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“Most of them. I don’t have exact numbers though.”

“But you would say it’s enough of a crowd of people who care deeply about supporting local, small businesses.”

Alana sat up, her mind racing. Supporting local, small businesses.

“Yes, definitely,” Freya answered.

“And would you say that if one of those businesses were to disappear, especially one that hosted their favorite weekly market, those locals would be mad?”

Alana beamed at Sophie. “I like where this is going.”

“I don’t get where this is going,” Freya replied.

“Bean, are you suggesting a smear campaign?” Alana asked.

Sophie grinned. “Maybe not a smear campaign, but we get our story out there. A small business that is being threatened by a larger one.”

Freya rubbed her forehead. “Guys, come on, we need to be serious⁠—”

“I am being serious.” Sophie sat up straight, tucking her legs into a crisscross position on her seat. “It’s a classic David and Goliath story. Goliath thinks he will win with his strength and size. But he doesn’t have the very important thing that David has.”

“Rocks and a slingshot?” Freya deadpanned.

“Nooooo,” Sophie drawled.

Leo leaned in. “He has the support of God on his side.”

Sophie snapped her fingers. “Bingo. And what support do we have?”

Alana was grinning ear to ear. “The local community.”

“Exactly.” Sophie leaned in. “The Kasners may be well-known for their wine at fancy restaurants or shops, but nothing gets the public going more than a family business in need. So…we host a battle.”

Freya blinked. “A…battle? With swords and stuff?”

Sophie laughed. “Not a real battle, silly. A metaphorical one. We tell our story online and drum up enough support, and then we host a big harvest party to raise money.”

Freya ran her fingers through her hair, pulling on the strands. “We can’t post a smear campaign against the Kasners, we could get sued. It is rightfully their money…even if Friedrich was gracious about us not paying these few years.”

“Then we’ll be careful with how we word everything. Make sure the story is more about us and needing the support. We’ll talk about how good Friedrich was to us during these years…and how the change in power is causing a disturbance.”

Freya huffed in agreement. “Also, there’s no way a party will bring in seventy-five grand.”

“We won’t need it to.” Sophie leaned in, her face full of determination and zeal. “We’ll have already raised enough online by then.”

Marien didn’t have much of a social media presence, but that quickly changed after her sister’s brilliant idea. Sophie commandeered all of the social channels and they spent the rest of the day filming content and telling their story.

At one point in the afternoon, as they staged candid shots working in the fields, Alana peeked over the vines to find Leo as they pruned the rest of the Chardonnay. It didn’t take long; he was three rows down from her, and his eyes were already trained in her direction. His cheeks flushed at her attention, and he focused back down on the grapes in his hands.

She rolled her neck, stretching out the sore kinks in her back, then headed in his direction. Sophie followed, filming the entire interaction.

Alana paused a couple of feet away from Leo, who was inspecting the grapes closely. “Leave that one,” she commented. “I would prune the one nearest the base.”

He shook his head. “This one is the healthiest.”

“Yes, but look at the shoot.” She ran a finger along the skinny trained vine. “It’s much thinner, and we don’t want to stress it. It will need more time.”

Leo frowned then stood up straight, crossing his arm. “Are you questioning my expertise?”