by Jodi Vaughn
“Did she walk over here?”
“No, she rode her bike.”
“It’s ten miles from here.” Grayson’s eyes grew wide.
“I know. I made her pretty mad.” Agnes shook her head. “I better get going and pick her up. Good night, you two.” Agnes waved over her shoulder as she walked out of the barn.
“I take it they’re not close.”
Grayson snorted. “It’s complicated.”
She cocked her head. “So if they don’t get along, why did Gabriela come home?”
“I don’t know if she considers Harland Creek home.” Grayson walked with her toward the house.
“That’s hard to believe,” she muttered.
“Some people are always looking for something better. Not a lot of people like small towns. Some think they are meant for better things.” Grayson’s voice hardened.
“I didn’t get the idea from Gabriela that she thought she was better than Harland Creek.”
“I wasn’t talking about Gabriela.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs of the front porch.
“There you two are. Come on in before it gets cold.” Elizabeth opened the screen door and held it open for them.
They hurried up the steps of the front porch.
“I’m sorry I didn’t help cook dinner.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’ve never seen such a hard worker in all my days. You did good today.” Elizabeth beamed.
Heather’s chest bloomed with pride. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
That night Heather lay in bed, exhausted. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered at Grayson’s words. He’d said some people were looking for better things. Who had he been talking about?
Chapter 18
“There has to be an easier way to harvest than by hand.” Heather sighed as she straightened. She arched and stretched out her back.
While the first day of harvest had gone well, the second was not meeting the same expectation.
They were shorthanded when Michael and Walker didn’t show up. Agnes was late. She apparently had some kind of bee emergency. Heather didn’t have time to find out what that was about. To top it off, the cooler truck had been late arriving.
“They make a harvesting tractor but it’s very expensive. They use it in Holland to harvest the tulips over there.” Olivia swiped her hand over her forehead, leaving a dirty line across her head. Heather grinned and wiped the dirt off her face.
“Thanks. I’m always making a mess of myself.” Olivia laughed.
“I can’t imagine you ever being a mess. That title belongs to me.” Heather arched her brow.
“What title is that?” Tabitha walked over. Her red hair was in a tumble around her face. Despite that, she looked gorgeous.
“The title of who my brother is crushing on.” Olivia snorted.
Heather went red. “That’s not true.” She looked at Tabitha.
Tabitha froze and then burst out laughing. “You’re right, Olivia. That’s why he didn’t flirt with me yesterday. He is totally crushing on you, Heather. Olivia said he brought you to town the first day you arrived. He’s been spending a lot of time over here.”
“That’s not true.” She shook her head vigorously. “He’s just being neighborly.”
“What’s not true?” Elizabeth pulled up on the golf cart that Agnes had brought over.
“We think Grayson is crushing on Heather.” Tabitha beamed.
“Well, of course he is. They’re both single and Heather’s very pretty. It’s about time he got over that Sarah girl.” Elizabeth drove off.
“Who’s Sarah?” Heather bent and started harvesting again.
“Ah, so he hasn’t told you about that?” Olivia asked as she cut tulips.
“It’s his ex-fiancée,” Tabitha offered. Olivia cut her eyes at her. “What? It’s not like she wasn’t going to find out eventually.”
“I didn’t know he was engaged.” Heather tried concentrating on her work.
“Was is the key word,” Olivia said. “She wanted greener pastures and wanted to move to Memphis. Grayson wanted to stay here. So she broke up with him a week before the wedding.”
“They didn’t talk about where they were going to live when they got engaged?” Heather scowled.
“It was understood that they’d stay here. She knew Grayson would never leave his farm. She even got a job here. Until she went to Amber’s destination wedding in Aruba.” Olivia’s voice hardened.
“I would think going to a wedding would make her even more excited to be getting married.” Heather stood and looked at Olivia.
“Unless her friend Amber introduced her to one of the groomsmen who happens to be incredibly wealthy and they hit it off and spent every moment in paradise together.” Tabitha sneered.
“You’re kidding?” Heather shook her head. “Sounds like she’s easily swayed by something so inconsequential as money.”
“What are you girls doing? Hope it’s not gossiping.” Agnes parked the utility terrain vehicle that Grayson had driven over.
“We are.” Tabitha brightened, not at all embarrassed at the woman’s censure. “We’re talking about Sarah.”
“Oh. Her.” Agnes narrowed her eyes. “Well, we only have a few more hours of daylight. The next cooler truck won’t be here for two days, so we need to get as many tulips on this one as we can.”
“In other words, you can gossip when the work is done.” Tabitha nodded. “Got it.”
Elizabeth and Agnes shook their heads and drove off to check on the others.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to get everyone in trouble.” Heather grimaced.
“You didn’t. It’s not like everyone doesn’t know about it. This is a small town.” Olivia shrugged. “And in small towns, all the secrets eventually come out.”
The rest of the week, Heather quickly fell into a routine. On the days Elizabeth had her physical therapy, she would head out into the fields to check on the flowers. She kept meticulous records of which flowers to fertilize and when. When she thought some areas needed more water than others, she confided to Elizabeth. Usually, she would agree with Heather’s findings. On rainy days she used her time deep cleaning the house and cooking. She worked so hard even Elizabeth said she made her tired just watching her.
