Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
M axwell had told himself a dozen times since yesterday that this was a bad idea. He should leave well enough alone.
But still, he’d called Debby’s Diner to find out if Eryn were working, and the helpful waitress said not until 4:00. Given she didn’t seem to be a social butterfly, that meant she was likely at home.
She’d been clear about not wanting to pursue anything with him. He’d also set his mother straight. No relationship. No friendship, even. Just a couple of days catching up on old times with an acquaintance before moving on.
Which was a bunch of crock, because he didn’t have that many memories with Eryn in them. None without her twin. And they hadn’t discussed ancient history for more than five minutes of their conversations.
No, she was intriguing, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. She seemed vulnerable. She seemed like she needed a champion. In fact, Eryn reminded him of several workers on Maxwell’s crew who’d just needed a simple leg up so they could blossom and prosper on their own.
Everyone needed someone to believe in them.
Maybe he should offer her a job as he had to Heather, to Jordan, to Janessa.
That was the thought that sent him to the Ralston farm on Monday morning. He hadn’t been here since — think, think — the winter before Mrs. Ralston’s accident? Even as a kid, he’d been intrigued by buildings and architecture, and now, as he pulled into the farmyard, problems leaped out at him. The porch roof drooped. The siding needed fresh paint and, in some places, repairs. The double-hung windows were the inefficient kind that leaked air.
Frowning, Maxwell parked his mother’s car between Keith’s truck and Eryn’s car then climbed out. The Ralstons had either fallen on hard times or simply neglected their home. A quick glance around caused him to amend his thoughts to include the barn and machine shop. Bringing this place up to par would run an easy couple of hundred grand. Probably more.
Not that anyone had asked for his professional opinion.
Maxwell mounted the steps, careful of where he set his feet, and knocked on the wooden door.
A moment later, the door opened to reveal a surprised Keith Ralston. “Hello. Maxwell. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I came to see Eryn before I leave for Montana. Is she home?”
“Uh, sure. We were just finishing up a project.” The man grimaced slightly. “We’d never dealt with Amelia’s room, and we’re doing that now, along with everything else.”
What kind of everything else? “I won’t interrupt if you’re busy. I came by on a whim.”
“No, no. Come on in.” Keith widened the opening and beckoned. “We’re at a good stopping place.”
“Dad? Who was at the door?” Eryn jogged down the stairs just far enough for her gaze to meet Maxwell’s. “Um, hi. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
Maxwell offered an easy grin. “Surprise! But I don’t need to stay. Your dad says you’re busy.”
“We have time for tea.” Keith gave his daughter a pointed look. “I’ll go put it on.”
Eryn’s hand touched her adorably messy ponytail. A bit of dirt smudged her cheek and her old jeans and T-shirt. “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared upstairs.
Awkward. Maxwell stood in the small entry. The staircase looked solid for the era, but refinishing would bring out its natural beauty. The house also had high ceilings edged with wide moldings. It could look quite charming.
Somehow, he didn’t think offering to renovate their home would be taken well. Probably they couldn’t afford it, or they’d have done it already, and besides, Maxwell was not moving back to Kansas, remember?
Yeah, he remembered.
Maxwell followed Keith to the kitchen, which would definitely require gutting… He needed to turn that part of his brain off. But why were boxes stacked in the corner and cupboard doors open to reveal empty shelves? He chuckled. “Looks like you guys are moving.”
“We are.” Keith glanced over from where he set three mugs on the countertop.
Maxwell blinked. “Pardon me?” And why hadn’t Eryn mentioned it?
The man sighed and glanced toward the doorway as though checking for his daughter’s presence. “We’ve hit on some hard times, and I sold the farm to Larry Groening the other day. We’ve got a bit of time, but we tackled Amelia’s room yesterday and then sort of kept going. A lot of this stuff has never been used since Kendra passed away.” He lifted a shoulder in a shrug that belied the moisture in his eyes.
