Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) by Valerie Comer Page A
Authors: Valerie Comer
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to do. We have no shortage of either commodity.”
“But the diesel...” Jo glanced from his mom to Zach.
“The tractor doesn’t use as much as you’d think.” Zach shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
“We’ll accept those terms on one condition.” Sierra leaned forward on the swing. “Stay and have supper with us.”
Did he look like someone who liked tofu? He cast a helpless look at Mom, who smiled warmly at Sierra. “That’s a lovely idea. Not that Zach can’t cook for himself, of course, but I’m going over to my friend Jean’s this evening.”
She was? Zach frowned, trying to remember if she’d mentioned anything before. Then he realized Jo didn’t look too happy, either, as she leaned over to Sierra and whispered something. That bugged him more than Mom’s obvious matchmaking attempt. “Sure, I’d love to. Sounds like a plan.” If they served him tofu, he could always raid the fridge for leftovers when he went back to the farmhouse.
***
“You’re such a good puppy,” Jo murmured as Domino squirmed on his back for another belly rub. She’d offered to keep the pup at Green Acres for the afternoon, away from the growling tractor.
Sierra sure had put the moves on, inviting Zach to dinner like that. The sensible side of Jo figured she might as well concede to her friend right now and forget about the guy next door. But there’d been something in his eyes, for a minute on the veranda. Jo might have a chance.
Maybe Sierra would burn supper or something, though that was usually Jo’s department. She’d have to remember to send Rosemary’s casserole dish back with Zach later this evening.
Domino wiggled, reminding Jo he was an ally. It was apparent Zach loved this dog more than a guy who was leaving the farm ought to, but that was a small thread holding Zach to this place.
She turned her back on the pup and grabbed another bucket of blueberry bushes. Why was she letting herself dream, even a little? It was a crazy idea to think Zach might come to care for her. If he did, how would he fit in at Green Acres? Jo couldn’t imagine it.
“I can’t believe Sierra invited Zach over.” Claire rammed her spade deep into the freshly tilled blueberry bed, tilting it forward so Jo could drop a plant into place.
Domino pranced around them, trying to snatch the bushes.
“Me, neither. I guess she’s being neighborly.” No point in filling Claire in on the competition. She might want to join in. Ridiculous thought.
“She’s going to desert us for some guy. I can see it already. She gets us out here to the edge of beyond, then falls in love and ditches us.”
Thanks for the confidence. Jo straightened her back and stretched. “Thought you were a hundred percent in.”
Claire shoved the spade into the dirt and reached for her water bottle, but a black-and-white nose intercepted. She pushed it aside before taking a swig. “Yeah, I’m in. I’m just not ready to think of any one of us being out practically before we’ve begun.”
She had a point. This place was beginning to grow on Jo. Thoughts of feasting on sun-warmed raspberries later in the summer and vine-ripened tomatoes in the fall... man, her mouth was watering already. Sure it was going to be a lot of work, but blossoms on the plum and apple trees flaunted their fragrance while honeybees zoomed in and out gathering nectar and pollen. So worth every aching muscle.
Jo and Claire found a planting rhythm as the sun crept out from behind the clouds, warming their backs. The tractor grumbled around on the neighboring property.
“So the building permits are all in place?”
Claire nodded. “The inspector had some questions about the straw bales and the roof trusses, but he okayed everything in the end.”
“Did Sierra’s dad find enough solar panels at that auction?” Even though Sierra didn’t approve of her dad’s truck driving job, all three girls basked in the knowledge that at least one set of parents were behind
“But the diesel...” Jo glanced from his mom to Zach.
“The tractor doesn’t use as much as you’d think.” Zach shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
“We’ll accept those terms on one condition.” Sierra leaned forward on the swing. “Stay and have supper with us.”
Did he look like someone who liked tofu? He cast a helpless look at Mom, who smiled warmly at Sierra. “That’s a lovely idea. Not that Zach can’t cook for himself, of course, but I’m going over to my friend Jean’s this evening.”
She was? Zach frowned, trying to remember if she’d mentioned anything before. Then he realized Jo didn’t look too happy, either, as she leaned over to Sierra and whispered something. That bugged him more than Mom’s obvious matchmaking attempt. “Sure, I’d love to. Sounds like a plan.” If they served him tofu, he could always raid the fridge for leftovers when he went back to the farmhouse.
***
“You’re such a good puppy,” Jo murmured as Domino squirmed on his back for another belly rub. She’d offered to keep the pup at Green Acres for the afternoon, away from the growling tractor.
Sierra sure had put the moves on, inviting Zach to dinner like that. The sensible side of Jo figured she might as well concede to her friend right now and forget about the guy next door. But there’d been something in his eyes, for a minute on the veranda. Jo might have a chance.
Maybe Sierra would burn supper or something, though that was usually Jo’s department. She’d have to remember to send Rosemary’s casserole dish back with Zach later this evening.
Domino wiggled, reminding Jo he was an ally. It was apparent Zach loved this dog more than a guy who was leaving the farm ought to, but that was a small thread holding Zach to this place.
She turned her back on the pup and grabbed another bucket of blueberry bushes. Why was she letting herself dream, even a little? It was a crazy idea to think Zach might come to care for her. If he did, how would he fit in at Green Acres? Jo couldn’t imagine it.
“I can’t believe Sierra invited Zach over.” Claire rammed her spade deep into the freshly tilled blueberry bed, tilting it forward so Jo could drop a plant into place.
Domino pranced around them, trying to snatch the bushes.
“Me, neither. I guess she’s being neighborly.” No point in filling Claire in on the competition. She might want to join in. Ridiculous thought.
“She’s going to desert us for some guy. I can see it already. She gets us out here to the edge of beyond, then falls in love and ditches us.”
Thanks for the confidence. Jo straightened her back and stretched. “Thought you were a hundred percent in.”
Claire shoved the spade into the dirt and reached for her water bottle, but a black-and-white nose intercepted. She pushed it aside before taking a swig. “Yeah, I’m in. I’m just not ready to think of any one of us being out practically before we’ve begun.”
She had a point. This place was beginning to grow on Jo. Thoughts of feasting on sun-warmed raspberries later in the summer and vine-ripened tomatoes in the fall... man, her mouth was watering already. Sure it was going to be a lot of work, but blossoms on the plum and apple trees flaunted their fragrance while honeybees zoomed in and out gathering nectar and pollen. So worth every aching muscle.
Jo and Claire found a planting rhythm as the sun crept out from behind the clouds, warming their backs. The tractor grumbled around on the neighboring property.
“So the building permits are all in place?”
Claire nodded. “The inspector had some questions about the straw bales and the roof trusses, but he okayed everything in the end.”
“Did Sierra’s dad find enough solar panels at that auction?” Even though Sierra didn’t approve of her dad’s truck driving job, all three girls basked in the knowledge that at least one set of parents were behind
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