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

by Valerie Comer

  She couldn’t marry Tyrell. She was meant to be on this farm, being part of this calling, not eight miles away keeping house for someone she didn’t truly love. No more sticking up for him. No more pretending. A weight slid off her shoulders.

  Gabe was another matter, one not so easily decided. But she still couldn’t talk to him without knowing the biopsy results. Just a few more days.

  “—over here?” Jo pointed at the blueprint.

  Sierra gave her head a quick shake. Time to focus.

  “A small lab, so we can run tests like soil pH.” Allison turned to Sierra. “Would you like to teach classes on herbal medicines? Chelsea told me about your training and the herb garden.”

  Sierra stared at her for a moment. “I feel like a fraud.”

  “Um…” Allison looked at the others then back at Sierra. “Why is that?”

  “Do you know how many pharmaceuticals I’ve taken in the last few weeks? How many invasive procedures I’ve had done? How can I talk about natural healing when I went running to the doctor myself?”

  Chelsea snorted. “More like you got dragged.”

  “Oh, good grief, Sierra.” Jo shook her head. “Sometimes we need modern medicine. It’s not evil just because it exists.”

  “I’d be blind without glasses,” Chelsea put in. “I hope you don’t advocate I double the carrots I eat and throw my glasses away.”

  “No, of course not.” Sierra wrapped her arms around her middle. Shielding herself from attack, perhaps? “Sorry I mentioned it.”

  “Balance is always a good thing.” Claire tapped her pen on the table. “We don’t buy everything organic. We’re not running this place perfectly. We’re doing the best we can with what we have… most of the time.”

  “I haven’t been able to cure Zach of stopping for an occasional burger at the drive-through.” Jo rolled her eyes heavenward. “At least the diner in town doesn’t appeal to him, so his addiction is limited to out-of-town trips.”

  “Now there’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Claire gave Jo a pointed look. “I saw those bags of chips you tried to hide when I popped by last week.”

  Everyone laughed, and Sierra managed a smile.

  Quirking her eyebrows, Allison met Sierra’s gaze across the table. “Will you? Which season would be best for that?”

  Wasn’t this what she’d always wanted to do? Teach others about natural medicine? She bit her lip and nodded. “Summer. Will we have a building by then?”

  “If we set it for July, we should. I hate putting off our opening classes until then, but we didn’t get things rolling early enough this fall to get started before freeze-up. So, there’s no help for it.”

  “We could do something on gardening in May and June, if attendees don’t mind tenting,” said Jo. “A group of, say, fewer than fifteen could meet in the great room when they’re not in the garden.”

  “Or there’s always the pole barn,” Claire added.

  Allison nodded. “That might work. With a group like that we could even start a market garden on the premises. Maybe across the driveway from the classroom building? Or did you have other plans for that area?”

  A market garden. Sierra stared at Allison. Why had it taken an outsider to get things rolling that the original trio had meant to do all along? “There’s no place to sell that much produce. Gabe—” She choked on his name. “Gabe can absorb some at Nature’s Pantry, if he’s willing.” If he were still talking to her by summer.

  “You don’t think a roadside stand would draw customers here?” asked Allison.

  “It is rather the end of nowhere,” said Claire. “Not counting the logging road up the mountain.”

  Allison shrugged. “But it’s only five miles from town. People wouldn’t come?”

  “Nosiness will bring some,” Chelsea put in. “I bet people in town are dying of curiosity as to what goes on out here.”

  Claire nodded. “True, that.”

  “If we had the garden and the laborers for it anyway, there’s no reason not to go for the stand.” Jo paced to the front window and peered out. “All it takes is a bit of lumber, a few coolers, and a cash float. No one needs to sit there if there are no customers, if it’s right beside the garden itself.”

  They clustered around her, chattering about the possibilities.

  Sierra tugged Jo back out of the group. “You doing okay?” she whispered.

  Jo shrugged. “Kind of okay. It helps to have this to focus on today. How about you?”

  “Same as you. Kind of okay. Where’s Maddie?”

