Chapter 20
CHAPTER
20
Sawyer stepped out of the bakery and almost ran into Jack Hayes.
The man had been more of a father to him than his own. Not that he’d ever told him that. Will’s grandfather could strike fear into the bravest soul and Sawyer wasn’t that, always on edge that someone would see right through him. He had the feeling the old man could do exactly that.
‘Good to see you, Mr Hayes.’ He stuck out his hand and Jack shook it, his gaze coolly appraising as usual, catapulting Sawyer back decades when he had to stand by Will in his lies about why he’d broken curfew.
‘You too, young man.’ Jack released his hand. ‘You came for the wedding?’
He nodded. ‘Will caught Covid and couldn’t travel so he asked me to attend the wedding on his behalf.’
Jack frowned. ‘That young man works too hard, must be run-down.’
Sawyer didn’t point out that Will could’ve caught the virus anywhere and it didn’t necessarily correspond with his hours spent at the hospital; he hadn’t seen the old man in years, no point antagonising him.
‘He’s just got a promotion at the hospital so he’s putting in the hard yards.’
Sawyer knew he’d said the wrong thing when Jack’s frown deepened. ‘He didn’t tell me about the promotion the last time we spoke.’
Sawyer had no intention of getting caught between his best mate and his grandfather, so he changed the subject. ‘What do you think about Mila not getting married to Phil Baxter?’
‘A lucky escape.’ Jack shook his head, his mouth downturned in disapproval. ‘He’s far too old for her.’
‘Couldn’t agree more. I almost punched the guy when I saw him yesterday.’
Jack’s eyebrows rose. ‘What did he say?’
‘Nothing. It’s his smarmy face I’ve always had a problem with.’
Jack guffawed and Sawyer managed a rueful smile.
‘While they seem chummy enough, I’m not sure why she was marrying him, though the isolation affects many and they settle,’ Jack said, his expression thoughtful. ‘Unless they had intentions to merge the farms, build a solid financial base. Happens a bit out here, neighbours getting together for practicalities more than romance.’
He shook his head. ‘Hills Homestead is everything to her and I wish I’d never sold it to her.’
‘She’s loved that place since she was a kid,’ Sawyer said, remembering the many times Mila told him she’d run the farm one day.
‘I think it’s pretty incredible she’s bought it and is determined to make it thrive.’
Jack eyed him with grudging respect. ‘Her farm-stay project is a sound idea, but it takes a lot of work to manage that and the rest of the farm.’ He tut-tutted under his breath. ‘She’s too independent for her own good, that girl. Taking on way too much.’
Sawyer remained silent, sensing the old man was offloading. In a moment, Jack continued. ‘It would’ve broken her heart if I’d sold the place to anyone else though, so I went along with it when she got the loan from the bank. But having a big mortgage on your own … she’s tied to that place for life now.’
‘It’s not work if you love what you do,’ Sawyer said, sounding like a motivational speaker and grimacing. ‘Sorry. I agree with you, but Mila’s always had a mind of her own.’
‘She certainly has,’ Jack said, with a wry grin. ‘What are you doing with yourself these days, young man? Will said you’ve made a success of yourself in land sales?’
Sawyer nodded, proud when he glimpsed a glint of admiration in Jack’s gaze. ‘Land broking is something I enjoy, and I’ve been lucky enough to make a good living from it.’
‘We make our own luck,’ Jack said, in his own version of a motivational speaker, and held up his hand with forefinger and thumb cocked like a gun in a ‘gotcha’ sign.
They laughed and Sawyer marvelled at how easy it was to talk to Jack now the years had passed, and he didn’t feel like the old man was judging his every move as Will’s friend and finding him lacking like the rest of the town. Though that might’ve had something to do with his own hang-ups than any judgement on Jack’s part. Any time he visited the homestead, Jack had either been out on the farm or had his nose buried in agricultural books. A man of few words, he rarely smiled, but his presence calmed Sawyer.
Jack’s quiet strength was a far cry from his father’s drunken, angry rants and he loved hanging around the Hayes family because of the warmth they exuded, something seriously lacking in his home.
‘With the wedding not happening, how long are you staying?’
Depending on the outcome of his plan to help Mila, Sawyer could be here a week. The thought alone would’ve made him sweat before he arrived back here, but now he’d stepped back in time and discovered it wasn’t as bad as his memories, he wanted to get his plan for Mila sorted and in place before he left.
‘Not sure at this stage. A week? Perhaps longer.’
Jack nodded, approval in his gaze. ‘Well, if you want to have a beer any time, let me know.’
‘Thanks, Mr Hayes.’
‘Call me Jack.’
They really had come a long way but the thought of calling his friend’s grandfather by his first name seemed vaguely disrespectful.
Like calling Mrs Knowles Shazza.
‘I’m glad you’re here for Mila too. She deserves to have a friend like you around at a time like this.’
With one last nod of approval, Jack sauntered down the street, still spritely for a guy who must be in his mid-seventies.
As for Jack’s praise, Sawyer wondered what he’d think if he knew Sawyer had been harbouring more than friendly thoughts about Mila and how he’d like to spend his time with her in Ashe Ridge.