She decluttered and organized the kitchen, helped Elizabeth display some of her finished quilts in the living room, and helped her with her exercises on the days the physical therapist didn’t come. She was quickly getting comfortable in her new life. She just hoped it would last.
Chapter 19
Grayson poured himself a hot cup of coffee. He’d spent his time all week running between his farm and Elizabeth’s. He would show up early to help with the flower harvest. And then go back to his farm to take care of his cows. He had a couple of cows who were due any day and he needed to keep a constant check on them to make sure there were no problems with the delivery of the calves. So far neither were ready to drop.
Thankfully it was raining today so they couldn’t harvest any flowers. The break would give him some much-needed time to devote to the farm.
His cell phone buzzed with a text.
He picked it up.
“Are you with Heather?” ~Olivia
“No. Why would I be?” He sent back. It ruffled his feathers. Olivia had been hinting every day since Heather arrived that he had a thing for her. He loved his sister, but she needed to keep her nose out of his business.
Heather wasn’t from here. She would see no future in a small town like Harland Creek.
“Just wanted to see if she’s going with Elizabeth to the quilting bee tonight.” ~Olivia.
“Like I said. I’m not with her.”
He sent the text and scowled.
His phone rang. He picked it up without looking at the caller.
“Like I said, I’m not with her.”
“With who? Sounds like I’m missing a lot of information here.” Sam chuckled.
“Sorry. I thought you were
Olivia.” He ran his hand through his hair.
“So I gathered. Who does your sister think you are with?” Sam asked. “Or can I guess?”
“Heather.”
“Ah, the beautiful new girl in town. I haven’t seen much of her.”
“She’s been busy with Elizabeth. From helping with the harvest to taking care of Elizabeth. I’m guessing she’s not been to town since the first day she arrived.”
“Think she’ll go to the quilting bee tonight?”
“Heaven help her if she does.” Grayson finished his coffee and poured himself another cup.
Sam chuckled. “I’m hoping to finish the fellowship hall before they arrive.”
“Yeah, you don’t want to get caught up in all of that gossip,” Grayson warned.
Sam laughed. “For once I can safely say I’m not going to be part of the topic tonight. If I were a betting man, I’m guessing they’ll be talking about you and Heather. I just called to tell you I saw a car for sale in the paper. Tell Justin to check it out. It might be what he needs for college.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks.”
“Later.” Sam ended the call.
Grayson shoved his cell phone in his jeans pocket. Surely they would not be discussing him and Heather. He shook his head. He knew this town and its people like the back of his hand.
The Harland Creek Quilters might be God-fearing women, but they had a penchant to make a mountain out of a molehill.
He just hoped they would keep their focus off Heather and his relationship.
Chapter 20
“Watch your step there.” Heather supported Elizabeth as she stepped into the fellowship hall at the back of the church.
The scent of something wonderful filled the room. Ten older women were busy putting a colorful quilt in what looked like a large frame.
“I would have thought I would be getting less sore by now. But after this week, I’m feeling every step.” Elizabeth grimaced.
“Maybe I should take you home.” Heather had tried to talk Elizabeth out of going to her quilting session, but it was the first time since her surgery that she was attending and she didn’t want to miss it. So Heather had relented.
“No, no. I’ll be fine. Besides, the longer I’m babied, the longer I’ll be dependent on you.”
“And that’s a bad thing because?” Heather arched her brow.
Elizabeth smiled. “You probably aren’t used to being around an old grump like me.”
“I’ll take old grump in the country over fake happy in the city any day.”
Elizabeth barked out a laugh.
“What’s so funny? Y’all aren’t gossiping about me, are you?” Agnes toddled over. She was wearing her weird bee hat and overalls. Buzzing around the brim of the hat was a honeybee.
“Not yet.” Elizabeth gave her friend a playful look. “Heather, can you get that fabric out of the car?”
“Sure. Why don’t you sit here?” She pulled up a white plastic chair and made sure Elizabeth was sitting before hurrying back to her car.
The cool spring air stung her lungs, but she liked it. She’d never smelled anything so sweet. It was like she’d stepped into another universe.
It was the only place she’d felt like she could stay forever.
Her gaze landed on her Georgia license plate. And her heart fell.
They were supposed to take Elizabeth’s truck but getting in had proven more difficult this time. She knew Elizabeth was sore from the tulip harvest. So it was decided to take her car.
Her car. It tied her to her old life. Something she didn’t want to even think about anymore.
It also tied her to her secrets about who she really was.
The people of Harland Creek had normal, stable lives. Unlike her. If they knew who she really was, she’d never fit in.
“Hey, Heather.”
She looked up from gathering the material out of the trunk of her car. It was the guy from church. Grayson’s friend. “Hello. It’s…”
“Sam.”
“Right. Sam. Sorry I didn’t remember your name. I had so many people coming up to me after church. It’s a lot of names to remember.” She gave him an apologetic smile.
