by Redrae Gunn
“Well?” Jenna asked as she looked at the bags and boxes.
“This one,” Tony said as he pointed to the long, heavy box that Jace had brought inside.
Jenna pulled, laughed, and tore into the wrapping paper. It was a wooden wine rack that even had a place to store wine glasses. The pretty metal that joined the dark wooden sides together looked like vines with delicate leaves bending upward to keep each wine bottle in place. Six rows of five and five rows of four.
“That’s fifty bottles of wine,” Jenna said more to herself than anyone else. Jace and Tony were nodding their heads.
“We were thinking of putting it across from the bathroom so it’s the first thing you see before you come into the kitchen,” Tony said. He knew that the kitchen already had limited space, but he wanted Jenna’s wine collection to be displayed. Jenna loved trying and sampling all different types of wine.
“That would look good,” Joan said, then she motioned to Jenna. “Come on. Open another.”
When Jenna paused, Jace pointed to one of the bags.
Jenna pulled out three different pounds of coffee and an envelope. She sniffed the different types of coffee and passed around the bags. Her mother was smiling and saying that the particular company the men had chosen usually had the best coffees from around the world. Jenna opened the envelope.
“It’s a one year membership to the coffee club.” Jenna smiled. “I’ll get three pounds of coffee delivered to my house every month.”
“That is a great gift,” Joan said.
“Jenna has gotten me pretty fond of the flavored coffees,” Tony admitted. “Even Jace has tried different brands and blends other than his Folgers.”
Jace pointed to another bag and Jenna pulled out her Kindle Fire and another envelope that told her she was now an Amazon Prime member. The next bag was another envelope that contained her one-year membership to the fruit truck. Jace was explaining that they had to pick the fruit and they had specifically asked for a variety of berries and apples. That way even Strydor would get his favorites during the winter.
“Hey, Jenna,” Evan said as he read the letter. “These automatically renew every year unless you cancel them. All of them.”
Jenna grinned at her dad. Of course her dad had been looking for something that claimed he was right about her men wanting something more permanent than just a year’s worth of labor. Jenna had to admit that her dad had been right, because it was one of the first things that she noticed, too. The charge might have been coming out of the farm account but Jenna was the sole owner of the memberships. She could transfer addresses at any time she wanted. Her men had taken the gamble of her having free coffee and fruit for life.
“Those two should be opened together so let your mom open the bag,” Jace said as he pointed one of two bags left. “And you open this box. A little warning, it is fragile.”
Jenna almost had her box opened when her mother started screaming. Jenna looked at her mom, who was pointing to the logo on the letter.
“This is the most prestigious wine club that you could possibly join,” Joan shrieked. “It is a minimum five-year membership and the cost of membership is outrageous.”
“I know, Mom,” Jenna said. She looked at Tony and Jace rolling her eyes. To her mom, everything was about a dollar sign. Jenna glanced at the letter. It was dated nearly a month earlier. Obviously the men weren’t out to just impress her mom because they hadn’t known about her parents coming until just a few days ago.
“Jenna, you have to provide feedback and everything on the assortments when they send them,” Joan said as she shook the letter at Jenna. “They send three bottles of wine every week along with an introductory twelve bottles to get you started.”
“I know, Mom,” Jenna said. “I used to belong to a wine club in New York. We sampled and commented on that company’s wine selections once a week. Every member of the club got to enjoy a couple glasses of different types of wine. It was also a pub and grill. The place was called Just Wine About It.”
Jenna dug through the Styrofoam peanuts in her box and her fingers grazed across something hard and delicately thin. She pulled the glass from the box and started crying when she saw the Just Wine About It logo painted on the ever-so-expensive crystal goblet.
“How did you…?” Jenna started to ask.
“Your Facebook page, sweet Jenna,” Jace said. “You had commented that there was no wine that could taste bad in a crystal glass from that pub. You also commented that if you ever found out it was the glass making the wine and not the wine having fine flavor you would revise your comments.”
“They have the finest crystal,” Jenna said as she touched the delicate stem. “It’s imported and hand crafted. A maker’s mark is on the bottom. They used to play “Taps” over their sound system if one of these goblets were broken. How did you manage this?”
“They only sent one?” Tony asked as he smirked into the box.
“There’s more?” Jenna’s eyes went wide. “There’s more?”
“Five more,” Jace said calmly as Jenna’s voice was getting higher pitched with every word that she spoke. “Why don’t you set that glass back inside the box and once Tony and I put together the wine cabinet you can hang them up.”
Jenna noticed that her mother hadn’t even asked to see the goblet.
“I didn’t know that you went to that pub,” Joan whispered.
“I did it because they were the best for wine.” Jenna shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t want you to think that I was doing it just to fit in with the socialites. I like my wine. Cheap, expensive, a hundred years old or a day old, I really don’t care.”
“Better open this one next then,” Jace said as he pointed at the perfect cube in the living room.
“Is this the introductory month?” Jenna asked. When Jace and Tony nodded their heads Jenna tore into the package and didn’t mind that her mother was doing the same.
