Farmer Wants a Wife: Love and Friendship, Book 3 (14 page)

While the industry has a bad name and collects innuendo, I can see
Maxwell’s
is run as a family business with an emphasis on customers having a good time in a safe environment. If you haven’t visited
Maxwell’s
already, you’re missing a great night out. Grab a bunch of friends and go with an open mind. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Nolan read his post and nodded with satisfaction. That would give his judgmental mother something to gnaw on tomorrow.

Chapter Eight

With Christina’s help, Susan had taken a range of sexy pictures with her cell phone. While she was waiting at the domestic air terminal for the flight to Napier, the nearest city to Clare, she picked one at random—a shot of her legs clad in black stockings—added a text message and sent it to Tyler.

Her phone beeped almost immediately.

U expt me 2 concentr8 on cattle when my thohts r on yr sexy legs?

Quick texter,
she thought with a grin as their flight was announced. She switched off her phone and followed Jasmine, Lucy and the other passengers onto the plane.

Almost an hour later, nerves danced like marionettes in the pit of her belly, and the anxiety had nothing to do with the plane landing. She wanted to see Tyler so badly, feel his arms wrap around her, but with a cameraman trailing her, arranging a meeting would be tricky.

“I’m so nervous.” Jasmine’s oval face was pale, her blusher standing out in a curving sweep across her cheekbones. Her honey blonde hair lay in casual curls, framing and highlighting her neat features.

Jasmine’s insecurities spread like rumors, and the beginnings of panic stirred in Susan. When she realized her stupidity, she almost laughed aloud. No need for her to worry. She didn’t want Nolan. It was his younger brother she wanted to impress. “You’ll be fine. Think of this as a holiday. Even if things don’t work out with Nolan, this is a change from routine. An adventure, right?”

“I don’t understand you,” Lucy said. “You don’t seem to care. You say the most outrageous things in front of the camera and everyone loves you.”

Susan bit her bottom lip. She didn’t mean to release the brake on her tongue. There was something about Nolan that pushed her buttons and led her into freefall. Luckily, Tyler thought she was funny. He said his in-laws loved her, and the public seemed to like her too. Her blog and forum were popular. Even Jennifer had sent her an email of congratulations and approval. It seemed her notoriety was doing good things for the ratings.

“How about if we tell Nolan to share the naughty questions around?” Susan asked. “I’d be happy. Blushing and freckles is not a good combination.”

Lucy muttered something under her breath. The seat belt sign went out, and Lucy stood abruptly, her blonde ponytail swishing at the surge of motion as she jerked her hand luggage from the overhead locker.

“I really am sorry,” Susan said to Jasmine. “I don’t mean to hog the limelight.”

“Don’t be silly,” Jasmine said. “This is a competition and only one of us can win. I intend to grab every advantage and you should too. Every woman for herself.”

Susan grinned, but traces of guilt crept into her mind. Little did Jasmine know, but it was a two-woman race. Even if things didn’t work out with Tyler, she couldn’t see herself settling with Nolan. They were too different, and Nolan was right. Now that she’d discovered dancing, she couldn’t imagine herself leaving the city. She snorted inwardly. It had taken a reality show to make her see she belonged in the city.

Susan collected her bag with the others. Before she’d left, she’d gone to the art store and purchased the box of pastels she’d seen Tyler drool over plus a selection of water color paints, charcoal and a couple of small sketchpads. She figured he’d use the supplies eventually and it was something he’d really enjoy. She’d also included a soft toy—an owl that Julia said her son loved.

“There’s Nolan,” Lucy said and was off like a show horse, her blonde ponytail waving behind like a flag.

“What did I say?” Jasmine asked.

“Every woman for herself,” Susan said with a grin.

They watched Lucy throw her arms around Nolan and give him a big kiss. The cameraman followed Lucy, filming her exuberant hello.

Susan trailed Jasmine and gave Nolan a quick hug. No kissing for her, thank you very much.

“Nolan, we don’t have much time,” a woman said from behind them.

