Chapter Five
U pon meeting Andie Landry, Spence understood why Hayley didn’t believe the young woman was an agent for Carter Hunt. All of maybe twenty-one or twenty-two, she had the look of a seasoned ranch hand, with nothing approaching artifice in her demeanor. She met his eyes directly and shook his hand when he introduced himself shortly after arriving on the Lone Tree Ranch.
“I don’t know where Hayley is. She said something about the greenhouse.”
“I’ll find her,” Spence said.
“You’re the guy who found Greta?” she asked.
“I am.”
“Thank you. I about died when she went missing.”
“Glad it all worked out,” Spence said with a half smile. He’d love to ask her about Carter Hunt, but decided against it. Andie wouldn’t know if he’d called to warn off Hayley from leasing water.
Andie jerked her head toward the idling tractor. “I have ditches to mow along the driveway.”
“Then I guess I’ll find Hayley and get to work myself.”
Hayley was in the greenhouse, just as Andie had said, watering flats that were just showing touches of green.
“Hey,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”
“Glad to. This gives my dad a chance to pretend that things aren’t going to change at the end of June after his surgery.”
“You’re not here because you owe me?”
“I’m totally here because of that.” But there was more to it than owing her. There was a sense that he needed to be here, and he went with it. Some of his most interesting life experiences had occurred because he’d followed instinct. His instinct now told him that Hayley, who was facing her first summer of farming and ranching without her dad or her foreman, needed help. She might not need his help specifically, but he was here, and thanks to Henry, had some time on his hands. He would do what he could, and if Carter Hunt called her again, he and Hunt would have a word. The man was noted for belligerence and intimidation tactics when he didn’t get his way, and he hadn’t gotten his way. Because of Hayley, he was going to have to have a bridge engineered across the rocky canyon that restricted access to the part of his property he wanted to develop. That probably wasn’t sitting well.
“Did you meet Andie?” Hayley asked with a knowing smile.
“She is not a spy.”
“I know, right?” Hayley’s eyes crinkled in a fascinating way as she gave him an I-told-you-so smile. “The Hunt Ranch’s official story is that she quit, but she got fired for telling Carter Hunt that he was using the wrong bit on his horse.”
“Then she can get unemployment.”
“That she can. Unless they deny firing her.”
“I wonder if they can get away with that?”
“Money talks,” was all Hayley said.
“Amen to that.” Spence tilted his head as he watched the sunlight that filtered through the frosted roof play off Hayley’s red hair, bringing out glints of gold and burgundy.
“You’re staring,” she said.
“Sorry.” He felt self-conscious, not exactly a familiar feeling for him, but one that seemed to occur regularly during his conversations with Hayley. “The sun makes your hair an amazing color.”
“Having red hair can be like wearing an oversized purple hat. People comment.”
Always one to take a hint, Spence stepped back. “I’ll get my stuff ready, then let’s talk about what and where with the corrals.”
He could guess the layout with a decent degree of accuracy, but he didn’t want to have to redo anything due to a miscommunication.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
She turned the hose back on and Spence made his exit, stopping at the door. He cleared his throat, then said, “My hair has gotten me into trouble too.”
He caught the beginning of a smile before she turned the spray onto a young tomato plant.
“A story for another day,” she said. “I have work to do.”
*
An hour later, Spence was picking through the pipe, determining quantities, since at least half of the pipe appeared to be salvaged, when a backfire in the distance brought his head up. A truck was approaching the ranch at a decent clip, and when the driver neared the cattle guard, he shifted down, causing another backfire, followed by the low-throated rumble of the manifold.
Spence had no idea where Hayley was—she’d disappeared after they’d discussed the corral and she’d given him the schematic her father had drawn on a yellow legal pad in black ink—but certainly she heard the approach of the Frankenstein truck with the straight pipes that were probably borderline illegal. The truck pulled to a stop and the engine abruptly died before two primer-gray doors opened. The kids—boys? men? They looked to be sixteen or seventeen—who got out of the truck were almost polar opposites. The driver was slightly built, with glasses and closely cropped blond hair. The passenger was taller, heavier, dark-haired, and looked like he dead-lifted cattle as a hobby.
