“I’d given up praying for Bill, I must say. I can’t think why I once loved him. He hoodwinked me into thinking he was a proper sort of man.”
“Oh, Eileen, don’t give up. I notice you’ve never remarried, so you must still hold some affection in your heart for him.”
Eileen harrumphed. “Just had my eyes opened. There’s not a man out there that’s dependable.”
Poor Shawn. How had he ever been deemed acceptable as a son-in-law?
“I need to be near Amber to protect her. Shawn seems like a nice enough young man. Dedicated, hardworking. Amber told me she’d shown you her list. But, just in case, a mother has to be ready to support her daughter.”
“That’s why you’re moving to Flagstaff, then?” Claire couldn’t believe her ears. “Not for a job or change of pace, but to catch Amber if Shawn fails?”
“Yes.” Eileen peered closer at Claire. “You don’t think that’s a good idea? You’re not a mother. You can’t possibly understand.”
Oh, my. “Pray for them, Eileen. Let God do what He wants in their lives. You ever heard of a helicopter parent?”
“No, what’s that?”
“It’s when a parent hovers over her kids, ready to protect them. Kids don’t learn anything from that. Amber is a well-adjusted young lady, so it couldn’t be that you treated her that way when she was growing up. But . . .” Claire took a deep breath. Was she interfering too much? But Eileen had asked. She softened her tone. “You’re sure sounding like one right now.”
Eileen’s face fell. “I don’t mean to.”
“You’re probably trying to make up for her missing a father.”
“And for the fact that her brother is never around, either.”
“So you think Noel takes after his dad?”
The woman’s gaze sprang to meet Claire’s. “Oh, I’d never say that. Sure, he likes to travel, but he works for it. For Bill it’s always a handout. He figured the world owed him a living, if you remember that old song. He whined when someone got a promotion he thought he should get. It was always somebody else’s fault if he didn’t get a raise. They overlooked him. In reality, he was just plain lazy. There’s not a slothful bone in Noel’s body, I can tell you that. He’s as responsible as the day is long. You know. You worked for him. He built that company from the ground up and he keeps it operating in the black. How is that like Bill? It’s not.”
A wave of relief flowed over Claire. “Noel did seem to be a good boss. His crew sure likes him.”
“And what of you? You’re not getting any younger living out here on this farm. I thought you were going to latch onto my boy and make him happy. Instead you look grumpier than ever.”
Ouch. She certainly told it like she saw it. Claire spread her hands wide. “Green Acres means everything to me, and his world is Enterprising Reforestation.”
“So somebody needs to give a little. You can’t pick when love will show up. Why, once I was rid of Bill I thought I’d meet some other man, somebody more deserving of a wife and family, but he never showed up.” She rolled her eyes. “Now Bill’s back, thinking, as always, that he’s God’s gift to women. I wonder how many women he’s gifted in the last twenty-five years? And he thinks to stroll back into my life? Heaven forbid.”
The gap in Eileen’s tirade came so suddenly that Claire didn’t know what to say.
“So if my boy shows up here this weekend, you make sure he knows he’s in the right place, you hear me? Somebody needs to talk some sense into him.”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind. Now, can I get you anything to drink? There’s iced mint tea in the fridge, and a sample tray of petit fours in the pantry.”
Eileen stared at Claire for a moment, then all the air seemed to flatten out of her sails. “That sounds lovely, thanks.”
**
Noel drove west toward the forest fires raging in the Idaho panhandle. Nobody had mentioned any threat to Galena Landing or the plot of trees his crew had just put in weeks before. Green Acres wasn’t likely in a danger zone.
He was used to thinking of forests before people, but that’s not what this trip was about. This was for Amber. Too bad he couldn’t convince himself the wedding was the only reason his heart felt lighter. Jess had laughed her fool head off when he’d announced he left her in charge for a few days.
“Or forever, boss,” she’d said with a huge grin. “I’ll be plotting my takeover while you’re gone.”
