Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
L evi sat on the front porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sun come up. In an hour or so, he’d have to move to the field to begin picking grapes for the day. Because of the smaller size of their winery, it wasn’t practical to purchase a very expensive harvester machine to expedite this part of the process. Of course, given the fact their winery was located on the side of the mountain, they couldn’t use the machine even if they owned one.
Which meant, he spent the end of each summer and the beginning of every fall picking grapes. When he was younger, he loved harvest time, loved being out amongst the vines with his brothers. With each passing year, the bloom on that rose was fading more and more. However, he hadn’t realized just how much until he’d spent time working on Kasi’s farm.
Levi leaned his head back and closed his eyes, praying he’d made the right decision in leaving Kasi alone last night.
Hell would freeze over before he let Kasi marry Scottie Grover. The guy was a self-absorbed, pompous prick, and there was no way he’d treat Kasi the way she deserved.
After dropping her off at her place last night, Levi had driven straight to the girls’ farmhouse. Remi shared the third house on Stormy Weather Farm with her sisters, Mila and Nora. Lucy had lived there as well until this past fall, when she’d moved out to be with her boyfriends, Miles and Joey.
Remi had heard about Scottie and Kasi’s supposed engagement through the grapevine, but she considered it such a ridiculous rumor, she’d discounted it. Then Remi confirmed what Levi had suspected. Kasi didn’t love Scottie. In fact, Remi was certain Kasi despised the man as much as they did.
She went on to mention that after Lucy, Scottie had turned his attention toward Kasi, something Levi didn’t know. Apparently, the mayor had asked her out quite a few times, and Kasi had turned him down consistently.
That idea didn’t sit well with Levi because he recalled how badly Scottie had taken Lucy’s rejection, becoming physical with her, trying to force his attentions on her. Levi didn’t know how far the man would have gone if he hadn’t happened on the scene and literally pulled Scottie away from his cousin.
Levi wondered if Scottie was using some sort of intimidation on Kasi, given the fact she’d been absolutely wrecked yesterday morning when Levi had found her on the couch.
Knowing Kasi seemed to believe she had a valid reason to accept the proposal didn’t help much because without knowing what it was, he couldn’t plan how to proceed.
Right now, the best idea he could come up with was his original one. Go talk to her tonight, and if she persisted in keeping him in the dark and accepting Scottie’s proposal, he’d kidnap her and tie her to his bed until she came to her senses. And while that was a damn tempting plan, he didn’t think Kasi would take too kindly to it.
Levi was sure Kasi’s reason for this ridiculous marriage idea had something to do with her family. She was fiercely devoted to her father and brother. It was one of the things he loved best about her because it proved to him how fucking awesome a mother she would be. So while he tossed and turned most of last night, considering what might motivate Kasi, he knew it wouldn’t be a self-serving reason, but more likely her sacrificing her own happiness for her family.
It had taken all the strength Levi had to drive away from her last night, but he’d seen the exhaustion on her face and the desolation in her eyes, and he had refused to push her so hard when she was already suffering. He decided to give her space. Now, he just needed to figure out what the hell he could do to convince her to reject Scottie’s proposal.
Levi sighed and took another sip of coffee. His brothers had all retired for the evening when he’d returned from Remi’s, but he planned to talk to them today as they worked in the vineyard. He needed advice. Badly.
He turned his gaze toward the driveway when he heard a motorcycle approaching. Levi rose as Keith pulled in front of the house. Shutting off the bike, the young man took off his helmet, then unfastened the satchel attached to the back.
“Come to steal more beer?” Levi half-heartedly joked when Keith climbed the steps to join him on the porch.
Keith gave him a sheepish grin and shook his head. “No. I overheard something that’s bothering me.”
“Does it have something to do with Scottie proposing to Kasi?”
“Yeah.”
“She dropped that bomb on me yesterday.” Levi gestured to the rocking chair next to his, the two of them sitting down together.
“You can’t let her marry that asshole,” Keith said vehemently.
“Didn’t intend to.”
“So you’re not giving up on her?”
Levi scowled. “Never.”
Keith’s shoulders relaxed. “Good. Because Scottie’s not a nice guy. He wouldn’t be good to her.”
