16. Captains Pick
Chapter 16
Captain's Pick
K nox sent a text to Ford. Call me when you’re on your break. I have a plan.
His buddy was working with his family’s construction business and Knox knew he wasn’t thrilled with the job. He loved construction but he disliked being the youngest of the brothers. He had a younger sister but she had no interest in the construction business.
Because he’d spent two tours in the army, Ford’s brothers considered him less experienced than the rest in the business. Possibly true but Ford could fix anything with next to nothing for tools and supplies. In any other company, he’d be a foreman or higher. But not with his family’s business.
Knox hoped all of that would work in his favor. His buddy would be invaluable at the farm. And he missed him.
Knox considered Ford family. They’d spent years together, moving from one hell hole to the next, helping innocent villagers and taking down scum buckets whenever they could. He figured his buddy could be happy on the farm. Happier than he was with so little control over his job.
After talking with Stan the previous day, Knox was feeling more confident in his knowledge base. The man had spent a few hours wandering the farm with them. He’d known with just a glance which trees were in good shape and which areas needed help.
Knox had made up a map of the property on his phone, and he’d numbered each section of the farm. Then he’d made a shit-ton of notes listing Stan’s suggestions for the next-steps for each area.
Stan was completely intrigued with Thea’s suggestions to improve the soil and was eager to see the Worminator once it was delivered. And once they figured out how to build and operate it. He hoped Ford would be on board soon. They could use his help with that one.
And with so much more.
Knox opened his laptop and checked out his spreadsheets. There were so many. All filled with tasks. After Stan’s visit, he spent the morning adding to them and trying to prioritize the information.
Stan promised to return with his friends the following week, allowing Knox some time to refine his lists and add to the never-ending list of things he needed to learn.
Research was good, but practical experience was better.
He organized his lists into sections. Healthy trees. Not so healthy trees. Compost. Pond. Machinery. Harvest barn. Equipment barn. Farmhouse. Selling products. B&B. That last one was questionable.
Amber still hadn’t replaced her phone and he struggled to get a read on what his sister was really thinking. She’d always kept her feelings inside but he’d learned to read her eyes at least some of the time.
Hoping she was on board, he kept that list active, but it wouldn’t be the priority. Farm first.
Burke would probably say profit first and he wouldn’t be wrong. Without a way to make at least some profit, there wasn’t much point in keeping the farm at all. But he wanted to. Wanted it more than he’d wanted almost anything in his life.
Except Thea. She was at the top of his priority list. Which made him grin. He’d always assumed he’d get married and have kids. But it had been in a hazy someday kind of way. Now, he had a face attached to that dream, and it no longer felt vague or fuzzy. He wanted that imagined future with a passion he’d never expected to feel.
When his phone rang, he had to pull himself from those dreams and back into reality.
“Hey, Dodge. Thanks for calling me back.”
“No problem, Annie. What’s up?”
“I’ve got a plan, and it involves you.”
Ford chuckled. “Your plans aren’t always good things.”
He laughed. “That was one time.”
“And I’m never going to let you forget it. We nearly had our asses hung to dry that day.”
True, but he wouldn’t admit that. “Not a chance. We were faster and smarter.”
Another chuckle. “Faster, I’ll give you. Smarter? I hope we are now. Does this plan involve a seedy bar in a seedier part of town and a few too many brews?”
“Not this time. In fact, this one doesn’t put anyone in danger. Doesn’t involve stupid dares or escapades.”
“What does it involve?”
“Apples.”
There was a pause. “Apples? As in grow-on-the-tree apples?”
“That’s the kind. It’s a long story I’ll get into when I see you in person. To condense it, my family inherited an apple farm in Vermont. I want to make a go of it.”
“Apples. I didn’t see that coming, Annie.”
He laughed. “I know. I didn’t either, but it’s exactly what I want. It’s an amazing place.”
“There’s a woman involved. I can hear it in your voice.”
He never could fool Ford. “You’re right, but I was in love with the farm before I fell in love with Thea.”
He stopped short as he heard his own words. He didn’t want to pull them back, but he needed to say them out loud to Thea first.
“Love, huh? Does she know yet?”
Trust Ford to be perceptive. “Not yet. It’s too early, but it’s right. Completely right. She’s amazing and you’re going to love her.”
“Willing to take a chance that I won’t sweep her off her feet and steal her right from under your nose.”
