Elias In Love by Grace Burrowes

Author:Grace Burrowes [Burrowes, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Burrowes Publishing
Published: 2017-05-15T18:30:00+00:00

Elias took a moment to savor the sight of Violet Hughes in her garden. She worked her way on her knees along a row of staked plants, tossing weeds into a bushel basket. Her straw hat hid her expression—and hid Elias from her view—but he could hear her lecturing her vegetables, while he, like a fool, stood two yards away, aching to keep her in his life.

“Worry and work, work and worry,” she muttered. “I promised myself I would not turn into my father or my mother.” A clump of greenery, dirt clinging to the roots, went sailing into the basket. “I’m worse than they were, and that means I’m awful.”

She tore up another plant, peered at it, and patted it back into the soil. “Sorry, buddy. I’m not at my best. Elias met with Maitland this morning.”

Eavesdropping was not honorable.

“I’m meeting with Dunstan and Jane’s bank tomorrow morning,” Elias said. “Do you always talk to your vegetation?”

“Beans are good listeners,” Violet replied, sitting back on her heels. “Hello, Elias.”

She hadn’t ordered him from her property—always a good sign. “Hello, Violet. Have you drafted a resignation from the farmers market board?”

“Mailed it this morning. I thought I’d feel guilty, but I’m bearing up just fine. Give me a hand, Elias. Delayed onset muscle soreness from haying, and not enough stretching have laid me low.”

When would she have time to stretch, for pity’s sake? Elias offered her his hand, and didn’t turn loose of her when she’d gained her feet.

“Maitland is not quite the snake I had anticipated,” he said. “We are negotiating.”

Violet shook free of his grasp and tossed her hat onto the pile of weeds in the basket. “Elias, you cannot trust that man. If you must sell your farm to him and his sharks-in-seersucker, don’t get screwed in the process.”

“I’ve been thinking about our discussion yesterday.” Had thought about it for most of the night, and had read every blog post she’d put up for the past year. She missed some weeks, but not many. “I’m gathering information, and considering options, which is simply prudent business.”

The sun was beating down, and clouds piling up to the south suggested a storm was building. “Don’t mess with me, Elias, and I might let you live. Did you cut a deal or not?”

“I did not. I might not.” Before he braced Jane and Dunstan with his ideas, he wanted to talk scenarios through with Violet. Jane and Dunstan were lawyers, and family, but Violet knew what it took to wrest a crop from the earth, to care for livestock.

And she knew Maitland as only dedicated foes could know each other.

“Grab the other handle,” Violet said, picking up one side of the basket. “My ewes believe in doing their part for the environment. So what did you and Maitland discuss?”

“I told him I will sell him the land for a lump sum, the title to transfer from me to him at the time of closing. It’s not what he or his investors want, but it’s what I need.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.