“I’m going in to the sawmill.” He slipped his forearm out of the sling, flexing his hand. “I can’t afford time off just now. I have a customer coming in from out of town today.”
“Oh?” She responded in a noncommittal voice. “Someone important?” She picked up his clothes from where he’d left them the day before—on the floor.
He set his hands on his hips. “That depends on your definition. He operates a small company that manufactures wooden lawn furniture. If we can work things out, he’s interested in setting up business in Henderson.”
She checked the pockets of his jeans for loose change and came up with a quarter and two dimes. “That sounds wonderful.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
She wasn’t listening. With his jeans wrapped in a ball, ready to toss into the laundry hamper, she said, “I’ll just throw some things in to wash, then I’ll drive you to the mill. I can stay and help Abby with some paperwork.”
“Does that mean I get my boots back?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
As it turned out, Drew’s morning appointment with the customer went well. The outlook for more work looked promising.
Later Jack stopped in. Abby bristled at his arrival. He called her Abigail, which she obviously resented. Drew found their feud vaguely amusing.
“Abby just ordered lunch from the diner,” Drew said. “She ordered extra portions of everything. How about it?”
So Jack stayed for lunch.
Drew’s office was crowded by the time Seth arrived. “I heard you were up and around. I just dropped by to see how you were doing.”
Olivia propped herself on the arm of Drew’s chair. “He’ll be fine, as long as he doesn’t overdo it.”
Seth chuckled. “I didn’t realize the accident affected his voice.” He reached for a Coke, nodding toward Olivia. “Looks like a keeper to me.”
Drew couldn’t contain a smile. “She is.”
When Reggie LaRoche arrived, the office had a partylike atmosphere. He looked a little awkward at first—until Abby offered him a sandwich and a Coke. “Thanks,” he murmured.
“What’s up?” Drew asked.
Reggie took an empty chair. “Thing is…I heard about the accident. Heard you might be laid up for a while.” He came to the point. “I thought maybe you could use some help. And I could use some work closer to home, so if you’ve got work, I’ll show up. I’ve got a wife and family…kids wanting to go off to college before long.”
Drew didn’t hesitate. Until now, he’d been fighting an uphill battle to convince people he was reliable. Maybe he should have taken a dive under a falling tree a lot sooner.
Drew hired Reggie on the spot. “I need someone to finish the job at Stone’s End. When can you start?”
Reggie grinned. “Soon as I can get a crew together. I’d sooner sell the logs locally, instead of trucking them a distance.”
“Then it’s settled.”
In the next few days, Reggie LaRoche was only the first applicant. As promised, he rounded up a crew, and work began to run on schedule. There were some adjustments, but few problems.
Drew was relieved when Reggie and his men accepted Jack at face value. Jack was a wild card—in more ways than one. He worked hard and kept to himself.
Jack had little actual logging experience, but was willing to learn, which earned the other men’s respect. Loggers were generally a forgiving lot. They judged a man on the strength of his efforts, not the length of his pedigree, which was fortunate for Jack, because he was long on one and short on the other.
Despite the differences in their backgrounds, Drew shared a bond with Jack. They were both overdue for a bit of luck.
Since the accident and the turnaround in his business, Drew had discovered something about himself. He couldn’t just cut down Olivia’s trees and take from Stone’s End.
He had to give something back.
A few days later, when Olivia was out, he was presented with an opportunity to do just that. He sought out Rita Morales in the workroom. Since learning of Rita’s deafness, he’d learned some basic signs. Combined with her ability to lip-read, they were able to communicate without too much difficulty.
After greeting her, Drew got straight to the point. “Olivia is sad about cutting the trees down.”
“Yes, this is hard for her. And you, I think.” Rita smiled sympathetically. “But marriage is good for her. She has her brother and his family, but that is not enough for Olivia. She was lonely before you came.”
Drew smiled, grateful for the kind words. “I have a plan, but I need your help.”
