Chapter Two

 

Daphne had the table ready when the others came in, the little one skipping along and carrying a pack on her back.

“Hi, Miss Daphne!” Zoe held her arms out and was immediately swept into a hug.

“You give the best hugs, Miss Zoe,” Daphne told her, rubbing noses before buckling her into the seat.

“She’s looking awfully cheerful this morning,” Gwen remarked.

“Hmmm…that’s cause she don’t have a guy waking her up at three in the morning,” Eloise lifted a tall glass of orange juice and drained half of it before surfacing. She sighed thickly. “In the most imaginative ways…”

“And said guy is still sound asleep?” Daphne asked through her laughter.

“No…he’s busy working on setting up interviews for Monday,” Eloise frowned at her cousin. “But you are looking very animated…what’s up?”

“I need your help. Both of you, I think,” Daphne lifted the collection of papers she’d worked on most of the night. “It would be a good thing…consider it as righting a wrong. And…we would get good organic produce, eggs and possibly other stuff, I’m not sure yet on that part.”

“Half baked schemes…I love it…” Eloise bit into a piece of toast and listened, glancing at the map and digging into the pack at her side. With a red pen, she began making notes on the property map, nodding to herself as she listened.

“You’ve never taken a loan against shares,” Gwen said slowly, leaning back and offering some apples and grapes to Zoe. “None of us have. The form is simple enough…if Ethan hasn’t rearranged my office too badly, I can easily find them,” she lifted a pen, jotting down an amount and a times three. “This way…there is extra for the fencing and security system.”

“The help is free…but the materials are another matter. I can get them at cost, but still…” Eloise chewed on a slice of toast filled with scrambled eggs.

“I would love to be the fly on the wall when the owner finds out he’s been had,” Gwen said coldly, her pale brown head shaking. She pulled out her phone. “Let’s lay some rumors…got time this morning?” She asked, looking from one to the other. “Then let’s inspect our property.”

Daphne stopped at the office and made copies of the property map for each of them. “I think a large…and I mean large…greenhouse should be erected here…excellent light for spring seeding. It looks like there are four really good wells on the property.”

“I really do not like this agent,” Gwen said, snapping her phone closed and pacing outside her office. She went inside and found the loan papers that were only valid for members of the family. She blew the dust off and frowned at the laugher and coughing from the others. “Evidently we have a lot of money in the loan fund,” she murmured.

“What nerve did the agent strike?” Daphne asked, taking up a pen and completing the form with the numbers Gwen had used.

“Wanted to know if I was bringing my husband along,” Gwen glared at her phone, opening it and tapping in another number. “Brittany, my brilliant real estate guru…are you so very busy? Got a very lucrative sale for you…”

“Aww…you know you had me at brilliant,” came the rich chuckle through the phone. “I happen to be sadly available. What and where?”

“And what do you know about an agent named Daniel Curruthers?”

“Hmm…elitist…out on the peninsula for the most part. Arrogant. Skirts the line of discrimination,” Brittany said dryly, packing up her bag and heading for the car. “I’ll be there in fifteen. Try not to kill him.”

“I’m not guaranteeing a thing,” Gwen said with a laugh.

They climbed into Gwen’s SUV, Daphne took the back and read through two books with Zoe on the ride over the wide expansion bridge, taking a left turn toward the undeveloped section of the strip that filled the southern portion of Puget Sound.

“You invited Mariah?” Daphne waved at the large motorcycle coming up on her side.

“I did…Eli’s busy with Morgan on the school thing. Besides, she likes this kind of thing and her signature, though not needed, will look really neat,” Eloise said with a bright grin. “Our adopted biker sister.” The girls laughed, watching the bike pull out ahead of them toward the turn toward the property.

“So you think we just ignore him?” Mariah asked, straddling her bike and hitching the helmet over the bar behind her. “You know what’s going through his head…you three and a woman on a bike shows up…”

“It’s probably safest,” Daphne said with a low chuckle. “Gwen’s feeling very feminist today.”

“I don’t blame her,” Mariah stepped onto the ground and swung her leg over, leather chaps fit to her body and her jeans. “What moron in this day and age asks if your husband is coming with you for the purchase of anything?”

“Evidently this one,” Gwen mumbled, setting Zoe down after telling her to stay close.

“Is this a farm?” Zoe asked, looking around her, climbing on the low wooden fence and peering over. “I think this was for chickens,” she decided with a nod.

“Hmm...I think you’re right, kiddo,” Mariah lifted her and they went off talking and checking out the large barn.

“This could be an incredible family farm,” Daphne whispered, watching Brittany greet the older man and carefully keep him from the women. “I can easily picture some small houses built out of the lumber from the land. Then you’ll have a couple acres easily for planting. According to my information there are four different kind of apples and two pears in the orchard. Also Italian prune plums and even a space set aside with grapes. Wonder if they made wine here?”

“Yeah…” Mariah called out, setting Zoe free. “The equipment is in the back of the barn. It’s sturdy…very well built.”

“Okay…who gets to ask for the front door of the house to be opened?” Eloise looked around at the others.

“It’s my idea…I’ll do it,” Daphne applied her best smile and walked to the man standing with Brittany. “We’d like to go inside, please.”

“I’ll get it, Daniel, they’re my clients,” Brittany said with a brilliant smile at the man looking less than happy. “He wants a sale really bad,” she said once they were out of earshot.

“He doesn’t deserve the commission,” Daphne mumbled, watching her cousins split off and explore. “I want to know the zoning laws with regards to this property. Will I be permitted to build small family homes for my use only. Not for rent or sale outside. I also want to know how much grief I’ll get for cutting down trees to make those homes and clear the land for more planting.”

“I can get that for you,” Brittany nodded, striding off and perching on the stone border on the porch. She tapped over her phone, searching and talking to people she knew in the area.

“Have you thought about what happens if they refuse the project, Daphne?” Mariah looked from one to the other, dark brown arched. “For the price and size, it’s a really good idea.”

“I’ve already thought of that…and I’ll just have to make it a deal that can’t be refused,” Daphne answered quietly.

“I talked to Zora…she mentioned the incident with one of your kids,” Mariah kept her voice low.

“It would be a matter of honor,” Eloise picked up on the stream of thought. “Repayment for a debt.”

Daphne grinned. “Already ahead of you. I’ve done research on yield and the proper percentages yearly. But I also want to make certain we can deed it over to them in five years for a decent price. Once they’re established and part of the community, idiots like the current owner won’t be able to do a thing about it.”

“Show me where to sign on, ladies,” Mariah said with an approving grin.