“Chocolate raspberry,” Joan said as she clutched the bottle to her chest.
Jenna laughed and looked at the other bag, the final bag. Jace and Tony had been eyeing it as well and the apprehension had finally reached its peak.
“Don’t freak out,” Tony said when Jenna reached for the bag. “It’s kind of a catchall for your projects and stuff.”
“My projects?” Jenna paused as she looked at both of them.
“We know that you have used your own income to make improvements around the farm even though Jace gave you the card for the farm account,” Tony answered.
“This just makes you have to use farm money for farm projects,” Jace said. He hoped he sounded stern but he knew that if she freaked and ran he would be on his knees begging her back. He was not against prostrating himself across the driveway so that she couldn’t leave.
“There are things that need to be done around here,” Tony added. “We need a shower upstairs, we need the porch curtained and decorated. We need new rugs. This is for those purchases along with all of yours.”
“Plus we really want a hot tub off of the porch,” Jace said. “I’ve heard of watching a blizzard from the comforts of a hot tub and I thought that you would probably be the best person to design it.”
Jenna opened the envelope and saw the pretty credit card with a lightning bolt slashing across the front of it that bore her name. Then she flipped to the next page. The next page told her that she was the sole owner of the account and that the funds in the account were to be used as she deemed fit for improvements on the farm.
“That is a whole lot of leeway,” Jenna said as she finished the disclosure that reminded her it was as she saw fit for the farm. Jenna flipped the page and dropped the papers, shaking her head. She wanted to run from the room. She tried to stay calm. The account had been opened a month ago. “I can’t.”
“You can, baby,” Tony said. “We actually really need you on this one here. There is a central air unit coming in, getting on city water, and pouring the cement steps to replace the wooden o
nes in the front. Trust me that we need your help. We can’t take off that kind of time from the field or the cows. You can be here, at the farm, when the contractors come and you can handle it.”
“You two were going to spend this much money on farm improvements?” Jenna asked. She already knew that there was no way.
“All of the buildings need new shingles,” Jace said. “That alone will be at least five thousand per building with labor and supplies. The hot tub is going to run at least ten thousand by itself and you have to factor in the price for the deck. The log splitter looks like it’s probably toast, so include that into the price. Five thousand to remodel that upstairs bathroom, maybe ten.”
“We want a bigger shower.” Tony smirked at Jenna. “Something with multiple showerheads, let’s say three different shower heads.”
Jenna knew that she was blushing. Her father had winked at her and Jenna looked to see if her mom had caught what Tony was implying but her mom was looking at the papers that Jenna had dropped and had her hand to her chest.
“There’s a quarter of a million dollars in here.” Joan breathed as she looked at Jace and Tony. “Why do you even work?”
“That money won’t last forever,” Tony said. “We put ten percent of the current farm value into an account for improvements. When the oil wells are no longer producing we don’t want to leave our kids with a run-down property that is worthless.”
“Ten percent into improvements is a good idea,” Evan said, nodding his head. “You know, Jenna, if you use some of the new but expensive materials they actually guarantee them to last for at least a hundred years when it comes to decks and even shingles.”
Jenna barely heard her father. She was still processing the fact that Tony had just admitted that he and Jace wanted kids. Jenna wasn’t sure why she was surprised by that revelation. They were both young, handsome men and probably did have dreams of having a family. Jenna had wanted kids as well but she has resigned herself to the fact that the dream was probably out of reach, considering her need for other things.
“This farm is worth ten times as much as what is in this account?” Joan asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jace said solemnly. “It’s supposed to double in the next five years, so you can see the dilemma with an inheritance tax and things like that.”
“Can we please not talk about the money?” Jenna said as she snatched the paper from her mom. She wasn’t trying to be rude but it always blew her mind when Jace and Tony talked about how much money the farm made. It made her sad that they never took a break and had never been on a real vacation.
“I’m sorry,” Joan said. “It’s just that I hadn’t expected that type of wealth. You both seem like such simple men.”
“We are,” Jace said.
“That also allows us to save a good portion of the profits for an early retirement,” Tony said.
The front door opened and shut. Jenna watched Jace and Tony as they looked to see who had entered the house. Jenna hadn’t heard anyone pull into the drive but then again she had been a little overwhelmed by the amount in her farm improvement account and her very thoughtful birthday gifts.
Miles peeked his head into the living room and apologized for interrupting. He wished Jenna a happy birthday and then handed her a photo frame.
There was no photo inside but the frame was beautiful, with white strips of wood tied together with brown leather straps.
“I made it myself with some of the driftwood from around the cabin,” Miles said. “Then you can always remember your first Fourth of July in North Dakota at Antelope Bay.”
“I don’t think I will ever forget it,” Jenna said and she hugged Miles. “Thank you. This is really lovely.”
“You’re welcome,” Miles said to Jenna, and then he turned to Jace and Tony. “I think you’ve got a calf hung up somewhere. I can hear the mama bellowing and the calf is bleating pretty good, too. I just can’t tell where he ended up with the buttes echoing and all. I was going to go on foot but figured you two would make better time on the horses.”
