The Winemaker

by Michelle MacQueen

  “Lena, what are you doing? I was coming right back.” Enzo dropped the ladder and jogged to help me up from the ground.

  “The loan.” I clutched his arm. “Eli called.”

  “Go!” He handed me the truck keys and shoved me forward. “I’ll finish and meet you back at the barn.”

  I ran, sliding into the front seat and fumbling with the ignition. “Eli, you better not leave early.” I put the truck in gear and hit the gas, kicking up dirt behind me. It was a quick trip back to the barn, but my heart was pounding by the time three bars on my phone lit up, and the call finally went through.

  “Eli? Glad I caught you.” I took a deep breath, hoping for a miracle, because that was what it would take to secure the funds to buy the land at the price the Ashfords wouldn’t be able to say no to. Still, I had to try.

  “I’m sorry, Lena.” Eli sighed into the phone. “The bank denied your loan application.”

  “Oh.” My shoulders sank right along with my heart. “Well …” I ran a shaky hand through my dusty hair. “We knew it was a long shot. I just thought putting my half of Orchard Hill up as collateral would be enough. It’s everything I have.”

  “I’m afraid the loan officer said Orchard Hill didn’t appraise at the value we were expecting, though she did say your plans for the future were remarkable and potentially a great opportunity for the right investor.”

  “I don’t want to deal with investors.” I sighed. I wanted to keep it in the family and do this my way.

  “I know it’s not the news you wanted, but you know I’m going to help you get this thing done.”

  “I know, and I appreciate all you’ve done.” I wouldn’t have made it this far without him, even if he was an Ashford. He was a good one.

  “You know what our next steps need to be, don’t you?” I could hear the hesitation in his voice. He didn’t want this any more than I did.

  “It’s not ideal, but I don’t see another option. We’ll start looking for other locations outside of Superiore Bay next week.”

  “It’s a sad loss for the town, but it’s your best alternative if you don’t want to bring in local investors. Try to have a good night, Lena. It’s not the end of your dreams, just a temporary setback.”

  “Thanks, Eli.” I ended the call just as a tear splashed against my hand. It felt like the end of everything. Three years of planning and saving every spare dollar I could, just to see it all come crashing down around me because the Ashfords wanted to hold me back. All for the sake of a feud that had absolutely nothing to do with me or any of the Contrerases living today.

  I wondered if Conner and the old man knew just how pathetic they were. I climbed out of the truck and headed for the barn. I didn’t want to see anyone yet. I didn’t want to see my mother’s relief or my father’s I told you so look when they heard the news that it was likely over.

  I kicked a bale of hay in the entryway and headed to the back stall to sulk in private. Sure, I could probably find another land parcel in another town that would work well enough. I just didn’t know if I could get as excited for the future as I was when I saw my family bringing Orchard Hill to the tourists and locals of Superiore Bay. It was a way for us to give back to the town that had given us so much. To take our business to one of the neighboring towns felt like the ultimate betrayal.

  “Hi, Sweet Floof.” I sank to the hay covered floor, scooping up the white mama cat that called the barn her home. She ruled over the barn like a queen, keeping it free of mice and other cats who thought to take up residence here. She was heavily pregnant with a new litter of kittens, but she purred, bumping her head against my chin and giving me her compassionate blue-eyed gaze. “Oh, Sweets.” I buried my face in her fur and let the tears fall. “What am I going to do now?”

  For three years, I had something I was working toward. A future I could be proud of—not that I wasn’t proud of my family’s accomplishments with Orchard Hill as it was. I just … wanted more for our future. With the loan denied, I didn’t know if there would ever be anything more to look forward to. Life would go on just as it always had, and nothing would change.

  A familiar bark sent me creeping into the shadows of the stall. The very last person I wanted to see right now was Conner Ashford and his sweet dog. “Go away, Duke,” I whispered, hoping he would heed my plea. But his barking grew closer until I heard him sniffing like a bloodhound on the trail of Conrad Ashford’s adorable fox.

