Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (29 page)

No doubt every eye in the room was focused in on her, but Zach wasn’t about to check.

She lifted her chin slightly, revealing blotchy eyes. “My dad.” She took a deep breath. “My dad drove the truck that hit Bethany.”

“That’s no excuse.”

Zach slipped his arm around Gabe’s shoulders and his eyes met Jo’s again briefly. “Man, she’s not making excuses. She’s giving facts.”

Gabe shrugged Zach off. “He took everything I have.”

Doreen stumbled to her feet. “Oh, Gabriel. Don’t. Don’t take it out on this poor girl. It’s not her fault.”

Gabe sagged inward. He shook his head and turned away.

Zach took his arm. “Hey, man. It’s okay. It’s all so raw.”

“It is
not
okay. Nothing is okay. Leave me alone.” Gabe stumbled for the stairs.

Zach stared after him. Should he follow? Reason with him? Didn’t seem appropriate. He had to respect Gabe’s right to some privacy, but it was a fine line to toe. The old Ford roared to life outside a moment later, then sputtered out of the parking lot.

Doreen sagged back into her seat, pulling Sierra down with her. The two women wrapped their arms around each other and cried. Jo bit her lip, eyeing them, then glanced up and caught Zach still watching her. She averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing.

“Well, if that don’t beat all.” Mr. Leask slung his arm over Zach’s shoulder.

Smelled like a bit of alcohol on that breath. Zach edged out of the embrace and faced the older man.

“Sounds like some kind of irony to me. That Rubachuk boy’s been putting on airs about how all his organic stuff is better than anyone else’s food. But just a regular old grocery truck wiped out his family.” The man took a bite out of a raspberry tart.

Zach stiffened. If the guy couldn’t help having such nasty thoughts, he should learn to keep his trap shut. “So you’re saying it’s justice?”

Mr. Leask’s gaze ranged as though gauging the bystanders. “Well, no, I wouldn’t go so far as that. Just sayin’ there’s some kind of quirk of fate, don’t you think?”

“There’s no point in rubbing salt in deep wounds.” Mr. Graysen put his hand on Mr. Leask’s arm. “Maybe some of us look at this situation in just the opposite way.”

Mr. Leask shifted away. “How’s that, Ed? Didn’t know there was another way.”

Zach shot a look at Jo. Sure enough, she was tuned in, like most everyone else in the church basement. Doreen’s face was buried in her hands.

“Is that a good tart, Nolan?”

Mr. Leask’s shocked gaze took in the pastry he held. “What has that to do with anything?”

A glimmer of Mr. Graysen’s train of thought trickled into Zach’s mind.

“Now, let’s look at this thing logically.” Mr. Graysen now seemed to address everyone in the room. “There’s been a terrible tragedy. I don’t want to undercut the loss felt by the Klimpton and Rubachuk families. It’s real, Nolan. Very real.”

Mr. Leask shifted uncomfortably, nodding.

“Nor do I wish to burden young Sierra here. Her family, too, has been deeply affected. But the fact is, like you pointed out, it was a reefer truck. Eighteen-wheelers crisscross our nation, Nolan, bringing California tomatoes to Florida and Florida tomatoes to California, seems like. Big trucks are everywhere.” He poked his chin toward Sierra. “No offense.”

Sierra nodded. Beside her, Jo leaned forward, intent on Mr. Graysen’s impromptu speech.

“Saying Sierra is at fault because her dad drove the truck is ridiculous. Saying her dad is at fault is closer.”

Sierra stiffened, and Jo reached out to her.

Mr. Graysen went on. “The deer was more at fault, but that’s not the whole story either. I’m sure the man needs a job to feed his family like we all do. What’s wrong with the system is that we require so many of those blinking trucks to start with. And you know what?” He paused, looking around the room. “We can do something about that.”

“What’s that?” Mr. Leask shoved the rest of the tart into his mouth.

Mr. Graysen grinned. “Good tart, Nolan? Wonder what’s in it?”

“Berries. Whatever.” He wiped a red smear off his mustache with a napkin.

Zach bit back a laugh. The feedlot owner caught in his own trap. A glance at Jo revealed she’d figured it out, too.

Mr. Graysen turned around, searching the crowd for someone. “Claire Halford? Come over here a minute, please.”

Zach stepped to one side as Claire, wiping her hands on an apron, approached. Her gaze flicked around. Probably not used to so many people staring at her. “Yes?”

