by Jenna Brandt
“I decided I couldn’t wait,” he explained, looking from person to person. “The more I found out about the place, the more I was itching to get here and see what I could do to help out.”
Immediately, his eyes fell on the woman he had bumped into the previous night. She was just as pretty, but today, her dark hair was pinned half-back instead of being in a bun, allowing ringlets to come down around her perfect neck. She was wearing a gorgeous blue dress that enhanced her curvy figure and chocolate eyes.
He remembered the mercantile owner had called the young woman Miss Willa. He immediately looked to see if a man was standing anywhere near, ready to claim her as his wife. And if there was, what did it matter to Harrison, he chastised himself. He wasn’t here to focus on her marital status, but rather the business he was here to conduct.
Harrison forced himself to look away and focus on his friend Braylon. “I was hoping to have you introduce me to Mallet Thorne, the mayor, and the city council members, if they’re here.”
“They certainly are,” Braylon said, gesturing with his head over his shoulder. “But first, let me introduce you to my wife and her friends.” Placing his arm around the shoulders of a redheaded woman, he continued, “This is my wife, Tonya. Next to her is Mrs. Maude Henderson, Mrs. Betsy Sewell, and Miss Willa Brown,” Braylon said, nodding at each woman as he introduced them.
“Miss Willa Brown?” Harrison’s head jerked sideways towards the brunette, recognizing the last name. “You don’t happen to be related to Cyrus Brown, do you?” Mr. Holt probed with a shocked look on his face.
“As a matter-of-fact, yes, how do you know my papa?” Willa asked with a confused look on her face.
“I’ve done my research of the area. I wanted to know the lay of the land when I got here. The Brown Farm came up multiple times.”
“That’s probably because we’re the longest running farm in the area,” Willa said with pride. “We supply a majority of the fresh foods to the town.” There was a flicker of what appeared to be concern that crossed her face, and Harrison realized she was worried about that continuing. It wasn’t surprising, considering the problems the family farm was facing. As quickly as the worry surfaced, she hid it beneath a forced smile.
“Now that we got that out of the way, why don’t I take you over to Mallet and the others,” Braylon offered.
As they moved down the rest of the aisle to meet with the town elders, one nugget of truth stuck out about Willa to Harrison. Braylon had introduced her as “Miss,” which meant she was single. It had been the biggest question rolling around his head about the enticing beauty. Though he got the answer to one question, he realized it only created more. Now that he knew she wasn’t off-limits, was he going to do anything about it? Should he do anything about it? And if he did, how would it affect his business plans for Silverpines?
With a final glance over his shoulder, Harrison willed himself to temporarily push Willa Brown out of his mind, at least as best he could. He had a feeling she would be trouble for him.
Chapter Four
As the last bedsheet was placed on the pile of folded laundry inside the basket, Willa smiled with pride at her accomplishment. She was finally caught up with all the chores around the house. Though she had got everything done inside, she realized she still had the most pressing concern looming over her head; how to save the farm.
Willa picked up the basket and moved towards the house when a man she had never seen before appeared and blocked her path. With stringy brown hair, cold grey eyes, and a menacing stare directed at her, she immediately stiffened.
“Can I help you?” Willa asked, hesitantly.
“I heard Cyrus Brown’s pretty little daughter was back in town. Thought I’d come out here and welcome you myself,” he said, moving towards her as he let his hand drift along the edge of the side of the house. The man came to a stop in front of her, placing one hand in his pocket while he flipped his pocket watch open and closed with the other.
“And who are you? How do you know my papa?” Willa probed, her unease shifting to alarm at the stranger’s proximity.
“The name’s Amos Cohen. I represent the bank in New Harbor where your father has an outstanding loan—outstanding by a far measure I’m afraid.”
Willa’s eyes narrowed as she inquired, “What do you mean represent? You don’t look like any bank man I’ve ever seen. And since when do they come to someone’s home?”
“They don’t. I’m not a banker, but I make sure their interests are looked after,” he stated ambiguously.
Willa racked her brains, trying to figure out what the man meant by his odd explanation. She didn’t have much experience with business and didn‘t understand what or how the banking system worked. Why would they send a man out here to bother them when they were already under immense strain?
“Well, my papa is ill, so you’re unable to speak with him. I can assure you, however, the rest of the family is working on figuring out a way to settle the account with the bank.”
“I’m afraid, dear, time is running out,” he stated, clicking his watch shut as he shoved it into his vest pocket. “I don’t see how you can get the amount of money due by the month’s end.”
“What are you talking about?” Willa asked with confusion. “I saw the loan documents and the late notices in my papa’s office. We have three months left.”
The man shook his head. “That’s not the case,” he said, pulling at a piece of paper and pushing it towards her. “The account must be current by the end of the month, or the bank will take the farm.”
