This Hero for Hire (13 page)

However, it was nearing the end of October. Election time was drawing closer. Albee's numbers were encouraging. The colors of fall undulated through the hills. Summer heat and humidity had been replaced with dry air and cool temperatures. And scary costumes and bags of candy lined the shelves in all the local stores. It was Susannah's favorite time of year, and she allowed herself the luxury of enjoying the company of a wonderful guy and the prospect of a promising future. This feeling of attachment to a man, a wonderful, kind man, had become a security blanket she hadn't experienced often in her life.

But her security faded like the mist on a meadow that afternoon when she came out of the farmhouse with a pitcher of lemonade and tall glasses for the work crew. From the porch, she watched a shiny, powerful motor home pull onto Braddock property and stop by the barn. When the side door opened, two adorable little girls jumped out onto the gravel followed by a slim woman who could have come from a campground or a boardroom. The driver, tall with dark, expertly cut hair, exited on his side of the vehicle and surveyed the land as if he owned it. Which he did. It only took a moment for Susannah to realize the man was Boone's brother, Jared.

Her hands shaking, Susannah set down the tray of drinks. She immediately interpreted this unexpected visit as trouble. But the sight was too heartwarming for her to dwell on the negative for long. Giggling and squealing, the girls raced for the barn. The woman came around the cab of the camper and stood next to Boone's smiling brother. Maybe the arrival of another Braddock would turn out to be a good thing.

Did Jared's ownership of the property have to be an obstacle? Susannah had always believed it was. But did it have to be? Jared was here now, just on the day that she had recommitted herself to buying the land. Maybe Jared Braddock would be overjoyed at the prospect of putting several thousand dollars in his bank account. After all, he had no interest in the farm. This visit had to have been unexpected or Boone would have mentioned it to her.

Yes! She picked up the tray and headed toward the camper. She would offer the lemonade to Jared and his wife in the manner of good ol' country hospitality. And by tonight, one brother would have convinced the other brother to do the wise thing.

As she strode toward the RV, Boone came out of the barn, leading his horse. His two nieces sat in the saddle. “Well, look who I found wandering around the barn just now,” he said to his brother.

The two men embraced and Boone hugged his sister-in-law. The whole time, however, his attention never wavered from the girls in the saddle. And there was no mistaking his adoration for the children.

Susannah halted when she reached the camper. She couldn't help overhearing Jared's question as he looked at the crew weeding in the field.

“What's going on out there?” he asked.

Boone gave him a brief explanation about the farm experiment, omitting details of his involvement as landlord.

“Looks nice,” Jared said. “They should get a crop before the year is out.”

“Yeah. I think they may be planning on several harvests.”

“Whoa, not so fast, little brother,” Jared said. “Why do you think I've come here today?”

“I don't know.” Jared hauled the girls off the saddle and admired the coach. “To show me your latest toy? Like father, like son?”

“Partly, yes, but I've come to discuss with you my plan for Gramps's land. You and I are going to make some money, bro. And I don't mean the piddling bit you get from selling a few vegetables! We're going to turn this farm into a campground!”

Susannah's chest squeezed painfully. She changed direction and headed for her coworkers, her hands shaking so badly she didn't know if the tray would make it.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“W
HAT
? A
CAMPGROUND
? Are you serious?”

“Absolutely, Boone. The configuration of this property is ideal. Hills to the west of us. A barn for keeping horses for trail rides. Not to mention nearly perfect weather year-round and a farmhouse to serve as an office.”

“I don't think that is what Gramps had in mind when he left the farm to us,” Boone said.

“How would you know that? Besides I think he'd believe it's a great idea. Mom and Dad like camping.” Jared put his arm around Boone's shoulder. “Wait until you hear the entire concept. I've really thought this through.”

Boone avoided looking at the group in the field. He knew Susannah couldn't hear them, but he'd come to feel such a connection to her that he figured she could read his shock from any distance. This idea wouldn't fly with her at all. In fact, it would be devastating.

He felt a tug on his shirt. “Uncle Boone? Can we play with the chickens?”

He looked down at his older niece. Her copper-tinted ponytail glinted in the bright sun. He felt a calm settle over his jangled nerves. “Sorry, darlin',” he said. “But chickens don't really like to play.” He made a growling sound and tickled her.

Anne giggled. “Then what can we do? You're talking with Daddy and Ellen and I want to play.”

He got down on his haunches. “Tell you what. There is one thing chickens really love to do. They are champs at eating. I'll fill a bucket with corn and grain and you two can feed them.”

Anne looked at her sister, whose sweet face registered some concern about this idea. “But what if the chickens start to peck me?” asked Ellen.

Yes, that could happen. Chickens weren't so good at curbing their enthusiasm. “If the hens come after you, just get a handful of food and throw it way far out on the ground. They'll run for it and leave you alone.”

“Okay.”