  “Steve offered to sit with her for her nap. Rosemary is making Christmas crafts and wanted the house to herself.”

  Sierra grinned. “Maddie adores him.”

  “Yeah, he’s a good grandpa.” Jo’s phone beeped, and she pulled it out. After reading the text message, she glanced at Sierra. “Gabe invited Zach to dinner at The Sizzling Skillet tonight so he won’t be home.”

  Uh oh. What was up with the guy talk?

  * * *

  “So, what’s up? Have you talked to Sierra lately?” Zach twisted his coffee cup in circles at The Sizzling Skillet.

  Gabe snorted. “If by lately you mean a few weeks ago, sure.”

  “Not since yesterday, then?”

  “No, why?”

  Zach shrugged. “Just wondered.”

  His best friend had never been good at pretending. Gabe stared at him for a long moment, but Zach wouldn’t meet his gaze. Whatever. Sierra wasn’t why he’d called his buddy.

  Not directly, anyway.

  The waitress came by to take their orders. When she had gone, Gabe cleared his throat. “I’ve made some decisions.”

  That brought Zach’s attention around quickly enough. “Like what?”

  Gabe took a deep breath. “I’m selling the store.”

  “You’re what?” Zach slapped the table. “You can’t do that.”

  “It was a tough decision, but it’s time.”

  “But—”

  “But what, Nemesek? I own it free and clear. I’m a grown man. Why can’t I sell it?”

  “You just got back to Galena Landing. We need you here, man.”

  Gabe shook his head. “I’ve been back for over two months. Plenty long enough to realize that things have changed, and it’s not in my best interests to stay.”

  “Is this about Sierra?”

  “Partly. At least, if she hadn’t cut me out of her life, I probably wouldn’t have done it. But she did, so I did.”

  “You’re making a big mistake, Rubachuk. Can you de-list it?”

  Gabe leaned forward. “You didn’t hear me. I didn’t just list the business. I sold it.”

  Zach gave his head a quick shake. “You sold it? You never even talked to me about the possibility and now it’s a done deal?”

  “It happened rather quickly.”

  “I’ll say.”

  “You know Tammy Stephenson?”

  “Yeah, the Realtor. She and Matt go to our church.”

  “She stopped by last week for some groceries and asked if I’d consider selling. That she had a buyer looking for something just like Nature’s Pantry.”

  “And you said—”

  “I said I’d think about it.”

  The waitress set a bowl of French onion soup in front of each of them and topped off their coffee cups.

  Zach leaned back in his chair, his narrowed gaze never leaving Gabe’s. “That’s not a final sale then.”

  “I called her Friday and said yes.”

  Zach mumbled something under his breath.

  “She brought the couple by yesterday to view, they placed an offer, I accepted, and they take over at the end of the year.”

  “They what?” Zach leaned forward so suddenly his spoon went flying and his soup splattered. “Rubachuk, tell me you’re pulling my leg.”

  “I’m not.” Gabe kept his voice steady. He hadn’t expected his buddy to be thrilled, but this wasn’t the reaction he’d been
going for, either.

  “Man, you can’t do this. You just can’t. Find some hole in that paperwork and overturn it.”

  The waitress appeared to blot the soup off the table and deliver a clean spoon.

  “You’re missing something, Nemesek. I made a deal because I wanted to. I’m not going to appeal it. There’s no point.” Maybe “wanted to” was coming on a bit strong. But what choice had Sierra left him?

  “It’s all because of Sierra, isn’t it?”

  He lifted a shoulder in a resigned response.

  “I never figured you’d give up on her this easily.”

  Gabe crashed his fist on the table. “This easily? What are you talking about? She’s refused to talk to me for weeks. She’s treated me like scum.”

  “She had reasons.”

  “What?” Gabe shot to his feet. “I did nothing to deserve it. Nothing, man.”

  “Sit down. I didn’t mean it that way.” Zach shoved his hand through his hair. “Look, there’s been some stuff going on.”