“What?” Willa shouted, tears of shock forming in the corner of her eyes as she looked at the paper to confirm what the man was saying. “You can’t do this to us!”
“It’s not me. Like I said, I only represent the bank,” he insisted. Reaching out, he placed his hand on the side of Willa’s arm, moving closer to her than was proper. “I suppose though, if you will entertain me, I might convince the bank to show some mercy.”
“Mister, I think you have the wrong idea about what I’m willing to do.”
“You’d be surprised what a woman ends up willing to do when the only other option is to end up losing everything,” the man threatened.
“I think you should go,” Willa commanded, disgusted by the implications of his statement. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Don’t you dare try to tell me what to do,” he said indignantly, raising his hand almost as if he would hit her. “I won’t be bossed around by a woman.”
“You should listen to the lady,” a vaguely familiar voice said from behind her, “and leave this instant. It’s obvious you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
The handsome figure of Harrison Holt came into view as the one of Amos Cohen slinked away.
Before the lecherous man completely disappeared, he warned, “This isn’t over. I’ll be back and it’ll only get worse from here.”
Willa didn’t know what to say; she remained silent. She crossed her arms, clutched herself in an attempt to stop the shaking that was threatening to overtake her body. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
“It’s not a problem,” Harrison stated. “Men like that have no business being around proper people of society.”
“Do you know who he is?” she asked, with confusion.
“No, but I know his kind. From the looks of him, he’s most likely a debt collector for the bank. They’ll do whatever it takes to get the money owed. They’re rather relentless. I’m sorry to hear you have one bothering your family.”
She nodded. “I didn’t know there were even people like that.”
Willa wondered what she could do to protect her family. Obviously, paying the debt back as quickly as possible would be the best option, but she wasn’t even sure how that could happen. In the meantime, should she carry a pistol around with her? Her papa owned two, but she wasn’t sure she liked the idea of turning herself into an arme
d guard.
“I’m glad I arrived in time to keep you from harm.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. Glancing up to meet Harrison Holt’s probing blue eyes, she asked, “What are you doing here, Mr. Holt?”
“I’m here to talk with your father about his farm and make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Willa was shocked. When Harrison Holt arrived, she had wondered if he had tracked her down because of interest in her. Though she had little experience with men, she thought she was decent at realizing if a man was interested in her. She would have sworn that the attraction had been mutual. This changed everything. It seemed she had imagined it. Willa was left disappointed the handsome tycoon’s visit had nothing to do with her.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Holt, but my papa is unavailable.”
“When can I speak with him?” Harrison asked, hoping to get the purchase under way so he could start the process of building the yard. It wouldn’t supply the initial load of bricks for the reconstruction of the town—he would have to ship those from his Idaho Falls yard—but it would sustain the town for expansion and make it possible to ship bricks up and down the coastline.
“He’s taken ill recently,” she explained. “Anything you need to discuss with him, you can do so with me.”
“All right, then I suppose I should make my offer to you,” he said, looking into her brown eyes. The moment he did it though, he realized it was a mistake. The innocent doe-like pools were an unwelcomed distraction. He shifted his stance, then forced himself to look away to keep from drowning in them.
“And what offer might that be?” she asked, completely unaware of the effect she had on him.
“I was hoping to purchase the north twenty acres of your farm near the rail line,” he stated, hoping he seemed all business.
“Whatever for?” Willa asked with a shocked look on her face.
“I want to build a brickyard there. I can offer you a fair price for it. With your family’s current financial difficulties, the money could help.”
“How do you know about that?” she asked, crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes.
“I make it a point to know everything I can about an area I plan to invest in. When I researched Silverpines, I found out about your farm’s loan status.”
She didn’t seem pleased with the information, but she accepted it. “Is there a reason you need that specific section of land?”
“I’ve found land near railroads make the best location for brickyards. It makes shipping bricks to other locations more efficient.”
“Do you have an amount in mind?” she asked
“I do,” he said, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket. He handed it over to her.
Willa Brown looked at the paper, reading through the terms and price. Once she was finished, she looked up and said, “I appreciate your offer, but I’ll need time to discuss this with the rest of the family and pray on the matter.”
Harrison nodded. “I completely understand. Once you decide, you can reach me at the Silverpines Inn.”
“Have a good day, Mr. Holt,” Willa said, before heading towards her farmhouse.
Harrison watched as Willa made her way up the steps and disappeared inside. Even with her gorgeous frame out of sight, her image still lingered in his mind.
He would be lying to himself if he claimed he only had come out here for business. Willa had captured his attention from the moment he bumped into her two days ago. When he realized yesterday she was the unmarried daughter of the man he needed to speak with, he was thrilled he might see her again.
What surprised him the most was his attraction to her grew each time he encountered her. It was usually the opposite with most women he met. Considering how much he thought about her, he wondered if he would be able to keep their relationship strictly business.
