Holden's Heart

by Jayna Morrow

“Hello.”

  “Looks like I’m gonna need you to step in and help Irelynn at the dairy after all.”

  So much for relaxing in Sweet Home while keeping a discreet eye on everything from a distance. Now he’d have to get his hands dirty and come home smelling like cattle. Working with Irelynn wouldn’t be unpleasant at all. He smiled at the thought. He’d seen a lot of pretty girls in his lifetime, but she was prettier than most. “What’s going on?”

  “My top supervisor is out with pneumonia, so I need you to step in until he returns. If he returns before I do.”

  “First, I rescued your kid, now I’m running your dairy. Hope you know how much I love you, brother.”

  “Very funny.”

  “I’m picking. You know I would have been more than happy to look after Slade for you. Keeping him with you was the best choice though.” He glanced down at his running clothes. He’d need to shower and change first. “I can be there in less than an hour.”

  ~*~

  Irelynn glanced up as Holden sauntered through the front door holding the largest cup of coffee she’d ever seen. “Visiting the dairy is an item on your vacation to-do list?”

  “My vacation was cut short.”

  “Really? How so?”

  “Illness. Pneumonia.”

  Irelynn frowned and then gestured to the cup of coffee. “You don’t look like someone suffering from pneumonia. Are morning runs and coffee some new therapy I haven’t heard about?”

  Holden held his coffee cup to his lips, blowing before taking the tiniest sip. He winced at the temperature. “Still too hot.” He turned the cup around, so she could see the label. Jolly Joe’s, it read. “You ever get coffee from this place?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “It’s phenomenal. I had some yesterday evening when I arrived. Closest thing to a civilized coffee place I’ll find in this town, I’m sure. They call this a ‘Loco Mocha Latte.’ Do you like chocolate?”

  She should say no. “Yes.”

  He walked over to the counter and set his cup down. Then he pulled two foam cups off the coffee service cart. Carefully, he divided his coffee between the two smaller cups and offered one to her.

  “I’m sorry, but I shouldn’t be drinking after you since you have pneumonia. Thanks anyway.”

  His eyebrows drew together. “I don’t have pneumonia.”

  Now her eyebrows rose. “But you said you have pneumonia.”

  “No, I said illness cut my vacation short. Not my illness, though. I’m healthy. Now drink up.”

  Ooh, that smile again. Realization struck. Randy’s illness caused his vacation to be cut short. But that would mean...

  “Sounds like we have a lot of work to do. What do you need me to do first?”

  This would be an interesting two weeks. “Gabriel sent you to help me? Do you know anything about the dairy?”

  “I know more about coffee than I do about cows, but I used to work here...briefly...when I was a teenager.”

  This was not the rescue she’d hoped for at all. She sat down. “That was like ten years ago.”

  “Pretty much,” he admitted. “But—”

  “Lemme guess, you think it’s like riding a bike and it will come back to you.” She started taking deep, slow breaths to remain calm. She closed her eyes and prayed for patience. “This place has changed so much, even in the past six years since I’ve come on board, that you wouldn’t recognize it.”

  He breathed in deeply, nostrils flaring. “It smells the same.”

  Did Gabriel expect her to do her own job, plus his, while training Holden to do Randy’s job? Her body temperature rose. She was thinking of those negative thoughts that Gabriel didn’t want her to think anymore. In fact, she was having a full-on moment. Some people craved chocolate or caffeine or sugar. She craved solitude in these moments. She very much wanted to retreat to her office, shut the door, and disappear for a while.

  But she couldn’t.

  Instead, she had a business to run, employees to manage, and property to oversee. She had to pull herself together. “Something stinks all right.” She shouldn’t have said that. “I’m sorry. What I meant was—what do you remember how to do?”

  5

  Oops. Holden’s nonchalant attitude had upset her.

  Irelynn had no idea how adorable she was right now, all flustered, stressed, and with her head resting in a nest of shaking fingers.

