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Tina
Tina felt a tingle of anticipation as she laced up her walking boots.
It had been a hell of a week. An unpredicted ice storm had done some damage, particularly in the cherry grove. One of the guys on her team got hurt and would probably be out for a month at least. Some kids broke into an equipment sheds and vandalized the place. And Eddie was being more irascible than ever. All attempts to pin Rick down and talk to him about it had been unsuccessful.
So, yeah, she was looking forward to getting away for the day to visit Sanctuary, see Kate, and check out what they were doing with the place. From what she remembered, the Winston resort was a gorgeous place with plenty of scenic vistas.
And maybe, just maybe, she’d catch a glimpse of the mysterious men—one hazel-eyed Good Samaritan in particular—who had chosen to make the place their new home.
It was important to keep her expectations realistic, however. A lot had happened since she’d last been there. She’d been in high school then, the summer before a horrific fire claimed the lives of the entire Winston family—except for Matt, who’d been serving in the military at the time.
Her stomach tightened at the thought of it. The tragedy had gutted their small, tight-knit community. Like the Obermachers, the Winstons were an old, established family, and in the blink of an eye, they were no more.
For a long time afterward, Tina had had nightmares about the same thing happening to her family. Of coming home to find everyone she loved just ... gone.
Thankfully, that hadn’t happened, but the last decade hadn’t been without loss. Tina’s grandfather was the first to go. Then, her father had a sudden and massive heart attack while harvesting feed corn one day. Not long after, her mother took an accidental overdose—at least, that was the official story—and was gone too. That had left just the Obermacher matriarch—Tina’s grandmother—and her siblings to carry on.
The family business had been divided evenly between Tina and her brothers. Gunther, who didn’t like getting his hands dirty, handled the business end of things. Kiefer took over the vegetable crops, Rick handled grains, and Tina did fruits.
They didn’t always agree. Rick and Gunther could be pigheaded and often shared the same mind. Kiefer could be reasonable at times, but he was more likely to go along with whatever Rick and Gunther wanted.
There was no doubt in her mind that they would be opposed to her decision to go to Sanctuary alone, which was exactly why she hadn’t told anyone about her plans.
She’d heard the same rumors everyone else had, of course. If Rick and some of his drinking buddies were to be believed, Matt Winston was turning his family legacy into a veritable fortress, amassing guns and weapons and building a small army of mentally unstable former servicepeople.
Tina didn’t believe that for a minute. For one thing, she knew Matt Winston—or at least, the man he used to be. Sure, serving in the military could change a lot of things about a person but not who they were at their core, and Matt Winston was good people.
Nor did she believe that Matt’s purpose in restoring the old place was a dark one. Both he and his family had always been very community-minded. Why people tended to forget that was beyond her. Either they had short memories or they were allowing Daryl Freed and his ilk to rewrite local history.
Dressed in layers, Tina locked up the small caretaker’s cottage she called home and set off. The Winston place wasn’t far as the crow flies, but there was no road that led directly there from where she was, which meant she had to go down toward the town to get to the road that led back up.
Thirty minutes later, she reached her destination. The long driveway with its overarching branches brought back pleasant memories. Soon, those trees and the abundant mountain laurel behind them would be loaded with blossoms, filling the mountain air with the scents of yet another spring.
She pulled into a parking spot just off the circular drive and gazed approvingly at the half-wall and steps. Both had recently been redone by the look of things, and they’d done a really good job, using the same local stone that had been used in the original manor house and the subsequent additions they’d put on when the place became a resort.
That, too, had been skillfully redone. It bore no resemblance to the charred, blackened ruins that had been splashed across the front page of the Sumneyville Times for weeks.
Nor did it look remotely close to a military bunker.
“Tina Obermacher. It’s good to see you.”
Tina turned around to find Matt Winston offering a friendly, familiar smile. He’d filled out since she’d last seen him, but there was no mistaking that angled, masculine face and those soulful golden-brown eyes. He, like her, was dressed in layers, which did absolutely nothing to hide the fact that he was in great physical condition.
In high school, Matt had been gorgeous. As a man, he was devastating. It was no wonder some women sighed when his name came up, even as their tongues were wagging with the latest hearsay.
“Matt Winston. Good to see you, too. It’s been a long minute, huh?”
“That it has. Welcome to Sanctuary. Do you want to come in and have some coffee before we head out to the orchard?”
Since they were both dressed for outdoor exploration, it made sense to get business out of the way. “How about we see what you’ve got first?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They walked down to the orchard. The grove was small, taking up less than ten acres, so they were able to cover it all in under an hour. There was a nice mix of apple, cherry, pear, and—her personal favorite—peach trees. Unfortunately, the years of neglect had left their mark.
Even in the starkness of almost-spring, it was obvious that nothing had been done in years. Invasive weeds and poison ivy had been allowed to grow unchecked. There’d been no pruning, no pest control, no proper fertilization, and deer had done quite a bit of damage to the trunks with their antlers.