As he climbed into the rented carriage, he tapped the side, signaling to the driver to head back to town. The whole ride, he couldn’t keep from wondering what the future held for him and Miss Brown, and if their lives were colliding for a very specific reason.
Chapter Five
Two days of debating and praying hadn’t given Willa any more clarity on what to do. She had discussed it with her grandma, but still didn’t have a clear answer. She had even gone to her papa, hoping that if she laid out the plan to sell part of the land, it would force him to respond. No such luck. His melancholia was worse than ever, and he refused to even acknowledge what was going on with the farm.
What kept coming to the forefront of Willa’s mind was that she had prayed to God for help. Had he sent Harrison Holt? And if so, did that mean she should take his offer? It would mean selling off part of the land her papa worked so hard for, but if it meant a chance to save the rest, would it be worth it?
It was tempting, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized it wouldn’t be enough. The amount he was offering would stop the debt collector from coming around and would appease the bank, at least for a while. The problem was, that like her plan to make dresses, it was a temporary solution. Harrison Holt wasn’t offering enough to settle the account completely, which meant that in a few months, they would be right back in the same situation with even less land than they had now. What was she going to do?
A soft knock at the office door drew Willa’s attention. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Willa,” she heard her brother respond from the other side.
“Come in.”
Her brother came in with a worried look on his face. He handed her the stack of mail which he had picked up prior in the day; a bi-weekly chore he used to enjoy until several months ago when it became littered with deficiency notices and overdue bills.
“There’s more of them, Willa. More than there’s ever been before,” Arthur whispered his voice quivering with fear. “What are we going to do?”
Willa bit her lip and forced herself to hold back the tears threatening to push themselves free. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of her little brother. It would only worry him more. She took a deep breath and said, “I’m not sure, Arthur. There doesn’t seem to be a clear way out of all this mess.”
His brows furrowed together as he shook his head. “You mean, not one you’re willing to take,” he said with a hint of anger, as he threw himself into the seat across from her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Willa asked defensively.
“I overheard you and Grandma talking the other day. You’re not even willing to look for a husband to solve our problems. Even if one landed in your lap, I think you would say ‘no,’ like you are going to tell that brick man.”
Willa wanted to argue with her brother, but before she got the words out, an idea popped into her head. What if a husband had landed in her lap—well, in her town at least—but he just didn’t know it yet?
“I have to go, Arthur.” She stood up and came around to where he was sitting. She reached down and kissed the top of his head. “You’re brilliant, you know that? Just brilliant,” she said with a smile.
“What? What did I do?” he asked with incredulousness.
“You just might have saved the farm. I’ll tell you everything once I return.”
On her way into town, Willa contemplated her plan. When the idea first came to her, she thought it would solve all her problems, but the longer the idea rolled around in her head, the more she worried she might propose something to Harrison Holt that would be more than she bargained for. Could she really go through with it?
As she marched into the hotel, she put on her bravest face as she approached the front desk. Mr. Karson grinned as she approached, “What can I do for you, Miss Willa?”
“I’m here to see Mr. Holt.”
“Can I tell him what this is regarding?” the man probed, more out of curiosity than a need to tell the business tycoon, Willa suspected.
“Tell him I have an answer for him.”
Mr. Karson nodded as he jotted the note down, called for
Riley, then sent the note with the young man. “You can wait for Mr. Holt in the lobby.”
Willa did as she was directed. She wanted to pace, knowing the motion would keep her calm, but knew it would also make it clear she was nervous. She forced herself to sit down on the sofa, smoothed out her soft pink skirt, and straightened her posture as she waited, wanting to appear all business when he saw her.
As Mr. Holt approached, a small smile appeared. “Good morning, Miss Brown. I read from the note, you have an answer for me.”
“I do,” she said. Then, glancing around and not liking the fact anyone coming and going could hear their conversation, she asked, “Can we go for a walk? I would prefer to keep this conversation between us private.”
He nodded. “Certainly, I’m sure this decision was difficult for you and you don’t want everyone knowing the details,” he said, reaching out his hand to her.
“It was, Mr. Holt, but I’m not sure you’ll like my answer,” she said taking his extended hand.
Harrison placed her hand in the crook of his arm as he escorted her out of the hotel. “Can I ask why you’ve refused my offer? If it’s money, I could offer you a portion more.”
Willa nodded her head. “I’m not refusing your offer outright. Rather, I’m countering it with a stipulation.”
“What kind of stipulation?” Harrison asked, his eyebrows arching in surprise.
“I’m willing to sell you the section of land you want, but for a specific condition attached.”
“What condition?” he inquired, the tension in his body clear from where her hand rested.
“It would be non-negotiable. It’s a take it or leave it type of deal.”
“Why are you being so evasive, Miss Brown? I keep asking you to be forthright with what you’re requesting, but you keep dodging the answer.”