He grinned. Ford always made him smile. “Not even a little bit worried. So, the farm needs someone to keep it in shape. Someone who knows his way around construction and carpentry.”
There was a beat of silence. “What are you saying, Knox?”
“I’m saying I’d love you to come here to work and live with us. We’ve got a farmhouse in need of TLC but it’s got plenty of room. There are even some cabins on the property, although you’d have to get water and electricity to most of them first. There are two livable farmhouses, but both need work. So do the barns. And the fences. Hell, it all does. But it’s amazing. Four hundred acres of trees, a pond, and so much more. We also could use your help to build the Worminator.”
“Worminator? What the hell is a Worminator?”
He laughed because he could hear the interest in his buddy’s voice. “It’s a compost thing. Thea can explain it better than I can.”
“And you want me to leave my job and my family to build something called a Worminator?”
“I do. If you want in. I know you love your family but I also know that you’re frustrated with not being able to use your skills. Here, you’d be your own boss. You’d be in charge of how things get done.”
He took a breath and continued when Ford said nothing. “I’ll get a room ready for you here in the farmhouse. I know it’s a lot to think about. Give me a call one day when you’ve got more time, and I’ll walk you around the property so you can see it.”
“Okay. I’ve got to bring a bunch of crap to the various worksites today. If I’m not too late, I’ll call you tonight. If not, in the next few days.”
Shit. Ford was working as a delivery man for the day. Not a bad job if you enjoyed it but Dodge was born to build and fix. He’d helped dozens and dozens of communities rebuild when they’d been overseas. Construction ran through his veins right along with the blood.
“I think you’d be happy here, Dodge. It’s a great place and it needs your particular brand of TLC.”
His friend sighed into the phone. “Apples, huh?”
He grinned. “Apples. It surprised the hell out of me, too.”
“Okay. I’ll think about it. Talk to you soon.”
When they disconnected, Knox sat back. He hated that his friend was discontent with the life he was living down in Florida. But it helped Knox’s own cause. It meant that he had a hook to lure him here.
He couldn’t wait to tell Thea about the call. Spreadsheets could wait.
T hea’s phone rang. With a shiver of trepidation, she pulled it from her pocket. Asshole Andy’s name flashed on the screen.
For a moment, she considered answering. Instead, she watched it ring. Would he leave a message, or would he hang up when she didn’t answer?
When was the last time she’d received a voicemail? It had been a while, and she hoped she remembered the password she’d set it up with. She didn’t want to talk to AA but she wanted to hear his message.
She wished Knox was near, but they’d decided to divide and conquer. For now, the compost only required her to tend it. She could also tend to the trees while he focused on the business side of things. Thea had decided to focus on the sections of trees that were in the best shape. They needed the least work, and it would be great to show his family the potential.
The ground cover required weeding. Some invasive species were always trying to worm their way in. She hoped Knox’s sister would know more about that. Over the last hour, she’d taken photos of the plants she didn’t recognize, hoping to get more direction from Jolie. It might be better to pull them. Or it could be just as easy to add more ground cover. It all depended on the root depth of the plants and their behavior. No creeping pests allowed.
Her phone buzzed, showing that this particular creepy pest had left a message. That was what she’d wanted but it still bothered her. Why was he calling her? Why would he think there was even a remote possibility that she would work with his sorry ass again?
Stupid didn’t even begin to cover it.
Deciding she wasn’t a coward, Thea accessed the voicemail program. It only took her two tries to get the right password.
AA’s voice made her sigh. Whatever he wanted, he was determined enough to leave a message.
Hello, Thea. You can start your job anytime. Next week would be best for all involved. It’s early enough in the season to get the farms under our charge on the right track.
The farmers are pleased to have you back on board. Of course you’ll have a twenty-percent increase in pay. Let me know when you’ll arrive.
Her mouth dropped open like a cartoon character. The man was delusional. He was acting like their last conversation had gone well and that she was dumb enough to work for him again. Even after he’d destroyed her reputation.
Asshole.
She shoved the phone back in her pocket and stomped off to another section of the farm. She needed to burn off some anger. In the back section, several plants had wound their way around the trees. Creeping vines.
She’d think of Asshole Andy with each vine she unwound and destroyed.
An hour later, she was drenched with sweat, but dozens of trees were free from the creepers. Her head was clearer, too.
There had to be a bigger agenda for Andy than she’d thought before. He’d projected confidence and self-assurance into his tone. Some of that was his natural arrogance, but there had to be more.
