Winter Harvest (19 page)

Victoria still wanted him, whether she knew it or not. He'd let her know he loved her, too, and that they belonged on the farm. Together. Andrew and Liza would just have to accept it. Traye unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt and changed back into jeans. Much better.

Satisfied, he grabbed his keys and walked out of the loft, hoping he wouldn't have to spend another lonely night there. Once he had Victoria's attention, he'd take her to the cabin. It had been his home all his life, and if Victoria accepted him there, she'd accept him anywhere. The cabin was where it had all started, and where it would end.

As he drove to the O'Connor's, Traye braced himself for the fight ahead. He'd end the craziness Andrew had them all living. Liza wouldn't be happy after he cut Andrew's puppet strings, but that was just too bad.

Vehicles were parked all over, and he maneuvered the truck close to the storage shed. He'd had no idea how much he'd missed this place. Sitting in his truck, he watched the guests entering the house. He wanted to let the party get well underway before he made his presence known. He knew a full room would keep Andrew busy and make it easier for Traye to surprise Victoria.
Coward
.

Twenty minutes later, he decided enough people had arrived to provide a distraction, so he moved his truck to the lane leading to the cabin. He wanted a clear getaway.

Avoiding the mud as best he could, he walked to the front of the house. Good choice sticking with jeans. He paused for a minute, squared his shoulders, and followed a couple up the steps. They chit-chatted their way inside.

As soon as he spotted Andrew greeting the guests, Traye dodged him. He searched in the kitchen for Victoria, but only found the catering crew. Traye figured she must already be downstairs with the guests. He proceeded down the steps one at a time, careful not to run into Andrew. Victoria had transformed the lower level of the house with spring flowers that filled the room and soft candlelight that cast a golden glow. The room was done up in pastel colors with candle lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

He finally spotted her across the room. Evan stood next to her looking out of place. Traye gave him credit for standing by her side. Too bad the guy was about to lose her. A twinge of guilt gripped Traye, but he didn't dwell on it. He should be standing beside her, anyway. She belonged with him.

He heard his name being called, braced himself, and turned around. Andrew stared him down with a deep scowl from a few feet away. In quick strides, his friend stalked over to him. Ready for anything Andrew might throw at him, Traye planted his feet wide. He'd like to take a sucker punch at Andrew like Andrew had done to him the morning he'd walked in on Traye and Victoria, but he'd never ruin Victoria's party. However, he didn't intend to let Andrew come after him this time. He kept his eyes locked with Andrew's.

"What the hell are you doing here, Petersen?" Andrew leaned in close, and his words came out in one long hiss.

Traye knocked him away with his shoulder. "Back off."

"I thought we agreed you'd let me handle this."

"What? By keeping me away?"

Andrew drew away, narrowed his eyes to slits, and didn't say anything.

Traye kept on, "You haven't called me since I left. Hell, you've even ignored my calls."

"As you can see, we've been busy here."

"Yeah, sure."

"Traye, I'm working on it. I just have to get Victoria married off first. Once she leaves, Dad will agree to let you move back."

"Get her married off? To Evan, you mean?" Traye swallowed the ball of anger.

"Yeah. They're getting really serious."

"I'll bet." Traye crossed his arms over his chest.

Andrew stepped closer. "You don't want to ruin this night for her, do you?

"No."

"Okay." Andrew looked around the room. "Then slip out now before Dad sees you. Or even worse, Evan."

"Robert would be okay with it."

"I'm not so sure about that." Andrew cocked his head and pursed his lips. "Since you left, he's started to like Evan a lot. Dad sees how good he is for Victoria."

Traye nodded. "I bet you're pushing for it too, aren't you?"

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Didn't your girlfriend tell you about our run in?"

"Liza?"

Traye nodded.

"No. Why? What'd you do to her?"

Traye chuckled. "It's more like what she did to herself."

"Quit the riddles." Andrew's deep scowl returned, and his eyes darkened. "Just spit it out, damn it."

"She spilled your plan. You had us all fooled. I believed you were my friend. No -- more like my brother. I had no idea how much you hated me, and how you were manipulating your whole family. So when did it start? When did our friendship become a lie?"