“So, what do you think?” he asked as they were making their way back to the main building.
“I hate to say it, Matt, but I think most of it’s too far gone to salvage. You can try, of course, but if it were me, I’d start fresh.”
He nodded, unsurprised. “That’s what I thought. Wanted to check with an expert first though. What would we have to do to rebuild?”
“Well, the site is ideal. Eastern-facing, rolling land, and a mild slope are exactly what you want, so I don’t think you need to relocate unless you really want to. In general, you want to avoid exposed tops and ridges. They get too windy, and the soil erodes easily.”
“Makes sense.”
“You also want to avoid planting anything in the dips and valleys. The soil there tends to be overly fertile.”
His brow furrowed. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“For tree growth, yes. For fruit production, no.” She grinned. “That’s the short answer. I can give you the scientific reasoning behind it, if you’d like.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Yeah, that’s what she thought he’d say. While she found the finer points of agricultural science fascinating, most people tended to zone out fairly quickly.
“The first thing I would do is pick up a soil map. You can get one from the local county extension or soil conservation office. That’ll tell you a lot about the type of soil you’re dealing with and what will grow best for you. At the very least, it’ll tell you what you need to do to get stuff to grow for you.”
He nodded. “Soil map. Will do.”
“Second thing, do a nematode test before you take out the old trees.”
“What’s that?”
“Nematodes? They’re microscopic plant parasites. One square yard of soil can hold millions of the little suckers, and they can be devastating. Also, you’ll need to get rid of the multiflora, thistle, and poison ivy that have taken over. Two or three treatments over the summer should do it. You can use glyphosate, but I prefer an organic alternative myself. It requires a bit more persistence, but it’s worth it in the long run. I can share the formula I use, if you’d like.”
“That’d be great, thanks.”
“Once you do that, you’ll want to remove the trees that aren’t salvageable, plow to mix up the subsoil, and do more soil testing.”
He laughed. “Is that all?”
“Not even close. You’ll need to clear some of those trees at the bottom of the slope to create channels for the cold-air flow. Cold air is heavier and tends to travel downward. Dense woods at the bottom can have a damming effect, and you don’t want that cold air backing up, especially during budding season.
“Then, if you do all that,” Tina continued, “you could see viable fruit in two or three years.”
“That long?”
She nodded. “Starting a new orchard doesn’t provide the same short-term gratification as, say, planting tomatoes or cucumbers. It takes time, commitment, and year-round care. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to discourage you. With a parcel this small, you could do it easily, but you do need to keep up with it.”
“I knew asking you was a good idea.”
Tina shrugged and grinned widely. “I’m a tenth-generation Obermacher with a master’s degree. What did you expect?”
“Fair point. I appreciate you taking the time to come out and have a look. I know you’re busy.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you asked when you did. In another couple of weeks, I might not have had the time. Plus, I’ll admit, I’ve been curious. You and your guys sure have Sumneyville’s tongues wagging, you know.”
His smile faded. “Yes, I know.”
“It’s not all bad,” Tina assured him. “You’ve got a lot of support, too.”
Matt said nothing to that. “Can you stay for a bit? I know Kate would love to see you.”
Tina looked at her watch. “Sure. Gram’s not expecting me for a few hours yet.”
“How is your grandmother?”
“Feisty as ever.”
His smile returned. “Glad to hear it.”
“She’ll be thrilled when I tell her I saw you. She’s one of your biggest supporters, you know.”
“I bet that creates some interesting family dynamics at the dinner table.”
Tina laughed, her eyes sparkling. Clearly, Matt knew her brothers didn’t count themselves among the pro-Sanctuary locals, but he didn’t seem to hold that against her.
“That it does.”
Tina followed Matt inside. The lobby had changed somewhat from the last time she’d been here. It was simpler, less ostentatious than it once had been, but still quite beautiful.
After offering to take her jacket and vest, he led her toward the dining area. It, too, had been modernized and upgraded, much more in tune with the twenty-first century.
“Kate!” Matt called out. “Someone’s here to see you.”
Kate emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. The moment she saw Tina, a huge smile lit up her face. “Tina! I’m so glad you came.”
“Me, too.”
“Want some coffee?”
“I’d love some, thanks.”
“Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some things to take care of. Tina, thanks again for coming today.”
“You are very welcome. It was great to see you.”
Kate ushered Tina to a table in the dining room in front of the floor-to-ceiling tinted windows. “Have a seat. I’ll get us some coffee and snacks and be right back.”
Tina settled into the chair and took the opportunity to look around. The room was open and airy, the outer wall of mostly glass panels providing a stunning view of the grounds.
Kate returned shortly with a carafe of coffee, sugar, cream, and a plate of pastries that looked delicious.
“We have the place to ourselves for a while,” Kate told her, pouring them each a mug. “People won’t start wandering in until it gets closer to dinnertime.”