“Hey,” the driver said. “We’re here to see Hayley.”
“You’re her summer crew,” Spence guessed.
“Yep. Connor Johnson,” the blond said. “And this is Ash Brown.” He indicated his partner with a sideways jerk of his head.
“Spence Keller. I live next door.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck as he searched for signs of life near the barn and greenhouse. Andie had brought the tractor in just before the boys drove up, so she and Hayley were there somewhere. “I’m sure she’ll show soon.” If she hadn’t heard the truck, then she had something the matter with her ears.
“We don’t start work until Monday,” Connor said. “But Hayley likes to iron everything out before we start.”
Sounded like Hayley. “You guys handle the irrigation and stuff?”
“We are intimately acquainted with hand line and wheel line,” Ash said, referring to the more labor-intensive field irrigation systems. “We also swath, rake, bale, stack hay, move cattle, spray weeds.”
“But we draw the line at fence repair.” Connor gave Ash a look, then the two busted up laughing.
“We fix a lot of fence,” Connor explained. “Last summer, Vince did the work of two guys in the fields so that we could do the work of four on the fences. Really bad winter damage.”
“Hayley was shorthanded last year too?” Because she made it sound like this year was an exception.
“Not really. One of our friends was working with us last summer and Vince always does the work of two guys because he can’t help himself.” Ash shifted his weight. “Hayley was still getting over her dad, and we all went the extra mile to help her keep busy, which is why the place looks like it does.”
“All shiny and new,” Connor added.
“It does look good,” Spence said.
“This will be a more normal year. Ten-hour days instead of twelve or fourteen.” Ash tucked a thumb into his front pocket as he stared out across the fields.
“Less pay, but also less painting,” Connor added.
“Because there’s nothing left to paint,” Ash pointed out.
Spence nodded. “Yeah. I think you got it all.”
“Are you going to be working here?” Ash asked.
“On and off,” Spence said. “I’m building the pipe corrals and helping out where needed until my dad has back surgery. Then... I don’t know.”
“You won’t be taking Vince’s place?” Connor asked.
“That’d be Andie,” Hayley said from behind Spence. He’d heard her footsteps as she walked behind the barn, but hadn’t turned to see whether it was Andie or Hayley, because he knew without looking. “Spence is moving on after the summer is over, right?”
“I travel,” he said to the boys.
“Traveling pays well?” Ash asked.
“It does when you’re operating an arc welder.”
“Ah.” Connor gave him a thoughtful frown. “Do you get paid . . . like . . . pretty well?”
“It’s decent money,” Spence said. “And I enjoy the traveling part. That said, not everyone is cut out for it.”
“But you are?”
Spence shrugged. “Born under a wandering star.”
The boys exchanged looks, as if unfamiliar with the saying, but neither Hayley nor Spence enlightened them.
Hayley gestured with her head toward the house. “Head inside and I’ll find Andie, so that I can introduce you and line out what the summer’s going to look like without Vince.” She raised her eyebrows and said gravely, “No painting this year.”
“Yay,” Ash said half-heartedly before giving Hayley a genuine smile. “Looking forward to meeting this Andie person.”
“I’m sure you are,” Hayley said. “Just be careful she doesn’t hurt your feelings.”
“She?” Ash said at the same time that Connor said, “Our boss is a lady?”
“And she pulls no punches,” Hayley added mildly.
“Punching boss,” Ash said. “I like it.”
“Punching lady boss,” Connor said with a lift of his blond eyebrows.
“Careful or she’ll have you for breakfast,” Hayley called as the two started toward the house. Then she turned to Spence. “That’s my crew.”
“They seem competent.”
“They’re lovable smart-asses and totally dependable.”
“Good.” Spence shifted his weight. “I need to get going soon. Do you need help loading anything for the Farmer’s Market?” The first of which was the next day. Hayley had already put up her canvas canopy, checked it for mildew and holes, then packed it away again.
