. “It’s a work day. I look like I’ve been working. It’s all good.”

Sierra’s mouth twisted slightly. Sure
she’d
want to look her best. Give her five minutes and she’d outshine Jo by a huge magnitude. But right now, Jo didn’t think Sierra looked any cuter than her. Not with the dirt smudged on Sierra’s forehead and cheeks. Jo probably had some, too. “Ready?”

They headed down the driveway. After a minute, Sierra said, “So what’s up with you?”

“With me?”

“Yeah. You seem rather eager to go find Zach.”

“It was your idea.” Jo kicked at a rock. “I thought we wanted to get the garden ready today.”

Sierra sighed. “Nothing more?”

“No, why would there be?” Just because every guy she’d met in the past five years had barely given her a glance before falling hard for Sierra? No reason.

“It’s not like we need to compete, you know. He’s a nice guy, but he’s not staying.”

“Yeah. I know.” Unless he fell in love and changed his mind. Even then it would probably be Sierra he went for. Maybe Jo should encourage her. It wasn’t likely she’d ever find a guy who loved her until Sierra was happily married and out-like-a-watermelon pregnant. Even then, she’d probably be one of those that glowed. No doubt Jo would throw up for nine months and look like a bloated shrew.

Good grief. Where were these thoughts even coming from?
Please, Lord, don’t let this come between us
.

Sierra bumped Jo’s shoulder. “So you’re saying you’re attracted to him?”

“I didn’t say that.” Jo blew a deep breath to release her envy.

“You’re not denying it, either.”

Jo stopped in the middle of the road. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Like you said, he’s back to urban life the minute he’s free to leave. I’m not interested in moving off to the city, even a small one like Coeur d’Alene. Are you?”

Sierra laughed. “Nope. But you never know with the right guy. We need to be open to God’s leading. Step-by-step, right?”

Yeah, step-by-step. Walking down this road was like walking to her doom.

***

“Where’d Domino go?” Zach set the wheelbarrow handles down and turned to his mom, who was on her knees in a flowerbed.

She settled onto her heels and brushed hair off her forehead with the back of a gloved hand. “He was here a minute ago. I got after him for digging. Thought he was with you.”

Zach groaned and whistled for the pup. Sadie and Old Pete loped around the corner of the house and dropped beside Mom.

“Good dogs.” She ruffled their ears. Old Pete closed his eyes, sighing in delight. “That pup is the runningest collie we’ve had on the place. He disappears every time I turn my back.”

“Domino!” No happy yelp greeted him, and no flash of black and white appeared between the trees or outbuildings. The stupid dog. Why couldn’t he be content hanging around when they were outside working in the yard? Domino was only locked in his run when no one was home and even then managed to get out. Otherwise he was with Zach or Mom, often in the house, but he had plenty of exercise, too.

“Like people,” Mom mused. “Always wanting what he doesn’t have.”

Zach shot her an irritated look. True, he didn’t like the farm any more than Domino did, but at least he announced when he was leaving and kept in touch when he was gone, unlike the mutt.

“
Domino!”
he bellowed. Here he’d thought he was making such great progress with the pup. He’d been a wee bit proud Domino responded better to him than Mom, being as she was the expert. Probably wasn’t a good idea to foster the relationship, though. He couldn’t take a dog that size with him to the city. Soon enough the spring farm work would be done and he’d be free to pursue his own life, even if Dad wasn’t quite ready to come home yet. By the time the hay needed cutting later in June, Dad should be up for the task. Zach hoped.

Zach opened his mouth to call again, but thought he heard something. Voices. He cocked his head. Women’s voices and laughter. Coming closer.

Great, he needed somebody witnessing his failure at keeping the dog under control. To say nothing of his grungy farm clothes, now covered with dirt and manure on the knees of his oldest jeans. Doubtless he smelled a treat.

What did it matter? Nothing. The women he’d meet in the city
would be sophisticated and never have to see him looking like a farm boy.

The voices came closer, and Jo and Sierra came around the corner of the house, Domino prancing beside them.

Zach focused on the pup, trying to squelch his flare of frustration. “Domino, come.”

The dog stopped and stared at him just long enough for Zach’s ire to surge. He took a step closer ready to grab the collie by his scruffy neck and clarify who was boss. Domino bounded the remaining few steps.

“Sit.”

The pup’s bottom sank to the ground for an instant.

“Stay.”

Domino flopped over onto his back, twisting and grinning at Zach. This wasn’t precisely sitting, but Zach figured he’d made enough of a scene already. Domino was due for some detention time for his escapade. “I apologize. He vanished a few minutes ago. I’m sorry he bothered you and you had to return him again.” He looked into Jo’s brown eyes, but it was Sierra who responded.

“He wasn’t a problem. Jo and I were on our way over to ask a favor and he ambushed us at the end of your driveway. I don’t think he’d been off your property.”

Some sort of consolation, at least.

Jo knelt beside Domino, who squirmed over onto his belly like a beached seal. “He’s a great pup.” She scratched between his eyes and down his nose until Dom dissolved in a quivering puddle. “Aren’t you?” she all but crooned.

Zach didn’t precisely want a nose scratch, but he could relate to the bliss on the dog’s face. He glanced at Sierra.

Her mouth twitched when their gazes met, and a lively spark of humor danced in her blue eyes.

Zach’s mom clambered to her feet. “Good to see you girls. Would you like a glass of juice and some cookies? Come, sit on the veranda and visit a few minutes.”

“We really shouldn’t,” said Jo at the same time Sierra said, “Sounds lovely, thanks.” Jo shot her friend a look, but Sierra ignored it.

