Page 6 of Apple of My Eye

“She was furious,” I added. “Not at him. At Mother Nature.” Something Montana families have always had to be aware of.

“This is our best harvest yet,” Sage observed quietly. “Dad would have loved it.”

We let that sit for a moment or two.

I swallowed it down with water and pushed off the fence. “Guess I’ll fix us some sandwiches before we hit the next row.”

Before I could take another step, trucks came up our gravel drive. As three parked in front of the house, I recognized them and their occupants from the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch.

We met them at the fence. Colt stepped out first, and Ivy ran into his arms. Anson and Eldon exited the cab, and several of the ranch hands jumped down from the back. Ash climbed out of the second truck, Willow behind him, Ro trailing, both carrying baskets overflowing with food.

From the last truck, Knox appeared out of the driver’s seat, with a few more men hopping out of the back.

I allowed myself one glance at him under his cowboy hat.That was enough to take my breath away. His smile was there, tucked under a thick, dark beard, reaching all the way to his eyes. Never had I been attracted to a man with such long hair and a beard and tattoos; clean-cut men were usually more my style. So why him and why now when I had no need of male distraction in my life?

“Hello,” Ash called. “Heard you had a harvest. We’re here to help.”

My throat tightened. “You don’t have to?—”

“You’re right, we don’t,” he said easily. “But when we see people who need a hand, we show up.”

“You ladies look hungry,” Willow added, setting down the basket. “Ro and I made sandwiches.”

“I packed the pickles,” Ro said. “But if you don’t like them, I’ll eat them later.”

“I put fresh biscuits and honey inside, too,” Eldon called.

I refused to cry, blinking away tears before anyone noticed. “I don’t know what to say. Thanks, I guess?”

“Thank Knox,” Ash added. “He’s the one who told us you needed help.”

My eyes snapped to the man who drove me home last night, and he tipped his hat at me. Speechless, I stood there and gaped at him.

“Well, you might regret it,” Sage teased. “Daisy can be a tough manager. And your hands will absolutely ache by sundown.”

“Most of us have been through tougher times. We can take it.” Knox nodded, smile still in place. He held back near the truck at first, arms crossed, watching me like he always did—too aware and focused, like I was the only other person on earth.

“Begin from the back. Work toward the house. Carl and Henry will show you how to pick.” I found my voice and pointed in the general direction they should go.

All the men moved without hesitation, falling into line like obedient soldiers.

We sat down on a blanket to eat the sandwiches Willow offered, and the guys got started. My sisters ate and chatted with Willow and Ro. I was too stunned to eat much, apart from a few nibbles. I wasn’t used to asking for help, much less receiving it.

By mid-afternoon the harvest had shifted completely, thanks to the dozen extra sets of hands, a much different outlook from when we woke up this morning. Even Ro was helpful, plucking the low-hanging fruit with incredible efficiency for a fourth grader.

There was movement everywhere. Laughter and chatter, too. It made the orchard feel alive instead of overwhelming as we picked as fast as we could.

I rounded the end of a row and nearly walked straight into Knox.

He had a half-eaten Honeycrisp in his hand.

I stopped and cocked my head. “Are you eating the inventory?”

“Quality control.” He took another bite, completely unbothered, smiling with his mouth full. “Thought I should make sure the goods were ripe.”

“If we don’t hurry and pick this harvest, everything will be overripe.”

“Well, help is here. And once this harvest is over, I thought maybe you and I could go out.”