“But don't go in the barn, girls. I've told you that before. You can't go in the barn unless I'm with you.”

“Stay where we can see you from the camper window,” their mother said.

Grabbing his horse's bridle, Boone turned the animal toward the barn. “Let me put him in his stall and we'll talk.”

A few minutes later, Boone and his brother were seated at a dinette area in the impressive motor home. When Jared had extended the camper's interior square footage with a simple switch on the wall, the dining table and chairs easily accommodated four people. From the large picture window, they could see both the girls and the crew in the field.

“A little early for a beer, isn't it, Jared?” Boone said when his brother set down a bottle without asking if Boone wanted one.

“Maybe for you, but I'm on vacation.” As if to prove his point, he took off his baseball cap, tossed it on the leather sofa and finger-brushed the short hairstyle that seemed to be the norm for successful accountants.

Boone took a swallow of beer. “When in Rome, I guess.” He looked around the RV with all its fancy appointments. “This baby must have set you back a big chunk of change.”

“These Class A homes aren't cheap,” Jared said. “But it's not a new one. In fact, it's three years old but only has fifteen thousand miles on it.”

“I've heard people buy these carriages without fully realizing what it costs to operate them,” Boone said. Thankfully he could honestly say that the behemoth vehicle was not another reason for him to be jealous of Jared. Boone was content with his truck, his horse, and an easy-to-assemble tent if he wanted to explore the great outdoors.

“I figure I'll get about nine to twelve miles to the gallon on the highway, but the girls love it and so does Francine.” He looked to his wife for confirmation.

She stopped slicing tomatoes for sandwiches and shrugged. “I would have preferred a swimming pool in the backyard.”

Boone smiled. “So tell me about this campground you've envisioned for the farm.”

“Not just a campground,” Jared said. “A motor coach
resort
. There's a big difference.” His eyes, dark green like his brother's, lit with enthusiasm. “Campgrounds are everywhere. Simple pull-in, pull-out parks for overnight stays. But RV
resorts
are hard to find. I want to establish a place for the big, impressive rigs. I'll have paved parking for the unit and tagalong car, boat or whatever. Each pad will have the normal amenities—electric, water, sewer, cable, Wi-Fi, picnic table. Plus the resort will have a pool, fishing pond, maybe a putting green.”

Boone leaned back. “What about a hot tub on each space?”

Caught off guard, Jared thought a moment. “We'll have one at the pool, but...” He stopped and chuckled. “Okay, Boone, you go ahead and make jokes, but this is the latest craze for people who can afford the best.”

“And what will
the best
cost these happy travelers? The last time I remember camping, I lugged a pack on my back and paid eight dollars at a state park to set my tent for one night.”

“Times have changed, brother. A bill a night isn't unusual for the kind of luxury we'll offer.”

“A hundred bucks to camp for one night?”

“That's right. And I've calculated we can fit eight units per acre. That will still allow for enough green space. In case you've forgotten your grade-school math, that's eight hundred bucks a day per acre, times...what? Aren't there about forty level acres here?”

Boone knew that's exactly what Cyrus had because the woman he'd become close to was currently using it.

“Of course, we'll have expenses,” Jared said. “If you charge people that kind of money, you have to provide quality in service and maintenance. Stuff has to work. Folks will expect to get what they pay for.”

Francine set down a platter of sandwich fixings and joined the men. “Dig in. I'll call the girls in when you've made your sandwiches.”

Jared piled ham on a slice of bread. “So, what are your thoughts, Boone?”

“My first thought is that you're an elitist,” Boone said. “What about camping for the masses?”

“Nope. I don't want to develop some run-down rural stopping point for rusty old units that are barely roadworthy. I want to be proud of this place. I want it to be the best, the kind of place people come back to year after year.”

“Rich people,” Boone said.

“Some, sure. But also hardworking folks, retirees like Mom and Dad. You'd be surprised how many people live full time in coaches these days. And for many others, a life on the road is a dream they work and save to achieve, but they want to feel safe and secure and pampered when they stop. We can provide all that.” He grinned. “And we have built-in security in the form of my cop brother.”

“Okay, I guess I can see that you've thought this out...to a degree. But where will the money come from to get this project under way?”

“We'll get a bank loan. The biggest expense would be land purchase, and we already have the land. And it's perfect as collateral for the loan.”

“What do you think of this idea?” Boone asked his sister-in-law.

“You might be surprised, but I like it. What Jared hasn't explained to you is that this enterprise would be a legacy for the girls. They could take over when and if they want to. It would be something they could fall back on later in life.”

Boone looked out the window at his nieces, who'd tired of chasing chickens and were gathering and stacking sticks for whatever purpose little girls could imagine. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for those kids. They were his future as well as his brother's, at least until, or if, he had kids of his own.

Jared set his chin on his palm and stared out the window toward the field. “You know, I never really appreciated all this before. But this truly is a beautiful swath of land. With the foothills bordering the acreage, and the Blue Ridge Mountains just beyond that, it's a paradise.”

