“Didn’t you hear what happened?”
“Just that Tate said he was postponing the use of the horses.”
“Didn’t think to ask why?”
He inhaled deeply, the cherry end of his cigarette glowing bright in the darkness. He blew a plume of smoke up to the sky. “I figured he’d get around to telling me.”
“You didn’t care?”
“Not my business.”
I shook my head, swallowing down tears. “Not your business? He’s your son.”
“It’s his business. I have nothing to do with what he did to this farm.”
I sighed. “Evidently both of us are sucking when it comes to taking care with Tate.”
There was a long beat of silence, when finally, his father spoke. “What happened?”
I gave him a quick recap of what happened and the destruction my overexcited fans had caused.
“So, you’re up here sniveling?”
What was it about rude men today?
“I actually looked around at the destruction. I think I’m entitled to a few tears.”
“Then fix it.”
I blew out a breath.
“Look. You can judge me all you like, girl. Just don’t disappoint him like I did.” He pushed himself off the fence, then stubbed his cigarette out on his boot and turned back to his house. “Now get out of here,” he called out to me.
I rubbed at my chest where the ache had spread.
For him and his relationship with Tate.
And for me, in all the pain I’d caused him.
I sniffed and scraped my nails through my hair. I was good at solving problems.
This was just one more.
I had to fix it for him, but I was going to need some help.
I headed back down to the village and looked around with fresh eyes. It was going to take a lot to fix it.
More than I could do on my own. And more than Tate’s team could do without some extensive repairs.
There wasn’t enough time for that kind of setback.
Not with the plans he had for the Brothers Three Orchard coming to kick off December. The trees and the cocoa bus, as well as the cider being sold in one of the buildings.
I had a few short days to get this done.
The only ones I could think who could do it were my team from the tour.
Not only did I have to make it up to Tate, but I needed to make it up to my town too.