  But he couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth yet. He had to pretend he didn’t have a clue for a little longer. From what Gabriel had told him about her, she needed the challenge. And she needed to relax. It had been a long time since he’d dirtied his hands in the family business. If he played his cards right, they both might learn something. He reached out and patted her shoulder. “What is Randy’s job?” There wasn’t a job at the dairy he couldn’t do. He’d ease into things, so Irelynn wouldn’t catch on too quickly. “Come on, let’s make rounds and you can tell me about it.”

  “I need to make rounds anyway, so I think that’s a solid plan.” She stood. “I have Randy’s list of duties here. Read over it while I drive.”

  He scanned the pages, even though he knew the contents. “Whoa, it looks as if Randy is responsible for the entire farm operation.” He snapped the folder shut. Deep concern marked her beautiful face. “Am I right?”

  “Not entirely. Well, Gabriel and I work with him to complete everything on that list.”

  “Forgive me for saying this, but you don’t strike me as the type to be...” He opened the file to quote from the page. “...handling pasture management or operating a feed truck.”

  “No. Randy and Gabriel handle everything outside. I’m more of a...” She pointed to another item on the list. “...record keeping, processing, and coordinating farm data type. Which Randy and Gabriel dislike. That’s how I ended up in the loop in the first place.”

  “What did you do before you joined the management loop?”

  She turned and walked away.

  He followed. “Please tell me he didn’t start you out mucking stalls.”

  “It wouldn’t be beneath me if he ever needed it done, but no. I started out as his secretary. Is that unfair?”

  “A strange question.”

  They reached the end of the catwalk and descended a steep set of stairs that led outside. A red off-road vehicle with muddy tires and hay in the floorboards was parked nearby. Now, this was a step up from the ragged golf cart they used to ride around in. Today would be a great day.

  “Some of the men have worked here much longer than me, and have worked their way up from positions that require a lot of physical labor. Some have expressed their unhappiness with Gabriel’s decision to promote a paper pusher like me over them.”

  The concern in her big, blue eyes captured his heart. The emotional play made him want to wrap his arms around her and hold her until the fear and worry subsided. She was beautiful in this vulnerable state.

  She had no idea how corporate business worked. Or maybe she did but was too much of a softy to accept that commerce didn’t always follow the golden rule. It made sense to him. He’d had to make a few decisions like that with his own company.

  “Gabriel described you as irreplaceable. And he trusts you. It’s not unfair that his most valuable employee, whom he trusts with all his business and personal affairs, gets promoted to...” He scratched his left eyebrow. “What’s your position exactly?”

  “For the most part, Executive Administrative Assistant to the CEO of Hearth’s Dairy Farms. On occasion, Rotary Milking Parlor Floor Manager. On certain days of the week and month, I’m a personal assistant to the veterinarian, hoof trimmer, and nutritionist. That’ll be a good job for you this week. And since my role for the next two weeks is Dairy Manager, and you’re my Assistant Dairy Manager, I can relinquish that task to you.” A bit of sparkle danced in her eyes now, giving him the impression that she liked the idea of bossing him around. It fit with his assessment of her thus far that she panick
ed when overwhelmed and on her own, but she seemed to enjoy taking charge when she had someone to depend on.

  He liked this side of her. “I’m a quick learner. I’m sure I’ll catch on. If memory serves, that job includes following them around, assisting if they need help, and keeping records.”

  She forced a slight smile.

  “Of course, things have changed a lot since I last worked here. It won’t be easy. You and I have a challenging road ahead of us...”

  The smile wavered, her breathing slowed, and she closed her eyes momentarily.

  Was she meditating? Praying? He was getting to her. Good. He slid the folder from her fingers, opened it up, and glanced at the list of instructions Gabriel had left her. His eyes widened at the overwhelming amount of items. Some things had changed at the dairy. “I know what needs to be accomplished. The question is—will I be a help or a hindrance?” He was only adding to her frustrating day. He might regret it, but he had to try to get this amazing woman to have confidence in her own abilities.