If things worked out with Claire, he’d leave his business in the best possible hands. Possibly two sets of them, which seemed likely with the amount he’d seen Jess and Simon together lately.
“So long as it’s not hostile,” he’d replied.
“Nah. You’ll make a great fishing guide.”
“Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?”
“Doubt it.” And she’d strolled away, singing something about Dreamboat.
Whatever. Let her think what she wanted. He owed it to Mom and Amber and Shawn to be a responsible family member. If Dad turned up from Denver, the least Noel could do was be there for the women in the family. Prove he was more stable than his dad. Shouldn’t be that hard.
But yeah, the thought of seeing Claire put the whistle under his breath, even though he recalled their parting with a pang. He didn’t dare let his own hopes get up there, but it was nigh impossible.
Would she think being a guide was sustainable enough to fit in with her farm? He wouldn’t be opposed to doing a bit of digging and weeding, he supposed. Not if he could wake up every morning beside Claire.
Now who was getting ahead of himself?
A sign for a knife fair in Kalispell came into view. Noel slammed on the brakes, and the holiday trailer wobbled a little behind the truck. Knives. He’d used Claire’s. They’d once been decent, but honed almost to the edges. She deserved better, for sure. He could afford an hour or two checking out this fair.
He rounded a corner of the booths and saw what he’d been hoping to find—a whole set of handmade kitchen knives. He hefted a blade. Solid. The wooden grip contoured to his hand. Would it fit Claire’s?
“Good Damascus steel there. You won’t find a better knife. Holds its edge.”
Noel ran his thumb carefully across the blade. Felt sharp all right. Smooth and solid. A glance over the display revealed knives of nearly every description. He laid a large chef’s blade next to the filleting knife he’d picked up first. Then a midsize paring knife and two smaller ones. He slid the group together.
The vendor rubbed his hands. He should be pleased. This represented a chunk of change.
Noel glanced up. “Got package pricing in place?”
The man scanned the selection. “Ten percent off.”
“Fifteen.”
He bit his lip. “Twelve.”
Noel did the math silently and shook his head. “Fifteen.”
“Twelve and I throw in a bonus.” Suiting action to his words, the vendor added a peeler.
Noel cocked his head and looked over the group. “Done.” He stretched out his hand and shook the vendor’s in a strong grip. Then he pulled out his wallet and ran his card through the electronic slot. “Gift wrap?”
The guy pulled a brown box from under the table. “This okay?”
Noel sighed. “Sure.” Would the vendor be any better prepared if it were close to Christmas, or did he always consider plain cardboard acceptable? Whatever. It kept the set hidden and protected while he decided what to do with it. Back in the parking lot, Noel stowed the package in a cupboard in the trailer before sliding back into the driver’s seat and heading west again.
Knowing Claire, she’d value knives more than diamonds. Of course, she wouldn’t be able to wear them on her finger. If she accepted the knives, he’d do something about a ring. He’d take her shopping with him. The picture pleased him.
No guarantee she’d let him stroll back into her life. He’d been the one to sever the ties.
If only she’d forgive him.
/> Seemed his heart made up its mind before his brain had decided. He could use a good set of blades himself if he chickened out with Claire.
Was he ready? What happened to his plans to have fun, live the free and easy single life, and not get too serious about religion in his youth?
Maybe that attitude wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Yeah, he was ready for change.
**
Thursday night thunderclouds loomed over the valley. Claire shaded her eyes and watched the dark clouds roll in. Maybe this time it would actually rain.
Of course, it would be better if it waited until after Amber and Shawn’s big day, but there weren’t too many guests. They could easily fit under the pole barn if needed, and the reception could take place inside the house.
Amber’s hand rested on her arm. “Claire? What if my dad shows up? What if he’s drunk or something?”
Lightning flashed on the west side of the valley and a low rumble followed after a few seconds.
