Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (32 page)

She nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

“Sorry won’t save Domino. You and your high and mighty ways, all that environmental stuff, and you poisoned my dog!”

Chapter 33

Jo turned in the driveway to see h
er roommates mixing cob plaster beside the straw bale house. Claire and Sierra stomped in a circle, hands on each other’s shoulders, with mud oozing between their bare toes and laughing like fools. Jo stared at them through tear-blurred eyes. They’d obviously be fine without her when she was gone. She hadn’t been pulling her own weight since she broke her stupid arm. They were used to doing things without her. She shoved the car door open.

Claire dropped her hands. “Jo, where have you been?”
 

They’d
want
her to leave once they knew what she’d done. What she’d forgotten to do. “It’s Domino.” Jo’s voice cracked. “H-he got into mouse poison.”

Sierra’s arms fell to her sides and her face blanched. “No.” She swung on her heel and stared at the trailer skirting, but of course the piece Jo had moved was on the back. Sierra strode around the end with Claire at her heels. Jo trailed along behind.

Sure enough, fresh dirt mounded beside a hole that led under a bent corner of the skirting. Not that Jo needed to see it to know it had happened. Zach’s accusation had stabbed her heart with the resonance of truth.

Claire and Sierra examined the situation, murmuring to each other. They could discuss it until the cows came home, but it wouldn’t bring Domino back. Only God could do that. He might if He still loved Jo. Not that there was a lot of evidence.

“You didn’t answer me.” Sierra turned around and rested her hand on Jo’s arm. “Is Domino okay?”

Jo hadn’t heard her. “Zach had to pump his stomach and give him blood and some kind of antidote. I don’t know if he’ll make it or not.”

“Zach was on duty?” Sierra’s eyes brightened.

Of course she’d care about that, but did she have to be so obvious? “Yes.” Jo pulled her arm from Sierra’s touch and headed around the trailer.

“Did he tell you?” Her voice was eager. Too eager.

Jo stopped but didn’t look back. “Tell me what?”

“If he didn’t say, I’m not sure I should.”

Her worst fears realized. “Look, I wish the two of you very happy together.” Liar. “All he told me is what a moron I was to let his precious dog into mouse poison.” She wouldn’t be able to hold the tears back much longer. Her shoulders trembled from the effort already. “And he’s right, of course.”

“Wish
us
very happy?” Sierra grabbed Jo’s arm and yanked her around. “What on earth are you talking about? It’s not me he loves. Open your eyes, Josephine Lynn Shaw!”

That’s what had gotten Jo into this mess to begin with. Open eyes. The tears would not be held back any longer. “In my dreams, Sierra. Not in real life. My eyes
are
open. He doesn’t care about me.”

“He does.” Sierra shook Jo until Jo’s teeth rattled. “He told me it was all about you.”

Jo pulled herself out of Sierra’s grasp, backing up slowly, staring at Sierra. “You lie.”

“I do not.”

“Well, it’s too late, now.” Jo ran for the steps.

“It’s never too late unless one of you is dead,” Sierra shouted just as Jo slammed the door then locked it. Their keys might be inside, with any luck. She’d have a few minutes to herself.

In the living room, Jo fumbled with her laptop, willing the airline page to load quickly from sleep mode. She’d looked at the best flights to California. How soon could she leave? A blackout period over the weekend for some stupid reason. Monday. That was the soonest? Three days she had to hang around here and live with the mess she’d made? It couldn’t be. But it was.

The girls pounded on the door, demanding to be let in.

Jo ignored them as she entered her charge card number. She could ask one of them to drive her to the airport, but in the mood they were in, they’d deny her for sure. So, how else could she get there?

Doc Taubin.
Providence
. He’d said he had an appointment with his surgeon that day. Surely he’d give her a ride. The airport wasn’t that far out of the city. She hunted for his phone number.

***

“Zachary? Looks like he’s more alert now.” Wally Taubin rested his hand on Zach’s shoulder.

Zach lifted his heavy head and ran fingers through already tousled hair. He’d sat by the pup’s oxygen tent day and night all weeke
nd. He barely dared to doze off for fear Domino would need him.

But Wally was right. Domino’s ears had perked and his eyes looked brighter, though his breathing still labored.