“Where are you moving?”
“Don’t know yet. We’ll find a place in town. I can maybe work for Larry — he has that Bed of Greens Truck Farm. Or maybe I can stock shelves at the Co-op. I guess I’ll see what crops up. Bad time of year, though.”
“But… you’re a farmer. You’d hate being cooped up in a feed store or something like that.”
Keith grimaced as he shook his head. “You’re right, but even without the farm sucking me dry, bills don’t pay themselves. Leastways that I’ve noticed.”
A problem a Sullivan grandson had never faced, although Bryce had seemed ready to test the theory at times in his life. He might only be putting in time now, but he was at least earning his keep with landscaping at the ranch.
“I’m really sorry to hear that.”
“Dad!”
Maxwell turned to see Eryn with her hands on her hips, glaring at her father. Her hair had been brushed into a high ponytail, and the smudge was off her face. Also, had she dabbed on a little makeup?
He was no expert, but it seemed likely. Maxwell forced himself not to grin at the thought.
“Eryn!” Keith mimicked his daughter’s tone and stance. “There’s no point in trying to keep it a secret. Everyone in Gilead will know by next weekend, or by tomorrow if Mrs. Alleghany finds out sooner. It is what it is.”
Eryn’s mouth tightened. “I suppose you’re right, but I don’t have to like it.”
Keith huffed and turned away. “I’m going out to the deep freeze for those cookies Karen sent over the other day.”
And off he went, leaving Maxwell with Eryn, whose lips were tight as she glared after her father.
Oh, boy. Maxwell was in the middle of it now. “Hey, it’s okay. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
She turned her piercing blue eyes on him. “I’m sure you wouldn’t know anything about that sort of thing.”
“You have me there, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
“Why are you here, Maxwell? Because as soon as your mother knows Dad lost the farm, she definitely won’t want us seeing each other. Not that we are. Or want to be.”
She was cute when she was flustered, but Maxwell was smart enough not to smile. This was a serious, life-changing moment they’d found themselves in.
And Maxwell was a problem solver, so his mind had instantaneously jumped the tracks in search of solutions.
What had Weston said the other day about Joseph, the guy who ran the farming operations at Sweet River? He was hoping to retire soon. Wasn’t that it?
“Excuse me a minute.” Maxwell pivoted on his heel as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and made for the front door.
“Can’t get out of here fast enough now?” Eryn mocked.
“I’ll be right back for that cup of tea. Cookies also sound good.” Maxwell headed to the car for a modicum of privacy and tapped his cousin’s number. “Hey, Weston? I’ve got a question for you.”
“Where did he go?” Cookie tin in hand, Dad looked around the kitchen.
“Who knows?” Eryn shook her head. “He zipped out of here like the house was on fire, but he said he’d be back.”
She doubted it, because why would he? If Maxwell, like his mother, had assumed some sort of prosperity, he’d be off to Montana on the next flight. He’d never bother with a pauper. All of which didn’t matter, because that was only the most obvious reason they weren’t suited for each other.
Amelia had drooled over the cute boy he’d been more than once in that journal.
Not that Eryn wanted to continue reading… except it was impossible to stop.
“Okay.” Dad opened the tin and set some of the cookies on a plate.
Eryn fixed the tea. Three cups because, who knew, Dad might be right.
“Sorry about that.” Maxwell reappeared in the doorway. “I had a phone call I needed to make.” He looked between Eryn and Dad as though he thought it mattered to them.
She needed to get her head on straight. Dealing with her twin’s things — especially the diaries — had taken its toll on Eryn’s optimism. Not that she had much of that naturally. Life had been too hard to cling to it.
None of it was Maxwell’s fault. He wasn’t part of the problem, and he wasn’t part of the solution. She could enjoy another half hour in his presence before saying a permanent farewell. Hadn’t she done that yesterday? Yet here they were again.
“The tea is ready. Do you take anything in yours?” She transferred the three cups to the table.