Claire tore her gaze from the storm and glanced at Amber. “Do you think it’s likely?”
“I don’t know. Mom said he came all this way because he heard about the wedding from some relative back east. He made it as far as Missoula. Why wouldn’t he come the rest of the way?”
“Do you want to see him?”
“Well, yeah. In a way. Mom should’ve called me yesterday and let me make my own decision. She keeps trying to shelter me.”
Truer words had never been spoken. “But —” Thunder crashed over the house.
“It’s not like it would make any difference to the outcome. But I don’t know what he looks like. What if he’s there and I don’t know it? What if he’s there and he makes a big scene? I don’t know what to expect.”
Claire pulled Amber to her side. “I don’t know, either. But I won’t let anyone interfere. I promise.”
A flash of flame shot into the air as a tree exploded in the distance.
Claire sucked in a sharp breath. Could she direct the wedding? Amber’s dad? The weather was definitely beyond her control. Fiery. Scary.
Amber clutched Claire’s arm. “That’s a long way from here, right?”
“Yes.” Not too far from the fire that burned a month ago. It’d taken weeks to get it contained, helicopters dragging huge buckets through the lake only to dump the water on the fire. Still, thousands of acres of farmland, much of it irrigated, stood between that flare and Green Acres. The odds of it burning across the valley were extremely low.
It would be easier not to worry if they’d get some rain with the lightning.
More bolts flashed.
Claire let out a shuddering breath. “It’s in God’s hands. What’s in mine should be a lot of chicken rollups that need to be frozen for Saturday.” She turned for the house.
“I can give you a hand with those.”
The bride had become one of her dearest friends. “Sure, that would be great.” She was going to miss Amber, and it wasn’t just because of Noel. They entered the house to spot Eileen seated at the peninsula counter visiting with Sierra. “Hey, Eileen, did you sell your house yet?”
The older woman shook her head. “Not a nibble in sight. There haven’t even been any showings.”
“Oh, dear,” Sierra put in. “I hope you haven’t given notice on your job yet. Unless you plan to rent the house out if it doesn’t sell?”
Eileen cast a pained glance at Claire. “I don’t know if you girls’ Christianity thinks this is a good idea or not, but I’ve put out a fleece on the subject.”
Claire frowned. “Fleece? I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, some Bible guy — was it Gideon, Mom?” Amber asked.
This sounded vaguely familiar.
When Eileen nodded, Amber went on. “He didn’t know what decision to make so he laid a piece of sheepskin — a fleece — outside overnight. He told God that if the fleece were dry when the ground around it was wet with dew in the morning, he’d know God wanted him to do what he suspected. And in the morning, that’s just what happened.”
Eileen twisted on the stool. “Gideon didn’t much believe Him, of course. Didn’t want to believe God’s will, as it wasn’t what he wanted to do. So he said, ‘oh, that was too easy.’ The next night he asked for the opposite — the ground to be completely dry and the fleece to be wet. God managed that, too. There was so much moisture in the fleece that Gideon could wring the whole thing out.”
“Yeah,” added Amber. “He got like a bucket full of water from it.”
Claire needed to reread the Old Testament. “Wow.”
Sierra planted her elbows on the counter. “So what kind of fleece did you put out, Eileen?”
The older woman slid a sidelong glance at Claire. “Well, I wondered if I just assumed I should move to Flagstaff if Amber did, or whether I’d actually asked God for His will.”
Claire held her breath.
“So I asked Him to sell my house by the end of August. That’s still a month from now. He could do it, you know.”
“Sure He could.” Claire moved in closer. “So you’re saying you’d take a sale as God’s will that you move to Arizona.”
Eileen nodded, her mouth twisted to the side. “I realize it’s not best to force God to do things the way I want Him to. But I do want to know what His will is.”
“Makes sense.” Sierra straightened and picked up the vegetable peeler with one hand and a carrot with the other.