  “I want to believe you’ll be a help.” She retrieved the file folder, sliding it back until her fingers skimmed his, a light brushing that radiated all the way up his arm. If it affected her in the same way, he couldn’t tell.

  She flipped open the folder and ran a finger down the page. “The veterinarian is coming tomorrow. The hoof trimmer on Friday.” She closed the folder. “The nutritionist isn’t coming until the end of the month, so you won’t be here for that.”

  He took a moment to look over her lovely face. The barest hint of make-up let her natural beauty shine through. Blue eyes, the color of the ocean in Cozumel, beckoned to him. The only time he ever felt this way was when he was lying on a beach. The warm sun, the sugary sand, and the salty waves lapping at the shore—it added up to the most serene and relaxing vacation he’d ever taken. The feeling returned every time his gaze caught hers.

  “Randy will be well enough to return in a week. Maybe two, but Gabriel will be back by then.” He already knew what she was thinking. “All you have to do is the work of three full-time employees. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”

  “Since I have to re-train you, you’re looking more like a hindrance at this point.”

  “So I don’t remember how things work around here…that isn’t a reason to panic. Gabriel wouldn’t have called me in if he didn’t feel I’d be a help to you.” He tried his best to shake her up without laughing. “But I can see your frustration. If you’d rather move someone else up and let me handle a lower-level position, then I’ll understand.” He had to give her the chance to make this decision on her own. “But I’d like nothing more than the opportunity to prove my worth to you.”

  “Stop talking. Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”

  “I’m only trying to help.”

  “Well, you’re making things worse.”

  He pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “OK.” He nodded. “I’m the owner’s little brother, but I didn’t want you to feel as though you had to put your trust in me.”

  “I put my trust in the good Lord.” She climbed into the driver’s seat. He followed suit in the passenger’s side. “The next week or so won’t be easy. In spite of what your big brother thinks, I’m not the right person for this responsibility. When I heard help was on the way...” Her voice trailed off.

  “What?”

  “Never mind.”

  He focused on his surroundings instead of those ocean orbs. “Sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For talking too much and making things worse.”

  She stopped in front of one of the barns.

  “What do you want me to do first?”

  “First things first—morning rounds.” Something menacing clouded the crystal blue waters of her eyes. “Go through the checklist and call me on my cell if you need any help. There’s another vehicle parked around the side of this building. I’ll be attending to delivery coordination and paperwork. Report back to me when you’re done.”

  And then it hit him. She was getting rid of him, pushing her workload out the door so she could retreat to her office sanctuary. “So you’re gonna leave me to figure things out?” Her genuine raw emotion wasn’t hard to read. He admired that she didn’t hide her feelings. And he wanted to get to know her better. He’d have to figure out a way to rectify this situation. What started out as business was fast becoming personal. “OK, then, I’ll take this checklist and get started. I’ve got my work cut out for me.” He flashed a smile before walking away.

  The faintest hint of a flush swept her face. He’d unnerved her. Good for the spirit. Everyone could use a little unnerving every once in a while. Himself included. She’d tied him into knots with one look.

  Rounds were much the same as he remembered. He checked data to make sure it had been filled out correctly and made some notes on his own paperwork. At the top of the clipboard, Irelynn’s and Gabriel’s cell phone numbers were posted. He pulled out his phone and called Irelynn. She answered on the first ring.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. Just a quick question.”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  The dairy was more organized compared to when he’d worked here years ago. His father had run his business in a simple, efficient, and effective manner. But Gabriel had done more.

  “One, two, three…three separate forms on this clipboard that are wanting similar information. Is there a reason why these forms haven’t been streamlined into one simple form?” He flipped through the forms to double check. From what he could tell, there were only a couple of pieces of information that were different on each sheet.

  “They end up in three separate files, and it saves time in the long run from having to toggle back and forth between the files to pull information if needed.”

