l

he cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes. It was a prop. He wore it like it was part of a

cannot just drive the tractor around the field. You need to make circles or do r

xand

about twenty-eight ti

a girl," h

them. "Yes, yes I am. I suppose that'

he hat up. "Alex, I

eyes. "No,

red the man to act as his manager or foreman over the farm's operations. I didn't know who he owed a favor to, but hiring Deke was too b

as going to have to

er next time,

g the same field. At some po

l just dirt,

let's not worry about the field. What's don

? I ordered plenty

"Deke, you ordered enou

ned. "O

ttention to the expenses. Buying six months' worth of feed is not wise. Mice and raccoo

h. Well, can't we just

pulling up. I need to talk with him. Can y

fy smile on his face. "

. It was white, two-story, with a covered porch that wrapped around three sides. The house had been modestly updated but nothing extravag

liked, some I didn't. Oliver, I liked. He got out of his old For

back," I

t be away from thi

nother one of the many traits I liked about him was that he

guest. Aren't I supposed

pay me, which means

o glasses of iced tea from the pitcher and carried them to the tab

doing?"

d is not cut out to be a farm manager. I'm not

head, laughing at himself. He ambled out to the pasture, presumably to f

daddy I'd give him a shot, but

it isn't. Do you want me to d

thought. "No, I'll

him, noticing he looked tired

. "I hate

now a lot of people t

atural," he

ke. There was nothing but the sprawling pasture that stretched on as far as the eyes could see. The flat land looked l

ll get that alfalfa planted wi

e wheat?"

week as scheduled. The crop looks great. I don't think

ds coming in to take

I'll be oversee

e to run the combine," he sa

f the time that could be saved with an experi

g the steely-blue eyes on me. "There was a time I woul