She opened the message and listened to it again. Was there desperation? Had he assumed she’d be onboard and told people she’d be working their farms without talking to her? Did he think the every increasing raise offers would convince her?
Maybe she should add an A. Arrogant Asshole Andy.
Thea had told Knox that she didn’t consider Andy dangerous, and she still couldn’t imagine him doing anything physically dangerous. He was a man who thought he could talk people into doing what he wanted.
If he’d told people she was returning and then she didn’t, he’d look like a fool. Not something he’d like but something he’d brought on himself. Something he’d done to her.
Not that he’d see it that way. His self-important worldview would skew reality.
She kept the message, knowing she’d wanted Knox’s point of view on the wording and the tone of the message. Then she’d block the number sooner rather than later.
Whatever Triple-A wanted from her, he wasn’t getting it.
Fox barked and loped into view. She’d seen him earlier, so this greeting was a simple rubdown. “You know how to make the days brighter and happier, don’t you, Fox?”
“If he wasn’t a canine, I think I’d be jealous.”
Thea laughed at Knox’s wry comment. When Fox bounced over to him, she followed suit and walked straight into Knox’s arms. “Hi.”
He lowered his head and kissed her until her head spun. “Hi. Missed you.”
She grinned. “It’s only been a few hours, but I feel the same.”
“Good to know. I talked to Ford.”
The excitement in his eyes had her smiling. “Good news?”
He shrugged. “Not bad news. He’s going to call back tonight or soon, and I’m going to take him on a video tour of the place.”
“He didn’t shut you down, then. There’s a chance he’s interested?” She was curious to meet Knox’s friend, and every extra set of hands would be very welcome. It would be a huge step toward fulfilling Knox’s dream.
“I think he’s frustrated being the youngest brother. When he retired from the military, his brothers had already established their places in the family company. He hasn’t found his yet, and he’s not sure there’s even room for him. I’m hoping he can find his place here.”
“I bet he could. There’s always lots to do on a farm. The farmhouse alone would take him years to renovate and update.”
Knox nodded. “And the barns could use some work. I imagine that’s always the case with a property this big. Something always needs fixing.”
That made her look at the pile of plants and roots she’d tossed onto the black tarp she’d brought with her. “You’re so right. And most of it isn’t easy.”
“I’m guessing this needs to head to your compost pile.”
“No.” Her sharp answer had Knox’s eyes widening. She laughed. “Sorry. Slight overreaction. I’m a bit on edge. These are invasive plants that we don’t want in the orchard. They choke the roots of the trees and cover crop. If we compost them, their biomaterial will be in the compost, and we’ll actually end up spreading them wherever we use the compost.”
He tilted his head and studied the pile. “That’s too bad. That’s a lot of plant material. Do we burn it?”
She shook her head. “No. Same problem. It often makes the problem worse by spreading bits that can spring to life elsewhere.”
Knox frowned at her pile. “That’s why you’ve been tossing it on the tarp?”
She nodded. “Exactly. Jay bought some thick garbage bags for exactly this reason. We have to leave the bags in the sun for a week or two. That’ll kill what’s inside. Then we need to find a local landfill that takes invasive species for proper disposal.”
“There’s so much to learn about this business.”
She heard the worry in his voice and smiled. “Jay always said that learning never goes to waste.”
Knox smiled. “Fox, too.”
“I’ve heard it a million times. We really need to learn more about those two.”
He nodded. “I agree. Remind me to show you the photos I found of Fox and Jay earlier. They were about five and out fishing for the day. I can’t even tell which is which. Maybe we’ll find out more somewhere in the farmhouse when we have time to go through everything. Now, tell me what had you on edge?”
“What?”
“You said you overreacted because you were on edge. What’s wrong?”
Thea pulled off her work gloves and set them on the edge of the tarp. She pulled out her phone. “Triple-A left a message.”
He growled softly. “Asshole Andy earned a new adjective?”
She nodded. “Arrogant. Arrogant Asshole Andy. Listen to this.”
Knox’s face darkened as he listened to the message. “What a complete jerk. After your last conversation, how could he think that you’d be willing to work for him?”
She shrugged. “Hence the new A.”
“Too bad his name isn’t Frank.”
“What? Why?”
He frowned. “Because I think Fuckhead fits better than Arrogant.”
He wasn’t wrong.