“This place is gorgeous.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Kate agreed.
Tina took a sip of her coffee and hummed. “This is fantastic. Reminds me of the stuff I used to get at Santori’s before it burned down.”
“That’s because it is. It’s Sam Appelhoff’s special blend. She used to work at Santori’s, remember?”
“I didn’t realize she was working here now.”
Kate laughed. “Someone clearly hasn’t been keeping up with the Sumneyville gossip vine. Sam not only works here; she lives here. She’s married to one of Matt’s partners.”
“I admit, I don’t pay much attention to local scuttlebutt. If you ask me, some people would be better off taking a closer look at their own lives instead of paying attention to everyone else’s.”
“Amen to that,” Kate agreed. “So, tell me how things are going with you.”
They talked for a while. The conversation was as pleasant as the company. Kate told her how impressed she was with Tina’s management of the orchards as well as how much she enjoyed the products—especially the peach tea in summer, adding that it was a favorite among those at Sanctuary.
For her part, Kate told her that she now ran the Sanctuary kitchen.
“Must be a lot of work,” Tina commented.
“It’s not work if you love what you do, and I love what I do.”
Tina understood because she felt the same way. She liked being out in the fresh air every day, getting her hands dirty, and providing the best produce around. Unfortunately, her health issues prevented her from taking as physical a role as she would like, so she’d turned some of her passion into the food-science aspect. It was the best of both worlds.
The coffee and conversation were Tina’s first purely social interaction outside the family in a long time, and she thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It felt good, talking to someone who got it and wasn’t questioning her judgment at every turn. Kate was definitely a kindred spirit.
“I believe congratulations are in order, too,” Tina said. “You got married, right?”
“I did.” Kate beamed and extended her left hand to show off the stunning diamond and wedding band set. “Chris is, well, he’s everything I ever hoped for. He’s so kind, loving, supportive, and smart. He designed our hydroponic greenhouses ...” Kate’s eyes grew huge. “Oh! I should show you the greenhouses! Do you have time?”
Tina checked her watch, surprised to see how much time had gone by. “I wish I did, but I don’t. I’m sorry. I’ve got to pick up my grandmother in less than an hour. I would like to see them sometime though.”
“I guess you’ll just have to come back next Sunday.”
A warm feeling spread through Tina’s chest. “I’d like that.”
“Great!”
“Thanks for the coffee and the pastries. They were really good.”
“They should be. Sam made them with your peach preserves. I’ll let her know you enjoyed them and the coffee.”
“Maybe she can join us next time? I’d love to say hi.”
“I’m sure she’d like that, too. Next week then. Same time?”
“Sounds good.”
Kate looked at someone over Tina’s shoulder and gave a wave. “Hey, Doc. Got a sec?”
Tina’s heart sped up at the name. She turned around, and sure enough, it was the same guy she’d seen in the parking lot at Ziegler’s. Heat crept into her cheeks when she remembered that the last time she’d seen him, she’d been stuffing her face with Zook’s.
“Sure,” he said, changing course to join them. “What’s up?”
He looked just as good as he had last time, dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and work boots. In the daylight, his hazel eyes were even more striking. Rimmed in an almost-vibrant green, the centers were a glowing amber with gold and dark mahogany flecks scattered throughout. For a moment, Tina felt like she was falling into them.
“This is Tina Obermacher. Tina, this is Doc, one of the partners here.”
“Nice to meet you, Tina,” he said, his lips curling into an easy smile that made him even more attractive.
She wondered if he was remembering the last time they’d met, while at the same time hoping he wasn’t.
“You, too,” she replied.
“Kate tells me you’re responsible for the peach tea I’m now addicted to.”
He liked her tea? “Thanks. It’s based on my great-grandmother’s recipe.”
“Tina is also the source of all the jams, jellies, and preserves we have every morning,” Kate said proudly.
“Then, I am doubly glad to meet you,” he said smoothly. His eyes crinkled at the corners, leading her to believe he wasn’t quite as young as his boyish features suggested.
Tina felt another wave of warmth wash over her. That was twice in the same afternoon.
“Are you staying for dinner?” he asked.
“I can’t,” she told him, wishing she could. “I’ve got other plans.”
Was that a flicker of disappointment in his eyes?
“That’s too bad. Kate’s a phenomenal cook.”
“Oh, I know. Fire hall fundraisers aren’t the same without her.”
Kate blushed at the praise, but it was true. From what Tina had heard, ticket sales had gone way down after people figured out Kate wasn’t cooking.
“Tina’s promised to come back next Sunday,” Kate told Doc.
He smiled, and she felt it right behind her breastbone. “Excellent.”
“Speaking of dinner, I’d better get back to it. Doc, would you mind walking Tina out?”
Before Tina could tell them that she could find her own way, his eyes met hers, and he said, “It would be my pleasure.”