She frowned, clearly puzzled. “If I can help, I will. What is this plan?”
With Rita’s assistance, Drew enlisted her husband’s help. As a result, a large flatbed truck stopped at Stone’s End a few days later….
With a wide smile, Ramon handed Olivia an invoice. “Where do you want me to unload these?”
Olivia stared down at the order for a hundred spruce trees, two-foot seedlings. “There must be some mistake. We didn’t order these.”
Drew looked over her shoulder. “Yes, we did.”
“I don’t understand.” Olivia turned and frowned at Drew. “What are we going to do with a hundred trees?”
“Plant them and watch them grow into Christmas trees.” He kissed her surprised mouth. “What else?”
A smile grew. She couldn’t hide her delight. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her reaction was exactly what he’d hoped for. “I wanted to surprise you.” He added more seriously, “Even after we cut some timber, the farm could use a renewable resource. This seemed like a good idea.”
“A Christmas tree farm. I love it.” Olivia held back, unable to say the words to express her emotions. She loved Drew. It was so new. So fragile. She glanced at the spruce trees in the truck. The seedlings were no more than two feet tall.
But they would grow…and grow.
“Thank you. I never expected anything like this.”
She didn’t know what else to say. She’d received so few gifts in her life. Once, she’d desperately wanted a doll for her birthday. But she’d known her mother would forget and so she’d saved up enough cereal box tops to get it for herself. Like a wounded child, she’d kept her heart hidden. She’d played at life, but she’d always played safe. Drew was changing all the rules.
What if there was such a thing as happily-ever-after?
The spruce trees were planted just in time, before the frost reached too deeply into the ground.
Before Thanksgiving, Drew distributed turkeys to everyone who worked for him. It was his way of saying thanks and starting a new tradition.
Drew’s sling came off in time to carve the turkey on Thanksgiving Day. He looked at the people seated around him—Abby, Seth and Jack. And Olivia. She beamed at him from the opposite end of the table.
He wondered if she knew that love shone from her eyes. She’d never said the words, but he felt it in her touch, her smile. All the things she didn’t say. He wondered if he was worthy of that gift. He had a lot to celebrate—his marriage, the launch of the mill. He’d met with some resistance, but most people had given him a second chance.
Swallowing hard, he said grace. It was a prayer of gratitude for a plentiful bounty, and family and friends to share them with. He added a silent communication, thanking God for Olivia.
“Amen.”
He met Olivia’s soft gaze, aware that she could read his thoughts. He didn’t mind. He loved her. He had nothing to hide. For the first time in a long time, he could look with pride on his present life, rather than looking back to where he’d been. Today was for giving thanks.
Tomorrow was filled with promise.
Olivia had been cooking for days. Turkey and stuffing competed for space on the broad oak table with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffed acorn squash and cranberry relish. And that was just the main course. Side dishes filled with vegetables and rolls accompanied the meal. The
n there was dessert—traditional pumpkin, cherry and deep-dish apple pie, and a not-so-common chocolate cheesecake topped with sour cream and bittersweet chocolate curls.
Drew smiled. “All right, who wants a drum-stick?”
“I’ll take one,” Seth said promptly. “And some dressing on the side. What kind is it?”
“Cornbread stuffing,” Olivia said, knowing that she would always remember every detail of this day.
“Everything’s delicious,” Abby said after sampling several dishes. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“I worked at a restaurant, the Blue Lagoon, and the cook was a good friend. Actually it’s where Jared found me.”
The words brought it all back to Olivia. She’d come so far to get to this place. Jared had brought her home. She owed him so much! She and Drew were making their own family traditions, surrounded by friends—even though they were an odd assortment.
She’d invited Fred and his wife, but they were spending the holiday at a large family reunion. Ramon had accepted a turkey with some reluctance—but he hadn’t turned it down. He’d agreed to stay on at Stone’s End. Everything was perfect.
Well, almost perfect.