Three hours later, Sawyer had completed investigating the subdivision ruling on Mila’s property and used his influence in the industry to figure out a workaround. Once he’d done that, he contacted prospective investors he knew who were always on the lookout for a sound business venture. But after another hour, he’d exhausted all his local contacts and none of them wanted to invest in a lentil farm. ‘Too risky’ , ‘not the right time’ , ‘not interested’ , and ‘economic downturn’ were some of the reasons he’d been given.
Which left two options and neither of them appealed.
He’d tackle the first—the less palatable but easier option. As he drove along Phil Baxter’s long driveway, focused on avoiding some massive potholes, he hoped he could hide his distaste long enough to get this deal done for Mila’s sake.
The farmhouse came into view, a modest red-brick with a white verandah, and Sawyer wondered anew how Phil and Mila would’ve made their marriage work. Would they have lived here or at Hills Homestead? Would they have rented out one of the farms to make money? Would they have had kids?
He understood the practicalities of their marriage from what Mila had told him, but she was too sweet, too special, for a man like Phil not to want more from the relationship than what she might’ve been willing to give.
Thank goodness Phil had the decency to pull out of the wedding, but he was counting on the guy still wanting to expand his holdings and buy some of Mila’s land to help her out. Which is what he assumed Mila would’ve done in the first place if not for that troublesome subdivision clause. It would’ve cost her a fair bit to resolve, money she didn’t have by the sounds of it, and he was glad he could use his influence to come up with a solution.
He parked near the barn and spied Phil washing his hands at a trough. Even at a distance, the guy looked older than his forty-nine years, with baggy jeans, a faded chambray shirt, and a plaid vest.
Sawyer clamped down on his dislike as he strode towards Phil, knowing he had to play nice for this to work. If he stuffed up, Phil would tell him to piss off and he’d be down to his last option to save Mila’s farm, something he really didn’t want to do.
Rather than walk towards him when Phil caught sight of him, the smug prick thrust his hands into his pockets and waited until Sawyer reached him.
‘What are you doing here?’ A deep frown grooved Phil’s brow. Sawyer didn’t miss the slight back step, as if he thought Sawyer had come here to punch him.
‘I came to apologise,’ he said, mustering his best subservient tone. ‘I was out of line when you popped into Mila’s yesterday. Your relationship is none of my business.’
Phil gaped for a moment, before he shrugged. ‘Yeah, well, things got complicated and seeing as I called the wedding off, I thought I’d do the right thing and take the blame.’
How magnanimous of the dickhead, Sawyer thought.
‘Actually, there’s another reason I’m here,’ Sawyer said, eager to get to the point so he could leave, unwilling to spend two seconds longer than necessary in this dweeb’s presence. ‘I was wondering if you were still interested in acquiring some of her land and expanding your farm?’
Phil’s eyes narrowed slightly, assessing him, probably wondering why he was interfering, so Sawyer continued. ‘I’m a land broker and I’ve been able to get the subdivision issues sorted.’
‘You’re a land broker?’ Phil’s brows shot up and the hint of amusement in his tone made Sawyer’s fingers curl into fists. ‘Considering the way you goofed around as a kid, I never thought you’d make anything of yourself.’
Sawyer mentally counted to five so his fists wouldn’t connect with Phil’s jaw. ‘Many of us change over the years.’
Though in Phil’s case, he doubted it. Sawyer had a sneaking suspicion the offer of Mila’s land had only been part of the attraction in marrying her. If he refused now, it would prove what Sawyer suspected.
Phil had wanted to get into Mila’s pants and thought he’d wear her down with time once they were married.
‘So, what do you think?’
Phil rocked back on his heels, his expression contemplative. ‘Why isn’t Mila here?’
‘Because I’m her friend and I’m making enquiries on her behalf.’ And he didn’t want this sleaze anywhere near Mila if he didn’t have to be.
Besides, he knew she’d be furious he’d interfered—but he hoped that once Phil agreed and he presented her with a solution to her problems, she’d be grateful he’d intervened on her behalf.
Phil shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Even with the subdivision clause sorted, I don’t have the funds to buy the land outright. We had an arrangement worked out for the financial stuff, so our marriage would’ve been mutually beneficial.’ He grinned. ‘In all regards.’
Sawyer clamped down on a surge of fury so potent he could’ve happily taken a swing at Phil and not given a damn.
He’d been right.
The prick had been interested in Mila romantically.
‘Are you reneging because you can’t get your hands on Mila?’
Shock widened Phil’s beady eyes, but Sawyer saw the truth before the prick had a chance to deny it. ‘Mila’s a lovely woman, so of course I hoped our marriage would become real over time.
What guy wouldn’t want that?’
What guy indeed, considering Sawyer had lain awake most of last night, reliving the feel of her in his lap, the twinkle in her eyes as she admitted having a crush on him in her teens, the spark between them as they sparred.
‘So your answer’s no?’
Phil hesitated, as if sensing Sawyer’s underlying anger. ‘If I could help Mila I would, but my financial constraints are real, so I can’t.’
Mustering every ounce of self-control, Sawyer managed a brief nod. ‘Thanks for your time.’
‘No worries,’ Phil said, looking exceedingly relieved as Sawyer gave a brief salute before turning away.
But the slimeball was wrong. Sawyer had a major worry.
He now had to follow his last-resort plan to help Mila, and if the truth ever came out, it would ruin their friendship—or the hope of anything more—once and for all.