Page 112 of Hometown Girl

To make matters (and her mood) worse, Drew hadn’t said a word about yesterday. And he’d given her no indication that a kiss like that would ever happen again.

The thought of it lodged a lump in the center of her throat.

They pulled into Fairwind’s parking lot and found Molly sweeping out the main barn, no doubt preparing for the Fairwind Farm Market, which was now only a few weeks away.

They’d begun collecting items from the house and other barns, and soon they’d assemble it all together in a nicely ordered booth for people to browse.

“How’d it go?” Molly looked up when they approached, eyes darting from Beth to Drew and back again.

“Something is weird about that guy,” Beth said.

“So, not an angel investor?” Molly leaned on the broom.

“Definitely not.”

“Bummer.” She went back to sweeping. Something about her nonchalance, coupled with Drew’s silence and Davis Biddle’s insinuation that they were doomed to fail, set something off inside Beth.

“Do you have any idea what we’re up against here, Molly?”

Her sister stopped sweeping and stared at her, wide-eyed.

“He wants to buy the farm when we fail. Notifwe fail—when.”

“Okay, well, he’s going to be out of luck, then, isn’t he?”

Molly had no idea what any of this was actually costing, the dire straits they were in. Secretly, Beth had been hoping her meeting with Davis Biddle would go well enough to at least convince him to continue taking care of the orchards—just for a little while.

But that wasn’t going to happen, heaping another huge expense straight into her lap. Not Molly’s—hers.

Beth dropped her purse on the table. “Why did I ever let you talk me into this?”

Molly crossed her arms over her chest and watched Beth pace. “What’s your problem?”

“Are you kidding? Ever since we started this, I’ve been out here every single day clearing out the house, cataloging the furniture, promoting the barn sale, trying to raise money.”

“Well, you’re not doing it by yourself.” She shot a look in Drew’s direction.

“No, but I’m not doing it withyou. You’ve been off chasing leads in a twenty-year-old kidnapping case and buying dogs and goats and—”

“You’re always so negative, Beth. I wish you could open your eyes to how much we’ve accomplished.”

“It doesn’t matter, when we have so much more to do.” Beth sighed. “We aren’t going to have the money. We need to be logical here and at least consider this offer.” She pulled the paper from her bag.

“I don’t even want to see that, and I can’t believe you would think twice about this.” Molly turned away.

“Molly, I’m trying to be practical here.” Was she? Or was she looking for a way to escape? She glanced at Drew. Her heart ached for him. She wondered if she’d be so intent on considering Davis’s offer if Drew hadn’t been so cold that morning.

Of course she would. This was about the farm, the lack of money and a clear way out of what might’ve been an even bigger disaster than the one at Whitaker Mowers.

“What’s happened to you?” Molly put her hands on her hips and leveled their gaze. “The Beth Whitaker I know would never just lie down and let this guy walk all over her. She’d take his words as a challenge, and she’d say, ‘You don’t think I can do this? Watch me.’” She shook her head. “Where’sthatgirl?”

Beth steeled her jaw, biting back words that would only do harm.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an old lady wearing a long, draping dress and carrying a box, canvases in several sizes sticking out the top.Birdie.“What is she doing here?”

“She’s going to have a booth at the barn sale.” Molly cocked her head to one side.

“You can’t be serious.”

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