“I have things under control. Andie is coming with me and”—she sucked in a breath and glanced over at her garden before looking back at him—“I’ve got this. It’ll be fun.”
“Good. I may see you there, since there’s also a horse sale.”
“Sounds good.” Hayley cleared her throat.
“Right.”
They stared each other down for another two or three seconds, then Spence turned and headed toward his truck, wondering why he suddenly felt like a junior high kid. It made no sense at all.
But it was kind of intriguing.
*
Marietta’s first Farmer’s Market was held in conjunction with a stock horse sale at the fairgrounds. Because it was early in the season, the farm booths were, for the most part, scantily stocked with greenhouse produce, fresh-cut flowers, and seedlings ready to plant in home gardens. The artisan booths, however, were something to behold. Having had the winter months to produce inventory, the stock of wooden toys, blown glass, wrought iron, and leatherworks were something to behold, and the artisans were enjoying brisk sales.
With Andie’s help, Hayley had set up early, then settled in to watch the other booths go up, occasionally helping with an uncooperative canopy or chatting with a friend. After setup, Andie got a horse sale catalog, then settled in the chair next to Hayley and perused the offerings with Greta curled up on her lap.
“That’s a nice-looking animal,” Hayley said, reading over Andie’s shoulder.
“If only I had the money,” Andie said with a sigh. She turned the page.
“Do you own a horse?” Hayley asked the obvious question that she’d never thought to ask.
“The horse I grew up with lives with my grandparents in Great Falls. All the colts that I’d bought and trained, I’ve sold.” One corner of her mouth quirked up. “I got good money for them, but I’m holding off buying a horse until I have a place to keep it.” She stroked Greta. “Which is where this one comes in. Not quite a horse, but great company and a better foot warmer at night.”
Hayley had more questions about her temporary hire, but rather than pelt the girl with them all at once, she held off, figuring that they probably had the summer to get to know one another. In that regard, she was lucky because she’d received no hits on her help wanted posts. Everyone, it seemed, already had jobs nailed down for the summer. By fall, though, when some of those summer hires needed winter jobs, she’d have more luck. In the meantime, she had Connor, Ash, and Andie. And Spence, of course, but she didn’t count him because once the pipe corrals were finished, his dad would have surgery, and he’d be back on his own ranch taking up slack.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the late May breeze on her face. Her eyes opened at the sound of a familiar voice.
Spence. It was almost like she’d somehow conjured him up.
“Hey.” Spence appeared in front of her booth with his brother Reed. “How’s it going?”
“I’ve sold several six-packs. Plants, not beer,” she said when Reed frowned. “But the big money is going to the woodworkers and jewelry makers. Those are the kinds of things out-of-towners buy. Most don’t want to deal with seedlings.”
“Understandable.” Spence looked at Reed. “I think you need petunias in those window boxes of yours.”
“Yes. Yes, I do,” Reed said with a quick dark look at his brother, who grinned widely. He looked at the selection in front of him. “Any bright-pink ones? My daughter loves neon pink.”
“These will be bright pink with white dots and splashes,” Hayley said, pointing to a six-pack. “And these will be the same, only purple. I also have stripes and some kind of variegated ones.”
Reed pulled his wallet out of his pocket. Hayley caught Spence’s eye and her stomach did an odd little flip and drop as he winked. She put her hand on her abdomen where it was free-falling, then immediately put it back on the table.
The consequence of the thoughts you’ve been thinking about the man.
No doubt.
But... he didn’t know about those thoughts, and she wasn’t about to tip him off, so she met his gaze and gave him a confident smile. “Horse shopping?”
“Just browsing,” Spence said.
“And socializing,” Reed added. “Seeing Spence in the area is like spotting Bigfoot, and people are taking advantage.”
As if to emphasize his point, an older man clapped Spence on the shoulder from behind. “Long time,” he said.