Nolan nodded. “This is my mother.” He introduced each of the girls by name and they received a chilly nod from his mother. Susan found amusement bubbling to the surface and flashed a grin at the woman. Tyler had told her about his mother and her sternness, the way she’d rejected him when his girlfriend had become pregnant. Even after they’d married, she remained distant. Tyler said he didn’t see her and that his father would pop by to see Katey occasionally, but he never took his daughter to visit the house where he’d grown up. Suddenly Susan was glad she’d received a wakeup call after Maggie and Connor started dating. She never wanted to turn into this woman with her tight held emotions, her mask of disapproval permanently etched into her face.

“Hello,” Susan said, and the woman’s harsh features didn’t budge. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

Nolan cleared his throat, attracting Susan’s attention. “The local school is having a gala day. I’m helping out with the pony rides. Mum has organized you all to help out on stalls.”

“Sounds like fun,” Susan said.

Jasmine and Lucy added their agreement, and they left the airport terminal. “I can only fit two in my truck,” Nolan said, after surveying the luggage.

“One of you will travel with me,” Nolan’s mother said.

“I’ll go with you,” Susan said. “I’d love to hear more about the gala day and the town of Clare.”

Nolan sent her a grateful look, and as she’d suspected, the other two girls didn’t offer an argument.

Susan lifted her bright red bag into the rear and climbed into the passenger seat of a compact orange car.

Mrs. Penrith pulled out of the parking area and turned onto the main road. “I’m not going to let Nolan marry the likes of you,” she said in a frosty voice.

“Isn’t that up to Nolan?” Susan asked, chilled by the malice in the other woman. “Besides, you don’t know me. It’s a bit early to assassinate my character.”

“You work in a night club. You dance and disrobe in front of men.”

“But I don’t sleep with them,” Susan said. “Look, I was surprised when Nolan picked me. Lucy and Jasmine are beautiful and they’re nice girls. I doubt you have a thing to worry about.”

“We’ll see,” Mrs. Penrith said.

Cold silence filled the vehicle. Susan thought about packing the void with bright chatter before deciding to study the scenery instead. It was a gorgeous winter day with a warm sun and a vivid blue sky. There was still a nip in the air from the frost the previous evening, and Susan noticed the patches of white on the grass in places where the sun hadn’t yet reached.

“How big is the school?” Susan asked finally. She might as well learn something about the area.

“We have almost two hundred pupils,” Mrs. Penrith said.

“And is the gala day to raise funds for a particular project?”

“We want to buy more computers and uniforms for our sports teams. We have a hockey team, several netball and rugby teams.”

“Does Nolan play rugby?”

“He used to,” Mrs. Penrith said, noticeably thawing when Susan mentioned her son. “The farm keeps him busy these days. He loves the land.”

Susan nodded. “Which stall will I work on today?” She made a mental note to take her camera. Tyler hadn’t mentioned the gala, although they’d both been busy during the last couple of days and hadn’t managed more than a quick phone call and a few texts.

“You’re on the white elephant stall,” Mrs. Penrith said. “They sell a bit of everything.”

“We had a white elephant stall at the hospice charity,” Susan said. “They’re usually very popular. You never know what treasures you’ll find.”

“Do you…do you do charity work?” Mrs. Penrith seemed to force the question out.

Susan ignored the awkwardness and smiled. “I used to do a lot more than I do now. I work in a soup kitchen once a month and help out with the hospice. We’ve done door-to-door collecting and organized several gala days and sausage sizzles. It’s hard to get people to part with their money, and we’ve tried to get creative with our fundraising. In two months we’re organizing a rubber duck race.”

“Oh? How does that work?” Mrs. Penrith was interested despite herself.

“We have five hundred rubber ducks, which are all numbered. People pay twenty dollars to buy one duck. Then they’re all dropped into a fast-running stream. The first duck across the finish line wins a holiday donated by the local travel agency.”

“I wonder if we could do something like that here,” Mrs. Penrith mused. “The local volunteer fire brigade needs more funding.”