“How long?” Jace asked as he walked into the bedroom and grabbed his gun. He hated this, but if the animal had truly fallen down into one of the ravines he was not going to let it suffer. He checked the pistol and made sure it was fully loaded. He pulled on his leg holster and tucked the pistol inside.
“Since I woke this morning,” Miles said. “An hour, maybe two. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t just lost.”
“Thanks,” Tony said as he strapped his pistol on his leg as well. They could never be too careful. If the calf was truly injured, other animals may be coming in for a free meal. There were all sorts of wild animals that they might encounter. Mountain lions had been spotted frequently, not to mention the coyotes, feral dog packs, and badgers. Tony added a second clip to his backpack just in case.
“Jenna, can you please pack some water and sandwiches for us?” Jace called as he pulled his hair back and under his hat.
“You want the thin packs for the saddlebags?” Jenna called back as she headed to the kitchen.
“Yes, please,” Jace called back.
“Those men are very polite,” Joan said as she sat at the kitchen table. “I’m sorry I ever said anything about you being a slave to them.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” Jenna said as she quickly threw together six sandwiches, some fruit, filled their large canteens, and packed the insulated saddle bags with the items. She stuffed some frozen bottles of water into the spare space in the bags so everything would stay at least a little bit chilled.
“Babe, can you pack a small cooler for Miles, too?” Tony asked. “He’s going to take his truck into the grasslands as far as he can and wait for us while we head into the buttes. He said he’s fine but…”
“He’s so stubborn.” Jenna smiled at Tony as she started making three more sandwiches. “Not a problem.”
“You are the best,” Tony said as he kissed her cheek, grabbed the saddle bag, and headed for the front door. “Tell Jace I’m going to start getting the horses ready.”
Jenna heard the front door slam and then Jace was in the kitchen with Miles and her father trailing right behind him. “Do I need to pack more sandwiches?” Jenna asked as she looked at her dad.
“I think I’ll go along to keep Miles company,” Evan said. He kissed his wife on the cheek. “You and Jenna could have some of that fancy wine and go shopping.”
“No drinking and driving,” Jace scolded.
“We do our shopping online.” Jenna smiled at Jace as she pulled together another set of sandwiches. “We double-team the sales. Our Internet will get a workout today.”
“Are you going to kill that baby cow?” Joan asked as she looked at the gun Jace was wearing.
“Not unless it’s suffering, ma’am,” Jace replied.
“What happens to him if he’s suffering?” Joan asked.
“Then he will suffer no more,” Miles said as he patted Joan’s hand. “I will take him to my home and with much blessing I will thank the good Lord for watching the animal while it was alive and for blessing me its gifts. I will let nothing go to waste.”
Jenna watched as her mother struggled with this sudden life-and-death scenario. Jenna had to hand it to Miles, though. The man couldn’t have come up with better wording to convince her mother that killing a baby cow was part of the almighty plan.
“If he’s only suffering the loss of his mother then calf and cow will soon be reunited,” Miles said.
Jenna saw her mother nod her head and then bowed her head to pray, no doubt for the safety of the animal. Perhaps, though, Jenna hoped, her mother was also praying for the safety of the four men as they went into the buttes to try to save the poor baby.
Jenna handed the cooler to Miles as he headed out to the truck with her father right behind him. Jace still stood in the kitchen. Jenna raised her eyes at him. “Tony went to get the horses ready. I was supposed to tell you that,” Jenna said.
“You ar
e the most amazing woman I have ever met,” Jace said. “I’m glad you are here. I’ve been meaning to tell you that.”
Jace kissed her quickly on her cheek and then went outside.
Jenna waited only a minute and then she ran out the door and to the corral. She kissed Tony on the lips and told him to be careful. Then she kissed Jace on the lips and told him to be careful as well. She watched them mount the horses and then ride off. They both turned back to wave at her. She waved back and finally turned to Miles and her dad in the truck.
“Dad, you be careful, too,” Jenna said. “Miles, stay safe. Every man I care about is going to be out there, so make sure you all come back safe.”
“We are going to do our best, Jenna,” Evan said, and Miles nodded his head.
Jenna was pushing back the tears when she came back into the house. She wasn’t sure why. Tony and Jace left her every day to go do dangerous chores and sometimes Miles joined them. But they had never left with her father, too.
“It’ll be okay,” Joan said when Jenna cleaned up the kitchen.
“How do you know?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t,” Joan replied. “But there is a bottle of chocolate raspberry wine that tells me it will be okay.”
Jenna looked at her mom and started to understand some of the erratic behavior that she displayed through the years. Her mom worried all the time. The pills, the alcohol, the shopping, and trying to control everything were the ways in which her mother coped.
“You grab the wine and the glasses,” Joan said. “I will go grab my laptop from the RV and then we do some serious group therapy.”
Jenna laughed. Therapy. Jenna would need years of counseling to get over the issues that she had. Instead of settling for therapy she had embraced her issues and both Jace and Tony loved her for it. Wine and shopping therapy sounded good too. Why spend on a shrink what you could spend online?
