Page 13 of Let It Breathe
Between the forest and the vines stood Axl, with a shovel in one hand and a tape measure in the other.
“Gramp—dammit, Axl!” Reese yelled. “Stop it right now. What are you doing?”
The old man whirled around and frowned. “What does it look like I’m doing? Planting. Been doing it on this land since before you were born, and I can still?—”
“What are you doing to the goddamn vines?”
The heat in Reese’s words was enough to halt even Axl in his tracks.
“Figuring out where to put my plants, that’s what,” he huffed.
“What plants?”
June touched her daughter’s elbow, looking grim. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. Your grandfather wants to grow marijuana next to the Muscat vines.”
“Not all of them,” Axl protested, looking like a defiant teenager. “Just this section right here. It’s an experiment.”
“An experiment,” Reese repeated, looking incredulous.
“An experiment,” Larissa said, looking eager.
“Hell, yes,” the old man said. “Don’t you remember back when June planted lavender beside the Riesling vines, and for a few years after that, all the wine reviewers went on and on about the ‘delectable hints of lavender in the bouquet’?”
Reese stared at her grandfather. Even from three feet away, Clay could see the muscles in her jaw clenching and unclenching.
“Okay, Axl, not to split hairs or anything,” Reese said slowly, “but last time I checked, it was legal to grow lavender.”
“It’s legal to grow weed, too!” Axl insisted. “This is Oregon, remember?”
“I’m aware of that, but I also know you need special permits to grow large amounts. It’s regulated by the government, and there are all kinds of rules for growing it. You can’t just start a pot plantation in your backyard, and definitely not at a commercial operation like a vineyard.”
“I got that covered, sweet pea.” The old man grinned and reached into the back pocket of his pants, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He held it out triumphantly, shaking it in front of his granddaughter.
Reese just stared at it like he held used toilet paper. She finally took it, and Clay watched her eyes travel back and forth over the page.
“Medical marijuana?” she said.
“That’s right,” Axl said. “It’s big business these days.”
Larissa tried to peer over her cousin’s shoulder at the words on the page. “Why is ‘medical’ spelled with two Ls?”
“Because it’s a forged form,” Reese said, handing it back to Axl, who scowled as he took it. “And even if it were legit, there are limits on how much you can grow and where you can grow it. I really don’t think a vineyard is the best place, and right here next to the forest and my Muscat vines?—”
“Well, where am I supposed to do it, then?” Axl snapped. “I thought you’d be happy about infusing your wines with a little extra somethin’-somethin’, if you know what I mean.”
The old man tried to wink, but the gesture seemed to throw him off balance, and he started to tip. Clay caught him by the arm before he could go toppling down the hill.
“Hands off the goodies, son,” Albert said, stepping back and brushing off the arm of his jacket. “But thanks.”
“No problem, sir—uh, Axl.”
The old man sighed. “All right, then, where am I going to put my doobage?”
The cracking of twigs snapped everyone’s attention to the edge of the woods. An older man stood there with his arms folded over his chest and an expression Clay would’ve called a “shit-eating grin” before he gave up swearing.
Reese’s jaw clenched. “Dick,” she snarled.
Clay looked at her, surprised at the curse until he realized it was probably the guy’s name.
