Page 54 of Pick Your Spot

When his phone rang, he had to pull himself from those dreams and back into reality.

“Hey, Dodge. Thanks for calling me back.”

“No problem, Annie. What’s up?”

“I’ve got a plan, and it involves you.”

Ford chuckled. “Your plans aren’t always good things.”

He laughed. “That was one time.”

“And I’m never going to let you forget it. We nearly had our asses hung to dry that day.”

True, but he wouldn’t admit that. “Not a chance. We were faster and smarter.”

Another chuckle. “Faster, I’ll give you. Smarter? I hope we are now. Does this plan involve a seedy bar in a seedier part of town and a few too many brews?”

“Not this time. In fact, this one doesn’t put anyone in danger. Doesn’t involve stupid dares or escapades.”

“What does it involve?”

“Apples.”

There was a pause. “Apples? As in grow-on-the-tree apples?”

“That’s the kind. It’s a long story I’ll get into when I see you in person. To condense it, my family inherited an apple farm in Vermont. I want to make a go of it.”

“Apples. I didn’t see that coming, Annie.”

He laughed. “I know. I didn’t either, but it’s exactly what I want. It’s an amazing place.”

“There’s a woman involved. I can hear it in your voice.”

He never could fool Ford. “You’re right, but I was in love with the farm before I fell in love with Thea.”

He stopped short as he heard his own words. He didn’t want to pull them back, but he needed to say them out loud to Thea first.

“Love, huh? Does she know yet?”

Trust Ford to be perceptive. “Not yet. It’s too early, but it’s right. Completely right. She’s amazing and you’re going to love her.”

“Willing to take a chance that I won’t sweep her off her feet and steal her right from under your nose.”

He grinned. Ford always made him smile. “Not even a little bit worried. So, the farm needs someone to keep it in shape. Someone who knows his way around construction and carpentry.”

There was a beat of silence. “What are you saying, Knox?”

“I’m saying I’d love you to come here to work and live with us. We’ve got a farmhouse in need of TLC but it’s got plenty of room. There are even some cabins on the property, although you’d have to get water and electricity to most of them first. There are two livable farmhouses, but both need work. So do the barns. And the fences. Hell, it all does. But it’s amazing. Four hundred acres of trees, a pond, and so much more. We also could use your help to build the Worminator.”

“Worminator? What the hell is a Worminator?”

He laughed because he could hear the interest in his buddy’s voice. “It’s a compost thing. Thea can explain it better than I can.”

“And you want me to leave my job and my family to build something called a Worminator?”

“I do. If you want in. I know you love your family but I also know that you’re frustrated with not being able to use your skills. Here, you’d be your own boss. You’d be in charge of how things get done.”

He took a breath and continued when Ford said nothing. “I’ll get a room ready for you here in the farmhouse. I know it’s a lot to think about. Give me a call one day when you’ve got more time, and I’ll walk you around the property so you can see it.”

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