"Stop whining. You always knew what getting this farm meant to me. Grandpa always wanted that. I was too young to run it when he died, so Dad got it. I never dreamed he'd make you and Victoria part of it. I wanted to make my grandfather's wishes come true."

"Bullshit. Liza told me you've been planning this since your mother died. How you overheard her talking to me. You have to know how much she loved you."

"Yeah, right." Andrew sneered. "She always loved you and Victoria more."

"Get serious and stop acting like a child. You and Victoria can have the farm. I'll step back from all of that. Just stop being such an ass."

"You'll never walk away from this place. Why would you? After all, you come from nothing, and you've tried everything you could to get into this family. Even marriage to my sister. All the while, though, I had everything under control. It was all going along just fine until Victoria started to chase you in earnest. As she became a beautiful woman, I had to make sure you two didn't develop a romantic relationship."

"Nothing would change if we did."

"Yes, it would. My greatest fear almost happened when Dad ordered you to marry her. If you had, half of my legacy would be yours. Mom told you part of this farm would always be yours. So… what? I'm just supposed to stand by and let you have part of it, along with my sister's acres? You're not even an O'Connor, yet Dad holds you in high regard. Like a son. I knew he'd want me to share my empire with you."

"Victoria deserves this farm just as much as you do, and she could have it with or without me."

"Maybe, but with a guy like Evan, she'll lose interest. With you, she never will. With Evan, she'll walk away and give it all to me -- for a price, of course. I'd have the main share, and I'd be in charge. Not you, who should be a foreman, not part owner."

"You know I love this farm. I'm not family, but this is my home, too. All three of us would be good together. You don't need to be so damn greedy and want it all for yourself. You're just like your grandfather. An egotistical jerk. I can't believe I was so stupid to make excuse after excuse for you."

"You can't help it." Andrew shrugged. "Look what you came from."

Traye grabbed Andrew's arm and pushed him back. "You son of a bitch."

"Go ahead and make a scene. Dad will kick you to the curb and never allow you to come back here again."

"I don't think that will ever happen. More than likely, you'll screw up and be the one on the outside looking in. I'm sorry you spent the last three years hating me. You had no reason for it. You are Robert and Tessie's son, and they would give you the world. I hope someday you'll see that and lose the anger -- along with Liza, who feeds upon it." He pushed Andrew, and he stumbled. "You're nothing to me anymore."

"You're nothing but a loser, and I'll see to it that both Victoria and Dad see that, too."

Traye itched to wipe the dirty smirk off Andrew's face. He advanced until a hand gripped his arm.

"Traye, what's going on?"

Robert
. Instantly, Traye became aware of his surroundings. He looked up to find his neighbors and the O'Connor's guests staring at him. Andrew could rot. Traye needed to leave him to clean up the mess. Turning around, he spotted Robert with Victoria and Evan.

"I'm sorry, sir," he said to Robert. "I came here for one thing, and one thing only."

With that, he picked up Victoria, threw her over his shoulder, and hung on tight as she bucked and tried to get him to release her. Determined not to let her go, he clamped his hands on her even more tightly.

"Let me go, Traye!" Victoria shouted. She pounded on his back with her fists.

"Sorry, Evan. I have to get her to listen to me." Ignoring Victoria's shrieks, he looked past Evan to Robert. "This is my last shot."

He made his escape with Victoria squirming like a wild woman, thankful the crowd parted for him. No one wanted to mess with him tonight.

Behind him Robert bellowed, "Andrew, leave them be."

Traye stepped outside with Victoria still screaming and beating on his back. His shoes sank into the mud with each step and feared he might stumble and drop her. She'd kill him if he did. When he reached the truck, he unlocked the door and tossed her inside. He grabbed her failing arms and held her tight.

"I hate you." Her eyes held a hint of passion mixed with fury.

He shook his head. "I don't believe you. Give me one more chance to plead my case and if you still hate me, I'll drive you back here to the party. If you leave me now, you'll be a muddy mess and won't be able to go back inside."

