A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set)

by Valerie Comer

  “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 sometimes 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.

  Jo’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.

  “She’s going to desert us for some guy. I can see it already. She gets us out here to the edge of beyond, then falls in love and ditches us.”

  Thanks for the confidence. Jo straightened her back and stretched. “Thought you were a hundred percent in.”

  Claire shoved the spade into the dirt and reached for her water bottle, but a black-and-white nose intercepted. She pushed it aside before taking a swig. “Yeah, I’m in. I’m just not ready to think of any one of us being out practically before we’ve begun.”

  She had a point. This place was beginning to grow on Jo. Thoughts of feasting on sun-warmed raspberries later in the summer and vine-ripened tomatoes in the fall . . . man, her mouth was watering already. Sure it was going to be a lot of work, but blossoms on the plum and apple trees flaunted their fragrance while honeybees zoomed in and out gathering nectar and pollen. So worth every aching muscle.

  Jo and Claire found a planting rhythm as the sun crept out from behind the clouds, warming their backs. The tractor grumbled around on the neighboring property.

  “So the building permits are all in place?”

  Claire nodded. “The inspector had some questions about the straw bales and the roof trusses, but he okayed everything in the end.”

  “Did Sierra’s dad find enough solar panels at that auction?” Even though Sierra didn’t approve of her dad’s truck driving job, all three girls basked in the knowledge that at least one set of parents were behind their operation and had co-signed on their mortgage.

  “Almost.” Claire moved to the next row. “We’ll need a few more, but it’s a good start.”

  The tractor grew louder then shifted gears and turned into the Green Acres driveway. Domino was off like a spooked rabbit, only headed toward the danger. Jo bellowed at him, but he was already so far away he didn’t seem to hear at all.

  “Hope Zach’s watching out for that dog,” said Claire.

  Jo waved both arms frantically as she ran, hoping to catch Zach’s attention before Domino dodged in front of the tractor. Zach yanked on the wheel and spun the tractor hard to the right. Jo held her breath, but the machine was more stable than she’d given it credit for.

  Zach swerved left again and ground the equipment to a halt while Domino continued to dance around it.

  Jo grabbed the pup’s collar, yanking him off to the side. He whimpered.

  Zach nodded and drove on past. The tractor bucket clanged as he dumped manure on the garden patch, backing the tractor inch by inch.

  Domino whined at Jo’s side as Zach turned the tractor and chugged back down the driveway. She kept a firm grip on the pup’s collar and lifted a hand to wave at Zach as he passed.

  He tipped his hat, an old straw one today.

  Jo turned to watch him drive away, tall and straight on the old John Deere.

  “Maybe it’s not Sierra I ought to be worried about,” Claire drawled from behind her.

  Jo swung around. “Just making sure he’s gone before letting Domino go.” She released the pup. He immediately began to chase his tail round and round.

  “Uh huh. That’s what you’d like me to think.” Her gleaming brown eyes met Jo’s.

  Even though Jo had to look nearly nine inches up at Claire, she put on her most innocent look. “Ready to get the rest of those bushes in?”

  Claire snickered and grabbed the spade. “Sure. Any time.”

  Chapter 6

  Zach tucked in his clean t-shirt and rapped lightly on the door of Grandma’s old trailer. He’d rather think of her here than in the Galena Hills facility, but he had a sneaking suspicion this place would be so changed his mind could never get that picture back from his childhood. Barking sounded from within, then the door opened and Domino leaped out, colliding with Zach’s belly. “Hey there. Domino, down.”

  Laughter reached Zach’s ears as the pup bounced around him on the narrow landing.

  Josephine. She’d taken time for a shower, too, by the looks of things. Her hair, still damp, had been pulled into a ponytail that swung way down her back when she turned to beckon him in. She’d changed into dark jeans and a mossy green top with a ruffled neckline.

  The aroma of stew tickled his nose, and his forehead creased. Smelled like beef, not tofu. Not that he’d recognize tofu. He’d been raised a farm boy, suspicious of anything too weird. That concoction —

  “Sierra’s turn in the kitchen,” Jo was saying. “Now if you want a good meal, you’ll have to come back when Claire’s cooking.”

  He noticed she didn’t make any claims for her own.

  The young woman who’d been working outside with Jo this afternoon came down the hallway, and he nodded at her. Taller than Jo or Sierra, and the only one of the trio with short hair, she assessed him from brown eyes.

  Jo stepped closer. “Claire, have you met Zach yet? Zach, this is our roommate Claire.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Zach reached out and shook Claire’s hand.

  “Same.” But she quickly looked away.

  Not that it mattered.
“Thanks for the invitation,” he said to the group in general. “Smells good.”

  Sierra glanced over her shoulder at him from her spot by the stove. “Thanks.”

  “We appreciate all your hard work for us today.” Jo knelt beside the bumbling puppy and soothed him. “Least we could do is feed you, especially with your mom out tonight.” A twinkle appeared in her eye when she squinted up at him.

  He felt a flush creep up his neck. “About that. I really do know how to cook.” Would she consider opening a can or preparing packaged noodles cooking? “At least enough to get by.”

  Jo pointed Domino at a folded blanket behind the door and, to Zach’s amazement, the pup wandered over and plopped down on it. Jo looked back at Zach and indicated a chair in front of the window. “Have a seat, if you like. I’m just going to wash up.”

  He edged behind the farmhouse table and slid into a sturdy wooden chair. Grandma’s drop-leaf table had been much smaller, but that was far from the only change in the old trailer. The place looked a lot better than the day he’d helped Jo and Sierra clean it up. Was it really only a month or so ago?

  Claire sat down across from him “This was your grandmother’s home?”

  Zach nodded. “She sold out in Spokane and bought this piece of land when my grandfather died. She lived here for more than twenty years, and my dad farmed it.” So many memories. “I’d often sneak over after school for cookies and milk. Plus she kept band-aids for scraped knees on hand.” He grinned. “I think she liked having me around. I had too many sisters and needed to get away sometimes.” And yet here he sat with a room full of females and barely felt uncomfortable.

  Jo came back into the kitchen. “Your grandmother is very sweet. Stopping by to see her is a highlight of my day.”

  He glanced over at her, but she turned away, her cheeks pink. Intriguing.

  What time did her rounds take her to Grandma’s room? He might have to visit more often. Maybe bring some dark chocolate. Not that he was considering a relationship, of course. Now that was a ridiculous thought. It meant weighing the pros and cons of city life, and he’d been all over that. He’d chosen.