“I agree, but until I get to the bottom of why she thinks she needs to marry him?—”
“I think it might have something to do with all of this,” Keith interjected, pulling a stack of papers from his satchel. He handed them to Levi.
“Bills?” Levi asked, as he flipped through the pages. He mentally began doing some calculations, and his suspicions regarding the Mills’ financial state were quickly confirmed. It appeared they owed a sizeable amount on the new—destroyed—tractor he’d seen in the midst of the burned-out fields, and they were in debt to the town, their personal property taxes unpaid for the past two years.
Regardless…
“I’m not sure I see a connection,” Levi said to Keith.
“Me either, but I know Kasi has spent a lot of time poring over those bills, and while she tries to hide it, I can tell she’s stressed out. The Grovers have a lot of money.”
“You think your sister is marrying Scottie to save the farm?”
Keith rubbed the back of his neck wearily. “Everything Kasi does these days is for the farm, for me, and for Dad. I hate that we’ve let her take on all that responsibility without helping her. I’ve spent the last few days trying to find a way to apologize for being such a dick to her, but…”
Levi had never seen such outright despair on a boy’s face. Keith was still young, only eighteen. Boys his age should be thinking about girls, going to the movies, and hanging out with his friends. Instead, the kid was sitting here, beating himself up over how he’d acted after losing his mother.
“Just say the words,” Levi suggested. “Because I promise, once they’re out there, not only will Kasi feel better, but you will too. You didn’t do or say a damn thing that can’t be fixed with a heartfelt apology.”
He’d said the same thing to Keith that night behind the brewery. Now, like then, Keith didn’t look convinced.
“You gotta let go of the guilt,” Levi added. “It’ll cripple you until you do.”
Keith considered that, then nodded. “You’re right.” He still looked troubled as he turned his gaze toward the horizon.
Stormy Weather Farm had the greatest views on the planet. Ordinarily, the surroundings brought him peace, but this morning, Levi might as well be looking at an apocalyptic wasteland.
“What happens if we can’t pay the taxes?” Keith asked, obviously worried about the bills.
Levi rubbed his jaw, his fingers toying with his beard. “Herb at the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office usually works with people. Sets up a payment plan if needed.” Levi glanced back down at the stack of notices. On every single one, the amount due was the total. “Doesn’t look like he’s done that here.”
“Kasi would have asked,” Keith said. “You think he refused?”
Levi lifted one shoulder. “I’m not sure. I don’t know much about the way Gracemont does business, but I could ask my dad. He’s on the town council.”
“Do you think we could lose the farm?” There was a tremor of fear in Keith’s voice, and Levi imagined Kasi would likely be feeling that same fear. However, Levi didn’t want to lie to the boy.
“The town could foreclose on the house and land, yes.”
“What happens then?”
Levi leaned back, slowly rocking. “The farm, the land, all the buildings would go up for auction.”
“So anybody could buy it?”
Levi nodded. “Including the Grovers.” Which seemed to rule out the tax bill as an impetus for marriage, at least from Scottie’s perspective.
“What do we do?” Keith asked. “We can’t pay that bill.”
Levi stood up, placing a comforting hand on Keith’s shoulder. “You leave this with me,” he said, lifting the papers. “I’m going to talk to my dad and then pay a little visit to Herb.”
The anxiety in Keith’s expression cleared, and he smiled. “Thanks, Levi.”
“Thank you for bringing this to me. For trusting me with it.”
“You’re good for Kasi. She’s been happier since you, more like her old self. I…” Keith looked down at the floor of the porch. “I missed her.”
Levi hoped he got the opportunity to keep being good to her. “I’ll be in touch soon, okay?”
Keith stepped off the porch and climbed on his motorcycle, giving Levi a wave before driving away.
Levi took another look at the stack of bills, then headed in the direction of his parents’ house, the plans he hadn’t been able to formulate suddenly lining up in a straight row in his mind, along with some suspicions. Unfounded, maybe, but the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced he was right about how Scottie had convinced Kasi to say yes.
The path between his house and his parents’ wasn’t a long one, and soon, he was walking in the back door, straight into the kitchen. He drew in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of bacon frying. Mom was standing by the stove, prepping breakfast for the guests staying in the B rather, he asked another of his own. “Does the mayor have anything to do with the collection of property taxes?”
