19. Apple Pie Order
Chapter 19
Apple Pie Order
A s the days passed, Knox found himself more comfortable with the rhythm of the farm. Like military life, running a farm meant early hours and hard work. It was a bit of a surprise to find he enjoyed both.
He and Thea did a lot of the chores together, but they also spent time doing their own things. While she tended the compost, he worked at cleaning out the bedrooms on the top floors of the farmhouse.
It appeared that Jay hadn’t bothered with the rooms at all. Dust was thick everywhere. He found buckets, mops, and cleaning supplies in the laundry area off the kitchen.
He’d already taken care of the room he’d chosen, but that left six more, not counting Jay’s bedroom. Not a room he was ready to face. After he had the place sparkling, he’d give it a look. Or not. Maybe that would be something he could face when the whole family was here together.
That was a better plan. Everything was easier with a team at your back. He knew Thea would help them. She was the only one of them who knew Jay and would be able to share stories with them. And they’d share Fox stories with her.
He’d had texts from all of his siblings since the tour of the farm. They all approved of Thea and the obvious relationship between them.
Burke, of course, had added a warning. Be careful .
Knox knew it was always sound advice, but over the years, his instincts had become finely tuned. The army had refined them further, as had his bodyguard training and jobs.
Thea wasn’t only an amazing person, she was the right person for him. They fit in unexpected ways. Physically, the chemistry was solid. Actually, it was explosive. But not the kind of explosion that would burn hot and then evaporate. This was more like a constant simmer that ebbed and flowed. He could easily imagine the two of them sharing that same chemistry in the years and decades to come.
He’d never been so certain of anyone who wasn’t a family member. Fox would love her, too. He’d appreciate her work ethic and determination. She’d see right past his cranky exterior to the mushy heart beneath.
Figuring it was easier to tackle one task at a time, Knox concentrated on cleaning the bathrooms first. No one wanted to live with a bathroom that hadn’t been cleaned in over a decade.
His army discipline came in handy again. He’d learned to do tedious chores with thoroughness and without whining. Letting his mind wander to more pleasant subjects helped, too.
He made a list on his phone as he worked, adding things to both the To Do and the shopping lists. Environmentally-friendly cleaning products topped the list. He’d use up what Jay had stocked, but they’d move to better, fragrance-free products. Amber had always insisted on those while growing up.
He wondered which room she would choose. Which they would all choose. But it would be first come, first served. It would be a tossup to see if Ford or Jolie would arrive first.
None of the rooms had bad views. The farm and its property were pretty. The space between the two farmhouses was full of trees and bushes, so even those views were good. Maybe someone would want to put in a garden. He added it to the list but that would be way down in priority. Functionality first.
When he entered the third bathroom, he groaned. Who had thought colored fixtures were a good idea? So far, he’d cleaned yellow and two blues. This one was a pale green. The eighties must have been an interesting time.
He hadn’t ventured into the other farmhouse yet. Were things the same over there? The building appeared to be less cared-for than this one. Maybe the decor was worse.
Amber would have her hands full, turning it into a B&B. If he could get her on board. Maybe she had another idea for the building. She could have solo decision-making on that.
Unless she was ready for a different direction in her life. Thea was right. Knox needed to have a solo tour with Amber once she had a new phone. Then he’d get a better read on what she wanted for her future and how he could help.
The next bathroom was pink. Pink. Why?
After he’d cleaned it so the room shined, he took a picture and texted both Lawson and Burke. Rooms are on a first come, first served basis. If you don’t make a decision soon, you might be stuck with this.
Grinning, he moved to the next room. Another yellow like his own and Jay’s. Curious now, he peeked into the rooms he hadn’t cleaned. Out of the eight upstairs bathrooms, four were yellow, two blue, and one each of pink and green.
An odd way to decorate a house. These days, most people would choose to have a similar look in each room. And most people would choose white. Or at least a neutral.
How much was it going to cost to upgrade? He figured it would be a fortune. And not a priority. Not as long as things worked.
Eventually, the bathrooms gleamed, and Knox turned his attention to the rooms with a sigh.