  He turned the corner, nose to the ground, until he saw me. He leaned down, head resting on massive paws, butt wiggling in the air in the universal dog language of do you want to play?

  “Where’s your dad?” I set the cat back into her hay nest and called Duke forward. I hadn’t heard a car approach, and I didn’t hear any voices in the yard. “Did you come here all by yourself?”

  Duke wiggled his hind end and scooted forward until his head rested in my lap. I scratched behind his ears, and his tongue lolled out as he rolled onto his back. “Do you like belly rubs?” I tickled his belly, and his eyes rolled back into his head.

  “Aw, who’s a good boy?” I rubbed his fuzzy belly. “But your dad’s going to be looking for you.” If he wasn’t already. Though Orchard Hill was likely the last place Conner would come looking for his missing dog. “Maybe I’ll just keep you as compensation for losing my land.”

  Duke gave me a wary look at that, his ears flopping back to reveal his wolfish eyes. “It’s a good thing I know you’re a sweet boy because I wouldn’t want to run into you on a dark path in the woods.”

  Duke yawned, snapping his jaws, and leaned forward to sniff at Sweet Floof, who regarded him with barely concealed hostility. Duke ignored her sassy aura and moved to curl up around his new friends. With the cat snuggled up against his belly and his head resting in my lap, he made himself at home.

  I snapped a quick picture. “Let’s text your uncle and ask him to come get you.” I sent the picture to Carter with the caption “your brother missing someone important?” at the bottom.

  Three dancing dots immediately popped up on my screen, and I waited for his reply.

  Carter: His dad is absolutely freaking out. I’ll be right there.

  I smiled at the thought of Conner missing his dog. I didn’t want to like the guy—especially today—but it was clear he loved Duke.

  “Someone with such good taste in dogs can’t be all that bad.” I rubbed Duke’s head. “He just needs to figure out if he’s going to be like his father or if he’s got the strength to be his own man.”

  While I waited for Carter to arrive, I went in search of a treat for Duke and Sweet Floof. She didn’t like apples, snooty cat that she was, but she did like peanut butter and bananas.

  “Wait a second, big boy.” I sat back down on the barn floor as I sliced into a Pink Lady apple, slathering it with peanut butter for Duke. He chomped it down, his tongue working hard at the peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth.

  For Sweets, I sat a plate of banana and peanut butter for her to enjoy on her own. She wouldn’t let Duke anywhere near it. “Sit, boy.” I waited for Duke to comply before I fed him a second piece of apple.

  “That is not the best way to ensure he doesn’t show up again.” My shoulders tensed at the sound of Conner’s voice. Not Carter. He stuck me with his brother again?

  “I know what you’re thinking. In Carter’s defense, he was coming straight here to get Duke, but I wouldn’t let him.” Conner crouched beside Duke, pulling him into a hug. “What do you mean running away on me like that, huh? I was worried sick.” Duke worked at the peanut butter, his tail thumping against Conner’s side.

  “I’m so sorry he just showed up. He’s never done this before.” Conner turned his attention on me, and some emotion crossed his face.

  “It’s okay.” I stood, smoothing a hand over my hair. I must look like a mess. “He can come visit anytime.”

  "Thanks for looking out for him.” Conner moved to sit on an overturned bucket, making himself at ho
me just like his dog had.

  All I wanted was for him to leave me alone to lick my wounds in peace. “What are you doing, Conner?”

  15

  Conner

  What was I doing? I’d come to get my errant dog, but I couldn’t tear him away from the treats he seemed to be enjoying so much.

  That was definitely my reason for hanging around the barn with the one person who probably never wanted to see me again.

  Right?

  I refused to think anything was going on with me, so instead I focused on something else. “That cat is pregnant.”

  “Yeah?” Lena rolled her eyes. “I hadn’t noticed, what with it being so obvious and all.”