“Coach Michaels.” Spence shot Hayley a quick look, then stepped away with the retired coach. Hayley wondered if the man had any idea that she was responsible for the team winning the championship that year. Spence wasn’t about to rat out the jerk who’d locked him in the equipment room, preferring to take care of matters in his own way. Someday she’d have to ask him just what that meant, and if he’d ever followed through.
“I’ll grab some seats,” Reed said to his brother after giving Hayley and Andie each a smiling nod. A few minutes later, Spence and Coach Michaels parted ways and Spence ambled back to Hayley’s booth.
“That was a blast from the past,” Spence said.
“Does he know?”
Spence shook his head. “I don’t think Lucas ever let on to what he’d done, even long after the fact.”
“Did you ever do anything about it?”
“Almost. Then I had second thoughts and decided to walk away. Knowing how things could get out of hand with Lucas, I left it as our little secret. Honestly? I think that made him more nervous than if I’d alerted the powers that be.”
“Probably.”
Spence glanced over his shoulder at the arena. “They’ll be starting soon, and I want to take a look at a couple of horses.”
Hayley nodded and then turned her attention to a customer. Andie returned to the booth and after the customer left with a bouquet of cut flowers, Hayley turned to her. “You should get a seat for the sale.”
“Really?”
“I think I can handle the crowd,” Hayley said dryly. Her offerings were meager compared to the non-produce booths.
“Then, yeah. I’ll head in.”
Andie pushed a long braid over her shoulder to join the other and edged her way out of the booth. In the distance, Hayley caught sight of Spence once again being stopped by an old acquaintance.
She glanced down at her money apron. Was he really going to hit the road come fall, as he’d mentioned more than once?
She was fairly certain he was. He made no secret of wanting to continue his footloose existence and, as long as his family didn’t need him, she felt certain he would do just that.
*
After being stopped half a dozen times by old acquaintances who hadn’t seen him in a while, Spence finally made his way to his seat next to Reed. After the third or fourth horse had sold, he started looking around. He wasn’t horse hunting like his brother. He spotted Andie with her forearms leaning against the arena fence rails, watching the auction. Poor kid. Sucked in by Carter Hunt, then spit back out again.
In a way, he was glad, though, because it meant that Hayley wasn’t alone on her ranch. Normally, that wouldn’t bother him, or even be on his radar, but the call telling her not to lease water bothered him. He was going to be there during the day, building corrals, but the shit he was worried about went down at night.
That said, the water was flowing and as far as he knew, Hayley had received no more calls, so... yeah. It was a done deal, and Carter Hunt knew that. But one thing Spence knew about Hunt—he was a tenacious operator—which was why he was successful, and he would have another go at the Keller property in some way or another.
So was there a compromise? Spence couldn’t think of one. And even if he could, he probably wouldn’t entertain it. It wasn’t his family’s fault that Carter wanted easier access to the property he’d inherited from his brother than building a bridge across a deep canyon. Carter asked. They’d said no. That should have been the end of it.
He shifted his attention back to the arena, where a high-powered gelding was being ridden in by a five- or six-year-old kid. A bit of a ruckus caught his attention and he turned to see Andie in what looked to be a heated conversation with none other than Carter Hunt himself. He nudged Reed and pointed, then got to his feet.
“Want help?” Reed asked.
“No.” The fact that Reed was engaged to the man’s daughter made the situation a bit more complicated and Spence saw no reason to ruin Reed’s day. Before he could edge his way down the crowded row of seats, Hayley appeared on the scene, taking a stance next to Andie, which only served to hurry his steps.
Spence was halfway to where Hayley and Andie were facing off with a red-faced Carter Hunt, when a kid Spence didn’t know joined Andie and Hayley, apparently as an ally.
Spence slowed his steps, watching the foursome as he made his way toward them.
As he got closer, Spence heard Carter Hunt say, “This isn’t a matter to be discussed in public.”
Andie put her hands on her hips and jutted out her chin. “People need to know how you operate.”
“Careful, young woman.”
Andie lifted her chin and said in a loud voice, “If you fire someone, then try to convince the employment people that they quit, then people should know.”
“You did quit.”
