“How is it?” he asked, wearing a shit-eating grin.
I shot him my biggest smile and held up the mug. “It’s perfect.” I took another sip and struggled not to gag.
“So what are your plans for the day?” He lifted his mug to his lips to take a sip.
“Well, after I clean up the kitchen”—I smirked, kicking a small pile of coffee grounds with the toe of my shoe—“I’m gonna try to do some work on the farm.”
Dan was midgulp and almost choked, making me roll my eyes.
“I’m sorry, what?” He cleared his throat. I narrowed my eyes at his reaction.
“I’m going to do some farm work,” I repeated, crossing my arms and glaring at him.
“Are you sure you don’t want to relax today?” he asked in a calm voice with a hint of a condescending tone. “You just got here. It’s very different than the kind of life you’re used to.”
“No offense, but you have no idea what I’m capable of. I came here to learn more about my family and why my grandparents even thought I’d be able to run this farm in the first place. I’m smart. I’m a fast learner, and I’m not afraid of a challenge. So you can either get on board or get out of the way because this is happening.” I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his response.
“Okay.” He held up the palm that wasn’t holding his mug in concession and nodded with an impressed look. “What sort of farm work, exactly?”
I relaxed a bit and started scooping coffee grounds from the countertop into my hand.
“I’m not sureexactly. I just figured I’d start by walking around, getting to know where everything is, and just”—I lifted a shoulder and dropped it—“I don’t know, seeing what I can do. Like I said, I don’t mind hard work and I’m a quick learner.”
“If your coffee-making skills are any indication, you may not bequick enough.” His beard twitched. He was teasing me, but at least he understood that I didn’t scare easily.
“Ha. Ha,” I deadpanned. “I figured it out, didn’t I?” I took another sip of my terrible victory coffee and tried not to grimace.
“That you did,” he conceded.
“I think the best way to get an understanding of how this place operates is just to jump in.” I took another long sip of coffee, decided that I’d suffered enough, and dumped the rest in the sink.
“Fair enough.” He placed his empty mug in the sink next to mine before he set himself to the task of washing them. “Is that what you’re wearing?” He pointed to my leggings and tennis shoes. “To do farm work?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with it?” I smoothed my T-shirt over my waist. “It’s comfortable and it’s gonna be hot outside today. I sweat easily.” Dan greeted me with an uncomfortably long silence, making me self-conscious. He was eyeing me with a bemused look that I suspected didn’t have anything to do with farm work.
“Dan?” I clapped my hands to get his attention. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“Nothing. It’s fine. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He shrugged and wiped his wet hands on a dish towel. “If you want to find stuff to do, you should talk to Ernesto.”
“Are you not going to be working today?”
“I am, but not on the farm. After the greenhouse, I have to go into town and take care of some things.”
“Will you be gone all day?” I asked, hoping my question didn’t sound too needy. He hesitated a moment before he answered.
“Yeah, probably.” He shrugged but he didn’t meet my eye.
“Okay, well”—I shrugged—“I guess this is it, then.”
“Yeah.” He nodded and left the kitchen. “Good luck today,” he called over his shoulder.
I wiped down the counters and swept the kitchen floor before heading out the back door of the house toward the barn in search of Ernesto, wondering how much luck I was going to need.
Two hundred fifty acres is considered small for a farm, but to me it felt like an entire world. There were sprawling, lush green fields, and in the distance, there was a large red barn where Dan told me I could find Ernesto. There were also mosquitos—lots of fucking mosquitos.
“Ernesto?” I asked as I rapped on the doorframe of the barn. A tall man who looked to be in his fifties with golden-brown skin looked over at me. His body was covered from the neck down, including a thick pair of work gloves. My mind flashed back to Dan scrutinizing my outfit in the kitchen and made a note to wear long sleeves tomorrow.
“Sí, Miss Emmaline!” He greeted me with a wide smile. I have no idea why the fact he knew my name surprised me, but it did. Everyone in town seemed to know me. “What can I do for you?”