  Gabe dropped into his chair and crossed his arms. “Oh, yeah? So now suddenly you’re all privy to it?”

  A dark look crossed Zach’s face. “The confidence was hard-won.”

  “Don’t speak in mysteries.”

  “Look, it’s not my story to tell. But trust me when I say that nothing that’s happened has been against you.”

  A sharp laugh exited Gabe’s mouth. “Right. I’m supposed to believe that?”

  “Have I ever lied to you?”

  Gabe narrowed his eyes and thought through the many years he’d known Zach. “No.”

  “I’m not lying now either.” Zach shook his head and pulled in a deep breath. “I sure wish you’d talked about this before signing your life away.”

  “You make it sound like I joined the military or something.”

  Zach’s eyes veered back to Gabe. “Did you?”

  “No, Nemesek, I did not. Figured I’d go back to college and… take something useful. Whatever that turns out to be.”

  Two plates with loaded burgers and fries landed on the table. Gabe stared at the food. Turned out he wasn’t that hungry. He hadn’t even tasted the soup. Neither had Zach.

  Zach shook his head, picked up his burger, and took a big bite.

  Gabe stared at his a moment longer before doing the same. A hint of appetite revived. This was a whole lot better than cooking for himself.

  “What did you mean about Sierra?” he asked at last. “Is she really going to come clean with what’s bugging her?” Not that he’d trust her again, but it would still be nice to know so he could close that door.

  “Yeah, she is. She thinks she’s had good reason for keeping her secrets.”

  “Right.” No way was he going to start telling his buddy all the various scenarios his active mind had come up with. Not if Zach knew the truth, and apparently he did.

  Why was Gabe always the last to know? Didn’t he deserve better than this? He rammed a handful of home-cut fries into his mouth.

  “Something else you ought to know,” Zach said at last.

  “Hmm?”

  “Jo miscarried yesterday.”

  A surge of sympathy shot through Gabe. “Oh, no. That’s rough.” And here he was going on about his own problems.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry I asked you to dinner tonight. You should have said no. She needs you there.”

  Zach shrugged. “It’s okay. Jo’s with the girls. They’ve been in a meeting all afternoon with Allison and Chelsea. That’s helping take her mind off things.”

  Green Acres would carry on whether Gabe was in Galena Landing or not. Sierra would be just fine without him, too. She had the girls. She had the farm. She had Burke.

  Obviously, she didn’t need Gabe.

  Chapter 32

  Sierra’s cell phone rang. The number on the screen was Dr. Wilburn’s office. She closed her eyes for a second. This was it. Now she’d know. She slid the phone on to accept the call. “Sierra Riehl here.”

  “Ms. Riehl? This is Donna from Dr. Wilburn’s office.”

  Um, yeah, she already knew that. “Thanks for calling, Donna.” Now get on with it, lady.

  “I have good news for you. The biopsy results came back negative.”

  Sierra dropped into the nearest chair, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. “Negative? Really? No cancer?”

  “None whatsoever.”

  “Well, that’s good news.” She was going to live after all. With all her girly parts intact.

  “We’ll continue to monitor the endometriosis, of course.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, have a great day!”

  Sierra thumbed the call off. She’d been braced for the opposite results. She’d all but felt the cancer eating through her uterus. She’d just known…

  She’d been wrong. Thank the Lord, she’d been wrong.

  Now what?

  She was going to live long enough for it to be worth making plans. No way could she marry Tyrell. She’d been reminded again of what a loving husband was like, watching her dad. Zach and Noel. Tyrell could never compare. Could never fit into her life at Green Acres. Wouldn’t even want to.

  Sierra shrugged on her jacket and swept her purse and car keys together. One benefit of her friends being married was that their guys had trucks. She didn’t have to ask anyone if she could use the old hatchback anymore.

  Yeah, she could call Tyrell, but he wasn’t the sort who would get the nuances over the phone. She needed to drive out there in person and give it to him straight. Make sure he got the message.

  Then she’d call Chelsea and tell her friends the good news.

  Gabe.

