Winter Harvest (12 page)

She did. Plain and simple.

Dressed and wearing his heart on his sleeve, he headed down the lane to the main house. She'd have to see how much he loved her, how right they were together. Robert had just made him see things in a clearer light.

He got to the main house and walked in through the back door as usual. Andrew stood in the kitchen making an enormous sandwich.

"Are you staking claim to the main house already?"

"Shut up, Andrew. Is she here?"

"Yeah, she blew in like a tornado. Didn't go well?"

Andrew's sneer made Traye's hands flex into fists. He wanted to wipe the smirk off the guy's face so bad, but he knew Victoria wouldn't approve and that in the long run, it'd only make everything worse.

"Just a temporary setback. Is she upstairs?"

"I don't think talking to her right now is such a good idea. Or maybe it would be. She doesn't seem too pleased by the idea of being forced to marry you. Maybe she's finally coming to her senses." He took a huge bite of his sandwich.

Traye glared at him. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? I just don't get where you're coming from these days, and frankly, I don't care anymore. I need to explain a few things to Victoria."

"Explain what?"

Traye spun around. She stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing and her forehead crunched into a deep scowl despite her black eye.

"Just listen to me for a sec."

"I don't have to. I already get it."

"No, you don't. Your father's order may have forced me to see it, but it's as clear as the blue sky to me now. I love you, and I always have. Our marriage will mean a good life for both of us."

"It's too late now." Victoria glared at him and crossed her arms.

He stepped forward. "No, it's not."

"Yeah, it is." She stepped back. "It's too convenient. Sure, you love me as a sister. You've told me that a hundred times. Love doesn't just change overnight or on demand. Now… I can't keep you out of my house, but I want you to keep your distance from me. I'm moving on."

She turned and walked away. Traye started after her, but Andrew clamped a hand around his forearm. He shrugged it away.

"Look, Traye, let her go."

"Why do you care? Why are you trying to keep us apart?"

"Because it's a bad idea for both of you. Neither of you are good for one another. You may not see it. I know Dad certainly doesn't, but I think Victoria finally does."

"Maybe you're right, but I'd like a chance at it. I stayed away because of you and Robert. Now I don't have to. I think there is more to this. You don't give a shit about either of us. You used to, but something has hardened your heart as much as mine was at one time."

"Too bad it thawed out, at that point you stayed away from her because you're not good enough for her. Didn't you?" Andrew glared at him. "Don't look so shocked. You both know it's true. You're right. You have nothing to offer her. Everything you have, she already does. You want Dad to be in charge of your marriage?"

Traye ducked his head. Everything Andrew said was true. That was why Traye had kept his feelings for Victoria buried deep inside.

"You know I'm right," Andrew said. "Dad will be fine. He'll come around when he sees her moving on. He certainly won't play the marriage card once he sees that Victoria's happy again. Move on and find a woman who's right for you."

"I think I did and didn't let myself know it."

"Think about it. Give it a few days. Victoria isn't going to come around today anyway. We're all strung out. Go home and rest."

Traye nodded. He still didn't trust his logic. Victoria needed a few days, and he needed time to figure this out. He entered the cold air outside with a heavy heart, not believing things could go so wrong in a matter of hours. He'd make this right no matter how long it took. He'd turn this around. Victoria would marry him, and the O'Connor family would remain intact.

He'd see to it.

Chapter Nine

The yellow roses landed inside the stainless steel garbage can with a thud, and it vibrated like a drum. Victoria placed her hands on her hips and glared down at them as though they were evil.
How could something so beautiful make her so mad
?

"What are you doing?"

Victoria spun and eyed Abbey, who sat at the dining room table, her plucked eyebrows raised in question. She had come over to work on their plans for the spring dance. Most of it was already done, but they needed to decide on the decorations. They wanted something different this year. Not too elaborate, yet not cheesy, either. After so many years, the dance repeated itself over and over. The town needed a strong kick off to the planting season to bring in an abundance of harvest for the fall.

