Whatever You Say_A Highland Springs Romance Read online

  She climbed out of the truck and immediately stumbled on the uneven ground, dotted with rocks and gullies. “I will help you. The sooner we unload, the sooner we can get out of here.”

  “Get back in the truck. I’ll be done in no time.”

  She held on to the back of the truck with one hand and fisted her other on her hip, giving him a stern look. “If you’re implying I can’t handle this task, you’re sorely mistaken.” She reached over the truck bed and picked up a log, lodging it in the crook of her arm the way she’d seen him do. After her fourth log, she decided that was all she could handle and walked on her unsteady heels toward the neat pile lining the side of the cabin. As she placed the logs on the stack, she noticed the deep silence of the holler; only her labored breathing and Brody’s boot steps disrupted the soft sound of wind blowing through the trees. They worked in silence, passing each other on the way from the truck to the woodpile, his loads more than doubling hers.

  “So, who lives here?” she asked as she reached into the truck bed.

  “Clara Cloud.”

  “I’m surprised she hasn’t come out to say hi or thank you.”

  “She’s nearly deaf. Probably doesn’t know we’re here.”

  Kate placed her last load on the pile and took a moment to look around before climbing back in the truck. A heavy mist rested like a blanket over the tree tops, blocking out any chance of sunshine. The eerie quiet unnerved her and the steep hills surrounding the holler made her claustrophobic. She wrenched open the door and climbed onto the bench seat, feeling somewhat safer in the cocoon of the truck cab. Brody climbed onto the porch, two steps at a time, and rapped on the door. A tiny woman in a threadbare gingham dress stepped onto the porch, spoke a few words to him, and gave him a warm hug. No money changed hands.

  They drove out of the holler a few minutes later, climbing slowly up the steep incline, without a word between them. Out the corner of her eye, she saw him look at her, then redirect his focus on the gravel lane ahead. He’d barely spoken a word to her on the trip and her curiosity was getting the best of her.

  “So, is this your full-time job? Lumberjack?”

  “Not full time.” He repositioned his ball cap.

  “I noticed she didn’t pay. How can you make money?”

  “You’re kind of fixated on that, aren’t you?” He reached for the radio knob and soon the cab filled with a sports report. Obviously he wasn’t interested in answering any of her questions. She let out a hearty sigh and turned her attention to the forest passing by.

  After another silent five minutes, they pulled into the parking lot of the rehab center. Brody walked around to Kate’s door to help her out. She ignored his outstretched hand and climbed out herself, brushing past him toward the entrance. Once outside her grandmother’s room, she turned around to face him.

  “Thank you for the ride. I’ll find a way home.”

  “I’ll wait for you.”

  “No,” she sighed and ran her fingers through her long hair. “I’ll probably be here a while. I’ll call a cab or something.”

  “There are no cabs out here.”

  “Is that you, Brody?” Kate’s grandmother came out of the room, using her good foot to propel the wheelchair forward.

  “Yes, ma’am. How are you, Virginia?” He leaned down and landed a peck on her cheek while Gram wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a warm hug.

  “You been out delivering wood?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “How’s that project coming anyway?”

  He grabbed the handles of Gram’s wheelchair and guided her back into the room while talking about a deck he was building behind his house. Kate followed and sat in the corner on a folding chair while her grandmother kept up an animated discussion about what she’d done in physical therapy that morning. Kate tapped on her phone, happy to find cell service, and scrolled through the numerous emails she’d received from the office within the past hour.

  “I’ll call Travis and have him tow the car to his place. You two enjoy your visit.” Brody walked toward the door and turned. “I’ll check back in a little while to see if you’re ready to leave.”

  Kate waited until he was gone before she moved her chair closer to her grandmother.

  “How you feeling, honey? You look awful pale.” Gram rested her soft, bony hand on Kate’s cheek. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a crazy morning, that’s all.” Restless, she went over to the bed where she’d laid the bag of clothes and took the garments out, refolding them before she placed them in the dresser.

  “I’m sorry about my car. Travis has been after me to have it looked at,” Gram said.

  “It’s probably time for a new one.”

  “Pff, it’s only got sixty thousand miles.”

  “But it’s almost twenty years old. They might not even make parts for it anymore.” She hung the last shirt in the closet and returned to her seat.

  “It must have been kismet, Brody coming along to help you like that.” Gram flashed a mischievous grin at Kate and wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Kismet?”

  “Fate, a God-incidence, destiny.”

  “Oh, no, don’t even.” Kate groaned and slumped lower on the seat, stretching out her long, thin legs.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t play innocent with me. I know that look.”

  “I’m not sure to which look you are referring.” Gram pursed her lips and wiggled her eyebrows again, making Kate laugh. “I’m just saying…”

  “Well, don’t say.” Kate popped out of the chair, as if she’d just been burned, and began pacing around the room. There was nothing her grandmother loved more than probing into her love life—or lack thereof.

