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“I’ll see you later?”
His gaze held hers.
“I’d like that.”
Kate kissed him quickly before the wind could blow her hair across both their faces. Then they went in opposite directions. Janice had already taken Eileen and Penny toward the farmhouse. Alan was closing the packing shed when Kate caught up with him.
Inside, the house felt wonderfully warm after the orchard. Penny had abandoned her boots beside the back door and was telling Eileen something from the couch with her head against the older woman’s arm.
Janice disappeared into the kitchen and came back carrying a large pot. “I made stew before we went out this morning,” she said. “Apparently I thought we were feeding an army.”
“We almost were.”
“And now most of them have gone home.” Janice looked toward the window and then at Kate. “Take some over to Wes later. He’s been running between two orchards for two days, and I’d put money on him deciding coffee is an acceptable evening meal.”
Kate smiled. “You’re worried about him.”
“I’m worried about anybody who works from before daylight until dark and forgets there’s a kitchen in his own house.”
Alan came in behind them. “She worries about everyone.”
Janice touched his arm as he passed. “Yes. I do.”
Kate looked out at the orchard. The branches were moving harder now. “All right,” she said. “I’ll take him some.”
It was only dinner. A container of stew carried across to a man who had spent two days helping her family. Nothing complicated about that. Outside, the wind rose again and rattled against the windows.
CHAPTER 20
Wes
The wind had changed direction twice since Wes returned to Russet Hill. He noticed things like that. Usually it was simply part of knowing the orchard, no different from noticing which rows dried first after rain or where cold air settled on a clear night. This evening, every shift made him look up.
Most of the crew had gone home more than an hour ago. Wes had kept two men long enough to get the last tractor under cover and move anything loose away from the exposed side of the packing barn, then sent them home while the roads were still good. There was nothing to be gained from keeping people out in worsening weather because he disliked leaving work unfinished.
His bear was no happier about it than he was. We could check the upper rows again.
Wes pulled the barn door closed and tested the latch. We checked them twenty minutes ago.
The wind is stronger now.
Which means walking underneath trees in the dark would be an even worse idea.
His bear fell silent, although Wes could still feel his unease. Russet Hill was as prepared as Wes could make it. They had harvested the fruit most at risk, secured machinery and brought in everything that could become a problem once the wind strengthened. What remained on the trees would either still be there tomorrow or it would not. Knowing that did not make going inside any easier. How much would be on the ground by morning? Wes pressed his palm flat against the barn door, as if that would tell him.
Then the awareness of Kate reached him. Wes straightened, turning toward Bramblewood before there was anything to see between the rows.
Kate’s coming, his bear said, his earlier unease giving way instantly to interest.
Wes waited, the certainty of her moving closer familiar now. A few moments later she appeared between the trees, carrying a lidded container inside a canvas bag and holding the front of her jacket closed with her other hand. His bear’s mood improved even further. Wes was already walking toward her. “What are you doing out here?”
“Bringing you dinner.” She lifted the bag as evidence. The wind had pulled her hair loose, and it blew across her face until she pushed it away.
“Your mother sent you across an orchard in this weather to make sure I ate?”
“No. Mom filled a container with stew and said somebody should take it to you. I volunteered because walking across here seemed considerably easier than listening to her worry you were probably going to forget to feed yourself.”
Wes took the bag from her. It was still warm. “She might be right.”