"They're from Traye. Again." Three weeks of flowers, candy, and mushy cards, and Victoria had thrown every single thing away. He didn't have the money to give elaborate gifts, and she didn't expect them. In fact, she had expected nothing. Traye had never been a flower and candy sort of person. Frankly, neither was she. She had no interest in this new version of Traye. Almost made it easier to let him go.

"They were beautiful." Abbey tapped the table with one blood red nail. "Why not keep them?"

"Because it would give him the wrong idea. He's afraid Dad will kick him out. That's the only reason he continues with this garbage." She walked away from the flowers, sat at the table, and opened her notebook. The last few weeks, she'd managed to avoid Traye for the most part. To her surprise, Andrew had helped and supported her. She'd known he wanted them apart, but had never comprehended just how much. Although she didn't understand Andrew's hatred for Traye, she was happy knowing she had a small connection with her brother once again.

"What if he gives you jewels or diamonds? Will you toss them, too?"

"Maybe." Victoria relaxed and returned Abby's grin. Her laughter rang out. She didn't remember the last time she'd had a carefree moment. "He'd never do that, nor does he have that kind of money. Plus, that wouldn't change the reason he's chasing me. But jewels, I might keep."

"That a girl. Seriously, though, he's what you've wanted for as long as I can remember. Why not take him any way you can get him?"

"I don't know." Victoria shrugged. "Maybe wanting him was all a stupid, childish pipe dream. I always thought he'd have this amazing insight one day and realize he loved me -- and that he always had. Not that my father would have to order it." She pounded on the table. "It makes me so mad."

"Yeah, that's harsh."

"I know my father means well. He thinks he's giving me what I want. I wish Mom were here to tell him it's not right, and why it will never work. She'd be the only one who could get through to him. I just have to be strong and hope they'll both see it."

"What if your father backs off and Traye still wants you? Will you take him then?"

"I'm not sure." Victoria shook her head. "If he really loved me and I could be sure it wasn't because of any obligation to my father, maybe we could work it out. But I doubt that'll happen, so I don't see any reason to dwell on it."

"How
is
your father?" Abbey's subject change didn't escape Victoria. Maybe her friend was as sick of hearing about Traye as much as Victoria was of thinking about him.

She met Abbey's eyes. "He's feisty and mending slowly. He's a stubborn man, but that broken leg has aged him. Even though he tries to hide it, I see how frustrated he is because he's not bouncing back as quickly as he'd like."

"That's too bad." Abbey pursed her lips. "Backing off has to be hard for him. He's always been so vibrant. Think he'll be back on his feet by the dance?"

"I hope so."

"So… what about Jerry's annual charity dart tournament? Are we still doing it?" Abbey grinned and rubbed her hands together.

Victoria squirmed. She'd hoped Abbey would have forgotten all about that charity competition by now, although that would have been out of character for her. Abbey never missed a party.

If only Victoria could skip it this year. The bar scene just didn't do it for her anymore. Her last encounter at Jerry's hadn't ended as planned and had made the last few weeks hell. She'd learned her lesson since then. Nothing good came of getting wasted.

"You sure you don't want to go with Ron instead of me?" Victoria hoped she didn't come off as too desperate so Abbey would say yes. She'd been seeing the guy on regular basis ever since the night Victoria had gotten so drunk.

Although Victoria still didn't trust Ron, he appeared to have become a permanent fixture in Abbey's life. Victoria didn't get it, but she accepted her friend's decision. She'd just never dreamed Abbey, and not her, would be the first to date someone exclusively.

"Nah. We need another girl's night. Don't get me wrong. He'll be there, but I don't think we'd mix well as partners. He's pretty competitive. I think Luke is going to be his partner."

Victoria didn't look forward to seeing Luke again either, but Abbey wouldn't let up until she agreed. "Fine, but I'm not drinking. Those days are gone. The last one ended in disaster."

"You don't have to." Abbey fidgeted in her seat. "I promise I won't let you give in and head to Traye's to fall at his feet in abiding love anytime soon. I could kill him for hurting you like this. What an idiot. Of course, you know I've felt that way for a long time."

