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

by Gwen Overland

  Julia took Mariela’s words into her heart and whispered back a simple oath. “I will, Mariela. I truly will.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Diego watched as Julia excused herself, but instead of walking up the hill toward her home, she took off into the vineyard itself. His first instinct was to follow her, but he still had a few children left at the soccer field waiting for their parents to call them in for the night. He knew he was being given the brush off, but at the same time he remembered she’d said she wanted to speak with him after the party. About what, he didn’t have a clue. Whatever it was, Diego had a sinking feeling he wasn’t going to like it.

  ~ ~ ~

  The sun, as it set, painted the sky in bright colors of violet, apricot, and turquoise, allowing Julia to have some alone time in the comfort of the lush yellow-tinged greenery of the grape fields.

  Since the beginning of time this must be exactly what God had in mind for this small corner of the world.

  To imagine this land destroyed for high priced condominiums or a golf resort made her stomach turn. The Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard would once again flourish as it did when Robert first took it over for his father. It had to. She‘d be the one to make sure of that.

  In this moment more than ever before an overwhelming feeling of gratitude surged through her body. She felt a quiet intimacy between her and the land, leaving her emotionally raw. Knowing she was blessed to be responsible not only for herself but for all those who worked for her made her feel both humble and vulnerable at the same time.

  Before today, she’d never seen herself as particularly tender hearted, but that was exactly how she felt. She’d also never been much of a crier, always having to keep up the façade of being a strong, independent, and unshakable woman. In some ways she was all that, but now she felt a part of something larger than herself, her music, her marriage, and her career.

  Julia was now part of an even more substantial community of honest people doing real work for not only themselves but for each other. She smiled as she remembered what Mariela said earlier to James and his men. Julia was now an honorary wetback, part of this community of displaced and hardworking people trying to make their lives better for themselves, their families and for their fellow laborers. Julia was happy for the first time in a long time, and the tenderness of that thought caused her to weep.

  ~ ~ ~

  It took Diego a few moments to find Julia, but once he spotted her, he cleared his throat before speaking so as not to frighten her. “Julia?”

  “Diego,” she said softly as she turned around to face him, tears and all. “I’ve so much to say, I hardly know where to start.”

  Diego took her into his embrace. “I know, Julia. I sensed all afternoon you had something important on your mind.”

  Julia continued to gently cry onto his shoulder.

  “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me this morning. Without your help and that of the many workers, I would’ve lost all of this to a very short-sighted and greedy man. All of you could’ve lost your jobs, been sent back to Mexico or what’s worse, been hurt or killed. I feel so undeserving and yet grateful at the same time.”

  Diego tenderly held her while feeling the heart-pounding rush of wanting to take her right where they stood.

  “Shh, Julia. No need to cry. We did it for ourselves as much as for you. You’re also our friend as much as you’re our employer. Mariela, Rafael, and I never leave a friend shorthanded when our help is needed.”

  He pulled back and placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her gaze to face him. Diego smiled down into her tear-stained face. “I know it isn’t easy for you, Julia, to accept you have a community of people who see you as their own. I know what it feels like when you think you’re all alone against the world.”

  His fingers gently touched the loose tangles of her silky blonde hair.

  “I’ve come to understand that one doesn’t have to lose oneself completely merely to be part of a large family, even if it’s not what they may’ve been used to in the past. You’ve been alone for a long time. But you need to know you’re not alone anymore.”

  Julia looked up into his dangerous and comforting eyes. “Why then do I feel so lonely?”

  Before he could answer, Diego took her lips with this own. At first gently and then with the full rush of passion. Julia didn’t even try to resist. She responded with an equal yearning. When he heard her moan in response, Diego nearly lost his mind.

  A small still voice was telling him to slow down and let Julia take the lead, yet his body screamed for a chance to take this woman and make her his own. Julia’s body reacted in kind as he deepened his kiss. She opened her mouth and let his tongue taste the warmth and urgency of her desire.

  He felt Julia’s legs weaken as they surrendered to the intimacy of the moment. “Let yourself go, Julia. Don’t think, just feel.”

  All at once she became aware that her legs no longer held her upright, that Diego’s strength was the only thing keeping her from falling to the ground. Gradually, he and Julia took to the grassy floor as he kissed her not only on her lips, but on her forehead, cheeks, and neck as well.

  His mouth then moved to one of her ears and Julia thought she was going to explode. Diego’s erection throbbed, urging him to grind into her softness, but he held back. He knew better than to be a servant to his carnal desires, but by God, this fabulous, sexy woman was finally in his arms—right where for the last few days he had imagined her to be.

  With Julia lying on the grass, Diego was now free to use his hands to touch, caress, and squeeze. He leaned over her and studied her half-lidded eyes. She was no less aroused than he.

  He lightly stroked her face with his fingertips. “You’re so beautiful, Julia. Your skin, your eyes and hair, and your heart.” He soon moved his hand down to her breast and molded it within his warm palm.

