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One of the main issues was the buildup of oils, creosote, and other solid waste in the exhaust ductwork during roasting. When green coffee beans were heated, they released various by-products that could disrupt airflow and increase the risk of fires if they weren’t maintained—namely chaff, which was highly flammable.
This was one of the dirtiest jobs, and she always did it first to get the hard work out of the way. After donning protective eyewear, gloves, and an apron, Mari got her brushes ready and mixed up a solution to get the more stubborn oils out of the pipes.
She disassembled the silver pipes into their respective pieces, then using one of the wire brushes with the appropriate length, swept it inside the tubes until she’d brushed all the brown residue and chaff into a garbage bag. Once they were all free of most of the deposits, she used the solution to scrub each piece. Then reassembled the ductwork back into the nozzle on the machine so it once again vented to the outside.
With that done, she tackled the inside of the roaster, taking care to remove all the residue, including underneath and behind the shutter that let the green beans into the pan. The chaff collector was cleaned at the end of every day, but she took a grate roller to the holes to keep them clear. The chaff was recycled for use as animal bedding or compost.
“Wow, when did you get home?”
Mari turned to find her sister Carmen at the door to the roasting shed. She was home from school, and Mari was shocked at how much time had passed. The roaster was finished, gleaming, and ready for her next session. She was filthy from head to toe.
“I’d hug you, but you are all icky and smelly.” Carmen's eyes were twinkling as she wrinkled her nose.
“Gee, thanks, kid,” Mari scoffed.
Carmen was practically dancing. “So, the dress?”
“Gorgeous and in my room, but you’re going to have to wait until I’m clean. I want to see you open it. Give me twenty minutes.”
Twenty minutes to the second, Carmen knocked on her door. Mari opened it still in her bathrobe. Carmen grinned and ducked inside. The box was on the bed, and she made a beeline to it. She looked at her sister and Mari nodded. “Go ahead.” As excited as her sister, she waited for her reaction.
Carmen ripped through the tissue paper and gasped, then sighed. “Oh, God. It’s more beautiful in person.” She pulled it out of the box, her eyes shining, and her face suffused with joy. Mari was so happy for her sister.
Carmen held it up to herself, turning to Mari’s full-length mirror. “Thank you so much for doing this for me, Mari. I love you so much! I’ve got to show my friends.” She headed for the door and was gone.
Mari chuckled and got dressed for dinner in an off-the-shoulder black, red, and yellow floral sundress that hit her just above the knee along with a pair of black strappy sandals. She left her hair loose.
When she reached the kitchen, it was empty, only the smells of the prepared dinner lingered. She frowned, poking her head into the main dining room, but there was no one there. Strange.
As she approached the back patio, which was aligned with tables for when they had a party or gathering, voices drifted in from the open French doors. She slipped through the opening and walked onto the river rock patio, then stopped. Her family was here, everyone, and…special forces, identifiable by their jungle camouflage uniforms. There were also two other people she didn’t recognize, a tall, beautiful redhead, and a dark-haired man sitting next to her. She wondered who they were, and what had prompted this invasion of her peaceful home. Her sister spied her, carrying a large bowl of salad.
She breezed up to Mari and said, “Welcome back.” Her eyes were dancing with mischief. “Our team of warriors are back, including your hunky man. They’re going to be protecting us from the cartel. What do you think about that, Za?”
She was turning her head to face the unexpected visitors when she saw Buck. His shoulder was braced against one of the old wood posts holding up the roof, and his thumbs were hooked in the pockets of his camo pants, the stance pulling the fabric of his green T-shirt across his chest. As he shifted his weight slightly, his altered position accentuated the strong contours of his jaw and the muscled thickness of his neck, making her so very aware of his powerful build.
For a breathless moment, they stood staring at each other, then her father broke the spell. “My light,” he said in Spanish, and she broke eye contact with Buck, focusing on her father. “You’re home. Come sit next to me. I want to hear all about your trip.” He patted the chair, and Mari had no choice but to comply. She nodded at the men she’d met briefly, noting how good they all looked, as thankful as she had been for Buck’s health, especially Joker.
“It’s good to see you all, and you, Lieutenant Jackman. Welcome again to La Buena Tierra.”
“Thank you. I’m only sorry that both times aren’t under more favorable circumstances. I’m in debt to your family for your assistance to me and my men. I couldn’t offer my thanks the last time I was here.” He turned to look at Sofia, who smiled warmly. “Especially to your sister.”
Mari nodded, feeling as if she couldn’t breathe. So, Buck had been deployed. That’s why he hadn’t responded. But here, at La Buena Tierra was the last place she expected to see him.
She took her seat, and Buck moved to the table and sat across from her in the vacant seat near her father.
She avoided looking at him as the dinner progressed, aware of every move he made and the conversation between him and her father. There was no way to talk to him with her raucous family, knowing full well that her sisters watched her with bated breaths.
Her heart was pounding wildly, and her hands weren’t quite steady as she finally looked at him, expecting that intent, volatile gaze burning through her. But a strange tightness filled her chest as she met his eyes, hoping for some clue as to what was going through his mind.
His full mouth was pulled into an unyielding line, and there was an unusual tenseness about him that she found particularly distressing. He seemed so isolated, and Mari had the sudden urge to comfort him. He blinked and for a split second, there was a bleak look in his eyes, then he looked away.
Gone was the man who had wooed her, seduced her with his body, eyes, and smile. It suddenly felt as if she was truly looking at a stranger.
9
Buck gritted his teeth when Mari laughed at something one of her sisters said. It was a rich, full-bodied sound that invited a person to join in, and it brought an unbidden smile to his face.
She said something back and her sister nodded emphatically. He didn’t want to be charmed by her. Needed not to be. Despite his orders—and his own body’s response—to the contrary, he had rules about how he conducted himself. Rules that didn’t involve duping a completely innocent woman. Talk about one hell of a moral dilemma, one that was eating him up inside.