The bedding would all need to be washed. Each room sported a queen-sized bed, a couple of dressers, and nightstands. Bedding first. Then surfaces. Then floors.
His body ached at the thought.
But having a clean space meant it would be easier to lure in the family and Ford. Dodge would appreciate not being stuck with the pink bathroom.
He considered texting Thea and taking a break for lunch but decided to press on. Lunch with her would be his incentive to buckle down and get the entire job done.
Then he could show off his morning’s work and talk her into spending part of his lunch break in his bed. He was sure she’d be amenable to that plan.
Grinning, he changed out the water in the bucket again and grabbed new cloths.
Hard work first, reward second.
T hea filled another double-layered garbage bag with noxious plant stuff while Fox snoozed nearby. There were dozens of acres yet to deal with, but her progress was visible and satisfying.
Sharing the workload with Knox meant the farm was improving more quickly. To keep up with everything properly, there would need to be another half-dozen people. Or maybe a full dozen.
Grinning, she checked her phone for the time. Relief at not having another message from Triple-A filled her. She didn’t need to think about him ever again.
Thea shoved him from her mind and set the sealed bag in the sun before turning back to her compost. The Worminator would be amazing, but she’d keep this going as well. The more compost, the merrier, especially when the Worminator’s compost would be different from this more fungal style. Fox didn’t appear to agree that the compost differences were fascinating as he barked once, then loped off toward the pond.
She’d added scraps from the kitchen to the compost this morning. More people being here not only meant more hands to apply to the work but more food for the compost. The smaller material would speed up the progress of the bigger pieces like branches and limbs.
Hope for the farm bubbled inside. She could see the progress happening, and it fueled her to work even harder.
The imminent arrival of Jolie had nerves bubbling, too. From the video chat, she was sure the woman was kind and fun. But meeting her in person was a different thing. Would they get along? Would Jolie approve of her and her relationship with Knox? What would happen if she didn’t?
Thea shook out her arms, and turned her attention back to the compost while she thought about how to get the best use of the Worminator. It was an expensive piece of equipment, and she didn’t want the Malssums to regret a single penny of it.
They could use some animal manure to add to their compost. Maybe local farmers would like to team up with them. Same with coffee shops. She’d bet Ginny from the No Fail Diner would be willing to collect grounds and maybe even vegetable scraps. Thea could come up with appropriate containers and set up a weekly schedule for pick-ups. Now that she had Jay’s truck, she could arrange her own schedule.
She pulled out her phone again to add to her notes. There were other farmers in the area. Stan would probably have the contacts they’d need. She imagined Knox and Stan would be a charming team. They could get all the partnerships she dreamed of but hadn’t been brave enough to seek out.
Excitement rippled through her again. In the weeks since Knox had arrived, she had more hope for the future than ever in her past.
Jay’s plans had been for slow growth. Reclaiming the land and making it healthy again. He’d wanted to learn the whole process and see the farm in all the seasons before making decisions. He’d be thrilled to know his relatives had purchased the Worminator and were moving forward with his vision. She wished he was here to see it.
Using her own key, Thea grabbed the hose from the shed. It would last longer being protected from the weather, but the thrill of being trusted with her own keys was the real bonus. She was smiling as she hooked the hose to the spigot.
“Hello, Thea.”
She jolted at the familiar voice. Not Knox. Triple-A.
Thea stood with a jerk, wishing she held something more useful than the hose. Too bad she hadn’t been using the chainsaw. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you we needed to speak face to face.”
“As I said on the phone, I’m not interested in your job offer.”
He waved that away. “Of course, you are. You’re just playing hard to get. You’re a good negotiator, I’ll give you that. There’s a bonus in it for you as long as you start on Monday.”
“No. Now get off my property.” How had he found her? She wanted to ask but mostly she wanted rid of him. The desperation in his voice had nerves skittering down her spine.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a generous offer and you need to take it. I’ll find you a place to stay and cover the first month’s rent. I need you back at work.”
“Then you shouldn’t have lied and taken credit for my ideas. Now, go.”
If he came any closer, she’d turn on the hose and spray him. First, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened the voice app to record whatever he said next.
