Love's Harvest (A Salmon Run Novel Book 1)

by Gwen Overland

  Barbara’s left eyebrow went up. It’d been a long time since she’d seen Julia this happy. “I’d have been here sooner, sweetie, but Kaliope was being a damn brat as usual, and we had one hell of a time finding uniforms to fit my two new volunteer deputies. But, here we are, and don’t those two look great?”

  Julia marched forward to give each of the men, as well as Barbara, a handshake. She was immediately followed by Diego and all of the men and women who’d stood to support their Señora in her moment of need. Julia, in turn, shook their hands as well and thanked each and every one of the workers by name for what they’d sacrificed by showing up.

  Barbara finally caught up with Julia and brought her aside. “Be careful, Julia. I don’t think those two are finished yet with their foolishness.”

  “I’m also quite curious to know why this sudden desire for James to take over the winery. I think I’ll do some poking around and see what I come up with. In the meantime, keep your eyes open and your doors locked. That goes for your workers as well. I hope you’re as proud of these folks as I am. They’re a very special people.”

  Julia nodded and smiled. “Yes, I am proud, and I care about them very much.”

  Sheriff Barbara glanced over at Diego, who pretended not to stare at both her and Julia. “Well, my dear, it’s obvious they adore you as well.” She nudged Julia with her elbow as she gave her an impish wink.

  As Barb and her deputies left, the workers ambled back toward their homes for Julia had given them the day off as a reward for their courage and loyalty. She remained in her front driveway aware that Diego had stayed behind to talk. He stepped so close to her, she thought her heart would jump out of her body. He then touched her arm as his dark eyes explored her own.

  “We’re going to have a celebration this afternoon,” he whispered. “A fiesta with music and games. It’d mean a great deal to our people if you were to attend.”

  Julia hesitated. “Oh, I don’t know.” The man’s presence distracted her so much she couldn’t think.

  “What I meant to say is, it’d mean a great deal to me.”

  Oh my God! Did he just say what I think he said?

  “Thank you, Diego. I’d enjoy that very much. What can I bring?”

  Well, that was a stupid thing to say. Julia still couldn’t get used to the idea she deserved the attention of a man like Diego.

  Diego simply stared into her eyes and smiled. “Only bring yourself, Julia. You’re more than enough.”

  She watched as he sauntered down the compound road toward the production barn, whistling a tune from his homeland. Julia wasn’t surprised by his innate musicianship. After all, he played guitar like a true professional.

  Exhausted by her lack of sleep, too much caffeine and pure adrenaline forced her to trudge forward. This had been quite the morning. All she wanted to do was collapse. Yet, in this very moment all she could think of was what she should wear to the evening’s celebration.

  ~ ~ ~

  All the way back into town James stewed over his situation. He was in such a financial hole he believed he had no choice but to take the land and turn it around for his benefit. Only Duncan was aware of the gambling debts James had built up over the last few months.

  Now with his house remortgaged to the hilt and his practice dwindling due to his recent lack of energy and focus, James found himself in a bind of his own making, unable to escape.

  Chapter 9

  As elated as Julia was with the results of the morning’s diverted catastrophe, she was still physically worn out. Some of that had to do with the early hour she got up, but most of it was due to the all the stress she’d internalized with regard to James and his malarkey.

  Soon she felt her head bob as she sat at her desk. She told herself that she’d close her eyes “for only a few minutes,” but three hours later she awoke to the sound of ranchero music coming from the compound below. The celebration had begun.

  She threw herself into the shower and prayed the hot water would clean away any doubts she held regarding her feelings for Diego and any confusion as to what if anything she should do about them. It was true. She’d been alone for some time. Sexual intimacy had been sacrificed while Robert was in treatment that long last year.

  Although she’d loved Robert, their relationship was built more on companionship and mutual respect than upon passion. She’d often wondered if she was even capable of that kind of sensual intensity.

  She certainly was passionate toward her music. But of course, that was different. She loved playing Chopin, Beethoven, and Brahms, but that certainly didn’t give her the same experience she felt in her lady parts whenever Diego glanced her way. No sirree!

  Then there was the issue of being Diego’s boss, which always seemed to loom over the two of them like a gray cloud. How would a relationship with him be anything but troublesome given everyone working at the winery would know immediately what they were about? Perhaps even before the two of them could figure it out.

  No, if they were to move forward in this romance, she’d have to first make a change in their business relationship. She and Diego would have to become partners at the winery before she‘d even consider becoming partners with him in the sack. On this she was clear, but how exactly she’d manage it all was at this point beyond her imagination.

  Most bothersome was the fact that Robert had only passed away two weeks earlier, and a mourning period for someone as wonderful as him had to be of a respectable length of time. Ten months? Ten weeks perhaps? Not ten days.

  Oh, Lord, what’s my problem? she asked herself. She was acting like a tart on a Tuesday night, without any remnant of common sense or good conscience.