Then, as if the work going on in the distance suddenly captured his attention, he turned to Boone. “So what's the story out there anyway? Did you hire some migrants to farm the land? Do you need money from the produce they could grow?”

“Good Lord, no, Jared! I don't need money.” Truly, Boone didn't know which assumption bothered him more. The fact that his brother thought cop pay wasn't enough to sustain one man's simple life, or that he thought there was something wrong with doing an honest day's work.

“Well, sorry, but I didn't know you were farming this land. And frankly I'm a bit surprised by it. So why did you hire farm labor?”

“I didn't hire them, Jared. And they're not farmers in the sense you're thinking. I was going to tell you about this when I sent you a check for your part of the proceeds.”

“Proceeds? What proceeds?”

“I'm leasing the land to this group. And they're scientists, not laborers, though they do work long hours. They're conducting an experiment out there.”

“Scientists? What are they doing—seeing who can grow the biggest pumpkin?”

Boone stood. “You know, Jared, sometimes you can be a big jerk.” He looked at Francine. “I'll send the girls in. Maybe they won't get indigestion.”

* * *

“T
HAT
 
GUY
 
who showed up today, he's your brother?”

These were the first words Susannah spoke when Boone drove her to campaign headquarters that afternoon.

“Yes, that's Jared. I thought you might come over while we were talking. I would have introduced you.”

“Sorry. I was a bit busy.”
Plus I had no interest in meeting him once I overheard him announce that he was here to ruin my dreams
.

“So why did he come?”

Boone gave her a sideways glance. “Did you notice the motor home?”

“Would have been hard not to.”

“Sometimes I think Jared just pops by when he has something he thinks will make me salivate with envy. In this case, a multi-thousand dollar rolling gas hog.”

Ah, friction between brothers. Maybe Boone wasn't so taken with the idea of the motor home resort. Susannah could hope.

“And the two girls are your nieces?”

“Yeah. Their names are Anne and Ellen.”

“Well, they're adorable.”

“I think so. I really want you to meet them.”

She let time pass, drumming her fingers on the door handle. When they turned onto the main street of Mount Union, she couldn't contain her anger and hurt any longer, especially now that she knew Boone might not be in favor of Jared's plan. Turning her head, she said, “A campground? Are you kidding me, Boone?”

His eyes widened as he sent her a shocked look. “How did you know? You were out in the field. You couldn't possible have heard...” He exhaled. “Never mind. It doesn't matter. You know.”

“You're darned right I know. At least I know that's why Jared turned up today. What I don't know is what you told him.”

“It's not as simple as a yes or no answer.”

“Oh, no?”
If I mean anything to you at all, it would be. If you want to prove to me that blood is thicker than water, it would be. If you want to satisfy your greed with this project, it would be.
But she couldn't say any of that. She had to hope that Boone had done the right thing.

Boone gripped the steering wheel as if he thought the truck was about to careen off the street. “He's my brother, Susannah. We grew up together on that farm. Half the property was left to him.” He gave her a look that pleaded with her to understand. “Do you know what that means? We have to talk about this, listen to each other. No one just
wins
right away. It takes back and forth.”

“And what do you want to do with the land? Do you think Jared's idea is a good one?”

“It wouldn't have been my idea, but I think it has some merit, especially when he talked about leaving the land as a legacy to his children and any children I might... Never mind that. If I sell the land to you, it's just gone.”

“Is that what you think? Land doesn't ‘go' anywhere, Boone. It will be here forever. And never mind that the soil will contribute to feeding countless people a healthy diet. Never mind that generations can learn from what we accomplish on that land. Never mind...”

He ground his next words out of clenched teeth. “Stop it, Susannah! I know what you think. I know how important the project is to you. If it were up to me...”

Hope flaring, Susannah turned to look at him. “What, Boone? If it were up to you, what?”

His eyes clouded as if he regretted what he'd almost said. “Never mind. It's not up to me. It's up to two brothers who both have a stake in what happens to the farm.”

He pulled up to the front of the campaign office. She reached for the door handle. He grabbed her arm.

“Nothing has been settled yet,” he said.

Was he telling her there was a chance? She wanted to believe it. Not knowing how to best relate to what he was going through, she stubbornly challenged him. “Really? I think the final decision is just a formality. I think that by agreeing with Jared, you believe you'll have elevated yourself to his stature. I've seen the pictures of his little girls in your room. I know how you feel about them. And I've heard you talk about Jared, about growing up together. You idolize him.”

“That's not true. But he is my older brother. He always had my back, watched out for me. But I don't just automatically go along with whatever he says.”

“Then do what you think is right, not what you think Jared wants you to do.” She got out of the truck but leaned in the window. “Because underneath all the admiration you have for your brother, you just might be a better man than he is.”

She walked into the headquarters without another word.