cup.
"Save some for me."
Startled by Danielle's voice, he nearly dropped the cup, saving it from hitting the floor at the last second.
He'd spent the night wondering if she'd actually show up this morning. Her request to work with him had caught him totally off guard, but he could use this opportunity to show her what backbreaking work the vineyard was. After today, she'd think twice about wanting to work with the grapes and stick to the boring office jobs Gayle tossed her way.
"Sorry," Danielle said as she stifled a yawn, placing her hand over her mouth. "I didn't mean to scare you."
She'd dressed in a pink sweatshirt jacket and jeans. In her hand she carried a straw hat. Ah, she was learning what it took to survive here.
"I half expected you to be a no show." Nico poured coffee into his travel cup. He screwed the lid on.
"I'll earn my money." She filled a travel mug with coffee. Before she picked the mug up, she fished around in her pocket, pulling out a hot pink rubber thing she used to pull her hair up into a ponytail. "Okay, I'm ready."
Together they left the house. The night air was alive with sounds, the croak of a frog, the call of a duck, the shiver of the leaves as they moved in the cool breeze. Overhead the stars twinkled. In the field, lights could already be seen as the men began their work.
When they were in the golf cart, Danielle asked, "Where are we going?"
"I'm going to stop by the green-house first," Nico said.
"The green-house?" Danielle asked.
"It's where I grow experimental root stock and toy with grafting. I'm always hoping to grow a better grape, build a better taste."
"Really?" Danielle said with interest. "I had no idea."
They drove for about a quarter of a mile before Nico brought the cart to a stop in front of the green house. A soft blue glow lit the house. They went inside.
Danielle blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. "This is interesting. Tell me a little about what you're doing."
Her interest surprised him. "Grapes aren't genetically stable. They constantly mutate and blend, changing their flavor. I'm trying to make my own blend, something that's a little different from what everyone else grows -- a grape that will stand out and make a superior wine. I've been very successful with my cabernet/merlot blend."
"Impressive," Danielle said as she took a slow walk around, peering into the various pots, looking at the vines, all in different stages of development. "I didn't realize growing grapes was technical."
"It's science with a lot of help from Mother Nature," Nico said. "Where the sun goes down determines everything. Grapes love the sun. The sun is critical to vine placement." He removed the moisture gauge from one of the planters, checking it. "You've probably noticed that the rows are laid out north by northwest and south by southwest, exposing the vines to mellow morning sun and warmer afternoon sun. Some places on the property get more morning sun than afternoon and vice versa, and we make adjustments for that also."
"I had no idea. And no, I hadn't noticed." She gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid my vision's been clouded since I arrived."
"You've had a lot of changes." Nico quickly checked on all his stock, fully aware that Danielle watched his every move. He hoped she understood how important his work was to him, to all of them here at Whitney Vineyards. When he finished with the vines, they left for the fields.
"There are so many grapes. How do you care for them all?" Danielle asked when they were back in the golf cart.
"Mostly we use these." Keeping one hand on the wheel, Nico held up his other hand. "Every vine here is touched by human hands several times a year. I personally see to as many as I can myself. A lot of what I do is instinct."
"It sounds like a lot more than that, Nico," Danielle said. "You have a ton of knowledge in your head."
"I'm a vineyard brat." He turned to look at her, catching the respect in her eyes, respect that filled him
"Save some for me."
Startled by Danielle's voice, he nearly dropped the cup, saving it from hitting the floor at the last second.
He'd spent the night wondering if she'd actually show up this morning. Her request to work with him had caught him totally off guard, but he could use this opportunity to show her what backbreaking work the vineyard was. After today, she'd think twice about wanting to work with the grapes and stick to the boring office jobs Gayle tossed her way.
"Sorry," Danielle said as she stifled a yawn, placing her hand over her mouth. "I didn't mean to scare you."
She'd dressed in a pink sweatshirt jacket and jeans. In her hand she carried a straw hat. Ah, she was learning what it took to survive here.
"I half expected you to be a no show." Nico poured coffee into his travel cup. He screwed the lid on.
"I'll earn my money." She filled a travel mug with coffee. Before she picked the mug up, she fished around in her pocket, pulling out a hot pink rubber thing she used to pull her hair up into a ponytail. "Okay, I'm ready."
Together they left the house. The night air was alive with sounds, the croak of a frog, the call of a duck, the shiver of the leaves as they moved in the cool breeze. Overhead the stars twinkled. In the field, lights could already be seen as the men began their work.
When they were in the golf cart, Danielle asked, "Where are we going?"
"I'm going to stop by the green-house first," Nico said.
"The green-house?" Danielle asked.
"It's where I grow experimental root stock and toy with grafting. I'm always hoping to grow a better grape, build a better taste."
"Really?" Danielle said with interest. "I had no idea."
They drove for about a quarter of a mile before Nico brought the cart to a stop in front of the green house. A soft blue glow lit the house. They went inside.
Danielle blinked as her eyes adjusted to the light. "This is interesting. Tell me a little about what you're doing."
Her interest surprised him. "Grapes aren't genetically stable. They constantly mutate and blend, changing their flavor. I'm trying to make my own blend, something that's a little different from what everyone else grows -- a grape that will stand out and make a superior wine. I've been very successful with my cabernet/merlot blend."
"Impressive," Danielle said as she took a slow walk around, peering into the various pots, looking at the vines, all in different stages of development. "I didn't realize growing grapes was technical."
"It's science with a lot of help from Mother Nature," Nico said. "Where the sun goes down determines everything. Grapes love the sun. The sun is critical to vine placement." He removed the moisture gauge from one of the planters, checking it. "You've probably noticed that the rows are laid out north by northwest and south by southwest, exposing the vines to mellow morning sun and warmer afternoon sun. Some places on the property get more morning sun than afternoon and vice versa, and we make adjustments for that also."
"I had no idea. And no, I hadn't noticed." She gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid my vision's been clouded since I arrived."
"You've had a lot of changes." Nico quickly checked on all his stock, fully aware that Danielle watched his every move. He hoped she understood how important his work was to him, to all of them here at Whitney Vineyards. When he finished with the vines, they left for the fields.
"There are so many grapes. How do you care for them all?" Danielle asked when they were back in the golf cart.
"Mostly we use these." Keeping one hand on the wheel, Nico held up his other hand. "Every vine here is touched by human hands several times a year. I personally see to as many as I can myself. A lot of what I do is instinct."
"It sounds like a lot more than that, Nico," Danielle said. "You have a ton of knowledge in your head."
"I'm a vineyard brat." He turned to look at her, catching the respect in her eyes, respect that filled him
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