Page 54 of Strike Zone

“Do you have a storefront?” I search the map of the property looking for a store where customers can shop.

Willow glances at her mom. “No. It’s something we want to do eventually. Along with a million other things.”

“Daddy wants more horses and cows. He says Pumpkin is working too hard and she needs a friend,” Lenny says. She takes a long sip of her sweet tea.

“Well, your daddy is going to have to wait. Pumpkin is our dairy cow. We had more, but we had to sell them last year,” Faith says to me.

Questions form like rapid fire in my head. I want to know if they sell the milk. Do they have other animals? How big is the property? How many customers do they have? What is your plan to make a profit and not get further behind?

I don’t ask anything. Instead, I listen while they go over plans for beans, five different varieties of lettuce, cucumbers, collard greens, tomatoes, green beans, and the list goes on. They map out the location for each plant, the timelines of harvest, and what to do with the surplus.

They discuss the wildflower and hay fields, chickens, and goats. I wonder how they manage it all. It’s no wonder Wyatt feels like he needs to be here. There is so much involved in the day to day operations.

I also understand why he’s trying so hard to save it. I hear it in their voices as they speak. This farm is their heart’s work.

I start making my own mental notes on how I can help. What resources do I have access to? Can Ellington Business Solutions help? Would Wyatt let me?

There isn’t much I can do without seeing their financial records. I doubt that’s something they would willingly hand over to a stranger.

Is that who I am to them? It doesn’t feel like it as I sit at the table with them. Even though I’ve spent most of the day in my own thoughts, I feel welcome here. I feel like I’m a part of whatever they’re doing.

Even more so, I want to be a part of it.

Too soon the front door opens and Ford is walking through, followed by Mason, Colt, and Wyatt.

His shirt is soaked with sweat and dirt. His jeans are dusted over with soil along with his boots. A cowboy hat sits on the top of his head. I have to grip the edge of the table to keep myself from slipping underneath it.

Seeing Wyatt stride through the door covered in the two things I make a point to avoid, has me second guessing my stance on dirt and sweat.

Wyatt’s lip twitches and his eyes dance with delight. What is he up to? He rushes towards me and wraps his arms around me. I fight his hold as his sweat begins to coat my skin. It’s a natural instinct even though I like the heat of his skin transferring to mine.

“You can fight me all you want, but I see the way you’re looking at me,” he says close to my ear.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I was staring at you in disbelief because you came inside your mama’s house like that,” I lie, fighting my way out of his arms and gesture toward the dirt he’s left on the floor from his boots. “You’re going to bring the whole farm inside the house at this rate.”

“Well, if that’s the reason,” he says, heavy with sarcasm. “You don’t need to worry. We’ve been trailing dirt in this house for years.” Wyatt reaches over me and picks up my glass of sweet tea. It’s a little watered down. He doesn’t seem to care as he chugs the entire glass.

“We sure have, haven’t we, buckaroo?” Colt says from across the kitchen. Wyatt glares at his brother, but Colt just laughs him off.

“Daddy, did you get any good info from Uncle Wyatt?” Lennon asks, giving Wyatt a new member of his family to throw daggers at. She gets up from the table and walks over to Ford. “The way he came running in here, I know something is going on. New girl was pretty tight-lipped. I couldn’t get much out of her, especially with Grammy and Aunt Willow yapping so much.”

“You’re going to have to wait until our meeting later tonight. I’m not going to share all my intel in front of everyone,” Ford tells his daughter.

“Don’t y’all have something better to do?” Wyatt asks.

“Not really.” Mason smirks back at his brother.

“I wish Shelby was here. She’d put you in your place,” Wyatt mutters quietly but loud enough it makes a few people in the room gasp.

“Don’t talk about her,” Mason says through gritted teeth.

“That’s enough. Willow, help me get supper started.” Faith hugs Mason as she passes him. Whoever this Shelby person is, the whole family seems to care about her.

Wyatt moves deeper into the kitchen to wash his hands. He shares a few private words with Colt and Mason before coming back over to me.

The whole room clears out suddenly except for Willow and Faith a few feet away in the kitchen. I wonder if there is anything I can help with. I’ve been sitting here most of the afternoon not doing much of anything but listening. I’ve only gotten up once or twice to use the restroom.

I scrap the idea when I feel Wyatt’s eyes on me. “How did everything go out there?” I ask in hopes of getting him to stop staring.

---