Andy held up his hands. “Listen to reason, Thea. There’s no way this pathetic farm is paying you decent money. You’ve got clients waiting for you. It’s the right job for you and you know it.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how many ways I can say no. This is my home ,and I have no interest in returning to Iowa. Certainly not to work for you. This is your last warning. Get off my land.”
He raised an eyebrow with a smug smile “It’s not your land.”
“But it is mine.”
Relief poured through Thea at Knox’s voice. She hadn’t been afraid of Andy as much as annoyed and thrown off that he’d found her. Still, it was nice to have backup.
Andy whirled around to face Knox. His face changed from arrogant to furious. Maybe he was more dangerous than she’d thought.
Knox’s voice was low and menacing. “The lady has given you an answer several times. That answer is no. Now, get off our land and don’t come back. You’re not welcome here.”
Andy tried for haughty. “I have every right to speak to an employee.”
Thea cranked the hose. “I’m not your employee. I haven’t been for over a year. In case it isn’t clear, I’ll never work with you again.”
Andy scowled. “Of course, you will. This isn’t over.”
Knox stepped closer. “She’s been very clear that it’s over. Now, go.”
Andy studied Knox, then without a word stalked away through the trees.
Knox sent her a nod and followed Andy.
Thea turned off the hose and jogged to catch up. She grabbed Knox’s hand as they walked. He blew out a deep breath and smiled at her. “You might have just saved him from having his ass kicked.”
She shook her head. “He’s not worth it. He’s exactly the type to press charges.”
“If he comes here again, he’ll be the one facing charges. I’m going to talk to Marcus Ramirez in Phail and see what it takes to get a restraining order.”
That sent a shiver down her spine. “I hope he got the message this time. How did he even find me?”
Knox grunted but didn’t answer. They kept walking, keeping Andy in sight. They were about halfway to the front of the property when Fox came bounding in. Instead of stopping them for his usual rubdown, he walked on Thea’s other side and kept his attention on Andy who was a dozen yards ahead.
When Triple-A turned to see if they were following him, Fox growled.
“Keep that beast away from me. If he attacks me, I’ll sue.”
Knox’s voice was granite. “You’re trespassing on our property asshole. If he attacks, it’s because you’re a threat.”
Thea patted the dog’s head. “Easy, Fox.” In a lower voice, she said to Knox. “I’ve never heard him growl before. Not even once.”
Knox’s face hardened, and he picked up his pace. “Move it, Gammon.”
Fox’s reaction had Thea more worried than before. Maybe Andy was dangerous, and she’d never seen it. That seemed impossible.
When they reached the trees closest to the farmhouse, Fox didn’t stop. Instead, he kept pace with them, his attention locked on Triple-A.
There weren’t any cars in the driveway and Andy continued to walk toward the road. When they reached the unused farmhouse, Andy turned around. “Thea, I need you to come home with me. I can go to a thirty percent raise, including all the other benefits I told you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not interested. Not at any price.”
He frowned at her. “I don’t believe you.”
Knox moved toward him, hands fisted. “You better believe her. I don’t want to see you near our place ever again.”
Triple-A frowned. He opened his mouth to talk but Knox took another step forward. Andy shook his head and pointed at Thea. “I need you to start next week.” Then he turned and continued walking.
She and Knox followed him to the road, Fox right at her side. A dark sedan was parked down the way a bit. After yelling, “Next week,” at her, Andy strode to it and flung himself into the seat. He spun the car into a U-turn and nearly slipped into the ditch before righting the vehicle and racing away.
Knox turned to her. “You okay?”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, then rested her head on his chest.
He held her tightly as they watched the car disappear.
She frowned. “That was like a scene from a movie. There are a ton of soil consultants. It doesn’t make any sense that he wants me instead of the people willing to work for him.”
Knox’s hands ran over her back. “Did he ever ask you out? Ever make you feel uncomfortable?”
She shook her head. “No. I never saw any interest from him, and I certainly never felt any.”
He kissed her hair. “I think we need to talk to Marcus Ramirez. I don’t think this jerk is done.”