  The elation she felt earlier with James’s removal was now eclipsed by her feelings of guilt, duty, and moral obligation. Perhaps it’d be best if she simply stayed in for the evening. Then again, it wouldn’t be fair to her employees to disregard their sacrifice in defending her and the future of the winery.

  No, she’d go to the party, but she’d either have to ignore Diego and hope he got the message, or the two of them would have to talk everything out. Admittedly, neither prospect was what she wanted to do.

  Julia was nearly fully dressed and ready to walk down to the celebration when her cell phone buzzed. She picked it up and immediately noticed that Gayle had already called at least a dozen times. Of course, with her sound asleep for the last few hours, Julia hadn’t heard a single ring, buzz or chirp.

  Damn! She hoped everything was all right. “Hi Gayle! How’s it going?”

  “Lucky for you Barb gave me all the information I needed to catch up on the news from the winery. I guess everything turned out better than we feared. How are you doing?”

  Julia could hear through the receiver a crowd of noisy children laughing and chattering up a storm. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry I didn’t call you right away, Gayle. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and didn’t wake up until now. How are the children? Any problems? Emergencies?”

  Gayle laughed. “Of course not. They’re lovely children and so well behaved. We here at the church hardly notice them. But I think they’re getting a little weary and some of them are concerned about their parents.”

  Julia’s sense of responsibility kicked in. “Do you want me to send their parents to pick them up, or can you or someone at the church bus them back home?”

  “As a matter of fact, we’re on our way there now. Vera’s driving the bus, and I’m teaching the children every Sunday school song I can think of or remember. I swear I stink at this, but I’m having a great time. We all are!”

  Julia marveled at Gayle’s energy and fortitude. How many people would take on thirty to forty children of varying English skills and treat them to the kind of day they were so deserving of?

  Not Julia, that was for sure! Although the thought
of working with children did spark something within her she’d long thought was dead or at the very least impossible.

  “Vera? As in Vera Knudson our minister’s wife? This I gotta see!”

  Julia slipped on her shoes and gave her hair a last-minute look in the mirror.

  “Go ahead and bring the children all the way down the hill to the compound. I know their parents’ll be thrilled to see them arrive in that big old school bus.”

  Julia listened as Gayle’s attention was momentarily diverted as one of the children told her she was carsick. “Look, Julia, we’ll be there shortly. I need to help this child before she upchucks her lunch and assorted snacks all over my shoes. Bye!” And she hung up before Julia could squeeze in a last word.

  ~ ~ ~

  Julia took off down the hill, excited to tell Rafael and Mariela their children were on their way home. As soon as she rounded the corner in the road, a shout rose up out of the crowd and everyone stopped what they were doing to look her way.

  Applause then erupted, along with whistles and cheers. “Brava La Señora!” “Hooray for the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard!” “Viva Julia Reynolds!”

  Julia’s face grew hot. She blushed but also smiled, for she was proud of what she, her workers, and her friends had accomplished that morning, and without a single person becoming seriously hurt.

  As she neared, she could see each and every worker were up on their feet, gifting her with their deepest respect and admiration. She applauded back at them, mouthing the words Gracias mi Amigos y Amigas with each step. Elbowing her way through the crowd, she at last fell into the waiting arms of Mariela.

  As the two of them embraced, Julia whispered into the woman’s ear, “Gracias Señora Pasqual. I owe you my life!”

  “And I owe you mine as well, Señora Reynolds!” she replied.

  The music started up again, and as many people as could danced for joy. Mariela gave Julia a few fancy turns and then went back to tending her tamales. As Julia surveyed the many happy workers enjoying their time together, she spotted Diego staring at her from near the soccer field.

  He was leaning up against a makeshift bleacher, his arms folded and his hat pushed back from his forehead. He wasn’t handsome in the same way Robert had been, but Diego had a strong face, made all the more powerful in its masculinity from the intensity of his quiet soul.

  Julia yearned to cross to him and kiss his full, inviting lips. This was perhaps the time, but certainly not the place. Now was the time to party, and to let her people know her deepest appreciation.

  She quickly turned her head and walked instead toward Joaquin who was celebrating with his daughter, Gabby. Very little was known about Joaquin’s past and even less about that of his daughter. They were both hard workers, and ultimately that was what truly counted.

  “Hello, Joaquin. Gabriela. I wanted to thank you personally for everything you both did this morning. I know it wasn’t pleasant, but at least we avoided what could’ve been a potentially dangerous situation.”

  Joaquin smiled back at her. “You’re very welcome, Señora. We felt we had no other choice. Isn’t that right, Gabby?”

  Gabriela didn’t answer but merely nodded at Julia with a serious look on her face. Julia was about to say something when she felt Diego grab her arm and turn her gently around to face him.

  “Are you avoiding me, Señora Julia? Have I said or done something to upset you? You seem angry at me, and I’m not sure why.”

  Julia trembled at both his touch and the discomfort of his words. She tried to avoid his eyes, but to no avail. Diego searched as hard for an answer as Julia struggled to avoid one.