  “I’m just saying Brody is a wonderful man. He’s a real catch.”

  She stopped her pacing and threw her head back. “Ha! You can’t be serious? He’s a lumberjack, for god’s sake.”

  “Well, now, honey, that’s not all—”

  “And what about that shaggy hair and scruffy beard? He’s not my type. Besides, I’m going back to DC as soon as I can.”

  “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”

  “Okay, Gram,” Kate chuckled and sat beside her grandmother, giving her a few pats on the knee. “I hear you.”

  “Seriously. Take you for example. On the outside you look angry, stressed, tired—”

  “I am stressed and tired. You would be too if you worked the kind of hours I do.” She leaned back in her chair and rolled her head from shoulder to shoulder.

  “Why do you work so hard? You’re young, pretty; you should be having fun.”

  “Gram, seriously. We’ve talked about this so many times.” She leaned forward, propping her elbows on her thighs. “I’m this close to getting an early promotion, to proving I’m the best associate at the firm.” She pinched her thumb and finger in the air releasing a heavy sigh. “And I promised Dad.”

  “Your daddy didn’t expect you to kill yourself just to get ahead.”

  “But he did expect me to be the best…he said it often enough.”

  “I don’t think that’s what he meant.”

  “Let’s change the subject.” She slumped back in the chair and tapped her toe on the tile floor.

  “Fine.” Several silent moments passed before Gram said, “I did have something to talk with you about.” She scooted her wheelchair closer and picked up Kate’s hand, holding it between her warm, soft ones. “I won’t be able to get to any of my meetings this month and I was hoping you’d sit in for me.”

  “What meetings?”

  “Well, the main one—the only one I really shouldn’t miss—is the community center board. I’m supposed to be chairing the fall fundraiser and need someone to oversee all the plans for me.”

  “What does that entail?” Kate sat up straighter and thought this could interfere with her work. She needed to dedicate every extra moment to getting tha
t promotion.

  “As I told you, we’re just about ready to purchase that old school out on Dry Fork Road and turn it into the community center. Right now our programs are scattered hither and yon—sports at the high school gym, the food bank at the Methodist church—it’s a logistical nightmare. It’s too bad you aren’t staying. You could teach martial arts to the kids.”

  “Martial arts? What’s that? It’s been so long, I’m not sure I remember the forms.”

  “Well, maybe someday you can get back into it. Anyway, this fundraiser will help raise money for the renovations and we’ll have everything under one roof. The bank is going to match any money we raise.”

  “Okay, so what kind of fundraiser are you planning?”

  “It’s called ‘Bag a Bachelor or Bachelorette’.” Gram flashed a sparkling smile at her. “Cute name, huh? I thought it up.”

  “Um, Gram, what exactly goes on at this fundraiser?” Kate laid her hand over her grandmother’s in a tight clutch.

  “There’ll be a silent auction to bid on a date with some of the more eligible singles in the area. Instead of paying for a ticket, each person who attends brings a bag of groceries for the community center food bank—that’s where the ‘bag’ part comes in. We’ll be selling pepperoni rolls, country ham sandwiches, sweet tea, all sorts of good food, and we’re raffling off some nice items donated by area businesses.”

  She fought to control the laugh threatening to explode from her gut. “Gram, are you sure about the name? It implies…well…something more than what your singles are probably offering. You might want to reconsider.”

  “Too late. The posters have been printed. We like the name. It’s catchy.”

  There was no arguing the point, apparently. And if no one involved in the planning so far had realized the blunder, maybe no one would notice at the fundraiser itself. “Sure, I’ll attend the meeting in your place. I’ll be glad to help.” Hopefully, it won’t take up too much time.

  “Oh, honey.” Gram gasped and then clapped her hands together once. “You know how you can really help?”

  She had a sinking feeling. “No, Gram.”

  “You would be a wonderful bachelorette. I bet as pretty as you are, you’d bring in the most money. The men would be fighting over you.”

  “Um, again, no.” She leapt to her feet and paced a path across the room. “I have no intention of sucking up to a bunch of country boys in hopes of getting a date to god knows where. I’m not that desperate. There are better ways to spend my time.”

  “Katherine Marie McNamara, that’s a hateful thing to say. There are some wonderful young men in this town—smart, successful. Brody for example.” Gram’s indignation and pointed glare made ice water run through Kate’s veins. “You’re no better than they are—remember that.”

  Thoroughly chastised, she dropped back into the chair and picked up Gram’s hand. “I apologize.”

  “It’s for a good cause. This money will go toward furniture or art supplies or sports equipment. The children in our community need this.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Plus, I’ve already mentioned to the committee you might do it.”

  “What? When did you have time to do that? You’ve been in the hospital.”

