15. Cherry Picking
CHAPTER 15
Cherry Picking
T he next morning, Isla felt the aches before she even woke. A shower helped, but the water tank eventually ran out of hot water. Lia had suggested light massage, so they’d both rubbed moisturizer onto the other’s sore muscles. Which had turned a tough morning into something a lot more fun.
Levi stretched as he looked out the kitchen window. The man was a magnificent sight. Those muscles from hard work were used to protect and to produce food. He might have been a warrior during his army days, but he didn’t use his body or strength to harm others.
He turned and smiled at her. “You up for a walk around the garden and the barn? We’ll make sure everything is good while we loosen up some muscles and let Hopper get in some fun.”
“Do you have anything you need to do for your hops?”
He shook his head. “Last night’s rain means I don’t need to water. The bines aren’t long enough to be wound onto the trellises yet.”
She took his hand. “I know your trellises aren’t all finished yet. I don’t want to take you from things you need to be doing.”
His face softened. “You’re not. The guys are helping me with the trellises. We’ve got time before I need them.”
“I can help.”
He laughed. “Then you’re in better shape than I am. My body’s way too achy to do any serious building today. Let’s take the day off and relax. Follow the doctor’s orders and think about how we can catch the asshole.”
Isla ran her arms around his waist. She wanted to help. No matter how many times he said it wasn’t her fault, it was totally her fault he couldn’t work on his farm, and she didn’t believe for a second that he was too achy to work. The man was in amazing shape, and she was sure he’d trained to ignore physical pain. He was taking care of her in yet another way. “Let’s check out your hops. See how they’re growing, and compare them to my base samples in the greenhouse. Collect some data.”
He grinned. “That brain is always working. Okay, let’s go see our plants.”
Hopper bounded around them, barking and fetching the ball Levi had brought along to throw for him. He looked like a different dog from the one they’d found bedraggled and hungry a few weeks before.
The overnight rain had left the fields muddy and the plants growing.
“It’s very different from where I’ve lived before, but that smell of earth and happy plants is the same. It’s amazing.” Levi laughed and threw the ball over the fence as they approached his property. Hopper squiggled under the bottom railing while Levi used it to boost himself to the top. Instead of climbing over, he held out his hand to her.
Isla took it and stood on the bottom rail. He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her to sit on the top rail beside him. For a long moment, they sat and watched Hopper bound away toward Levi’s barn. They knew he’d turn around when he realized they weren’t following.
Levi squeezed her hand. “It’s a good place.”
She squeezed back. “It is.”
“But if you need to leave it for a little while to be safe, I’ll go with you.”
Her heart swelled. She wanted to tell him he didn’t have to do that, but she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to go alone. With him at her side, she was brave enough to do anything. “Thank you. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“You won’t take off on your own?”
She studied those deep, thoughtful eyes that saw through to her fears and liked her anyway. “I won’t.”
Levi grinned and kissed her. Then he whistled at Hopper, and the lab came barrelling back across the field with the ball in his mouth. “Change of plans. Why don’t we go check out your hay loft?”
That made her laugh. She hadn’t been back up there since the incident with the ladder. She’d spent time on the main floor, where she’d found a ton of older equipment that was mostly in good shape.
As usual, she waved at the mural of the farmer and horses painted on the side of the barn. It made Levi chuckle, but she’d also spotted him nodding at the painting. It helped her feel connected to the land and the people who’d worked it. Until the day before, she hadn’t felt any connection to the family she had left. Today was different. Her father didn’t despise her and he wanted to repair their relationship.
She squeezed Levi’s hand and leaned into his shoulder. “It really is a good place. I’m so glad I accepted Tansy’s invitation to move here.” It had brought her not only her land, a dog, and a better relationship with her father, but Levi too. Without him, none of the others would be possible.
Definitely time to check out the hayloft, and maybe check off an item from her bucket list as well.
Inside the barn, Levi double-checked the ladder and then motioned for her to go first. Hopper was happy sniffing out the main floor, but they left the small door open in case he needed to go out.
She forced herself not to hesitate as she climbed the rungs. Levi had repaired the ladder, and she trusted him. Still, she was grateful when she climbed off the ladder and into the hayloft.
Levi hopped up behind her. “How did that feel?”
Of course, he knew she’d been thinking about the last time she’d climbed it. “A little scary, but okay.”
He grinned. “Me too. How about we see if that window opens and get more light in here?”
They moved through the dim light and found the window. It was a slider type. She’d seen that from the outside. Instead of two halves that opened outward, this door slid along a track on the outside of the barn.
Someone had added a latch which secured the door, although she wasn’t sure how anyone could get to the window from the outside. Even in a small barn, the window was high off the ground. She would guess at least thirty feet.
The key she had for the padlock on the front barn door also worked for this one. Levi slid the door to the side with a grin. “Nice. It moves easily.”
“Don’t fall out.” She moved herself back a step from the opening. It was a long way down.
Levi didn’t appear stressed about the height at all. With one hand on the wood above his head, he looked out but then stepped back as well.
From the window, they could see across the back of their fields and the forest that grew all around the area. The hills and mountains were gorgeous. “It’s like a painting. It’s like I could reach out and touch it.”
Levi laughed. “No reaching out. You’ve toppled once from this hayloft and the land slopes to the back. It’s another ten feet out this way.”
She gestured at her feet with a grin. “Which is why I’m standing back here. It’s a perfect place to sit. Imagine watching a storm brew around those hills and then head this way. I’m so glad you thought of doing this today. It’s perfect.”
Levi moved to stand beside her, then tugged her down to sit in front of him. She leaned back into his strength and sighed.
Up here, she could imagine her stress winging its way across the fields and into the mountains far away from them.