"I know. Part of it's my fault, though."

"Stop it." Abbey slapped the table. "Don't ever blame yourself for his cruel rejection. Now that you've stopped chasing him, he's in hot pursuit of you. It just doesn't make sense. I get that your father thinks he's doing what he believes is right for you, but Traye should know better.

"I hear you." Victoria nodded. "I'll always love Traye. It's just hard not to forget about what brought all this on and run into his arms -- but not this way.
Never
this way."

"Good girl. You be strong."

"I'm trying, but it's hard." She couldn't think of anything but Traye's arms around her as she once again tried to chase away the loneliness.

Abby shot her a sympathetic glance. "I know, honey. It's got to be. And I think your father believes you two were always meant to be. Your mother adored Traye."

"Me, too." Victoria nodded. "But this Traye isn't the one I've always loved. Maybe he's always been like this, though, and I just imagined he was different."

"Maybe. Do you think he'll ever give up?" Abbey rolled her pen on the table.

Victoria shrugged. "He'll have to. He never did it before, because he knows I don't want flowers and candy. It's a little ironic that after my father's order, he suddenly found his romantic side."

"What was the sex like?"

"Well…" Victoria's cheeks grew hot. Abbey never was one to mince words. "Hot, and every bit as good as I always thought it'd be. I think I may have shocked him, though." She smiled and stared into space.

Abbey snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Victoria, come back to earth."

Victoria blinked and focused on Abbey again.
What were we talking about?

Her friend wore a mile wide grin. "You don't look like you are ready to give him up. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but maybe you should take him up on his offer of marriage. It might turn out to be exactly what you want."

"I'm not going to commit to a lifetime of maybes. I see things in a new light now, and I don't know if I can ever get past the fact that my father instigated this."

"At least you had one night with Traye." Abbey eyebrows danced.

Victoria laughed out loud. Her friend didn't know about their goodbye sex, and that was just fine with her. "You're so bad."

"I know. Nothing wrong with that."

Victoria sobered. She'd cherish the time she and Traye had spent together for the rest of her life. She feared that if they ever found themselves alone again and the opportunity presented itself, she wouldn't be strong enough to turn him away.

"Okay. Enough about Traye and my father's demands. Let's get to work."

They buried their heads together and brainstormed about the dance, but unfortunately, their planning session didn't do anything to erase Traye from Victoria's mind or her heart. He'd be buried in there for a long time. Probably forever.

*****

"Will you stop sending all this crap to my sister?" Andrew held up a medium sized garbage bag filled with dead flowers and unopened boxes of candy and cards. "Face it, Traye." Victoria is
not
going to marry the likes of you. It was a bad idea from the start."

Traye growled, grabbed the bag, and dumped it into his trashcan.
What a waste of money
. He didn't normally do all the flowery, lovey-dovey crap. This bag of evidence proved she didn't either. He couldn't fake it like Andrew did with his girl. Their relationship could only be described as unique.

"I don't know of any other way to convince her how I feel."

"Then why waste your time?"

"Look, I don't understand why you're so against a relationship between me and Victoria, but things have changed between us.
I've
changed."

"Yeah, you've become even more of a loser. Don't you get it? You're not good for one another. She needs a man to put her up in her own mansion and provide for her. You have nothing to give her."

Ouch. Andrew could be such an ass
. "Like you plan to do with Liza?"

"Exactly. Liza will be there to take care of our home while I work the farm. I'll be able to give her everything she wants, as long as she takes care of me."

"Where do I fit into all this?" Apparently Andrew had some grand plan that didn't include Traye. He'd had thought he would be a part of this farm for the rest of his life. For the first time, he now had doubts. Victoria's rejection hadn't helped, either. Listening to Andrew's talk about his plans for the farm made Traye question it even more.

"You'll stay here like you do now. Victoria needs a man to get her off this farm. It's meant for me. Dad let's her get away with too much, and he spoils her rotten. She needs to grow up and move on. You'll make a great farm hand as long as you don't have my sister leading you around."