  “Diego,” was the only thing she said before she once again let out a moan. He kissed her ravenously as his hands explored her back, hip, and upper leg.

  “Don’t stop, Diego.”

  The last thing he wanted to do was stop. He wanted her, so badly he thought he’d die if he didn’t soon put himself into the wet warmth of her womanhood. Yet, the voice in his head resurfaced, forcing him to hesitate. This isn’t the time or place, you idiot. Quit acting like an animal and take her into a place as beautiful and sophisticated as she is. Not here on the vineyard floor.

  He abruptly stopped what he was doing and laid his sweaty forehead on her chest. “Forgive me, Julia. You’re so lovely, for a moment I nearly forgot myself.”

  Julia was breathing as hard as he was. “Don’t you dare apologize, Diego. I wanted this moment to happen as much as you did.”

  Diego grinned and before they both knew it, they were laughing at each other’s mutual awkwardness. “I feel like a young boy on a first date.” He chuckled. “You make me think of all the wonderful things I could do with you if I wasn’t your employee.”

  “And if my husband hadn’t died recently,” she added unthinkingly. The levity went out of the moment as quickly as it had appeared.

  Diego helped Julia up to a sitting position. “My head plays tricks with my heart,” he said. “I want you, Señora, with all my body and soul. Yet when I remember who I am and who you are, I feel sad or worse. Ashamed.”

  “We’ve nothing to be ashamed of, Diego.” Then she smiled again. “Not yet anyway,” she teased.

  Diego didn’t as yet return her smile. “I want to court you, Julia. I want to do it the way you deserve, not like this.”

  He paused for a moment as he searched for the right words. “Would you do me the honor of having dinner with me tomorrow evening?”

  Julia thought about this for a moment. A few seconds ago she was ready to invite him into her bed, and now they were disc
ussing, of all things, a dinner date. It was obvious he wanted her to notice his respect for her and her position at the winery. However, he was also thinking of Julia’s vulnerable heart made lonesome by grief. The sweetness of his request alone melted whatever resolve Julia may’ve had earlier.

  “I’d be delighted, Diego.”

  He took her hands in his. “I don’t want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. We both know it’s perhaps too soon for you to be seen with another man, but I don’t want to keep what I feel for you a secret.”

  Is it love he’s speaking of? Julia asked herself as she stepped toward him.

  He placed his arms around her and pulled her against his body. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather spend the evening with than with you, Diego. People will talk. They usually do, but I do not care as long as you feel the same.”

  Diego smiled and kissed on her forehead. “For right now, we’ve only one big question to answer. Do we walk out of this field together or one at a time?”

  Julia smiled at Diego’s attempt at humor, then both answered at once. “Together!”

  Diego took Julia by the hand and led her through the vineyard, pointing out the various sections designated by what genus of grape grew within which parameter. Diego was proud of his work and wanted to show her all he’d planted and how well the grapes had matured. He explained how the planted Madeleine Angevine, Gewurztraminer, Siegerrebe, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir grapes would each be ready for harvest at different times of the year. More importantly, however, Diego fashioned a sizable erection and needed to give himself enough time for his body to quiet down before he and Julia arrived at the compound where others would no doubt see them.

  Julia loved the feel of her strong but undersized hand held in the stronger and more calloused one of Diego. At one point she gazed down at their intertwined hands, her pale English-Scottish skin against his, the color of caramel. They were opposites in many ways but not in the ways that most seemed to count.

  Diego and Julia both understood the challenging journeys of grief and loneliness as well as the twin forces of loyalty and legacy. They were both extremely aware of the values of friendship and hard work.

  In this very moment the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard provided the fertile ground into which each of them could pour their heart and soul to build something to be proud of.

  By the time they arrived at the compound, the sky was dark, illuminated only by the cloud-covered moon and the lights of the dozen or so apartment units. Mariela stood in her half-lit doorway and watched her brother and Julia as they crossed the grounds.

  She loved seeing the two of them easily enjoying each other’s company and conversation. Yet Mariela couldn’t help but feel concern for their futures, both individually and as a couple.

  Her prayer now was that when their initial infatuation had simmered, as it naturally would over time, they still would find within each other what had united their souls in the first place. Worried though she was, Mariela realized in that moment she not only loved her brother beyond scope or definition, but deeply loved the Señora as well.

  Chapter 10

  For the first time in several months, Julia slept like a rock. When she finally opened her eyes, she was surprised at how calm and rested she felt. She turned over and thought about sleeping a hair longer, but the guilt of not getting much if any work done the day before gnawed at her.

  Several stacks of bills and other correspondence waited for her to attack. It’d been months since Julia kept up with the mail. She could put it off no longer.

  She stretched herself awake and ambled into the kitchen to make her morning cup of coffee. While she waited for the water to heat, she peered out the tiny window toward the building which housed her office, the retail shop, and the tasting room.