“No problem. I don’t offend easily.” He grinned.
“Thanks.” She shut the trunk. “Are you here to quilt too?” she joked.
“Not on your life. I’m just finishing up the construction on the fellowship hall. I had to pick up some tools so the ladies could get their quilt set up.”
“You did the work in there? It looks great.” She nodded.
“Thank you.”
“As a contractor, do you find a lot of jobs here in Harland Creek?” She cocked her head.
“More than you know. I try to keep at least three jobs going at one time. Right now, I’m redoing a bathroom for a newlywed couple in town, building an outdoor kitchen for the pastor, and building a float for the upcoming parade.”
“Parade? What’s the celebration for?”
“Founders’ Day celebration. Harland Creek has one every year.”
“Are there enough people to participate?”
“There are. We have the marching bands from the surrounding towns march, as well as the local 4-H. We also have a horse riding association that rides their horses. We also have a horse-drawn covered wagon. We used to let the kids ride their four-wheelers, but the horses didn’t like it too much so we put them in the end of the parade. And then there are the floats.”
“How many floats do you have? And do you build them all?”
He laughed. “I do not build them all. Olivia is the only one who does a proper float. She does a theme every year and orders enough flowers from Elizabeth to incorporate it into the float. This year she is doing one that looks like her building, Roses and Lace. There are even window boxes with real flowers and a wheelbarrow with tulips in them.”
“I bet it’s pretty.”
“It will be when I’m done. She usually gets a big uptick in sales after the Founders’ Day Parade. We also have vendors set up along the town square where you can buy the best food you’ll ever eat.”
“Like something out of a movie. Sounds too good to be true.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that. I mean, there is usually some drama.”
“Drama? Like what?” Heather leaned in slightly.
“Well, Agnes got into an argument when Farmer Smith’s prize pig got away from him and ate two large jars of her honey. She had a stand on Main Street and left it for just a minute to get a corn dog. When she came back, the pig was a sticky mess. You should have seen her give him what for.” His grin widened.
“I bet it was quite a show.” Heather knew how spirited the old woman was. She would let no one intimidate her.
“It was. The town was talking about it for weeks until something else caught their attention.” He shrugged. “Well, good luck with the Quilting Bee ladies.” He gave her a wave and slid into his truck.
She headed back inside where the women had gotten the quilt into the frame and were putting chairs around it.
“Heather, you know some of the ladies here.” Elizabeth waved her over to where she was sitting at the quilt.
“Not me. She hasn’t met me. We’ve not been introduced.” An older woman with long salt-and-pepper hair eyed her carefully. “My name is Bertha Mills, and your name is?”
Heather knew the name sounded familiar but wasn’t sure where she ‘d heard it before.
“I’m Heather Smith.”
“Oh yes. Heather. The nurse for Elizabeth.” She eyed her up and down. “You’re mighty young for nursing. Where did you get your license?”
“I’m not a nurse. I’m a caregiver. You don’t need a license for that,” she said quietly.
“Heather, come sit next to me.” Agnes patted the empty chair between her and Elizabeth.
“I wasn’t going to stay.” She eased closer to Elizabeth.
“Come on. Just stay for a little bit.” Agnes leaned in close
to her and whispered, “Don’t eat the tuna casserole. Bertha made it.”
She blinked. “Wait, you mean the same Bertha who made the pound cake?”
“The one and the same,” Agnes whispered.
“Heather, I’m Mildred.” A gray-haired lady patted her on the shoulder. “Elizabeth tells me you are trying out our quilting bee to see how you like it. I’m so thrilled to see a young person with us today.”
Heather cut her eyes at Elizabeth. The older woman was wearing a smirk.
“Yes, well, I have never quilted. Maybe I’ll just watch.” She nodded.
“Absolutely not. We are going to get you started. You’ll be a quilting pro by the time you leave.” Mildred lifted her chin confidently.
“I highly doubt that,” she muttered.
After everyone took their seat, Mildred kept standing. “Good morning, ladies. As you see, we have Elizabeth back with us after her surgery. We certainly missed you.” Everyone agreed.
“It’s good to be back. Hopefully I’ll be back to normal within a few weeks.”
Something tugged in Heather’s heart. A few weeks and she’d be out of options for a job.
“And we also have a guest with us as well. This is Heather Smith. She is staying with Elizabeth while she recovers.”
Everyone smiled and offered their greetings.
“Hello, everyone.” She ducked her head.
“Let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves to Heather.” Mildred looked at Heather. “And don’t feel bad if you don’t remember some of our names. We’re old. We won’t remember to be offended.”
Everyone laughed.
“Since she already knows Agnes and Elizabeth, let’s start with Bertha.”
“I’m Bertha Mills. I was born and raised in Harland Creek. I am a retired city clerk. I use my retired time making baked goods for the elderly shut-ins.”
“Those poor people,” Agnes muttered.
“Hi, Bertha.” Heather tried to hide her amusement.
“I’m Lorraine Chisolm. I am retired as well. I was a nurse for Dr. Vaughn for almost forty years. Now I spend my time gardening and quilting and volunteering at the nursing home.”