AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s always busy. So many cattle; so much stench.” Brenda fixes her jacket over her ample chest. “Now, I’m not sure how interested you are in the farming operations, but the house is something to see.”
“Maybe we should start in the milking parlor? If they start milking at four, best we get our look-see in.”
Brenda’s gaze washes over me and takes in my attire. I know, I know. I look like a lawyer and totally out of place. Turns out my wardrobe reflects my life.
“Well then, this way,” Brenda says, but I’m already strolling off in the direction of the barn… or what used to be the barn. Up closer, things aren’t exactly as I remember them. The place seems to have tripled in size in the years I’ve been gone.
With Mom never talking about the farm, the first thing we found out on learning about our inheritance is that the whole operation is run by a capable farm manager who also lives in the farmstead with his wife and kids. Several farm hands from the area also work here permanently and this is a well-oiled machine. Where there used to be one barn, there now seem to be three big outbuildings. For a moment I feel disoriented, then I head to a side entrance and peek inside.
As I step over the threshold, my body throws a shadow on the floor. Good God. It’s massive, with lots of stainless steel and a constant buzzing noise of machines and spraying water. On the other side, beyond railings and pens, two men in coveralls are at work, preparing for milking. I can’t see the cows, but I can hear and smell them.
Too late I notice the three men standing to the side, close to what used to be the office, as they look toward me in unison.
My breath catches.
Hunter’s eyes widen in surprise. “Beth.”
Dang it. My heartbeat speeds up to a gallop on just seeing him. He hovers, then takes a step in my direction. I tear my gaze away from his to the older man who is taking two wide strides in my direction.
“I can’t believe it! Beth Anderson!” And just like that I’m folded into a hug, tight and fatherly, hardly registering it before I’m held at arm’s length as Bill Brodie studies me, a sparkle in his eyes. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, honey. Wait until May hears about this.”
Bill has me by the elbow and tugs me closer to where Hunter stands, hands on his hips, eyes on Brenda Whitnell as she huffs and puffs her way into the circle.
“Brenda,” Hunter and Bill nod and mutter as one.
The third man holds out his hand to me. “Simon Moore, farm manager.”
“Of course, nice to meet you,” I say with a fake smile and a shake of the hand. I’m flustered and trying my best not to show it.
“Fancy seeing all of you here,” Brenda says as she eyes Simon up and down with a tug at her lapels. “Ms. O’Neill wanted to visit the farm to see what she has here before it goes on auction.”
Auction? What the hell? We never mentioned an auction. And why does my married name scrape at my innards like this? Bill’s smile wilts, but Hunter seems to pull up even tighter and taller. I dig deep and say, “Let’s not talk shop right now, Brenda.”
“But that’s what we’re here for,” Hunter says, his eyes on me, cold and unwavering.
That uneasy feeling of walking straight into a trap spreads over my skin. Traps are fine, I deal with them all day long, but I’m out of my depth here.
“It’s just that Simon needs to prepare for the eventuality of a sale and well, the farming equipment and livestock will need to go somewhere,” Bill says, his gaze jumping between me and Brenda. He shoots a glance at Simon and Hunter. “We figured we might just as well get ahead and see how we can best salvage the operations here.”
“And see if we can set up Simon and his family somewhere else. Uncle Bill has a new barn—” Hunter breaks off. “Technically, Uncle Bill has a new barn which Raiden’s been using, but the milking system still needs to be installed and we thought we could make a price for the equipment here and get out of our original contract with that supplier—”
Hunter breaks off again and just stares at me. Things are moving way too fast for me here. Maybe I’m jet-lagged, because nothing makes sense beyond Hunter standing there, in blue jeans and a navy hoodie, rubber boots on his feet. This isn’t the businessman who waited for me in the small meeting room in San Francisco, blazing back into my life like a freaking meteorite. This is Hunny, my Hunny, as I always remembered him. With Bill’s impulsive hug still warming me inside out, all I want is to have a hug like that from Hunter too. And stay in his arms. Right here.
“And then if we can take over most of the cows,” Bill continues, then pauses. “Eh… well, that will depend on so many things, mostly grazing and whether we can rent some farmland and buy organic feed and if we can source it in time—”
“It’s going to be a bit of a juggle,” Simon interrupts Bill as he takes a breath, “but it can be done. Rest assured I’ll make sure you get the best price for the livestock, whether they’re sold as milk cows or go to the abattoir—”
“What?” I bury my fingers in my jacket pockets to hide their quivering. “Abattoir?”
“Yep.” Hunter’s voice is level and cold. My Hunny has left the building. “Surely you remember what happens to milk cows once they’ve done their time?”
“No?” Why am I so flustered?
“Lasagna, Beth. They get turned into lasagna.”
12
HUNTER
