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Yesterday was insane. The emotional rollercoaster feels like a dream, like it all happened to someone else. I’m awake, snuggling with Rigel, having slept the sleep of angels in my Bransonless bed.
I’m finally going to be free, and the idea makes me giggle with anticipation. Leaping from bed, I take care of Rigel, shower and dress, intent on getting a head start on the day’s work. I need to stay ahead of the game, especially now that I’m acquiring more land.
It’s after nine when I make my way through the orchard and notice there aren’t any workers about, and the strangeness of it has me concerned. I don’t even see my dog, and he’s never far away. It’s eerie—something is off. Changing direction, I head to Clive’s cabin intent on discussing the land purchase.
A reminder of yesterday’s debacle stops me cold.
Ugh!
How is this going to play out now that he and Branson are together? I can’t go back to the cabin. I’m not ready to face either of them. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I frown, not sure what to do.
I text James. Deal back on—get it done!
The awkwardness of finding Clive and Branson together is enough to make me change direction again. My train of thought is scattered—I close my eyes, forcing myself to focus. Three key needs play across my mind—my checklist of tasks to get done ASAP: One, discuss the pending Carson acquisition; This is priority one. Two, reprimand the workers that ditched me in the orchard yesterday; I can’t let that slide. Three, figure out just where Clive and Branson fit into all this now that...
Sweet baby Jesus—my life is a mess!
“Mrs. Reilly.” Nick’s voice calls out from behind me. My eyes pop open with surprise, and I swing as he approaches, eyeing him with suspicion. Rigel is with him and sits at his side once he stops. That’s one mystery solved. Little traitor.
“What are you doing here?” I snap, not meaning to sound grumpy, but I’m beyond anxious.
“Carson sent me over. He knew Ballantine was about to strike.” He pauses, and I can tell he’s struggling with what he needs to say.
“Well, go on then,” I say, urging him to tell me what he knows.
He sucks in a sharp breath and on exhale, he says, “Clive walked, and he’s taken the majority of your workers with him.”
“What?!” The surprise in my tone comes out more like a screech. “Wh...Where...” My mouth snaps shut. I can’t even say a word—I don’t want anyone knowing what I walked in on yesterday.
“Edward Ballantine picked him up this morning...” He looks away as I gape at him, stunned. He clears his throat awkwardly. “Branson went with them, and from what I hear, Ballantine made an offer to snag your workers too.”
“Oh my God!” That snake in the grass lost his bid on Carson’s land, so he did the only thing he could to ensure my ruin. Nodding, I spin, prepared to storm off but I stop. Where will I go? I haven’t got any cards left to play. I drop to the ground, done, defeated, not even sure what to do or think. “What am I going to do?” The question falls from my lips with a pitiful huff, not really to Nick in particular, but more so for the universe.
I can’t believe Clive went to work for Ballantine, but honestly, it’s not like he could continue working here, not after yesterday. I was a fool to think he’d stay. Not that I really thought he would, but in the cold reality of today—this is a complete disaster.
“Clive was the best there is...I trusted him...and my workers...How could they just leave? I’m about to purchase scads of land...I need them.” Tears start to fall, and breathing feels tight—I hyperventilate, leaning forward and placing my face in hands. I try to regroup but I’m losing it. Rigel nudges me, licking my hands as if trying to cheer me up.
Nick crouches down in front of me. “It will be ok, Mrs. Reilly.” Him calling me that doesn’t help. I snort out a sardonic laugh.
“Really, Nick?” My eyes swing to his. “How?”
“Let me take over. We’ll use Carson’s workers while I fill the vacancies—they would have been yours anyway...I’ll have the vacancies filled before you know it.” His offer is more of a command, but since I’m up the river without a paddle, I’ll take it.
My eyes light up. “You’d do that for me? Yes! Please! We have so much to do, I can’t be without a full crew.”
“If I do this...I want Clive’s title,” he says, and he’s serious, even if it is an awkward request.
“I don’t know...” The look on his face freaks me out. He’s willing to help, and right about now, I’m in no position to bargain. “Yes, just...Nick, if you can get my farm running and keep it above water, then you can have Clive’s title. I’ll do just about anything.” He’s already got his phone in hand and is dialing. He reaches out, offering me a hand and I take it, letting him hoist me up.