  I wanted to get angry at her tone, but instead I smiled. She leaned back against a stall door, seemingly not caring that she was sitting on the dirty ground. Her overalls—an odd choice of clothing for a grown woman—were streaked with dirt that told me she must have been working outside since I saw her a few hours ago. One of the buckles was undone, leaving the top of the overalls hanging haphazardly over her pale blue t-shirt.

  As she lifted a hand to run her fingers through her messy hair, I noticed a hole in the armpit of the shirt. This girl was a mess.

  She pulled her hand back with a grimace and looked at it. It was only then I noticed she had peanut butter on her fingers and now in her hair. She wiped the rest off on her pants.

  A laugh rumbled out of me, and she narrowed her eyes. I was past the point of overstaying my welcome now, not like I’d been welcome in the first place. “Duke likes you.” I couldn’t hide my surprise. Duke liked most people, but he didn’t curl up against their legs and rest his head on their laps. Other than me, he was mostly standoffish with people, wanting to be scratched and then left to his own devices.

  “Doesn’t sound like you approve.” She dug her hands into his fur, and he closed his eyes. Traitor.

  I watched the two of them, noticing the sad tilt of Lena’s shoulders, the way she stared at Duke like she needed his presence. Maybe that was why I was still here. I couldn’t take him away from her when she looked so … sad. Was she sad?

  The thought didn’t sit well with me. I’d always known Lena to be combative, capable, strong to the point of irritating most of the time. Definitely not sad.

  A sigh wound through her, and her shoulders sank lower. Her head fell back against the wooden stall door behind her. “I still don’t know why you’re here, Conner. I’m really not in the mood for our nasty banter today.” Something in the way she looked at me told me she blamed me for whatever had happened.

  I pursed my lips. “You’re mean.”

  A harsh laugh escaped her. “Excuse me?”

  “To me. I don’t understand why you hate me so much, yet you adore Carter.”

  “I don’t adore Carter. Who even says that? He’s my friend. I care about him.”

  “But he’s an Ashford too.” What made Carter so different? Why had she decided our families’ fight extended to me and not him?

  “Yeah, he’s an Ashford, but he doesn’t treat me like I’m any less than him.”

  My brow furrowed. “Lena …”

  “Besides, you’re the one who is mean. Not me.”

  I’d admit I struggled to contain my meaner impulses sometimes, but I wanted to be different. “I’m sorry.”

  She laughed again. “You’re sorry? That’s rich coming from you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She pulled her hand back from Duke, not answering me. The cat stood, arching her back as she stretched. She stepped onto Lena’s legs that were crossed like a pretzel, turned around once, and lay down.

  Duke wiggled across the small space between him and Lena. His long tongue drooped out of his mouth. Giving the cat one slobbery lick, he rested his head on Lena’s knee. I watched the animals’ rearrangement with fascination.

  The woman who’d fought with me in town, the one who’d pushed me into the bay, hadn’t seemed like someone who’d garner such affection from the most honest of creatures. Yet, something drew them to her.

  “Why are you staring at me?” She cocked her head to the side, studying me. Her earnest gaze sent a wave of discomfort over me, and I shifted, trying to keep my balance on the uncomfortable bucket.

  “It’s just … Duke … he ran from me and came to you.”

  “And?” She scratched his head. “We’re friends.” A laugh that sounded slightly less sad escaped her. “Are you really that upset he came here?”

  “Not really.” It was the truth. “I’m more upset that he left our property at all. I don’t like the idea of him wandering Superiore Bay on his own.”

  “Well, what was different?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Something made him want to get away.”

  I thought for a moment. She was right. Something had been different. “Red was there.”

  “Red? That a codename for a girl or—”

  “My brother’s fox.”

  She smiled at that, but there was still a heaviness to it. “Ah, well, that would do it. I imagine he doesn’t like the fox. I’ve seen Conrad in town with it.” She leaned down to talk to Duke. “I find a pet fox a bit eerie too, boy.”

  He opened one eye and then closed it with a body-heaving sigh.

  Something was still bothering me. “Why didn’t you accept my apology?”