For long moments, she let the peace fill her up and soothe her. They’d survived the rollover. She’d had a good first conversation with her father. They had a good idea who was causing them trouble. Marcus was on it.
It was a good place.
And she knew how to make it better. She shifted and turned so that she was straddling Levi. Desire flared in his eyes, and she looped her arms around his neck. “Want to hear about one of my bucket list items?”
His hands ran down her back and squeezed her butt. “I think I do.”
She grinned and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. His body hardened beneath her as she spoke, and his hands flexed.
With a sexy growl, Isla was suddenly flat on her back, and Levi was stripping off her jeans. She was going to have very good memories of this hayloft.
L evi found his body ached less the following day. Hot showers—and a sexy as hell bath—with Isla and plenty of sleep appeared to be helping. The bruises were blooming, but that meant they were closer to healing.
He struggled to look at Isla’s bruises in the same way. Nothing should mar her skin. Every time he saw the marks on her, rage swirled through him. He wanted to get this bastard locked away and regretting every choice he’d ever made. The jerk wasn’t getting a chance to hurt her again because Levi wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
Shoots sprouted from Isla’s garden and her hops experiments were growing too. They walked his fields together after checking on hers. The hops were growing, and he’d need to get the trellis systems in place soon.
When she saw the growth in his fields, Isla beamed while Hopper raced up and down the rows like it was the best game in the world. A farm. A woman he didn’t want to ever let go. A dog. A team of friends and a group project.
Despite the jerk targeting Isla, life was pretty damn good.
Isla waved at the rows. “This is amazing. They’re healthy and happy. And you’re behind it all. An entirely new crop for this land, and it’s incredible.”
Levi laughed. He hadn’t thought to meet a woman who knew it was important that the plants be happy. “I’ve only ever worked with wheat and corn. Thought that would be what I would do for the rest of my life.” Because it had been traditional and comfortable. He’d once thought he would stay in Kansas on that one plot of land and be happy.
She turned to him, concern in her eyes. “How do you feel about the change? If you hate it, go back to those traditions.”
He shook his head and smiled as he looked over the fields. “I’m a little shocked how much I want these hops to thrive. Originally, I thought I was disappointing my family by changing states and forgoing the crops that have sustained my family for generations.”
“And now?”
He took Isla’s hand and started walking down the row. “Now, I feel more connected to them than ever. I’m starting something new, but it’s also the same. Tending the land and the crops. Helping something thrive. It’s not too different, but new and exciting, too.”
Isla smiled. “That’s amazing. I’m so glad you’re happy. Tell me more about your parents and your grandparents.”
He’d already told her how his farm and family had been wiped out by a tornado. How he’d turned to his military brothers and duty as a means to survive and heal. Now he told her about the rooster who thought morning started at three a.m. The simple joy of sunrises as they harvested. Family suppers of pot roast and fresh biscuits. His mom playing the piano on rainy days after the chores were done. His dad teaching him to play chess and cheering when Levi beat him for the first time. His grandfather fiddling, his grandmother with her knack for fixing tractors. Christmases filled with love, laughter, and generations.
When he fell silent, they kept walking, holding hands, enjoying the land. They reached the end of the final row, and Isla tugged him to turn and look at their lands, barns, the cottage, and the farmhouse, all visible from where they stood.
She leaned into his side, and he slung his arm around her to tuck her in. Her voice was soft. “They would be so proud of what you’re doing. How you’re combining tradition with new ideas. How you’re helping your friends and setting down roots in a place that makes you happy. I know they would approve of your choices to be part of this group. They’d probably get a good laugh at the name of the town, too.”
He grinned. “You’re right. They both liked a good pun and would have had a blast making up sayings like Piper has about Phail.”
Isla grinned. “Come to Phail to succeed.”
Levi turned and took both of her hands. “They would also approve of you, Isla. They would love your spirit and strength. How you’re working to improve the world, how you’re willing to put other things on hold to help explore the world of hops with me.”
This was it. The right time. He would tell her he loved her and hope like hell she felt the same. He lifted one hand to brush it across her jawline. “Isla, I?—”
A gunshot ripped through the air, and Levi yanked Isla to the ground and covered her with his body. “Don’t move. Are you hurt? Did it get you?”
“Was that a gunshot?”
“It was.” He moved his head slowly to face the forest behind him where the shot had originated. “Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m good. Are you? Did it hit you?”
Her voice was shaky but firm. She hadn’t been hurt. “I’m fine.”
Hopper started barking from the woods, and Levi tensed further until he realized the dog didn’t sound like he was in pain.
A quick survey showed no one was visible around them. And nowhere to have Isla hide. Only the woods where the shot had originated. Another shot sounded and he ducked again but didn’t feel a bullet land near them. If that bastard had shot Hopper, he was going to regret it.
Isla whimpered. “Let me up. We can run.”
He whistled first, hoping the dog knew to come running. “If we stand up, we’re easy targets.” Like an arcade game, they’d be taken down in seconds.
Levi already had his gun out, but wasn’t risking a shot until he had a target, especially with their dog barking out there. He whistled again. Hopper stopped barking and whined.
“Is he hurt? Did they shoot Hopper?”
Levi whistled again and rolled to his side, facing the woods and covering Isla. “Stay down, Isla. Don’t be a target. If you can reach your phone, call Marcus.”
Levi studied the woods for movement but didn’t see any. Finally, a low shrub on the left moved. He angled his gun that way and waited.
Being a farmer had taught him patience, and the military had honed that trait. Right now, he wanted to jump up and hunt down the bastard. Wanted to make him regret picking up a gun. But that would leave Isla unprotected, and he would never do that.
Instead, he aimed his gun and waited.