Page 10 of Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow
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Dylan stared back at me defiantly. ‘What are you talking about, Willow?’ he asked with an exasperated look. I wondered if he had anyone react to him and his brother wanting to buy their land like this before. Actually, I wondered if he’d ever met anyone like me at all. He seemed to be thoroughly confused. But I didn’t care. I knew in my gut that making a last-ditch effort to save the farm was something I had to do, even if it would be bloody hard, and even if it didn’t end up working out.
‘Well, as you said, this will be hard work for me; why don’t you help me with the pumpkin patch and I’ll listen to your plans for this place and take your offer seriously? Then if you can persuade me, or if the patch doesn’t work out, I’ll sign on the dotted line. But if it does work out, then you agree the best thing is for me to keep the farm and walk away,’ I blurted out without really thinking about what I was suggesting. I just found the idea of Mr Suit Man staying to help out on the farm hilarious and also a chance for me to make sure my dad wasn’t persuaded to sell the farm to him. I also thought maybe I could subtly pick his business brain while he was here. I waited to see what Dylan would do with my outrageous idea.
‘Why would I do that?’ he asked slowly. ‘This is your opportunity, not mine. I’m making you an offer.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘But you said this would be your biggest deal so far, right?’ I asked. He gave a slight nod. ‘And you want to show your brother you can do it. I can see that in your eyes – you want to prove yourself. Well, so do I.’
‘But we’re against each other?’ he said, with an infliction that suggested he was checking.
I shrugged. ‘Keep your friends close, your enemies closer. Right?’
‘This has not gone the way I thought it would,’ Dylan muttered. ‘Are you serious? You want me to stay here for six weeks?’
‘You can work remotely, can’t you? Tell your brother you’re working on the pitch for the farm, which technically wouldn’t be a lie.’ The more I thought about it, the more I thought this could be good for me. I’d get free labour, free business advice plus the chance to show Dylan just how much the farm meant to us. Maybe then he would withdraw his offer in six weeks’ time anyway. ‘You could stay in one of the cottages,’ I added. That would keep him out of my way when I didn’t need his help. I was sure neither of us would want to spend any time together socially based on how today was going. ‘Or do you think I was right and you can’t cut it living and working on a farm for six weeks?’ I added then, with a smug smile. Was Mr Suit Man going to back down from my challenge?
‘Oh, couldn’t I?’ Dylan countered. ‘You’re wrong. I’m not afraid of hard work. And you’re right, I’m determined to prove myself just like you. So, why not? In six weeks’ time, you’ll bite my hand off to accept Henderson Homes’ offer. Until then, I’ll stay here and help out. And I will also persuade you that selling is not only the best idea but your only option at this point.’
I flung out my hand. ‘Deal.’
We shook once, firmly, eyes locked. At the touch of his hand in mine, the smug smile faded from my lips. My hands were battered from outdoor life, his were smooth and soft but it wasn’t that difference that shook me and made me quickly let go of him. It was how warm his touch had suddenly made my skin.
Flustered, I looked away, my cheeks turning pink. ‘I have no idea what my dad will say about this,’ I admitted.
‘Or my brother,’ Dylan said with a sigh.
‘We better find out then,’ I said, turning towards the farmhouse, ready to share our bonkers plan with my father. He would likely think I was even more of a hopeless dreamer than ever, but then again, if I could get Dylan on board with my pumpkin patch then surely Dad would have to get on board too?
I whistled for Maple and set off, Dylan hurrying after me, his shiny shoes completely caked in mud now, his hair tousled from being out in the elements, his tie slightly askew, but I had to admit just to myself that those blue eyes of his had looked the brightest they had since I first glanced at them in Birchbrook Café earlier.
‘I’m sorry, what?’ my dad said after I told him what Dylan and I had discussed. Dylan had gone to his car to talk to his brother. I glanced out of the kitchen window to watch him walking to his posh car looking like a real fish out of water. It was going to be interesting to see if he could even last a week here, let alone six. ‘Willow, I am used to your slightly outlandish ideas and plans but I’m seriously worried about this. Not only do you want to create a pumpkin patch for October, just a couple of weeks away, but now you’ve invited this stranger to live and work on the farm and help you do it? Even though he actually wants it to fail and for us to sell the farm to him. Have I got that right?’
‘I know it’s a little bit out there,’ I admitted, ‘but I get free labour plus we could get some business advice from Dylan; we might be able to turn things around and then we won’t have to sell.’
‘And what if we do have to sell?’ Dad countered.
I sighed. ‘Well then, I’ll have to accept it after these six weeks.’
‘Will you?’ Dad sighed. ‘Why would Dylan even agree to this? Doesn’t he need to do his job? How can he work here and for Henderson Homes?’
‘I think he works mostly remotely anyway, plus this farm is his biggest idea; he wants to make it happen and is going to tell his brother he needs to be here to plan it all and pitch the idea to us. He’s going to stay in one of the cottages. Look, Dad, I know you’re not fully behind my idea but this is a great way for me to make it happen. And if it doesn’t work out like I think it will, we just say yes to Henderson Homes. So, where’s the problem?’
‘Can you work and live with Dylan for six weeks? You sent him in the wrong direction earlier today. How will you deal with him being around all the time?’
‘I’m going to think about the big picture,’ I said, although I was a bit worried now that Dad had asked me that. Dylan was a stranger who had got my back up. I was unconvinced he could work outside so he could end up being more of hindrance than a help. Especially because he wanted my plan to fail.
Dylan walked in then. ‘My brother thinks this is weird and I think he might be right,’ he said, looking as stunned as me that we had got ourselves into this. But we’d shaken on it and I could tell that accepting a challenge meant something to us both.
‘I’ll show you the cottage you can have,’ I said, hurrying past my dad before he could plant any more doubts in my head. ‘Dad thinks the same as your brother,’ I added when we were out of earshot. We left the farmhouse again and I led him to the cottages. ‘You won’t try to sabotage me while you’re here, will you? You said you would genuinely help me with the pumpkin patch.’
‘You seem to think I’ll be useless at farm work,’ Dylan replied. ‘But I think I’ll surprise you. And I want to win this fair and square, as I’m sure you do. I won’t need to sabotage you; you are going to sell the farm to me in six weeks’ time.’
I snorted. ‘No way. This is going to work, and you will have to admit that I was right – this farm is worth saving.’ I unlocked the best cottage we had and held out the key for him. ‘Take a look around, go and get whatever you need and we can start work first thing tomorrow.’
‘Stay here tonight?’ Dylan asked, stepping through the door and raising an eyebrow. It was old-fashioned and lacked amenities but it was comfortable and cosy. ‘Maybe we have a been a bit hasty…’
‘Are you scared, Dylan Henderson?’ I asked from the tiny hallway as I watched him look around the cottage.