M
r. Graysen picked up a large platter with two raspberry tarts left on it. Zach had eaten a few of the dozens that weighed it down earlier.

“I’m sorry.” Claire reached for the tray. “There aren’t any more.”

“Oh, I wasn’t asking you to refill it,” Mr. Graysen said. “I saw you bring this in earlier today. You made these, right?”

Claire nodded, still obviously unsure what the church elder’s point was. Zach knew, though, and a glance at Jo confirmed she was enjoying the show, too.

“Would you mind telling folks where you got these ingredients from?”

“Well, the raspberries are from Green Acres, and the honey is from that beekeeper over on Jordan Road. The eggs and b
utter are from Stedmans.” Claire frowned. “I wasn’t able to source local wheat.”

Mr. Graysen clapped Mr. Leask on the shoulder. “See, Nolan? If more people thought like Claire here, trucks hauling cattle or groceries wouldn’t have so much business, would they?”

The other man looked confused. “I don’t get what you mean.”

“It’s all up to us.” Mr. Graysen looked around the room. “We make choices, and businesses rise to meet them. I suggest we start making choices like Claire has done.” He poked his chin toward Jo and Sierra. “And her friends. Like Gabe, too. We’re going to have a local meal here in a few months. If the food is half as good as Claire’s raspberry tarts, it’ll be a feast.”

Mr. Leask eyed those last two tarts. “Mighty good, ma’am,” he said to Claire, and reached for one of them.

***

Jo heaved a sigh of relief. Still hated that Gabe was angry, but grief didn’t look at logic. Surely he’d come around when he had time to heal. Still troubled that every time she found Zach, though, he was looking at her like they conspired together.

“What a good man,” Doreen whispered. “Sierra, child, don’t fret about your father. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t mean to.”

Conversation picked up in the room again, and some of the older women pressed close to Doreen, offering their condolences.

Jo looked up, wanting to thank Mr. Graysen for his support. If only Zach, his back to her, wasn’t talking to the church elder at the moment. Maybe Zach would move on, leaving Mr. Graysen free, if she waited long enough.

The older man’s voice traveled across the room. “I hear you’ve got a good job offer back in the city.”

Zach’s words were clearly audible. “Yes, East Spokane Veterinary Clinic called back to offer me the job I interviewed for a couple of months ago. The guy they hired then has itchy feet and wants to do some traveling.”

Mr. Graysen whistled. “My daughter takes her pets there. She says Albert Warren runs a tight clinic.”

“He’s an all around great guy. It’s hard to imagine a better place to start my career.”

Bile rose in Jo’s throat. So much for reading anything into those looks they’d shared. Any relaxation she might have sensed in Zach came from an obvious source. He was headed back to Coeur d’Alene and the life he loved. Maybe even Yvette.

Good thing the stairway was right behind her. She could slip out without being seen.

Chapter 30

Wally Taubin had been back in the clinic full time for only a few days, but Zach already couldn’t remember how he’d managed on his own for six weeks. Should make it easier for his boss to agree to Zach’s plan. Maybe.

Zach grabbed a can of pop from the staff room fridge as Wally came in for his lunch break. “I’ve got a question for you, if you have a minute.” He gauged the older man’s expression from the corner of his eye and took a deep breath.

Wally sagged into a chair, rubbing his hip. “It’s been crazy busy, hasn’t it? Does every animal in the county need something major this exact week?”

Zach pulled the tab and tipped back the can, letting the sweet carbonation pour down his throat. “Seems so. How’s the leg holding up?”

“Hanging in there. Was that your big question?” The older man’s eyes twinkled. “If it was, then it’s my turn. I have one for you, too.”

Zach laughed. Could his boss hear the nervousness in it? “No, that wasn’t it.” He hesitated. “I’ve been thinking. Wondering. Any chance you might be interested in hiring someone full time?”

“Have you been snooping around my ledgers?”

Zach backed up a step. “No, sir. I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

The gleam hadn’t left his boss’s eyes, though. “I’ve had my bookkeeper going through everything in the past few days, trying to figure something out.”

“Sir?” Zach’s brain buzzed. He knew he was above board. Had Nadine been stealing from the company? He couldn’t imagine it. She’d been here almost as long as Taubin had been a vet. “I’m not following.”