“You fired me for telling you that you didn’t know what you were doing.” She turned to the people nearby, some of whom were openly gawking and others who were listening, but pretending not to. “This man was using a spade bit on a young horse who should have still been in a snaffle. Then he blamed the horse when it freaked out.”
Carter Hunt was turning a nice shade of purple when a tall, neatly dressed cowboy, probably his manager, stepped in, but before he could commence managing, Carter turned on Hayley. “I don’t know what your game is, but if you want to draw a line in the sand, remember that I am not someone you want to mess with.”
Hayley’s face went red with shock at the unprovoked attack. “Tell me about this line, because I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She took a step forward. “Do. Not. Threaten. Me.”
She enunciated each word, grinding them out from between her teeth. Spence stepped in behind her and Hunt’s gaze rose to meet his over Hayley’s head. Spence set his hands on her shoulders in a show of support. Her taut muscles became even tighter at the contact, then gave a little when he squeezed reassuringly.
“Mr. Hunt, they need you in the sales office,” Carter’s cowboy said. Hunt continued to stare down Hayley, who, despite her red cheeks, appeared patently unimpressed—“appeared” being the key word. He could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through her body.
She squared her shoulders, drilling Hunt with a look. “I leased water to the Keller Ranch, just as my dad did in the past, and I hired the person you fired. None of this had anything to do with you, because, despite what you believe, the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Let’s go,” Spence said, the words barely audible. But Hayley heard them. She glanced up at him, then back at Hunt.
Meanwhile, Andie looked like she was about to let fly, and as entertaining as that might be, Carter Hunt was a litigious man, and Spence deemed it best to get everyone out of there before something was said that qualified for a lawsuit.
“Come on,” Hayley said to Andie. “My booth is unmanned.”
Andie turned then, her eyes widening as she saw the guy standing behind her, as if at the ready. Then she nodded at Hayley and started toward the booth.
Hayley reached up to touch one of Spence’s hands. “I’ll talk to you later.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders as she started toward her booth, leaving him standing beside the silent kid who’d come to back Andie, now facing off with Carter Hunt and his nervous-looking henchman.
“Leave her alone,” he said to the man.
“Or?”
Spence smiled. “This is where I say something that you later have witnesses attest to, right?”
Hunt pulled in a long breath, fired a couple of death rays from his dark eyes, then shouldered his way past his manager and headed to the sales office. The manager glared at Spence, who gave an uncaring shrug, even though he was in the mood to throttle someone. He turned his attention to the kid who’d come to Andie’s aid.
“Do I know you?” he asked curiously.
“Brandon Grady. I work for the Marvell Ranch.”
“Ah.” The Marvell Ranch was probably thirty miles away on the opposite side of the valley, but still part of the Marietta community.
“Andie and I had a college class together last year, but I don’t think she recognized me.”
Spence thought she did, but hadn’t known how to handle the situation.
Brandon, who looked like he was twenty-four or -five, watched Hayley and Andie disappear into the crowd on their way back to the Farmer’s Market, then turned back to Spence.
“I hate bullies.”
“Then stay away from that guy,” Spence said. “Buy you a beer?” He indicated the concession wagon with a lift of his chin, but the kid shook his head. “Thanks, but I have a horse to sell.”
With that, he touched the brim of his black felt hat, and headed toward the temporary pens where the horses awaited their turn in the arena.
*
Hayley pulled in a calming breath, then exhaled, causing Andie to give her a curious look.
“I don’t like confrontation,” she said. “It makes me feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin after it’s over and I have time to think.”
“Then keep deep breathing, but don’t pass out on me,” Andie said. She shot a quick look over her shoulder toward the spot they’d just left. Hayley did the same, glad to see that Carter Hunt had gone on his important way.
“I’m not going to pass out. I might not like confrontation, but I don’t avoid it.” Not in most cases, anyway. “Some battles need to be fought.”
Andie help up a palm, which Hayley touched with her own. “Amen.”
“How’d that all start, anyway?”