She looked at the ground. "You have a point. Fine. I'll listen, but I doubt I'll change my mind about anything. You'll leave me alone for good after that, right?"

Praying he wouldn't have to do that, he nodded. "Deal."

"Okay."

"So if I let you go, you'll stay put?"

"Yes."

"Good." He wasted no time rounding the truck and jumping into the driver seat. This was his last chance, and he had to make the most of it. If it didn't work, he'd move on and start a new life somewhere else. Without Victoria, he'd have no desire to remain on this farm with Andrew who hated him so much. Although Robert would always have Traye's respect, without her love it would have no meaning.

*****

Victoria stepped into the cabin ahead of Traye. She couldn't deny she liked how he'd suddenly taken charge. Her curiosity over this new turn of events kept her from running out the door. Something had changed. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in his touch. Toeing off her shoes, she turned to him. His eyes softened, and he smiled.

"You're so damn beautiful."

"You're just now noticing that? Is it my dress? My hair? What opened your eyes tonight?"

Still grinning, he shook his head. "You've always been a beauty. I just never allowed myself to see it."

"So why now?"

"I've had my eyes opened. It's been a rude awakening."

"What's going on? Why would you barge into our party and have it out with Andrew? Is this about me again?"

"Not exactly. It's more about me."

"Huh?" Victoria drew her brows together.

He walked over to her, grabbed her hands, and led her over to the couch. Keeping her hands in his, he sighed. Even that little touch weakened her knees. He still had a hold on her, and she still wanted him. He rubbed his thumb against her hand. Damn if she didn't want to lean in and kiss him until he bruised her lips.

"All these years, I've thought of this as my home, never believing that one day it wouldn't be. I never wanted to do anything to lose it. I overlooked Andrew's faults, denied myself your love, and jumped through hoops to keep your father's respect. All of it was wrong."

"Why?"

"Andrew has played us all for years. He had no intention of letting anyone else have this farm. He wants it for himself -- and if he has to stomp on family to get it, he will. He
did."

"We both know Andrew's been difficult since Mom's death, but he's not a bad person."

"I'm not so sure about that anymore. He has so much anger built up inside him I don't think even he knows how to get rid of it. Liza came into Jerry's the other night and let it all out. She was worse than normal and very arrogant."

"That
is
normal for her."

"Just listen, please." He cocked his head. "I didn't steal you from your party without a reason."

"Sorry. You need to get to the point before I lose it. I'm in a dress sitting here in this cabin while my boyfriend is probably going crazy at a party I'm hosting."

"Ouch." Traye put his hand over his heart. "He's your
boyfriend?"

"You knew that. Evan doesn't deserve this. I don't want to hurt him, so there'd better be a major point for me to be here. Now explain."

"Fine." He nodded.

Her heart melted because she still loved him. She wanted to listen to him talk all night. Missing him had become a dull ache, and she needed him to make it better. Being in the cabin where she had laid it all out to him gave her mixed feelings, but her heart wouldn't let her walk out at this point, even for Evan.

"Liza didn't see me at first, and I overheard her bragging about how next year she'll be in charge of the dance and how much more classy it'll be."

"Really?" Victoria scowled. Liza was such a witch. How could Andrew marry her? How could Victoria ever accept her into the family? She looked at Traye. "Where will
I
be?"

"Married to Evan and off the farm."

"Huh. It's an interesting theory. And Dad?"

"He'll either be living in town or in a home. The farm will be too much for him."

"And you?" She tensed her muscles in anger.

"Oh, I get to be the foreman and do all the work while Andrew and Liza live a fancy life. I don't know how much of this is his idea, or if it's all hers, but they're both in on it."

"Andrew can't be that cruel, can he?" Victoria didn't want to believe it, but Evan's observations echoed in her brain.

Traye swallowed. "I didn't want to believe it either. I've always thought of him as a brother -- so much so, I made a promise that ruined my life."

"The deadly promise." She smiled. "That was about a lot more than just a promise."

"Yes, it was. I didn't want to disrespect your family. I fought it so hard, I never realized how much you meant to me. I didn't realize that in the process, I stopped showing
you
respect."