  At last she opened her mouth, but still nothing came out. Instead she licked her lips, and Diego felt his body respond. They stood for several seconds in silence, interrupted only when they heard the sound of the church bus as it made its way down the hill. Everyone but the two of them ran to welcome Gayle and the children. All, that was, except for the band who continued to play even faster and louder in celebration.

  Diego then whispered barely loud enough for Julia to hear, “We need to talk.”

  “Yes, I know, but not now. Later this evening after things die down. Okay?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Diego merely nodded and then turned to greet the children as they emerged from the bus. As orchard manager, he needed to demonstrate his leadership and connection to his fellow workers and their families. Yes, something niggled inside his head. Was I reading her wrong? Isn’t she feeling the same thing I am?

  And then the condemnation began. You idiot! You’ve embarrassed the Señora! Now she may not even turn to you as a friend.

  Within seconds he realized the sour look on his face wasn’t what his people needed at this moment, so he quickly covered up the internal gnawing in his gut and plastered on a convivial smile. He wasn’t about to let others see what was going on.

  He could feel his insides turn over as his heart pounded within his chest. It’d been some years since he’d felt this kind of desperation. Immediately, he recognized it for what it undoubtedly signaled. Diego was falling in love with the Señora, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.

  “Uncle Diego!” Felicia called out as she ran toward him. “Look what I made at Vacation Bible School!”

  In her hands she held a plethora of colored pictures, plaster-of-Paris handprints, and an entire population of holy land paper dolls. Diego struggled to take it all in yet smiled even more broadly.

  “That’s very nice, Felicia. It looks like you were very busy.”

  Felicia smiled back at him. “Yes, and Eduardo and I didn’t argue once!” she declared as she ran toward her father to show him her artwork.

  Eduardo then made his way over to his uncle. “Yo, Uncle Diego! Is everyone all right? Did the man come today to throw us out?”

  Diego put his hand on Eduardo’s shoulder. “Yes, he came. But then he went away without causing trouble, so everything is okay for now.”

  Eduardo smiled, obviously relieved. Diego noted for the first time that Eduardo was growing up before his eyes into a fine young man, so of course he was worried about Diego and his parents, and no doubt as well for himself.

  “We gonna play some soccer later?” Eduardo asked.

  Diego felt a genuine smile come to his lips. “You got it!”

  A smile on his face, Eduardo spun around and ran to catch up with his friends.

  ~ ~ ~

  During the party, Julia once again went from worker to worker and thanked each of them personally for their support of the winery. Even with a nap she was feeling a bit tired, and so when Diego took the children after they ate to the field to play soccer, Julia decided to come along and watch for a while. Sitting in the bleachers, she marveled at how well Diego managed the children—especially the boys. He was a good listener, and looked each child in the eye when they conversed. Diego treated them like real people. Individuals, not merely a group of kids.

  She was also amazed at how well he maneuvered his body as he charged the soccer ball up and down the field, as if he was a professional himself.

  Julia smiled as she noticed how much fun Diego appeared to be having while he instructed and then teased the children. He was nothing more than a big kid himself. During the day, he seemed like such a quiet man, but this evening out on this makeshift field he personified pure joy.

  After an hour or so the party winded down and people moseyed toward their different homes and various places of rest. Julia always wondered where the many laborers at the winery lived, since the winery was only able to provide a minimum of housing units for the full-time working staff. She wished she could do more, but these were a proud people who would rather work overtime than take charity.

  They were lucky here in Salmon Run. By the end of each
summer’s day a light breeze would stir among the trees and move the air, making it feel much cooler than it probably was.

  Julia closed her eyes for a brief moment to take in the last gust of wind foretelling a pleasant night’s sleep ahead. When she opened them, Mariela was seated next to her.

  “I always love this time of the evening. Especially in the summer,” said Mariela. “It’s as if the earth embraces itself and all living things—to let the universe know everything’s as it should be and that it is good.”

  Julia breathed in deeply and released the air slowly through her mouth. “Even the bad things like people dying and others trying to cheat you out of what’s yours?”

  Mariela opened her eyes and gazed up at Julia. “Especially those things. You will see. Just give it some time.”

  Julia smiled and took Mariela’s hand. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.”

  Both women sat in silence.

  Finally, Mariela continued. “I’ve seen a change in Diego these last few days. I’ve waited six long years for him to show even the slightest hint of opening up and allowing himself to be free of his sadness. I think it’s because of his feelings for you, Señora.”

  Julia swallowed hard.

  “Oh, I’m not sure that’s exactly . . .”

  “I know my brother,” Mariela interrupted. “He doesn’t often show his feelings, but when he does, it’s clear. At least to me it is. He’s falling in love with you.”

  “In love with me?” Julia wanted it to be true but was afraid to admit it to anyone else, especially Mariela.

  “Be careful with his heart, Julia. It was broken once, and so badly I thought he’d never find a way to put the pieces together. He respects you and knows you respect him as well. That kind of mutual understanding is the strongest medicine of all.”