Seasons of Love (15 page)

When he glanced back to the dike, Riley and Chad had disappeared. Just as well, because he didn’t need the distraction. He’d never intended to work at Sanderford Farms for this long. But he had expected to complete his search before now. Once the harvest was over and he finally presented the business plan to Riley, there was no reason for him to stay on.

He turned the machine again and saw Riley standing on the opposite bank, Eric at her side. Zane allowed a low growl to escape, knowing it wouldn’t be heard over the eggbeater’s racket. He didn’t trust Eric and didn’t understand why the man insisted on pursuing Riley when it was clear she had no interest. At least Zane hoped it was clear. Maybe he was only fooling himself. Eric could be the sort of man Riley needed. She had to think of what was best for Chad. Eric had a job. Zane had a defunct company. Still, he didn’t like Eric.

Riley smiled at Eric, and they walked off together. Zane cared deeply for Riley, and he wondered why it took Eric’s appearance to make him realize how much. He scowled as he watched Eric put his arm around her and pull her close to him as they strolled away. He couldn’t believe the man had the audacity to show up at the harvest and not be prepared to get his hands dirty.

The churning complete for this bog, Zane stopped, engaged a lever to lift the reel out of the water, then turned off the engine. He dismounted, stepping into the floating rubies. Gerome’s wife, Leiann, stood on the dry dike and offered Zane a large Styrofoam cup.

Eager to drink, he nodded his thanks then gulped the cool, tart lemonade. When he finished, he smiled. “Thanks. I guess I was too thirsty to speak.”

She gestured to the house, a twinkle in her hazel eyes. “The women have pulled out the snack trays if you’d like to take a break.”

Zane glanced at the bog where Gerome still labored. “What about your husband? Maybe I should go take his place while he eats.”

“No, no. I gave him a bite before he started.” She looked down at her feet then back at Zane. “I’ve got on my waders, so I can take him a drink.”

Zane headed toward the house, wondering if he would have any time alone with Riley. He hadn’t heard if she’d discovered anything, though he was certain she would tell him. But with a home full of cranberry harvest workers, some of whom would remain at the house for the next several days until the task was complete, he doubted she’d had ample opportunity to look.

As he approached the gathering, he saw Riley exit the back door with a covered dish. She set it on a long table covered with food. Friends and family members congregated around the tables; some entered the house itself. Zane washed his hands in the portable washbasin then found the large jug of lemonade and refilled his cup. He maneuvered his way through the friendly faces whose names he was only beginning to learn and approached Riley at the far end of the table. She was uncovering the plastic wrap from a dish of cheese-filled celery.

Zane stood next to her and faced the small gathering that he’d decided yesterday was too large for the required work. But he supposed it was tradition and a reason to bring people together.

One of Robert’s church friends picked a piece of celery off the serving dish. Zane smiled at him before finishing off his lemonade. The man ambled down the table, selecting food and placing it on his plate.

Zane caught Riley’s attention. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks. But I think we’re past the small talk, don’t you?”

Her comment startled him. Something was definitely agitating her. He studied her before tilting his cup to toss the remaining ice into his mouth. He crunched on it. “All right, then. Have you found anything?”

“Are you serious? I did as much as I could before this harvest business escalated. It’s really bad timing if you ask me. You should have told me everything weeks ago.”

Again, Riley’s feisty words startled Zane, and he stopped smiling at the people mingling and eating and faced her. She wore a peculiar expression on her face that he couldn’t read.

He gripped her elbow and ushered her away from her serving position to the side of the house. “What’s going on? Is everything all right? I mean, besides finding the locket. I already know that part of the equation.”

“Sorry, I’m tired. And we still have several days to go. I’m not used to this continual labor… and entertaining. But don’t get me wrong—it’s fun in its own way. Besides, this is the life I’ve chosen, and I’m sure I will grow to love it.” She stared at him, and he caught the flicker of a question cross her features. “Next year, that is.”

“Yeah, next year.” Zane hesitated, considering his words. “You’ll be okay, you know? Things are progressing very well on the farm. You have a feel for how to run things now. And you can always call me if you need me.” He cringed, wishing he hadn’t said it. It sounded too… final.

A swaggering peacock dressed in a dark blue polo shirt and tan slacks approached from a distance.
Eric.
Zane scowled.

“What’s wrong?” Riley spun to look and released a slight groan.

He suspected her agitation had more to do with her ex-boyfriend than with the requirements of the harvest. He’d been surprised when she explained her previous relationship to Eric. Zane couldn’t imagine her falling for someone like him.

“Hi there, Zane.” Eric nodded and sidled up to Riley.

Zane stifled the smirk that threatened to erupt when he saw Riley’s subtle shudder. “Hi there, yourself.”

“How does it feel to work on a cranberry farm?” Eric smiled and cocked his head as if interested in Zane’s reply.

“It’s hard work, but I’ve enjoyed it.” Remembering his earlier annoyance with Eric’s unwillingness to help, he added, “You might try it yourself.”

He instantly regretted the words. Riley stood slightly behind Eric and glared at Zane. The last thing he wanted was to have Eric get involved with the farm. Evidently, Riley felt the same way.

