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“Saving the farm?” He raised a brow. “Selling isn’t saving anything, sweetheart. It’s jumping ship.” He stood. “You should probably learn the difference sooner rather than later.”
She jumped up, her brain whirling with insults that she wanted to throw his way, but nothing came out except for, “If you and this town cared about Bonnie’s plight then why haven’t you all rallied together and done something?” His brows knitted like she’d struck bone with that remark.
He took a step. “You don’t know what all this town and I have done.”
“Apparently not a helluva lot. Especially coming from someone who is pointing blame at me for getting thrown into the fray and trying to help.”
He stared for a good three heartbeats then finally backed up a few paces. “You want to see how things are done around here?”
“That would be a start.”
“Tomorrow we’ll see just how good you are with those hands. I’m going to give you an up close and personal view of this farm. To understand the situation you’ll need to get those baby hands dirty. I hope you have boots, jeans, and thick gloves in that bag because you’re going to need them. I’ll be here bright and early in the morning. Set your alarm.”
“What time is bright and early exactly?” she said to his back as he strolled toward the path with Chow slowly following.
“When the first fingers of daylight show their face,” he called back.
That didn’t really answer her question. Then a thought crossed her mind. She ran a few steps and stopped. “Hey, wait! Is there anything I need to know?”
He kept walking and she didn’t chase after him.
Picking up the two glasses, she threw out the ice and lemonade and stomped up to the farmhouse. The cowboy had challenged her. She didn’t like being accused of sweeping in and wanting to take everything away from Bonnie. It wasn’t like she even chose to be here in the first place. Parker didn’t even know Bonnie.
Plodding up the back steps to the screened in porch, she heard the revving of an engine and turned to watch Raven’s truck kicking up dust on the narrow gravel lane. Each time the wheels hit a pot hole the shocks squeaked and whined. She wouldn’t be shocked if he changed his mind and never came back.
That suited her just fine!
Stepping inside, she closed the door and bolted the lock. Leaning against the wood, she heaved a sigh, letting her frustration go. She didn’t like this, not one bit, but she had to find some sort of silver lining.
Taking the glasses to the sink, she left them there and headed upstairs, the only place that had any service. When things got the best of her, she threw herself into work. That was her safe place. She planned on not allowing the likes of an egotistical cowboy to ruffle her feathers. She wasn’t there for him. Whatever he believed didn’t matter.
And yet, he was the only person she knew in town and whether she wanted to believe it or not, she needed him as a friend and not a foe.
Chapter Eleven
“She’s infuriating. Why the hell is an outsider coming in here and making out like she knows so much more than we do?” Raven paced the floor then dropped down in the recliner.
Dean rubbed his bearded chin. Since the accident he decided it was much easier to let the beard grow. “Why does this bother you so much?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“What’s obvious is that you should be glad there’s someone here to help Bonnie get organized.” Dean leaned his crutches on the corner of the couch.
“She plans to talk Bonnie into selling.”
“Maybe that’s what’s best. You said yourself things are financially unstable. How long can you keep up between the Bonner’s Farm and here at Ryde Hard?”
“Whose side are you on?” Raven bit out. He’d come here straight from Bonner’s Farm hoping to get some understanding from his brother.
“Are there different sides here? I see only one. Bonnie’s side.” He lifted a brow. A lot of the swelling and superficial cuts on his face had healed. Although he’d been taking some steps without the crutches, he was in the early stages of gaining use of his leg where he’d suffered most of the damage. Surgeons had been able to remove all the shrapnel and debris that had embedded in the muscles and repair the shredded tendons.
Raven scrubbed his face. “You wouldn’t be singing this same tune if you were elected to help over at the farm.”
“Yeah, well I’d give my next year’s wages to be anywhere but in this damn house having people constantly hovering over me like I’m an invalid,” he bit out.
Realizing that he was one of the “hoverers”, Raven decided he needed to back off some. He had been a helicopter brother since the bombing. “I guess I have been acting a little erratic lately.”
“A little?” Dean laughed. “More like a lot.”