“Honey if you have some, or sugar is fine.”
Eryn nodded. “We have honey.” She set the little squeeze bear on the table and took the seat nearest the stove.
Maxwell sat around the corner from her, across from Dad, and accepted a peanut butter cookie from the plate. He stirred honey into his tea before looking between them again. “Keith, what kind of equipment does wheat farming require?”
Eryn blinked. Of all the questions she might have dreamed he’d ask, this was not one of them.
“The usual. Tractor, combine.” Dad shrugged.
“You use big equipment here? How many acres is this place?”
“Two hundred. I’ve been farming it for 30-some years and never made enough to buy into the fancy machines. I’ve got the basics. You in the market for equipment? I can show you.”
“No, that’s not it.” Maxwell looked between them again then leaned forward on the table. “We talked yesterday about the guest ranch my grandfather bought in Montana. We’re dependent on the tourist industry there, but we also have a herd of cattle and the hayfields to sustain them.”
Where was he going with this? Eryn tried to keep her face neutral, but Dad looked intrigued. Right. In her experience, men bonded over engines and farms.
“We don’t grow grain at all on our spread. We haul that in from further east, but mostly we feed the cows alfalfa hay. The horses like it, too, but of course we supplement with grains as needed.”
“We haven’t had any horses around here since…” Dad swallowed. “Since we gave up doing the sleigh rides years back.”
“My cousin Weston is in charge of our livestock, which includes the farming aspect. He’d said something the other day about the farm manager planning his retirement.” Maxwell shot a glance at Eryn too quick to decipher. “I just gave Weston a call to make sure I had my facts straight, and I do. Keith, we have a vacancy for a man of your experience. Sweet River Ranch pays well, and there is staff housing available. Would you consider moving northwest?”
The cookie Dad held halfway to his mouth dropped to the table, bounced once, and landed on the floor. Which demonstrated how Eryn felt, too.
Tears filled Dad’s eyes, something that had become far too commonplace since Amelia’s death, but there was also a smile. “You mean that, boy? You don’t know me or my work ethic. I can’t recommend myself, because I can’t even make a go of it here.”
“I’ve heard nothing but good about you around town.” Maxwell held up both hands. “Not that I’ve been asking, but people noticed your daughter and I together at the reunion events.”
Eryn had an idea which classmates might have tried to either warn Maxwell away from her or encourage him.
“The offer stands. I’m a man of my word.”
Dad rubbed both temples as he stared at the table for a long moment.
Eryn held her breath. Something akin to hope rose in her. Was a fresh start, far from Kansas, in the cards for them both? Because surely if Dad took this offer, she’d go, too. Montana! Land of skies even wider than those of Kansas? Home of mountains and plains, lakes and rivers.
“What do you say, Rynie?” Dad looked her way with more anticipation on his face than she’d seen in the past two years.
“I think you should go.”
“Me? What about you?” Dad looked at Maxwell then back.
Maxwell turned to her. “We have numerous employment opportunities at Sweet River, Eryn. I’m sure we can find a place for your talents to shine.”
“I have no talents.”
“Pshaw!” Dad exclaimed. “You have many talents. You’ve just been hiding them.”
She wanted to be angry, but he wasn’t wrong.
“What do you say, Eryn?” Maxwell’s hopeful eyes smiled at her. “Sweet River will be a better place if you come.”
And there went her biggest reason for not accepting Maxwell’s offer to keep in touch as friends. Agreeing to a job there seemed like she was saying more, and she wasn’t sure she should.
On the other hand, she couldn’t let Dad move all that distance by himself and leave her behind. Not if she had a chance to change her life’s direction… and maybe find love.
It wouldn’t do to look too eager, though.
“We can consider the possibilities.”
Dad laughed, the deep lines etching his face lessening a little.
Maxwell threw both hands in the air and did a seated victory dance, his smile big enough to reveal that dimple.
Eryn was so, so in trouble.