A Spanish inheritance by Susan Stephens

Author:Susan Stephens
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-03-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

SHE was pleased to be going home, but terrified too, Annalisa thought as she sat beside Margarita in Ramon's limousine. Margarita had made everything easy for her at the airport with just a flashing smile and a couple of flicks of her tine-boned wrist. But it would take a lot longer for Annalisa to recover her composure.

The thought of seeing Ramon again was tying her stomach up in knots. She had misjudged him so badly. But she would have to try put all personal thoughts to one side if the finca was to be saved...and, whatever Margarita said, after their last encounter he probably wouldn't want anything else to do with her.

'We'll soon be there.'

Annalisa peered out of the limousine's tinted window as Margarita distracted her. They were just coming up to the turn-off for the finca.

'Close your eyes,' Margarita insisted as the chauffeur slowed to negotiate the pot-holed lane.

'Why?'

'You'll soon see. Just close them,' she insisted. 'There! Now you can look!' she exclaimed.

They had pulled to a halt in the yard and, opening her eyes, Annalisa climbed out quickly. As she looked around she shook her head in bewilderment. 'I don't understand—'

'Welcome to the famous orange groves of Finca Fuego Montoya. Señorita Annalisa,' Margarita proclaimed with a mock bow.

Annalisa gasped. Small groups of men were busy painting and repairing the outbuildings, and in the orchard she could see a lot more people weeding and clearing and generally collecting up all the detritus of neglect. Half the village seemed to be busy with some task or other. She turned to show her delight to Margarita. 'I can't believe it. This is fantastic—'

'Look at this!' Margarita interrupted, grabbing her hand.

Turning, Annalisa saw two men carrying a beehive under the direction of Maria Teresa, who had Fudge trotting at her heels. The minute he saw Annalisa he pelted across to her, yelping in ecstasy.

Maria Teresa stopped in her tracks. 'You came back!'

With a smile and a shrug, Annalisa cocked her head as she peered at the domed white structure. 'What do we need that for?'

'Bees,' Maria Teresa said, turning to chide the two men for almost running it into her.

'Bees?' Annalisa repealed blankly.

'They say bees are the cupids of the orchard,' Maria Teresa insisted, 'because without them the blossom is no use. And without the blossom...' She shrugged.

'I would never have thought of it,' Annalisa admitted. 'How can I thank you? All of you?' she said, turning full circle to include everyone within earshot.

'By employing us and our families when your orchards start producing,' Maria Teresa declared pragmatically.

'But I can't pay you.'

'You have eggs. You have chickens. You have a donkey we can borrow,' Maria Teresa argued. 'And soon you will have oranges. Plenty of oranges.'

Annalisa grimaced. 'I don't think so,' she said with a rueful glance towards the orchard. 'Enrique has been here.'

'Exactly, señorita!' Maria Teresa said, beaming at her, 'Enrique has been here. There will be plenty of oranges. Just you wait and see.'

'Is she right?' Annalisa said, turning to Margarita.

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