  “I’m not trying to criticize your system, but it would be easier to combine these.” Ruffling feathers was his specialty. This week, he planned on giving her the full treatment.

  “Already the expert, huh?” Her chair creaked in the background. He imagined she was back in her office by now. “Is there anything else you need, Holden?”

  “I’m confused. If the information is on one sheet, why would you need to toggle back and forth?”

  “Follow the game plan and leave the organizing to me. This entire dairy is set up the way I like it, so it runs like a well-oiled machine.”

  He remained quiet, giving her time to vent.

  “Besides, your brother doesn’t have a problem with the way things are.”

  “I’m sure you know what’s best. Well, I’m off to the next stop.”

  The next stop was the birthing barn to collect data and go over the day’s happenings. He checked the order of stops and spotted the location on the opposite side of the grounds. When had the rounds turned into the crazy-eights? Holden pressed redial on his phone. Irelynn answered on the second ring.

  “Yes?” Hesitancy laced her voice.

  “Fuel costs a lot of money these days. What is the purpose of zigzagging all over the grounds instead of making a true circle?” He liked to push and prod until he could wrap his head around the situation. It had paid off in his business. The same applied to his dealings with people. Irelynn would be no exception. He wanted to pick her apart to see what made her tick, test the inner workings of her mind. He was determined to gain an understanding of the very pretty and very complicated Irelynn Rafferty.

  “You’re supposed to be making rounds. Why are you analyzing dairy efficiency?”

  “Technically, I’m making zigzags. And I’m in the process, so don’t worry. But rounds at the dairy used to be, well, round in shape. Each building was visited in order in a clockwise motion. Counterclockwise on holidays and whenever there was a full moon. It was tradition. What happened?” Holden covered the end of his cell phone and stomped his foot several times in the dirt to keep from busting out laughing. Ridiculous, but he couldn’t resist.


  “I have never heard of such a silly thing. The order of stops changed several years back to coordinate better with the schedules of each sector of the dairy. Each has its own schedule and order of operations. With the old rounds schedule, Gabriel or I would arrive at times when there was no new data to collect yet. Then when we came back around, there would be an enormous amount of data. It depended on what was happening. So I sat down and coordinated our visits, so data is collected promptly. As a humane dairy, our record keeping efforts are essential. We have to keep track of everything that happens to the cows at every level. Surely, you can understand that.”

  Put that way, he could understand it, but this wasn’t the best solution. At least two other scenarios came to mind that would work better. Admittedly, this new method was better than the old one. The reasoning behind it made sense, too. Hearth Dairy had always been committed to the health and safety of the cows. “That does make sense, but there are some flaws.” He’d need to think more on this. “I’ll work out the details and—”

  “I don’t want you to work out the details. The system is fine. I want you to do your job.”

  “But—”

  “Mr. Hearth—”

  “Mr. Hearth is my brother. This is Holden you’re talking to, remember?”

  “Sorry, but you are just as tough to deal with as Gabriel. And y’all sound the same. I forgot who I was talking to.” She sucked in a deep breath and then let it out. “Holden, if you could stick to the checklist and report back to me when you’re done, I’d appreciate it.”

  So this was her tactic now—kill him with kindness?

  “Of course. I was only trying to help.”

  “Yeah, not the kind of help I need right now.”

  He rolled his eyes as if she could see it through the phone.

  “Thank you.”

  The sugar in her voice could have given him a toothache.

  “Now, then, I’ve got to get back to a ton of other things on my end. Call if you need help.” She stressed the word help.

  No wonder she’d managed to work her way to second-in-command in a few short years. Her ability to work with a difficult personality like Gabriel and solve management problems that helped the business made her invaluable. He’d been around her less than an hour, and already she’d made an impression on him. Not only was she beautiful in an elegant and earthy way, but she was bright. He’d always admired intelligence and prayed for this quality in a wife. He welcomed the challenge an intellectual equal would bring.