“I’ll just be a moment.” Mom headed to the back door then turned and called for Domino. He leaped up, nearly knocking Jo over. Zach’s reflexes kicked in and he caught her before she landed rear first on the ground. Domino bounded into the house and the screen door smacked shut behind him.

Jo pulled herself away as soon as she’d regained her balance. “Thanks.” But she didn’t look up at him.

“Not every day a girl falls for me.” Zach nearly slapped his hand over his mouth.

Sierra chuckled. “Clever.” She elbowed Jo. “You okay?”

“Yeah, fine.”

Now why had her face turned so red? She couldn’t be — nah. No way would a little gal like her find a guy like him of more than passing interest.

Time to get back in focus. “You had something you wanted to ask?”

“Here we go!” Mom pushed the screen door open with her elbow and carried out a wooden tray with red liquid sparkling in tall glasses. “Come on up to the veranda and make yourselves comfortable.” The screen door slammed against Domino’s nose and he whined, sinking to his belly inside the door. Mom set the tray on the side table.

He’d find out soon enough what the girls had meant to ask. Zach motioned toward the steps. “After you.”

Jo and Sierra went up and sat together on the quilt-draped porch swing. Zach picked up the tray and offered the contents to the girls first, then to his mother before taking the final glass and a handful of cookies to a wicker chair.

Apparently even apple-and-carrot girls ate homemade cookies.

“Mm, this is delicious. What kind of juice is it?” Ice cubes clinked in the glass as Jo turned it.

“We call it raspberry vinegar.” Mom took a sip herself. “I learned how to make it years ago from an old neighbor who lived to be over a hundred before he passed on. Quite simple, and a way to stretch a summer treat year round.”

“Vinegar?” Sierra frowned and peered into her glass. “I wouldn’t have thought you could just drink it.”

“That’s all it is. Raspberries fermented in vinegar, with sugar added. Makes a concentrate that keeps well when canned into quart jars.”

“It’s really refreshing. I suppose a person could use honey?” Jo gave the swing a little push with her foot.

“I don’t see why not.”

Right
. Yet sometime
s Jo seemed so normal. He needed to remember to keep his distance. “You said you’d come over to ask a favor?”

This time Sierra spoke up but her gaze met Mom’s. “When we signed papers on the land, Steve mentioned he’d be willing to till up a garden spot for us.” She held up a hand. “Now, I know he’s sick, and I hope he’s feeling better soon, but I was wondering if you knew someone else who could help out? It’s rather a large area for our little hand tiller.”

Nice of her not to put Zach straight on the spot, but the question was clear enough all the same.

Mom glanced his way. “Yes, I remember the conversation now that you mention it. I’m so sorry, but it completely blanked out of my brain when Zach and I were talking the other night about the spring work here. He’s hooking the rotovator up to the tractor and getting my patch prepared later today.”

Were they going to talk around him the whole time? Zach couldn’t stand it. “Sure, I can do it for you this afternoon.” Might as well go the extra mile. “While I have the machinery going, would you like me to bring over some rotted sheep manure and old hay to work into the garden plot? I’ll be hauling some for ours, too.” He jutted his chin toward the dirt patch.

J
o’s face lit up and she looked right at him. “Oh, that’d be great. What will we owe you?” She had gorgeous eyes, all brown and sparkly.

“Oh, Zach wouldn’t dream of charging,” Mom broke in smoothly. “It’s the neighborly thing to do. We have no shortage of either commodity.”

“But the diesel...” Jo glanced from his mom to Zach.

“The tractor doesn’t use as much as you’d think.” Zach shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

“We’ll accept those terms on one condition.” Sierra leaned forward on the swing. “Stay and have supper with us.”

Did he look like someone who liked tofu? He cast a helpless look at Mom, who smiled warmly at Sierra. “That’s a lovely idea. Not that Zach can’t cook for himself, of course, but I’m going over to my friend Jean’s this evening.”

She was? Zach frowned, trying to remember if she’d mentioned anything before. Then he realized
Jo didn’t look too happy, either, as she leaned over to Sierra and whispered something. That bugged him more than Mom’s obvious matchmaking attempt. “Sure, I’d love to. Sounds like a plan.” If they served him tofu, he
could always raid the fridge for leftovers when he went back to the farmhouse.

***

“You’re such a good puppy,” Jo murmured as Domino squirmed on his back for another belly rub. She’d offered to keep the pup at Green Acres for the afternoon, away from the growling tractor.

Sierra sure had put the moves on, inviting Zach to dinner like that. The sensible side of Jo figured she might as well concede to her friend right now and forget about the guy next door. But there’d been something in his eyes, for a minute on the veranda. Jo might have a chance.

Maybe Sierra would burn supper or something, though that was usually Jo’s department. She’d have to remember to send Rosemary’s casserole dish back with Zach later this evening.

Domino wiggled, reminding Jo he was an ally. It was apparent Zach loved this dog more than a guy who was leaving the farm ought to, but that was a small thread holding Zach to this place.

She turned her back on the pup and grabbed another bucket of blueberry bushes. Why was she letting herself dream, even a little? It was a crazy idea to think Zach might come to care for her. If he did, how would he fit in at Green Acres? Jo couldn’t imagine it.

“I can’t believe Sierra invited Zach over.” Claire rammed her spade deep into the freshly tilled blueberry bed, tilting it forward so Jo could drop a plant into place.

Domino pranced around them, trying to snatch the bushes.

“Me, neither. I guess she’s being neighborly.” No point in filling
Claire in on the competition. She might want to join in. Ridiculous
thought.