Jessie had called to wish them Happy Thanksgiving.
Not a word from Jared.
Olivia tried to put that out of her mind. Hopefully, in time, Jared would approve of Drew as her choice.
The conversation grew lively, providing a distraction.
Typically Jack didn’t have much to say, Olivia noted. He sat on one side of the table, opposite Abby and Seth. Although outwardly relaxed, he seemed tense in this sort of social situation. He never spoke of family. Olivia suspected he didn’t have any.
Through course after course, Jack ate, spoke when spoken to and generally kept his opinions to himself. He seemed so alone. Despite that, something about Jack Slade didn’t invite pity.
After dinner, Jack offered to help clear the table. So did Abby. “Here, let me.” They both reached for the same plate.
Jack’s hand brushed Abby’s wrist. “Sorry, Abigail,” he said in a mocking tone.
“My name is Abby.” As if scorched, she released the plate.
Abby turned away, her face flushed as she reached for another dish.
Observing the interaction, Seth frowned when his cell phone went off. “I have to go,” he said after taking the call.
“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Olivia said.
“A snowmobile accident. No one’s seriously hurt, but I have to get over there and sort things out.”
Abby moved toward him. “I’ll get my coat.”
Seth reached for his jacket. “There’s no need to cut the evening short. Besides, I’m going in the opposite direction.”
To everyone’s surprise, Jack spoke up. “I can take her home.”
Abby bit her lip. “That’s very kind of you, but I wouldn’t dream of putting you to so much trouble.”
“No trouble,” Jack replied.
Abby turned to Seth, who merely said, “Sounds good to me. I’ll call you later.” He fixed Jack with a hard warning look, however, and added, “Just to see that you got home safely.”
“Oh, dear,” Olivia murmured to Drew, out of ear-shot of their two remaining guests after Seth had left.
“Is there something going on between Jack and Abby?”
Drew chuckled. “It’s called instant hate.”
“I’d hate for anything to go wrong. Seth loves her. He’s been so patient.”
“I don’t understand how he can wait so long for Abby to make up her mind.” That kind of patience was foreign to Drew, who had acted purely on instinct when it came to Olivia. “A little competition might be exactly what Seth needs. He knows what he wants. He just hasn’t figured out how to get it.”
“And he wants Abby.”
Drew shrugged. “Let’s forget about Abby and Seth. They have to sort out their own problems.”
“And Jack?”
“Don’t feel sorry for Jack—he wouldn’t thank you for it. Besides, Jack can take care of himself.”
Later, after everyone had left, Drew turned off the lights before going upstairs. Olivia had already gone ahead.
In the bathroom, he ducked under the dainty feminine bits and pieces strung up and scattered around. A delicate white lace teddy was draped over his towel. The scent of her perfume filled the air with her soft fragrance.
He breathed it in, unable to restrain a smile.
He soon discovered the trail she’d left on the way to the bedroom—damp footprints pointed the way. Her flannel nightgown lay draped at the foot of the bed. It was all part of the feminine package that so intrigued him.
Olivia.
The room was dimly lit—a small light cast a halo over her golden head on the pillow. His wayward angel.
He lifted the covers and climbed into bed beside her.
“Are you tired?” he said when she turned to him.
She smiled a siren’s smile. “No. Are you?”
The curve of her breast fit into the palm of his hand. “You’ve been cooking all day,” he said, dropping a kiss onto the silky skin of her shoulder.
“I enjoyed every minute. The day was perfect.”
He smiled wickedly. “And the best is yet to come.”
It was said lightly, and she took it as such. His kiss smothered her soft laugh.
Promises, promises.
Some to keep…and some to break.
Chapter Fifteen
“Jared!”
Olivia couldn’t hide her shock—or her dismay—at her brother’s arrival the following morning.
Regretting the recent strain between them, she greeted him awkwardly. “I wasn’t expecting you for weeks—not before Christmas.”