  She sucked in a deep breath of frozen air and let it out slowly. These results made no difference with him. So her problems weren’t as permanent as a hysterectomy, but her chances of conceiving were still zero to none. Dr. Wilburn had made that very clear even before the biopsy.

  But still, she owed Gabe the truth.

  She slid into the car, rubbing her gloved hands together. Brr. The wind had picked up, and dark, foreboding clouds hid the sun. Looked like that forecasted storm was going to hit after all. At least Chelsea and Allison had made it back to Portland yesterday before it began.

  A few minutes later she pulled into the parking spot beside Tyrell’s shiny truck. That guy must hit the car wash every week.

  She rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Dear Lord, give me the right words. Help Tyrell to understand.

  Did it matter if he understood, really? All she had to do was make it clear that this was the end. She took a deep breath and pushed open the car door. Snow swirled around her as she clutched her jacket tight and made her way to his door. She rang the doorbell.

  A moment later it swung open and she met Tyrell’s surprised gaze. “Sierra. Wow, didn’t expect to see you here. Come on in.”

  If it had been summer, she’d have talked from the doorstep, but not in this wind. She stepped inside then leaned against the closed door.

  “Let me take your coat. Can I get you something to drink? A cup of coffee, perhaps?”

  Sierra blinked. “No thanks. I’m only here for a few minutes.”

  He leaned against the back of his leather sofa, the spotless room displayed behind him. “What’s up, doll?”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  Tyrell grinned. “You know you like it.”

  “No, actually, I don’t. I’m not someone’s plaything or… or display piece.”

  Something hardened behind his eyes. “Never said you were.”

  “Look, I came here to tell you that it’s over between us.”

  Tyrell’s eyebrows shot up. “Over?”

  “Yes. I know I don’t love you enough to make a life with you, and I don’t think you care about me that much either.”

  “You don’t love me.”

  “That’s right.”

  He laughed. “Well, Rubachuk doesn’t love you, either.�
��

  Ouch, that hurt. “This isn’t about Gabe.”

  “Right. You expect me to believe that?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Uh huh. Everything was going fine between us until he showed up like a lost puppy, preying on your sympathies.”

  Gabe? A lost puppy? Well, maybe. A bit.

  “He’s not man enough for you, doll. You need somebody strong.”

  “You mean I need someone who will walk all over me and never listen to a word I say? Like now?”

  He shook his head, grinning. “I can’t imagine Rubachuk dealing with your sass.” Tyrell straightened and crossed the few steps to Sierra before she could react. He grabbed her by the arms and kissed her.

  She tried to push him away, but he was stronger than she was. He deepened the kiss.

  Sierra bit his lip.

  Tyrell sprang back. “You little vixen, you!”

  She wrenched the door open and escaped to the steps. “I told you it’s over, Tyrell. How dare you force yourself on me after that?” Or before, for that matter. But definitely after.

  He stared at her, his eyes hard. “That wasn’t a very Christian thing to do.”

  “Give me a break. That’s it, Tyrell. Over and done. Got it?”

  “Oh, I’ve got it, all right. But don’t come back begging me. I’ll build that new house, and you’ll never live in it.”

  As if she cared. “I never asked for a new house.” All she’d wanted was love. Respect. A family.

  “Every girl wants a big house.”

  “I don’t. Goodbye, Tyrell.” She turned to go.

  “You won’t be able to use my extraction equipment.”

  Like that was reason enough to bend to his will? Not hardly. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll have something in place by next fall.” And best of all, she was going to live long enough to need it.

  * * *

  Gabe sat at the one and only traffic light in Galena Landing and watched Sierra drive through, going south. Probably heading to Burke’s. It didn’t matter what Zach said a few days back. She hadn’t called him to explain. Hadn’t stopped by the store. Hadn’t made any effort to get in touch that he could tell.

  He jammed his right turn signal on, not that there was anyone behind him to care. This was the perfect time to go out to the farm, when she wasn’t there. She could come find him on her own time… if she ever got around to it.