He was going to make it. Zach slid his hand in and ruffled Domino’s head. The pup gave a half-hearted attempt to lick his hand.

“Take the day off, son. You need some rest. I asked Nadine to call today’s appointments and postpone them. She can keep an eye on the lad.”

Zach stared at his boss, the words barely registering. “Take the day off?”

“It’s Monday. I’ve got a checkup with my surgeon at two.” Wally glanced at his watch. “And you’re in no shape to look after the clinic. Go home.” He headed for the door then glanced back. “Look, you know Josephine didn’t mean to poison Domino.”

Zach rubbed his burning eyes. “I know. She really likes the dog a lot. It’s just—”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

And he’d made a big one Friday, yelling at her as he’d done. It had been chewing at his gut all weekend, but he’d pushed the guilt away and focused on monitoring Domino.

“It’s maybe none of my business, but I think you should talk to her before she leaves.”

Zach squinted. “Leaves?” He tried to make sense of the word and failed. “Who’s going where?”

“Jo. She’s flying out to California this afternoon.”

Zach shot out of his chair, Domino momentarily forgotten. “California? To see her mom? But they don’t get along.” What was going on? She’d been really distraught when she left the clinic the other day. He’d yelled at her. Said unthinkably hurtful things. Regret slammed into him like a bull at full speed. He’d had no business treating her that way.

“So she said.” Wally watched Zach closely. “Don’t know when she’ll be back.”

“But—”

“Listen to me, son. Listen real good. She’s a fine girl. She and her friends are shaking things up in this community. And I think you’ve fallen for her. Don’t let her go without telling her that.” Wally leaned closer, his nose inches from Zach’s. “You’ll regret it the rest of your life.”

Chapter 34

Jo’s tears h
ad dried up, but her resolve stood firm. Sierra and Claire had, individually and together, done their best to dissuade her from leaving Green Acres all weekend, but she had no ears for their entreaties. Finally the two of them had taken the car and left for town this morning. As though lack of a vehicle would keep her at the farm.

Her bags stood packed by the trailer door. Wally Taubin would be here in an hour to pick her up. She hated leaving without knowing Domino’s fate, but the vet would be able to tell her in the car. No way was she calling Zach, not after that earful he’d given her. No way was she calling Rosemary, either.

She ran her hand over the straw bale walls, partially cobbed in, and tears started to flow again. This house was her dream. This garden. This orchard. This farm. Everything here.
 

She looked around, walking the property, trying to say goodbye. California was the opposite end of her universe. Brad couldn’t fool her with his organics division. It was all for profit, but maybe she could make a real difference there anyway. She could build her own house — adobe, perhaps, to suit the climate. Her friends wouldn’t be there, though.

Nor would Zach.

But she’d get over him. She had to.

Her steps migrated to the foot of the willow at the edge of the property. Time to say goodbye to the tree house, the place that had become a symbol to her, representing the Zachary Nemesek who loved the land. That might, someday, have loved her.

She looked up and blinked. The undersides of the platform’s floorboards looked brighter somehow. But the knotted rope did not hang down. Jo bit her lip.
Why
? Her last chance to pour her emotions and prayers out to God in that beloved place, and she was denied.

Jo leaned her forehead against the trunk.
Oh, God, please give me your peace. I’m so torn
.

In the distance, a dog yelped. The reminder of Domino was too much to bear. She broke down and poured her tears into the willow’s rough bark.

Again the dog barked, closer this time. Faint hope fluttered in her chest. Domino? But it couldn’t be. Just a few days ago he was dying. Dying from her carelessness.

“Jo?” Strong arms tugged her from the tree, wrapped around her, and pulled her close. “Jo? Don’t cry. I’m sorry.”

He was tall like Zach, he smelled like Zach, and he sounded like Zach. But it couldn’t be him, because Zach didn’t care. Jo pushed away, and through tear-blurred eyes, caught a glimpse of black and white by her feet.

“Domino!” She collapsed on the ground and threw her arms around the dog. The face lick was welcome, but not as enthusiastic as she would have liked. She blinked hard and looked closer.

“It’s Sadie,” came Zach’s voice. “But Domino’s going to be okay.” He knelt down beside her in the scraggly grass. Touched her shoulder.