Dad shook his head. “No.”
“Would he know which families were behind on their taxes?”
Dad took a sip of his coffee, then shrugged. “It’s a small town, son, and Scottie’s office is in the same building as Herb’s. Not unusual for the folks who work there to talk. Hell, the fact Sheriff Anderson was up here just a day after Archie and Keith’s antics the other night at the brewery should tell you that.”
“Scottie proposed to Kasi,” Levi said.
Sam leaned forward, scowling. “He did what?”
“Keith said the mayor’s been stopping by a lot of late. Apparently, he mentioned to her that we were considering pressing charges against Keith.”
Sam exploded. “In what world would we do that? Why would he tell her that?!”
Levi agreed with his brother. “What if he knew the Mills family couldn’t pay their taxes, and he decided to apply a little pressure?”
While Dad looked skeptical, Sam’s mind jumped to the exact same place Levi’s had. “Everybody in Gracemont knows the Grovers want to build a training facility on their farm,” Sam pointed out.
Levi nodded because that was common knowledge.
“You think Scottie’s proposal was based on getting Lucky Penny Farm? That’s a pretty big leap, son,” Dad said. “Especially considering if the town did foreclose on the farm, it would go up for auction. Why would he marry Kasi when he could just buy the property outright?”
Sam tapped the rim of his coffee cup. “If it went up for auction, there’s no guarantee the Grovers would win it.”
“That’s true. And if there was a bidding war…” Levi looked down at the bill.
Dad clearly wasn’t convinced. “The Grovers are wealthy. Chances are very good they would be the winning bid.”
“Maybe so, but if Scottie marries Kasi, all he has to do is pay off that bill, which is considerably less than he’d pay at auction,” Sam suggested. “Plus, there’s no risk of losing and he gets the farm for…”
“For a fraction of what he’d pay if he bought the land outright,” Levi finished. “He’s asked Kasi out more than a few times the past year. She rejected him every time. I think he found a way to have his cake and eat it too.”
“That fucking asshole,” Sam muttered.
“Kasi would do anything to make sure her family didn’t lose the farm,” Levi added. It was the missing piece of the puzzle—and likely proof that Levi had been right. She’d been willing to marry a man she couldn’t stand to ensure her dad and brother didn’t lose their home.
Dad shook his head. “Fellas, come on. That’s a lot of conjecture. You can’t accuse Scottie of foul play,” he paused, then gave them a smirk, “until we speak to Herb.”
Sam chuckled.
Dad didn’t. “I know you’re not a fan of the mayor, Levi, but?—”
“He forced himself on Lucy when she rejected him,” he interjected.
Dad raised his hands in immediate surrender. “I know, and you have to believe that pisses me off as much as you. But I also know that a lot of what’s driving you right this minute has less to do with Lucy and everything to do with Kasi.”
Levi couldn’t deny that. “It does.”
“She’s the one, isn’t she?” Mom reached out and took Levi’s hand.
He gave it a squeeze. “She is.”
Mom’s smile lit up the kitchen. “I’m so happy for you. Kasi is a darling girl. So sweet and smart and funny.”
“She’s all that and more,” Levi agreed. “It was just like you said, Dad. One look and I knew.”
“You’ve known her forever,” Dad pointed out.
Sam laughed. “That’s what Everett said.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “I’m not sure how to explain it. It was like I had blinders on and the second they fell away, she was there, and I saw my entire future laid out in front of me.”
Mom placed her hand over her heart. “Marriage? Children?” Mom had been dropping not-so-subtle hints for years about her desire for grandchildren.
Levi nodded. “I want all of that with her. If it was up to me, I’d already have my ring on her finger, but Kasi’s younger and a lot less experienced when it comes to relationships.”
Dad snorted. “Wouldn’t exactly say you were an expert, son. Can’t recall you bringing too many girlfriends around in the past.”
“Or any,” Sam added.
Levi chuckled. “She and I are going to have to teach other how to be part of a couple.”
“Gonna have to get Scottie out of the way first,” Sam grumbled. Levi loved that his brother was as pissed about Scottie’s treatment of Kasi as he was. He also knew without a fact that if his other five brothers had been here for this conversation, they’d be just as outraged.