“I’m pulling your leg, boy. But not about assessing my bottom line.” Wally ran his hand along his hip. “I might be interested in hiring the right person temporarily.”

Zach schooled his face against showing his disappointment. “Oh. I see.” Maybe it was a good thing he hadn’t turned down Albert Warren yet. “I’m in need of something more permanent than that.” But would he lose Jo? No, he wouldn’t think that. For starters, he didn’t already have her. And for seconders, he’d given it all to God. There it would rest, no matter what.

Wally held up his hand. “Not so fast, young man. I do have a bit of a dilemma. Some of the farmers have talked to me about your work.” He scrutinized Zach’s face.

Oh no.
Zach wracked his brain. What had he done wrong? No one’s animals had died under his care. No one seemed offended by him, other than a few comments about his youth and inexperience. “I see. May I ask what they’re saying?” If he were going to be released again, he’d need a good reference.
Please, God, don’t let it be so bad.

“Three different clients have approached me individually to ask me if you were planning to stay on in the valley, son.”

Zach leaned back against the counter, daring to breathe.

“Once upon a time you told me you were only back short term. Didn’t even want to work for me, isn’t that right?”

Caught. “I hate to say it, but I needed a solid reference as badly as you needed a temp. Hammond refused to give me one on account of my breakup with his daughter.”

Wally frowned. “Yvette?”

“Yeah, why?”

“That’s strange. I just got an invitation to an intimate gathering, I think they called it.” The vet rummaged along the counter behind him, pulled a white envelope with gold edging out of a stack, and handed it over.

Zach scanned it quickly, his head whirling. Yvette was marrying Garth Draper two weeks from Friday? Wow, no grass had time to grow under
her
feet. This had to mean she’d given up trying to pin her pregnancy on Zach.

He handed the paper back to Wally and nodded sharply.

“No response?”

What was he supposed to say? “Narrow escape is all.”

Wally leaned back in his chair. “Tell me.”

“We dated a few months. I—” How to say it? “I figured I knew better than God what kind of woman was right for me. I knew I was playing with fire, but I didn’t think I’d get burned. I kept the relationship pure, though it wasn’t easy.” He thought back. God had certainly protected him. “That’s what led to our breakup.”

“That’s it?”

Their gazes locked and Zach shrugged. “That’s it. I’m just glad she found someone else.” Some of the stress from the past few weeks lifted off his shoulders.

“Alrighty then. You’ve had a change of heart, but I still don’t want to hire you permanently.”

Zach stared at his boss. Those words weren’t lining up right, somehow.

Wally grinned. “What I really need around here is a business partner. I don’t suppose you’re up for buying in at this stage, are you?”

He
what
? Zach snagged a chair closer with his foot and dropped into it heavily. “Let me get this straight. I can work for you for now, and maybe in a few years, when I’m established a bit, I can buy in?”

“Yes, son. That’s what I’m saying. I’d hoped all along you’d stay, but you seemed dead set on getting back to the city.”

Zach forced his thoughts and emotions into order. “Albert Warren has offered me a position at East Spokane.”

Wally’s eyes narrowed. “And yet you asked for a job here.”

“Yes, sir.” Would he regret it? Settling in the Galena Valley looked more and more appealing, but not if Jo wouldn’t have him. She’d disappeared from the funeral luncheon when he wasn’t looking, after he’d hoped to have a word with her. If they remained at loggerheads — or worse, she married some other guy — he’d regret promising to stay. Once he bought in, he’d be committed for sure.

“You look like you still aren’t certain.” Doc Taubin tipped back his chair. “I thought a stint of fresh air and open space would be all you’d need to remind you of the joys of country living.”

Zach grinned. “Fresh air like out at Watermans’ with all that cow manure?”

“Smell of money, son. Smell of money. You did good out there. Gary spoke highly of how you handled things that day. No complaints.”

“Thanks. I guess I have some decisions to make.” Zach rose.

Wally’s eyebrows shot up. “You ask me for a job, I offer you one, and you say you need to think about it?”

Zach met Wally’s gaze and nodded. “On my knees.”

“Fair enough. I’ll join you in that.”

As Zach stepped into the hallway, Wally’s voice followed him. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with that girl, would it?”

Zach kept going.

***

Domino had been spending nearly as much time at Green Acres as he did at home. After all, there were more people outside much of the time. Once Rosemary understood that the girls didn’t mind having him around — and when he proved he’d zip back home when called — she’d let him be.