At home that night, Zane scrubbed the grime off and dressed. He’d received a phone call from Tom Ackley, the private investigator he’d hired. He was pleased that Tom had done such quick work, though he wouldn’t give Zane the specifics over the phone. After arming his upgraded security system, Zane headed to a nearby grocery store parking lot.

He sat down in Tom’s midsize car and nodded at the man in the driver’s seat. “Tom.”

“Thanks for meeting me.” He wore an expensive suit similar to the design that Zane preferred.

An executive friend working for one of Zane’s previous employers had given him Tom’s name. “No problem. I hired you, remember?”

Tom chuckled at Zane’s comment.

“What have you discovered?” Zane’s palms grew moist with the anticipation of possible answers to this dilemma.

Tom pulled a manila folder from the space between his seat and the console. He retrieved the photo of the woman whom John claimed was his sister.

“Did you find out who she is? What’s her name and connection to all of this?”

Tom frowned. “You’re not going to like it.”

Pain erupted in Zane’s stomach, and he pressed his hand on his midsection then leaned against the headrest.

The private investigator handed him another picture. It was smooth and glossy, cut from a magazine. “The February edition of
Tech-It
magazine.”

“What? Are you saying that the photo on John’s desk is not a real person?”

“It is a real person… a model. I’m saying this photo is an image taken from that magazine. Maybe your partner thought she looked like his sister, and since he didn’t have a picture, he used this.”

Zane couldn’t hide the disappointment in his voice. “Thanks for the work, Tom. Do you have anything else?”

“Not yet.”

“All right, then.”

The two men nodded, and Zane exited Tom’s vehicle to climb into his own and head home. He’d needed to check whether the woman’s identity was also part of the clue. John had created a photo-quality image from a picture in a magazine for use in his insane puzzle. Why? Though Zane still ached for his friend, he hoped that wherever John was right now, he could look on and get some sort of satisfaction out of knowing that Zane and Riley were striving to solve the puzzle. Zane remembered the regret Riley expressed because she hadn’t discussed God with John. The thought left him unsettled.

He was beginning to see that he couldn’t manage his life on his own. But he’d kept himself closed off from God for so long that he didn’t know where to begin.

Riley gripped the floating rubber tube called a boom as she helped the others corral the crimson sheet of bog rubies close to the conveyor belt that would propel them onto a platform. Booming the berries had always fascinated her as a child, but she’d never been allowed to help with this part of the harvest. Urging the berries forward in the water took more strength than she would have thought. Though Grandpa had protested at her involvement because there were plenty of other workers to help, she held her ground, wanting to experience everything.

She caught sight of Chad standing next to Millie and Elsie, and she waved at him. She hoped he would grow up enjoying the experience of the cranberry farm as she had. Once the berries were tightly packed, floating near the equipment, Zane, Grandpa, and others moved inside the circle to begin scraping the carpet of crimson fruit onto the belt, where they were cleaned. When the platform had reached its capacity, the contents were dumped into the freight car of an 18-wheeler that was then sent to one of the independent cranberry handlers.

Grandpa did not belong to the large co-op with which 70 percent of the Massachusetts cranberry growers were contracted. The cost to join was high, and he wouldn’t get paid until the cranberries were actually sold by the handler. She intended to speak with Zane for his business advice on whether to remain independent or belong to the co-op. The advantage of joining would be a three-year, fixed-rate contract.

Riley labored alongside the others for two more days. Though she enjoyed every minute of it, the entire process was all-consuming. They’d already said good-bye to several of their helpers as the bogs began to empty and the guests began to vacate the house.

Too exhausted to remove her waders, she meandered away from the activity toward the grove of trees where Zane had kissed her. She could still feel the warmth that had flooded her being at his tenderness, even though it had been a few days ago. If only the kiss had occurred under different circumstances than after learning that he believed her brother was murdered. But his response to his actions had left her confused about his feelings and intentions.

The gloomy thought that she hadn’t asked about her brother’s relationship with the Lord continued to surface, bothering her. Yet it also reminded her that she needed to broach the subject with Zane, as well. Time after time, she’d worked up the courage to speak with Zane, but he’d continued to change the subject or allow other interruptions. She had to know before she allowed her feelings to go any deeper for him. Already the man had made inroads into her heart without her realizing how far.

All she had longed for was a simple life. Instead, her life had become more complicated since the day Zane arrived at Sanderford Cranberry Farms.

“Nonsense, we can go together.” Grandpa paced in the kitchen, dressed in his best jeans for the harvest festival.

“You’re all ready to go, though. It’s going to take me awhile. Call your church friends back, Grandpa.”

For the last few years, the largest cranberry grower in the region hosted a festival for all to celebrate the harvest. She wanted to be excited, but she was too exhausted. If it weren’t for the fact that she’d agreed to meet Zane there, she would skip it altogether.

Riley handed Chad his juice cup then rubbed her aching head. The harvest had zapped all her energy. Though the crop had been trucked off the farm two days before, she still hadn’t recovered.

Grandpa came to Riley and placed his hand on her shoulder. “All right, then. I’ll go without you. But only because I can see you need a little time to yourself.” He grinned and gave her a loving pat.

“You’d better hurry before they leave without you,” she said.

“How about I take little Chad with us. Millie will be there. She loves to see him.”