Page 6 of A Mile of Ocean

“He got killed because of a review. Talk about harsh. Online stuff can get ugly. Wait a second. I heard something about that. I thought it was just town gossip.”

“Nope. It turns out Owen stopped at the wrong winery, one that belonged to a former cop turned serial killer.”

“Scary stuff. Maybe that’s why I avoid wineries. Something about stopping at one of those snobby tasting rooms puts me off.”

Savannah smiled. “For some reason, I don’t see you drinking wine.”

“Is it the cowboy hat or the boots? We drink wine here with dinner. We just don’t make the rounds at fancy vineyards.”

“It wasn’t an insult. I’m not much of a wine drinker. After all, it got my brother killed.”

“What about that?”

“The good daughter did everything she could to find him when he went missing. But it was as if he’d disappeared into thin air. The cops tried to convince me he’d walked away from his life. But Owen wasn’t like that. He’d finally found someone he loved. They’d even bought a house together.”

“It must’ve been a difficult eighteen months not knowing what happened before they solved his murder.”

“It was agony. My dad finally came to realize how much he cared about his son. But it was too late. I know he feels guilty.”

“What about your mom?”

“She says she knew Owen was gay long before high school. Mom loved her son. It didn’t matter to her.”

“Do they still live in San Diego?”

“My parents? Absolutely. For the first time, after staying local for so many years and going to San Diego State, I struck out on my own. Coming here was the best thing I ever did.”

“Are you still considered the good daughter?”

“Most of the time. The only difference is that now I don’t care. Is it that way with your parents? Sorry. Your grandparents, I mean.”

“Well, believe it or not, I love my job. I love waking up on the ranch every day. But there was a part of me that wanted to be a farmer. Do you know that organic farm north of town?”

“Sure. I’ve seen it.”

“I had in mind to run something similar. Buy a piece of land and start farming. But this ranch is horse country; cattle are here to stay. Livestock ruins the land for farming. I’ve accepted not being able to grow anything besides a year-round garden patch that supplies the herbs Dolly needs for cooking and lots of flowers. She loves flowers of all kinds. And she loves having fresh vegetables right outside the back door.”

Savannah could tell Dolly was more than a housekeeper to Trent. The way he talked about her was more like a mother figure. But she said nothing about it and tried to keep the conversation going. “So, you’re a gardener? How fascinating. You’re just full of surprises. That’s why I bought the house on Beacon Lane. My front yard is full of flowers already. And the backyard comes with raised beds to grow vegetables. I already put seeds in the ground two months ago. So, I’m hoping to have potatoes, carrots, three kinds of lettuce, and two varieties of beans this summer.”

“That’s a good start. Unfortunately, I do my gardening in my spare time, mostly on weekends. I have a dozen books on the subject if you need them.”

“Thanks. I figure I’ll learn as I go. I’ve checked out several books on the subject at the library. But they aren’t very practical advice. And I always find the bugs eating something.”

“Ah. You might want to make sure you’re attracting beneficial insects like dragonflies and ladybugs—don’t forget the spiders—by planting the right shrubs and flowers as a companionable border to your vegetables. It’s also known as balanced gardening. Never underestimate how nature’s beengetting rid of pests for hundreds of years without using chemicals.”

Savannah stared at this cowboy, who seemed to have a much deeper persona than his pretty boy image. “You love to garden,” she heard herself mutter.

“Well, yeah. Everybody has to eat, right? If you grow your own food, it makes sense on so many levels.”

One of the kids interrupted their conversation with a question for Trent about one of the foals. And when he pivoted to answer the girl, Savannah knew she’d already taken the fall. Captured by his soft-spoken approach and quiet words of encouragement, she found the sexual attraction evident. But she craved something else—a well-read man whosaw beyond the surface. Trent seemed to be that man, and it both thrilled and terrified her.

Her heart raced as she watched Trent in his element, handling the foal with gentle, experienced hands. Savannah couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises the cowboy had up his sleeve. She found herself drawn to his quiet strength and how he seemed to understand the world around him.

Before she knew it, the children had gathered around them, eagerly listening to Trent’s explanations about the foal and its needs. Trent’s patience and knowledge captivated the children and Savannah alike.

“Do you ever think about leaving ranch life?” Savannah asked quietly as the children dispersed.

Trent shook his head. “Not really. This is where I belong. The land, the animals, they’re in my blood. It’s a hard life, but it’s a good one.”

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