  Her smile fell away, and she busied herself stroking the cat. Loud purring filled the space between us. “I wasn’t exactly sure which thing you’re sorry for.”

  “Are there really that many things?”

  “Yes.” She gently moved the cat from her lap and stood, wiping off her pants. It was no use, there was no getting them clean. “Now, I love Duke being here, but really, Conner, you should keep better track of your dog. It’s a far way from the Ashford Estates to here.”

  The way she said estates left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt very much like I was being dismissed. Duke stood up, bending forward with his butt in the air to stretch. He followed Lena toward the door of the barn, sparing no look for me.

  I walked after them, watching as she stepped into the early evening light. It reflected off her dark hair, casting her in a glow. She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself.

  I didn’t see Enzo approaching until he’d almost reached us. His eyes narrowed as he looked from her to me to the barn we’d just exited. I knew Enzo was younger than Lena, but he acted like a protective older brother.

  “What are you doing here, Ashford?” Gone was the helpful man who’d diagnosed the problem with our boat and towed us to the marina. I was on his territory now.

  Before I could answer, Lena spoke. “Duke ran away and came here. Conner was just picking him up.” Her eyes drifted to me. “And leaving.”

  I nodded.

  Enzo, seemingly satisfied with that explanation, focused all his attention on Lena. “I was expecting you to come back and tell me the news.”

  She gave a slight shake of her head, and the hopeful expression on Enzo’s face fell. “Well, okay, we’ll look at other options.”

  “Not now, Enzo. We’ll talk about it later.”

  I could take a hint, yet my feet didn’t move.

  Enzo ignored me and kept his focus on his sister. “I want to finish up the section we were working on before coming in for dinner. Mom made chili.”

  The corners of Lena’s lips lifted slightly. “That sounds heavenly right now. I’ll be out to help you in just a minute. I was going to grab Sweets some fresh water first.”

  Enzo rolled his eyes to me. “Stupid name for a cat, right?”

  I only shrugged.

  He put a hand on Lena’s shoulder. “We’ll figure something out, okay?”

  I got the feeling he was talking about whatever news Lena had delivered to him with one shake of her head, whatever news had made her sad. I wanted to know what it was, to know if I could help, but I wasn’t Carter. Lena and I weren’t friends.

  En
zo walked back toward the tidy rows of trees without a backward glance.

  Lena waited a few beats before turning to me. “Thanks for coming to get Duke. I don’t think he’d have fit on my moped for me to drive him home.”

  I looked pointedly at the rusted truck, knowing she had other ways to get around. She just didn’t like them. Lena didn’t seem to notice.

  I patted my leg. “Come on, Duke. Time to get out of Lena’s way.”

  Duke didn’t budge from her side.

  Lena crouched down, putting her hands on each side of his face. “You’re never in my way, boy, but you have to go home with your dad.”

  He looked up at me, his eyes holding a silent accusation. I know, boy, I thought. I want to stay too. I wasn’t sure where that thought came from, but it didn’t go away.

  This place was so different from the atmosphere at home where I mostly only spoke with servants. My grandfather was around, and I appreciated that, but I ate most of my meals sitting at the desk in my barn-office. Working. There were no family dinners with homemade chili.

  Our cook prepared our food, but it wasn’t the same as when my mom had been around. She’d have liked it here too if the Ashfords had been allowed on the property. The stifling quality of our life hadn’t suited her.

  I wasn’t sure what it was about this place that brought her to mind. Maybe it was that she’d always dreamed of her kids getting along, of us being each other’s best friends. But what Lena had with Enzo, I’d never had.

  Sure, I loved all three of my siblings. But Conrad was absent most of the time, Carter fought so hard against family expectations I got caught up in his view of the enemy, and Jorgina was so much younger than me I hardly knew her. She was away at college, and we never spoke on the phone. It was like she was a stranger who shared my last name.

  It had never made me sad before, but now, for some reason, I had to urge the talk to her.