Page 29 of The Payback Adventure
She ignored the niggling doubt that had been creeping up all afternoon. It added to the ones she’d had after arriving home from church. “I didn’t warn him about the gate.”
Gabe stuck his thumb through the belt loop of his jeans. “What about breaking the spray nozzle?”
“Henry offered to pay for the damage with his next paycheck.” But as she said the words, she knew money couldn’t buy back the time they’d lost after lunch. She was more behind than ever, but she hadn’t even told Theresa what had gone wrong. That left the usual suspect. Elisabeth glanced at Sam. “What have you been telling Gabe?”
Sam jutted out his chin. “The truth.”
All she needed was Gabe’s doubts to add to her own. Still, she felt the need to defend Henry. He might not have known what he was doing—and he didn’t—but he was trying. That had to count for something. Not everyone grew up on a farm. “It’s Henry’s first day on the job. Everyone needs time to adjust.”
Gabe’s gaze narrowed. “That sounds like an excuse.”
It was, but she didn’t dare admit it—not to Gabriel or anyone. Even if she feared Henry would never adjust. He didn’t seem cut out for farming. He also didn’t seem cut out for cooking, cleaning, or anything else. Trouble followed him indoors, outdoors, everywhere.
“Henry will figure things out.” She said that for her benefit more than anyone else’s. Twenty-five thousand dollars bought a lot of extra chances. Maybe she should ask Abby to run a cost-benefit analysis to see where the money and Henry’s mistakes met. That point might be closer than Elisabeth realized.
Theresa glanced through a pair of binoculars the girls had found in the cab of Gabe’s truck. “I know why you hired Henry.”
“Why’s that?” Gabe asked, visibly curious.
Theresa grinned. “He’s gorgeous.”
“I want to see!” Caitlin bounced up and down. Theresa handed her the binoculars.
Elisabeth forced herself not to sigh. “That’s not why I hired him.”
“Sure.” Theresa winked. “I’m so happy to see a good-looking single man who isn’t from here. The pickings are slim in Berry Patch.”
“There are more than enough single women,” Gabe joked.
Theresa rolled her eyes. “I’m sure Henry will give you serious competition for the most eligible bachelor title, big brother.”
“I doubt that.” Gabe glanced toward the field. “He’s homeless and penniless.”
“But with a face like that, I don’t think any woman will mind.” Theresa sighed.
Uh-oh. Warning bells clanged in Elisabeth’s head. Theresa was a die-hard romantic who dreamed of finding her Prince Charming and one for Elisabeth, too. That’s because Theresa fancied herself a modern-day version of Jane Austen’s Emma. But what if Theresa wanted Henry for herself?
An unexpected heat surged through Elisabeth’s vein. She wasn’t the jealous type, but for some reason, a part of her wanted to get territorial over her temporary farmhand.
Caitlin giggled, staring through the binoculars at the berries. “Henry’s so funny.”
Elisabeth glanced over to the crops. Henry, sans tractor, ran with his arms flailing and swatting at the air as a dark cloud followed him.
Oh no. “Bees.”
“At least he can run fast.” Gabe shielded his eyes from the sun as if to get a better look.
“That’s about all Henry can do.” Sam snickered. “Except snore.”
Gabe laughed.
“This isn’t funny.” Elisabeth hopped to the ground. “What if Henry’s allergic to bees? We have to help him.”
“Not much we can do except upset the bees more,” Gabe said.
“He’ll outrun them,” Caitlin said confidently, still staring through the binoculars.
“What if he gets stung?” Abby asked. “We don’t have an EpiPen.”