“It’s good to see you.” He hugged her, his arms strong.
He was a man to lean on, but Olivia didn’t want or need a crutch—a fact that he often overlooked. He stepped back with a steely look. Fair-haired and gray-eyed, there was nothing soft about Jared Carlisle.
Jared’s smile didn’t hide his tension. “I had a break and decided to drive up and see how things are going.”
“I’m glad you came.” She looked past him, disappointed to see he was alone. “Where are Rachel and the children?”
“Rachel’s aunt and uncle are visiting for a couple of weeks. She hasn’t seen them in a while, so they’re catching up. Rachel sends her love.” He looked around. “So where is he?”
“Drew left for work a short while ago. I’m sorry you missed him. You look tired.”
He shrugged. “It’s a long drive. I could use a cup of coffee if you’ve got a pot going.”
Jared helped himself to a cup and brought her one, as well, reminding Olivia that he’d grown up in this house. He’d had a new house built next to his veterinary clinic, but she supposed this house would always be a part of him. She didn’t mind sharing it with him or with Jessie.
“I passed a logging site on the way here,” he said once they’d settled at the table. “In one of our phone calls, you mentioned that Drew was reopening the sawmill, but not that he’s hauling wood out of Stone’s End.”
Olivia defended her decision. “I’m sorry if you don’t approve, but I really don’t see how it concerns you.”
“Perhaps not. But you concern me, Olivia. I wanted to come sooner, immediately after I heard about you and Drew getting married. But Rachel talked me into waiting and giving the marriage a chance. Now I wish I hadn’t waited.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked at her with obvious pity. “Apart from the logging operation, I heard there was some trouble last week. Something about Drew tangling with a tree.”
“It was a minor accident,” Olivia admitted.
“Minor?” His mouth thinned, revealing his uncompromising side. “I heard you were almost killed. If that’s the way Drew is looking after you and Stone’s End, I’d hate to be on the receiving end when things really start to go wr
ong.”
“Drew was hurt while trying to save me.” Olivia stared at her brother in frustration. “It was entirely my fault, not Drew’s. Why can’t I convince you of that? Why does everyone always assume the worst about him?”
“Maybe because they’ve got good reason.”
Olivia stood up. “He’s been nothing but kind to me.”
“Kind?” Jared laughed harshly. “Drew doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
“I appreciate your concern,” she said, picking up her cup and taking it to the kitchen sink. “But I can’t live my life to please you.”
“I’d give anything to be wrong about Drew,” he said. “Unfortunately I haven’t seen or heard anything around here to relieve my suspicions.”
Olivia’s heart skipped as she turned to face her brother. “What suspicions?”
“There are some things you should know.”
With a sigh, Olivia said, “I know about the explosion and all about Drew’s past. He’s never tried to hide or make excuses for his mistakes or pretend to be anything but what he is.”
Jared met her troubled gaze. “And none of it bothers you?”
“Yes, of course, it bothers me. But he’s tried so hard to put it behind him. Don’t you think he deserves a second chance? People in town are beginning to trust him. They’re coming back to work at the sawmill. He’s earned that the hard way.”
Jared released a breath. “All right, I’ll admit he seems to be making a go of the sawmill. But I’m more concerned about your marriage. Do you trust him?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I know everything I need to know about Drew.”
“Do you?”
Jared’s gray eyes pierced hers. He reminded her of Ira in that moment. Olivia felt the bonds of family tightening around her. “Yes, I know him. I’m his wife.”
“And you think that makes the difference? Do you know everything about Drew,” he demanded, “or simply what he’s chosen to tell you?”
She sighed. “What else is there to tell?”
“I don’t need to rake up every detail of Drew’s misbegotten past. There’s only one thing you really need to know.” Jared’s eyes softened. “He used you, just as he once tried to use Jessie. He was determined to marry a Carlisle with the aim of acquiring the farm’s valuable timber rights.”
The Wedding Bargain Page 17
