Page 100 of The Mountain Echoes
“But what you do know, you like?” she asks.
I hesitate before responding. “He…believed Celine about me, and in the beginning, he said some things. Harsh things.”
Nadine raises her eyebrows, waiting for me to finish.
“What if he believes someone else? He says it was before he knew me, but…I don’t want to compete with Celine.”
“’Cause you lost Hudson?”
“’Cause I don’t want to have to compete for a man.”
Nadine straightens the hoe as the wind combs through the field gently.
“I think he slept with her,” I blurt out.
Nadinefrowns. “When?”
“I…don’t know. He says they didn’t, but….”
She doesn’t say anything for a second, just watches a hawk wheel in the sky. “It’s understandable you’re scared. Loving someone’s not for cowards. But, Aria, Mav doesn’t lie. I can tell you that as sure as spring follows winter out here, every damn time. But say he did have somethin’ with Celine, he ain’t anymore, is he?”
I look at the promise of a successful future for Longhorn, hay lush and green stretched in every direction. “Celine always wins, Nadine. I know that as sure as I know a horse’ll buck if the saddle ain’t right.”
“Rami regretted what he did.”
“He never tried to make it right.”
Nadine huffs out a sharp breath. “Your father had too much pride. All you Delgados do.”
“I’m not being proud, Nadine, I’m trying to survive the best I can.”
She pats my shoulder. “I know…but while you’re struggling to survive, don’t forget tolive‘cause no joke, life is short, Aria.”
“I am livin’,” I protest with a pout. “I’m havin’ lunch with Maverick in an hour.”
Nadine grins. “Wonder what he’s gonna eat.”
I slap her shoulder. “You’re so bad!”
Before Nadine can respond, Earl comes riding.
Something is wrong. I can feel it.
“What happened?”
“They’re here.” His face is pale. “The certifiers. Surprise organic audit.”
I suck in a sharpbreath. “Damn it.”
We all trudge to the ranch house where two SUVs are parked. Three people are standing by it. My guess, two from the certification agency and one USDA liaison. As they say in these parts of the world, this isn’t my first rodeo.
The vineyard at Knight’s Tale was also certified organic, and we had our share of surprise inspections.
“Morning.” I put on a mask of calm, hiding my nerves. “I’m Aria Delgado. Ranch co-owner and manager.”
The lead inspector, a lean woman with short gray hair and mirrored sunglasses, gives me a short nod. “Gemma Bishop. We’re conducting an unannounced inspection of your organic operations under the National Organic Program. We’ll need full access to your storage areas, feed inventory, records, and greenhouse systems.”
“Of course,” I say smoothly. “I’ll walk with you.”