Sweeping my hands over my butt and legs, I clear the dirt from my clothes and straighten up. He nods to me, letting me know he’s got this, and I turn and walk towards the cabins to clean and prepare them for new hires.
Clive left me with six workers. Six! Trying to stay positive, I recall my list and how it really isn’t a problem anymore. I’m buying that land. Edward Ballentine can go straight to the devil for all I care. And he can have Clive, and Branson, and my disrespectful workers too.
As I move from cabin to cabin, assessing the state of affairs, I pray to God that Nick comes through for me—I also thank God, over and over, that Carson and Nick have my back. This all could have been worse. Now, it’s like a massive housecleaning which is actually what I needed.
The majority of the cabins have been cleared out and not left in the best condition. I’m too stressed to deal with the mess. I drive back to the house to grab supplies. When I pull in, James is just getting out of his car.
As I get out of the car, I raise a hand to stop him. He didn’t even call first, which is beyond rude, and I’m in no mood for more bad news. “Don’t even speak unless the deal has been made.”
He laughs, throwing back his head. “It’s as good as done. Did you find out who the mole is?”
There’s that—I now wonder if Clive was the mole, but then again it could have been any one of my rogue workers—I’m learning that they gossip worse than my mammas old church group. Sighing, I shake my head, looking away. “I’m sure it doesn’t really matter, now.”
“Right. Well, now that Clive is working for Ballentine, we can only interpret his role in all of this...and Branson...” He stops himself. It amazes me how much he knows. My eyes search his, wondering if he knows the rest. He arches a cocky eyebrow. Yup. He knows. Great.
Smiling, trying to make light of my situation, I say, “I wonder, do you do divorces?”
He laughs again, shaking his head as he plops his briefcase on to the hood of his car. “I did your pre-nup, so of course, I’ll handle it—my usual fee.”
The one thing I adore about James is his ruthlessness as a lawyer and his inability to care what the case is. He’s in it for the money: pure and simple.
“Now, what are you going to do about a manager? I’ve got distributer contracts that need signing, and we need to discuss permits and...I suppose you could...”
I raise my hand to stop him. “Nick Harper is my new manager.”
“Nick Harper?” he drawls with question. “How did you find someone so fast?’
“Well, he’s Carson’s field man and was to be Clive’s assistant once the deal finalized. He’s the logical choice and has stepped up.” I sigh, throwing my hands up.
Taken aback, he shifts his footing, eyeing me. “Hold on. You hired a field hand to manage? Zeta, as your lawyer, I have to tell you...”
“Never mind, I know what I’m doing. He’s not just some field hand, he’s educated with a firm interest in management, and he knows the land.”
“Interest. Right. Well, you know best. Where can I find this...Nick?”
“Right here,” Nick says, strolling up to us. “What can I do for you?”
James turns, holding out his hand to Nick—they shake as James introduces himself. There is a snide trill to his voice as he announces, “I’m the Reilly family attorney. I handle all the contracts, legal affairs. You and I have some things to discuss.”
I cut in. “Nick, you go ahead and talk business with James. I need to prepare the cabins for the new hires. Call if you need me.” Leaving them, I stroll into the house, stopping just inside the door to peek through the window and watch their exchange.
Nick seems serious about this role. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I’m also sure I have no other option. There is no way I can manage a farm of this size on my own, and I won’t go down without a fight. It’s just a matter of checking off the things I need done and moving on to the next item.
Picking up my phone, I call Merry Maids be Mopping to come and deal with the cabins—mostly I don’t want the job—especially cleaning the Managers cottage where my husband took his lover. My body shudders against the image of the two of them together. It’s something I’m probably never going to forget, although I sure hope I can.
By mid-afternoon, I find myself fully operational. The maids have finished and vehicles containing new hires and their belongings have been arriving at a steady rate since noon.
My husband and his lover are gone from the picture as if they were never really there.
The chaos of the last twenty-four ridiculous hours has waned and life is moving on. Raising my face to the sky, I silently thank God, again, for sending Nick back into my life. If he wasn’t here to take over, I don’t actually have a clue what I would have done. It amazes me how he always seems to be here to pick me up off the ground.