Page 33 of You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch
‘The sort of people who’d want to visit would respect and love nature. They’d come to switch off from the outside world and to bask in these glorious surroundings. Doesn’t everyone deserve that chance?’
‘What others need isnotmy problem.’
‘But this land is. It’s a farm, Zain. And Agnes tells me it used to be a profitable one, in the days when her husband was alive. You worked with him too, didn’t you?’
His look was incredulous.
‘Everything you’ve been doing here is so impressive,’ she continued. ‘I’ve never seen so many pumpkin varieties. They’rebeautiful.I’ve been learning more about them too, and their potential uses. But isn’t it all wasted if the crops aren’t being enjoyed or used for anything?’
She sensed the fields had become his own, slightly self-indulgent project, though she didn’t dare say it.
‘Just like us, a pumpkin doesn’t simply want to exist and then die. It wants its chance tobe a pumpkinand do all of the things a pumpkin was born to do.’
A vein twitched near his temple, and was he actually baring his teeth?
‘A pumpkin wants its chance tobe a pumpkin? Well, now I’ve heard it all. Sounds like Kimberkoo Chat doesn’t have a patch on you.’
She was surprised he’d remembered its name.
‘All I’m saying is that farms should be productive,’ she replied, trying to sound calm. ‘Pumpkin patches can be hugely popular during autumn. And if we can offer wild retreat experiences with the glow of the pumpkin fields as a backdrop, we could really be onto something.’
He glared at her. ‘I came here for peace.’
‘Surely we could reach an arrangement that respects your privacy and your work, but still brings the retreats to life? You and me against the robot cats.’ She let out a nervous laugh.
‘There is noyou and me,’ he replied firmly. ‘I’m a lone weirdo who gets excited about bats and gourds. And that’s exactly the way I like it. Gourds don’t lie or let you down.’ He stepped around her, passing the bat screen to her, presumably as a source of light. ‘I’m heading back, and so should you.’
There was probably nothing out there but a few flying creatures and the odd fox, though at least it seemed he didn’t wish death upon her. Surely that wassomething?
As they walked, Zain’s shape solid against the dark, starry sky, Rosie couldn’t help but feel for him. Despite the fact she would never have had herself down as a nocturnal beast expeditioner, seeing Zain so animated about the bats had been a rare and magical treat. She’d enjoyed spending time with him. They’d almost been getting along, until she’d had to ruin it.
But needs must.
And much like him, she didn’t have space for anyyou and mein her life – even if, now and again, in her wild, fictional imaginings, she did enjoy wondering.
22
‘I’msiiiiiiiiingingin the shower.’
Rosie had to sing, to stave off the nerves. She flicked the tap off and grabbed her towel, throwing it around her and stepping towards her wellies. Her new friends would soon be arriving to make a start on the retreat plans, and she was a buzz of tension and excitement. She could only hope that Zain wouldn’t be obstructive, because although she’d spilled the truth about the pumpkin USP, he hadn’t yet given his blessing. In fact, she couldn’t be sure he wasn’t plotting to destroy her with a giant orange cucurbit. But it wasn’t his land, and she had a job to do.
‘Lovely weather for a cold blast,’ she half-yelled to the very man, who’d appeared at the entrance to the open-air shower wrapped in his own towel, paired with a teasingly tight T-shirt and woolly hat.
He gave his usual grunt.
It was still pretty dark and crisp at sixa.m., but Rosie had been learning to embrace the autumnal outdoor cold showers with loud singing to counteract the sting. It was the only option, with no bathroom in her wooden hut – and it wasn’t hygienic to wash her private bits in the same sink where she cleaned her teacups.
Zain’s eyes were wide, on his usually nonchalant face. He’d probably never seen her taking the cold shower by storm, as she often sneaked in later, when the day was a few degrees warmer. But today Rosie had plans, and she was keen to get started, come what may. She reached for her heart-patterned dressing gown, which was on a makeshift hook, and swung it around her shoulders.
‘Oops. Mustn’t forget this.’ She bent to pick up the upside-down glass and slip of thin cardboard that she’d left on a nearby tree stump. ‘My humane spider catcher. You get some real biggies in the toilet hut. Don’t worry. I’ve got them all out for you.’ She gave him a wink. ‘I’m popping to the house as soon as I’m dressed. It’s bacon and egg Saturday, so I’ll bring your rolls back for you, if you like?’ Kill him with kindness was as good a plan as any. ‘Save your legs.’
She pointed to his, which were bare below his towel. She tried to ignore how inviting the soft dark hair along his firm calves looked, because calves were surely not meant to be sexy. And those rugged work boots, undone and ready to be pulled off, much like that fluffy grey towel...
Rosie shook herself back to her less steamy reality. This shower did uncommon things to her. ‘Probably my turn to get the breakfast, anyway. Black coffee?’ She didn’t dare mention pumpkin spice.
It was the understatement of the season to say it was her turn, considering there was a tray of food and coffee outside her front door each morning, and she was fairly sure Agnes wasn’t ambling over in the dark, followed by fourteen stray cats and a one-eyed chicken. Though every time she’d tried to thank Zain, he shrugged it off.
Rosie blew Zain’s still-surprised face a kiss, before hurrying back towards her hut to get warm and dry.