She looked up. It really was him. “Is he truly all right? I’m sorry, so sorry. I didn’t get the paneling tight again under the trailer after Mr. Graysen was here. And you’re right. Such a double standard — using the poison. I’d never forgive myself if Domino d-died.”

“He’ll be fine. He’s looking much better today. It will take a while before he’s got his energy back, but he’s past the critical stage.” He looked into her eyes for a long moment. “I forgive you, Jo. But can you forgive me? I said so many things I regret.”

Jo wedged her hand underneath her to prevent it from reaching out and soothing the worry lines from his face. He didn’t look like he’d
slept for a week. She turned away. “I deserved everything you said.”

“No. Never that.”

She didn’t dare meet his gaze, but the silence hung for a long moment. Finally she managed the words, “Thanks for telling me.” The knowledge should help ease her transition as she left.

“Jo? I came to find you.” Like a magnet his eyes drew hers. “I have something to show you. Something to tell you.”

Her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard. “Like what?”

Zach’s hand reached for hers and he pulled her to her feet. “Come up to the tree house?”

“But there’s no rope.” Not that she’d be able to find the coordination to shimmy up, anyway.

A glimmer shone in his eyes and Jo’s heart turned over. “There’s something safer.” He pulled on a narrow cord she hadn’t seen, and a fire escape ladder tumbled down in front of them. He gestured. “After you.”

Jo wasn’t sure she could climb even this with rubbery legs, but somehow she managed. Hope seemed determined to bubble up, no matter how she tried to submerge it.

Zach appeared on the platform before she had a chance to do more than glimpse a new, sturdy railing. What had he done? Why?

He must have read the questions on her face. “I’ve been working on this for awhile. At first, I meant it as a gesture of friendship, something you could remember me by when I returned to the city.”

Her breath froze. The hope sank. She’d been right all along. “It’s me. I’m leaving.”
 

Zach’s hand brushed her cheek. “I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

“But—”

She couldn’t have torn her gaze from his for anything in the world. He leaned closer, closer, and his arms began to reach around her. Then a grin quirked up the corners of his mustache. “Perhaps I should ask permission. May I kiss you, Jo?”

She really ought to say no. They had no future together. Instead, she took one step closer and felt his hands tighten around her back. But no. There were questions that needed answers. Jo pushed back and gained enough space to look up into his eyes. “What about Yvette?”

Zach’s forehead pulled into a frown. “It turns out she was bluffing.
She’s engaged to somebody else now. Don’t worry about her.”

He bent his head to hers, but she pulled away, needing to know. “I thought you and Sierra...”

A finger tucked under her chin forced her to look up. “It was never about Sierra. She’s great. I like her as a friend. But she’s not you.” Zach’s eyes questioned Jo as he leaned closer, his lips touching hers hesitantly at first, then with growing passion.

This kiss was everything she’d dreamed of since the day by the tractor. A final tribute to what might have been. She shifted in Zach’s arms. “I need to get going,” she whispered against his face.

He tightened his grip. “There’s nowhere else you need to be right now. Nowhere more than here. We have so much to talk about.”

So many regrets. Jo shook her head. “I have my plane ticket. I have a job waiting for me in California.”

“California?”

His fingers slid down her cheek and ran across her lip. “Please don’t go. Cancel your flight. I need you to stay.”

She trembled at his touch. Could he possibly mean those words?

“You complete me in a way I never thought possible. I love you, Jo. I love you because you know what you want, and you’ll do what it takes to get it. I hope you’re willing to put up with me for the rest of our lives.”

Words she’d never expected to hear. Jo’s knees threatened to give way.

Zach cradled her against his chest and kissed her gently. “Please, Jo. I love you,” he whispered against her lips. “Will you marry me? I’ll never be whole without you.”

The word “yes” nearly burst from her lips. She wanted him more than anything in the world.
Almost
anything, that is. But trade Green Acre
s for Spokane? She’d been willing to escape Green Acres
because
of Zach. Wouldn’t it be so much better to escape it
with
him? They’d come back often to visit at the farm. His parents lived right next door, or would again when they returned from Romania. She’d find things to do in the city. Local food movements existed everywhere, and if not in Spokane, she could start one. She’d be giving up everything for Zach, but true love didn’t come by more than once a lifetime.