“If there are lots of single men in the area, you could ask the single women to make picnic baskets and people can bid for them. The winning bid would secure the picnic basket plus the company of the young lady who made the basket. It’s an old-fashioned idea, but if you hold it at a town picnic, something like that is lots of fun.”

“That’s a good idea,” Mrs. Penrith said. “Our fund-raising efforts haven’t been very successful recently. I think it’s because we’re using the same old ideas. We need fresh ideas to encourage people to donate their money and time.”

“Egg throwing contests are always fun,” Susan said. “Especially on a gorgeous day like this. Are you having one of those?”

“No, we didn’t think of it. We have the usual stalls plus some friendly games between the different sports teams.”

“If you’d like to try an egg-throwing competition today, it’s easy enough to organize. I could do it for you if you like. All we’d need is lots of eggs and an open field.”

Mrs. Penrith turned to her and actually smiled. “We’ll detour via the farm,” she said. “My chooks are laying very well this year. How much should we charge?”

“Since the eggs are donated and we don’t need to pay for them, how about two-dollars per person. That’s not too expensive and everyone, regardless of age, would be able to afford to play. All we’ll need is a prize.”

“Would you volunteer your time? Maybe an outing with one of the gentleman?” Mrs. Penrith asked.

“As long as Nolan approves, that will be fine,” Susan said, understanding Mrs. Penrith’s subtle maneuvering away from Nolan. Susan wondered what the woman would say if she discovered Susan preferred her younger son. Mrs. Penrith needed to worry about Tyler, not Nolan.

They arrived at the school to find Nolan pacing back and forth in the car park.

“Mum, where have you been? Did you have a puncture?”

“No, Susan and I had to stop by the farm to get some eggs. Susan volunteered to arrange an egg-throwing competition.”

Nolan turned his gaze on Susan, approval shining above his initial hint of surprise. “That’s a great idea.”

“I’ll speak to the principal and draft you some helpers to set up a table and anything else you need.” Mrs. Penrith climbed out of the car, plucked her brown handbag off the rear seat and bustled away.

Nolan’s features blazed with curiosity. “What did you and my mother talk about on the drive over?”

“Nothing much.” Susan climbed out of the car. “We discussed the school gala and ideas for fundraising. She seemed surprised I had experience in the area. I think she believes my morals reside in the gutter.”

Nolan squeezed her shoulder briefly. “My mother sets high standards of behavior for herself and doesn’t take it well when others fall short. Don’t let her frosty manner get to you. She’s like that with everyone.”

“She seemed to approve of your other chosen dates.” No wonder Tyler clashed with his mother. A pregnancy out of wedlock wouldn’t have gone down well, even if Tyler had married his girlfriend.

Nolan laughed. “I have no intention of choosing a wife to suit my mother. Don’t worry. She’ll find fault with Lucy and Jasmine too. It’s her way, and I’ve learned to ignore her and get on with my own life.”

“What about your father?”

“My father checked out of their marriage a long time ago,” Nolan said. “My mother doesn’t believe in divorce.”

“I see.” And she did. She saw a path she’d never go down. Yes, it was true she wanted children, a family, but she didn’t intend to marry for the sake of tradition. If she loved the man—that was different. Julia and Maggie had great marriages with men who were their best friend as well as their lover, and she refused to settle for less.

Nolan’s mother appeared with two reluctant teenagers. “These young girls will help you carry the eggs. Susan, the principal said you can use the far rugby field and he’s going to organize an adult to help. Nolan, you’re due to help at the nail driving competition before the pony rides start. Off you go.”

Susan bit back the urge to salute. She lifted out two boxes of eggs and handed one to each of the teenage girls. She picked up the last one and smiled at the girls. “You’d better show me the way.”

She followed the teenagers and grimaced at the mud splattering her boots. Up ahead a man carried a table, his butt displayed in a pair of black jeans.
Nice
. Evidently the girls thought so too because one whispered to the other and they giggled.