Nice somebody else was on supper duty tonight. Claire had enough to do with the remainder of the prep for the reception.
A thunderous crash rolled over the house. If they’d still been in the trailer, the whole thing would have shaken like an earthquake hit it. Claire met Sierra’s gaze an instant as the electricity flickered and the living room lights went out.
Chapter 28
Noel maneuvered the last few hairpin curves coming down over the pass as a thunderstorm crashed around him. Only a few raindrops spattered his windshield, but the wind rocked the trailer behind him. He turned into a full-on cloud of smoke as the road opened up over the Galena Valley. Whoa. That had been mere haze moments before. Where had it all come from? He’d had his tunes cranked and not the radio. He flipped the switch and sought a local station. Wynnton.
“Dozens of farms northeast of Galena Landing are on pre-evacuation notice as the wildfires, sparked by last night’s thunderstorms, burn out of control. Crews are gathering to fight the epic blaze, but it’s moving so quickly the chief says it’s hard to know where to begin.”
Northeast of town? Dear God, no! Noel stomped on his accelerator. Not after all the hard work the women had put into that farm. Green Acres must be one of the closest to the blaze. He had to get there and do what he could.
Gearing down to meet the speed limit within the town’s boundaries was sheer torture. The town’s single traffic light stopped him. No one waited at the cross streets. Maybe he should just run the light? Noel glanced around, fingers drumming the steering wheel. The light turned green, and he gunned the engine. The trailer wobbled behind him.
It’d be dumb to take it into the evacuation zone. Where could he leave it? Where did that Ed guy live, anyway? No idea. Noel glanced down a side street and saw the sign for Nature’s Pantry. Wasn’t that where Sierra had her office? He swerved right without signaling and yanked the wheel into the gravel parking lot. The open sign in the store’s window wasn’t lit.
Noel jumped out of the truck and jogged for the door. Acrid smoke filled the air. Maybe that dude in Wynnton hadn’t realized the town of Galena Landing itself might be in danger. Noel’s heart constricted as he tested the door. It swung open.
“Hello?” he hollered, not waiting for someone to appear behind the counter. “Anyone here?” He glanced frantically around the old storefront, wooden floors worn from thousands of feet over decades. In here the smell of herbs mingled with the smoke that had forced its way in with him.
“Be right there!” a woman’s voice called. Feet
jogged down wooden stairs somewhere out of sight then Sierra skidded into the room from the back.
He’d never seen her look anything but perfect in all his visits to the farm. Now her hair was mussed and her eye shadow smudged.
“Noel? What are you doing here?”
He motioned out the door. “What’s going on?”
“Claire just called me. The wind shifted after I came to work. She said the fire is headed toward the farm. They’re saying—“ Her voice cracked. “They’re saying we could lose everything.”
And Claire already afraid of fire before this even happened. “What can I do?”
Sierra shook her head as though to dislodge buzzing insects. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“My sister is getting married.” Or was she? Would the wedding be postponed? Moved? What happened in situations like this? “I came for the wedding.”
Sierra’s eyes narrowed.
Oh, man. What was he supposed to say? Surely she wasn’t dumb enough to think his sister meant nothing to him. A voice at the back of his mind taunted him that he’d avoided promising to come, so what else could Sierra think?
“Not for Claire?”
A sick feeling plummeted through his gut. “Her, too. For sure.”
Sirens screamed past the health food store.
“Look, can I leave my trailer parked here? I’m headed out to the farm to see how I can help. I’ll be able to get around much faster without it dragging behind.”
Sierra’s gaze flicked to the front door and back to Noel. “Sure.”
He surged toward the door but spun back on his heel with his hand on the knob. “I didn’t see your car in the lot.”
Her jaw clenched. “We only have one running vehicle, Noel. I couldn’t very well leave her with a fire on the mountain and no wheels, could I?”
“No. No, of course not.” He stared at her. “Then how — why?”
A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set) Page 48