  When she saw a light coming from her office, she froze. Unsure if she was being robbed, or if James had perhaps returned only to wreak more havoc, stole her serenity as well as her breath. She hurriedly ran to retrieve her cell phone and placed a call to the Sheriff’s office.

  “Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department, Abigail von Buskirk speaking.”

  “Hi Abby, this is Julia Reynolds. I think I may have a problem at the winery.” Julia dressed as quickly as she could while cradling her phone at the same time.

  “I’ll send a car out post haste. What’s the nature of your emergency, Julia?”

  “I’m not sure, Abby. A light’s on in my office, but I distinctly remember turning off all the lights last night before going to bed. It’s Saturday, normally a day off, so I can’t imagine who’d be in my office this early in the morning.”

  Abbie snorted. “It’s actually a few minutes past noon, but I’ll make sure the deputy understands your concerns, especially given yesterday’s activities. Things are a bit crazy out your way, huh?”

  “That’s the understatement of the year.” Julia tried to laugh but couldn’t.

  Abby continued, “Well, stay put. No need to aggravate the situation by placing yourself in any danger.”

  “Uh-huh,” Julia answered as she slipped on her shoes.

  “You listen to me, Julia Reynolds. Stay out of the winery until either Barb or one of the guys gets there. Do you hear me?”

  Julia had already hung up the phone. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife before descending upon the would-be burglar. Julia then tiptoed from her home to the adjacent building, making sure she’d not be seen or heard.

  As she neared, she could hear music coming from the CD player in her office. She recognized it immediately—the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number 30 in E Major, Opus 109. She remembered the day she recorded it, for it’d been the day Robert had been diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer.

  What in the world?

  She scooted along the wall as quietly as she could. Someone was in her office, all right. Julia could hear the sounds of ruffling papers and the brrrump of the adding machine doing its job.

  Now barely outside the open door, Julia raised her knife for the onslaught. One, two, three, she counted to herself before jumping into the middle of the room.

  Two screams went out as the person sitting at Julia’s desk caught sight of her attacker at the same time her attacker zeroed in on her.

  “Oh my God, Julia. What are you doing?”

  “Gayle?” Julia stood looking at her friend in confusion, her hand raised and mouth agape.

  Gayle tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself. “Geez, Julia. If James ever saw what you look like standing there with that knife in your hand, he wouldn’t dare give you any crap about the winery. Lordy! I think I widdled my pants.”

  Julia could keep from giggling either. After laughing uncontrollably for several minutes, they both ended up with a giant case of hiccups.

  Gayle was the first to speak. “You told me I could choose my own hours, so I decided to come in and at least do some mail before I had to deal with my kids.”

  “I know,” Julia answered sheepishly. “I forgot. Sorry, Gayle!”

  “Apology accepted. Good Lord, I thought I was crazy!”

  They both once again fell into a new giggle session.

  By the time they calmed down, the CD had finished playing and quiet filled the room. Julia watched as Gayle fumbled through the opened mail, pulling out an envelope with a letter attached. “I think I’ve some good news for you, Julia.”

  “Well, I’d say I was due, wouldn’t you?” she remarked.

  “Look at this. It came in the mail postmarked from last May. It’s from the San Francisco International Wine Awards. Apparently the Nooksack Valley Winery and Vineyard won a best in show for last year’s Siegerrebe. See?” She handed the document to Julia.

  “What?” Julia quickly perused the letter. Shock and
then a smile took over her entire face. “Oh my goodness, Gayle, it turns out last fall Diego entered our Siegerrebe into the contest and this is the notification that we won! Do you know what this means?”

  “It means your Diego’s smarter than he wants us to believe.” Gayle snorted. “Heavenly daisies, Julia, this could be the very thing that ushers the Nooksack Winery back into the graces of the international wine critics.”

  Julia paced the room, the gears in her head moving a mile a minute. “With their approval comes better marketing and then more sales. Oh Gayle, I could absolutely kiss Diego!”

  “I bet you could!” answered Gayle, fluttering her eyelids.

  “Oh stop it, you.” Julia then made her way to Gayle’s side and hugged her.

  “This is an answer to prayer, Julia,” Gayle whispered.

  Answering her friend in a voice as soft and vulnerable as Gayle’s, Julia answered, “I know, Gayle. Believe me.”

  Both women were embracing each other when suddenly out of nowhere, Sheriff Barbara jumped into position within the office doorway. With her gun pointed at the two she yelled, “Freeze. Hands up! You’re both under arrest!”

  The levity in the room plummeted but for a brief second, and then screaming laughter took over the winery building once again. Just when Gayle and Julia thought they had their giggles under control, they’d remember the look on Barb’s fuzzy headed face and would break out in uncontrollable guffaws all over again.

  “Oh, Barb. I’m sorry, I should’ve called you. It turns out I didn’t have a burglar after all,” said Julia in a fit of tears.

  “How could you think I was a burglar, Julia?” Gayle teased her sister-in-law.