“He received the notification that I applied for unemployment benefits. There were no witnesses to my firing, so he can contest it.” Andie ducked under the rear of the canopy and took a seat while Hayley rearranged her seedlings to fill in the spots left from purchases. “He just wanted me to know that it would be easier if I let the matter slide. No hearing and all that. Like I mind telling my side to a judge.”
“As if,” Hayley agreed. She couldn’t see Andie being hesitant to explain anything to anyone. She was envious. Yes, she had come out of her shell, but she always felt as if she were only one cutting comment away from disappearing back inside again.
But you aren’t.
“Nice of Spence to back us up,” Andie observed, and before Hayley could agree, she added, “Do you know the other guy? The quiet one?”
“I kind of recognized him from some local events, but I don’t know anything about him.”
“I think we had a class together at Montana State. Big lecture hall thing, but yeah. I think he was there.” She gave Hayley a sideways look. “Kind of invisibly there.”
“I know what that’s like.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Hayley gave a short laugh as she took her seat beside Andie, who in turn gave Hayley a look. “Too blunt?”
Hayley shook her head before smiling at a pair of women who stopped to look at the broccoli and cauliflower starts.
After the ladies paid for their purchases and headed back to their cars with the plants, Andie said, “All I meant was that you’re nice. Diplomatic. I can see where you might keep quiet and see how things played out before intervening. But I loved the way you fired up when Mr. Hunt got in your face.” She wrinkled her nose. “Nice work.”
“Thank you. And yes, I try for diplomacy, but I’m not letting people walk on me. I didn’t do it back when I was too shy to talk to people, and I won’t now.”
“You were too shy to talk to people?” Andie ran a hand down one long braid.
“Thus, the invisible years.”
“Huh.” Andie looked as if she had no idea what it would be like to be invisible. “Did you find that the red hair kind of worked against you?”
Hayley laughed and pushed said red hair over her shoulders with both hands. “Redheads are supposed to be quiet geeks or raucous rebels. I was the geek variety. Braids. Glasses. All I was missing was the tin grin—not that people saw my teeth, because I rarely spoke.”
“What changed?”
“Long story,” Hayley said, stretching her legs out in front of her. The crowd had thinned as the horse sale progressed, and she had a feeling that the big rush was over. She could relax.
“I have time,” Andie said, before biting her lip. “Unless that’s too pushy.”
Hayley generally didn’t tell her story, because... who cared? But Andie continued to regard her with open curiosity, so Hayley said, “My mom is kind of a serial bride. She marries... I don’t know why she marries, but I had four stepdads before I reached eighteen. That’s why I chose to live with my real dad on the Lone Tree when I was eleven. I could just be me.” She inhaled, watching a mother kneel down to replace a shoe her toddler had walked out of. “But I had a hard time being me in public, so I got some counseling when I started college, and lucked out and got someone I could work with and confronted my issues.”
When she glanced over at Andie, the girl was staring at her with open admiration. “Good for you. I have a cousin who’s shy, and I think he’s still in his parents’ basement. He’s thirty-five.”
Hayley gave a soft laugh. “I could do all this stuff on the ranch, which told me I was competent and confident in the right environment. I wanted to live all of my life that way. So I started doing things that made me uncomfortable and lived to tell the tale.”
“How about him?” Andie said, lifting her chin. Hayley looked up to see Spence approaching the booth.
Hayley’s heart gave a guilty jump. “What about him?” she asked, startled at the sudden change in topic—or maybe startled by the appearance of the topic himself.
“I think he likes you.”
Another heart jolt as she recalled the comforting feel of his hands on her shoulders and that gentle squeeze saying that he had her back. It might be because they were facing a joint adversary or... he might like her. She could deal with him liking her, knowing that he was likely to take off to who knew where at a moment’s notice.
“He owes me. Or he did. We’re even now.” Hayley shot Andie a quick look and abandoned diplomacy. “No big deal, but nothing I want to talk about.”
Andie gave a matter-of-fact nod, seemingly fine with being told the subject was off-limits.
Bluntness had its upside.