“I have no doubt you and Kasi are meant to be. It’s all just so wonderful,” Mom gushed. “And perfect. Because I know you’ll take care of each other and spend as many happy years together as your father and I have.”
Dad reached over and ran an affectionate finger down Mom’s face. “Kasi will make a fine wife, and it will be nice to have her become an official part of the family. God knows she’s been an honorary one forever,” Dad agreed.
“She has a big heart,” Mom added.
“She does. Which is why if I find out Scottie is pressuring her to marry him so that he can steal her family’s land—” Levi started.
Dad stood up. “Sam, tell your brothers we’re going to need them to cover for Levi this morning in the field.” He glanced at his watch. “Herb’s office opens at eight. Levi, you and I are going to be there when he arrives.”
An hour later, Levi and his father were standing at the counter of the commissioner’s office, Kasi’s stack of bills resting in front of them. Levi fought to calm his temper when Herb said he didn’t realize Scottie had been in contact with Kasi.
“It’s my job to collect the taxes from the Mills family, not the mayor’s. I gave them an extension the first year because that fire wiped out most of their crop and then this year…” Herb sighed. “Well, I wasn’t in a hurry to call and demand money after Mrs. Mills passed. That family has seen more than their fair share of tragedies.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “They really have.”
Herb held up a yellow legal pad with names and phone numbers on it. “I was just working my way through all the voicemails that came in from when I was out west. I’ll admit I’ve never learned how to make one of those out-of-the-office messages. I have it on my list here to call Kasi back. I had no idea Scottie was pressuring them to pay the amount in full immediately. We set up payment plans,” Herb said to Dad. “You know that. The council made that an official guideline a few years ago. Voted on it and everything.”
“Have the Millses ever been on a payment plan?” Dad asked.
Herb shook his head. “These past two years are the first time they’ve ever failed to pay their taxes.”
Levi and Dad hadn’t mentioned Scottie’s marriage proposal or their suspicions that Scottie was preying on the Mills family for his own personal gain.
“Are you aware of Scottie contacting anyone else who was behind on payments?” Levi asked.
“No,” Herb replied. “Never. Gotta admit I’m kind of shocked to hear he was overstepping. Just between me and you, no one’s ever accused Scottie of working too hard on his mayoral duties. More interested in strutting around town like a bigwig than pushing papers.”
Dad crossed his arms. “And there are other people in town on payment plans?”
Herb tapped his pen on the counter. “Several families. You know how it is. Some years are good, some are bad, but we don’t punish those who are behind. We give them time to recoup losses and pay us back. Scottie knows that. Most of the people who live in Gracemont have deep roots here. It’s what makes this town so great.”
Levi walked over to a large map of Gracemont, hanging on a bulletin board. He ran his finger over it until he found Lucky Penny Farm, clearly marked. Then he drew his finger upward until he found the line that separated that farm from the Grovers’.
Herb frowned, taking note of what Levi was studying. “Wait. Do you think the mayor is interested in getting Lucky Penny Farm? Is he trying to force foreclosure?”
Levi studied the man’s face. Herb and Dad were fishing buddies, the two frequently casting lines into the pond on the edge of Herb’s property. If he weren’t so close to Herb, he wouldn’t admit his suspicions, but he trusted the man. “Yeah. I do. The Grovers have made no secret about their desire to expand their horse farm.”
“They want to compete with the big dogs, train horses for Triple Crown,” Dad added.
“That’s a pretty serious allegation, Rex,” Herb said to Levi’s dad, though he didn’t sound exactly surprised. Looked like it wasn’t just the Storm family who wasn’t fond of the mayor.
“Which is why we’re not making it,” Levi stressed. “You willing to set up a payment plan for the Mills family, Herb?”
Herb nodded. “Of course I am. Have Tim—or Kasi—call me.”
The fact Herb knew to include Kasi in that invitation told Levi that word was spreading about who was really running the farm.
“I’ll do that.”
Herb shook his hand, and then Dad’s. “Fishing Saturday?” Herb asked Dad.
Dad nodded. “I’ll bring the beer.”
“Good.”
Once they stepped back out into the early morning sunshine, Dad turned to Levi. “What’s next?” he asked.
“I’ve got a plan, but I’m going to need the support of the entire family.”
“Sounds like we need a meeting,” Dad said with a grin.