  “I might have made a couple of phone calls from my hospital bed.” Gram winked and gave her that irresistible smile again.

  “Ugh. What happens once someone wins the bid?”

  “He’ll take you on a nice date somewhere. It won’t cost you a thing. You’ll have a good time.”

  Kate walked to the room’s wide window and sucked in a deep breath. As much as she loved her grandmother, sometimes she could drive her crazy. The last thing she wanted to do was go on a date with some townie and spend the evening listening to his tales of deer hunting or the latest NASCAR news. But how could she say no? She let out the breath she’d been holding and rotated back to Gram.

  “Okay, I’ll do it. You never know when the ins and outs of gutting a deer will come in handy.”

  FIVE

  It wasn’t like Kate had never been in a bar. She’d been in plenty of them, including places with wood floors and country music blaring through the speakers. Her beloved Olde Towne Tavern back in Georgetown, where she played Thursday night trivia with Annie and Derek, attempted to mimic the vibe The Brass Rail had oozing from its dark wood paneling—but succeeded with far more sophistication. Swimming in a sea of flannel and Old Spice, she stood inside the entrance and surveyed the landscape of tobacco chewing, back slapping, and hearty laughter while pool balls clattered under low-hanging lights.

  “There are two seats at the bar. Why don’t we sit there?” Riley gave her arm a gentle tug.

  She shook off her uneasy feeling by straightening her spine and following her neighbor toward the tall, wooden stools in the center of the action.

  “Hey, Riley. You guys came.”

  “Hey, Liza,” Riley said, climbing on her stool. Kate smiled at Liza, the tiny bartender she’d met earlier in the week when she had stopped by the florist shop where Riley worked. While picking up a bouquet for Gram, Liza had come into the shop carrying a wooden tray of her watercolor cards. Her pink hair and facial piercings had caught Kate by surprise.

  “What can I get you?” Liza asked, tossing cardboard coasters on the bar in front of them.

  “What do you have on tap?”

  “We’ve got your usuals: Bud, Miller, Coors—”

  “Hmm. Anything more interesting?” Kate said.

  “You bet.” Liza smacked the top of the bar with a hearty laugh. “I knew when I met you we’d get along great.”

  When they had met in the florist shop, Kate’s wary impression of Liza quickly melted when the lively, unpretentious woman engaged her in conversation. Somehow, she had convinced Kate and Riley to come to “the best bar in town” where they’d meet “all kinds of interesting people.” At the time, Liza’s enthusiasm had given Kate hope there just might be an interesting nightlife in Highland Springs, a welcome break from her long days of poring over legal documents. But an evening with a bunch of country folk wasn’t her idea of a good time.

  “How about a milk stout from a local micro-brew? Do you like dark beers?” Liza asked, bringing Kate out of her worrisome trance.

  “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do. I’ll have that.”

  While Liza expertly filled the pint glasses, tilting them at just the right angle and scraping away the excess foam, Kate swiveled on her stool to look more closely at the people in the bar. Directly behind her was a group of men all sporting the same gas company hat. One of the workers shot her a wink and a lascivious smile. She spun around to face the bar at record speed.

  “This probably isn’t the crowd you’re used to back in Washington, is it?” Riley leaned close to her ear, looking over her shoulder.

  “Not exactly. Sure more plaid than I’ve ever seen in one place.” She shot a quick glance behind her, but turned back around when Liza delivered their beers. She lifted the heavy glass and took a hesitant sip.

  “So, what do you think? Great, huh?” Liza was watching her closely.

  “Yeah.” She swiped her tongue along her upper lip. “Really good. What do you think, Riley?”

  “Love it. I always order Misty Mountain.”

  “I really wasn’t expecting it to be this good. Thanks for the recommendation,” Kate said.

  “My brother and his friend Tucker own it. Actually, my brother is more like a silent partner with Tucker doing the brewing. Be right back.”

  “Is she always so energetic?” Kate watched Liza whirl away, her pink, braided ponytail swinging as she walked to the other end of the bar.

  “Always. She runs this whole bar by herself and you never have to wait long for a drink.”

  “What’s with the pink hair? She’s beautiful. Why would she do that to herself?”

  “I guess it’s the artist in her. Did you look at her cards? She’s talented.”

  “Yeah, t
hey were nice. Beautiful technique.”

  “In fact, she’s from a talented family. The brewery isn’t her brother’s only claim to fame. He’s an award-winning songwriter. They say he has an amazing voice, but I’ve never heard him sing. Maybe he’s here.” Riley rested her elbows on the wood and leaned forward, looking down the length of the bar. “I don’t see him. He’s not around much.”

  “Does he live here?” Kate picked up the cardboard coaster and spun it between her fingers, letting it tap on the bar after each rotation.

  “He does now. He used to live in Nashville and New York, but something happened. I’ve heard everything: he lost all his money, he went insane, he’s wanted for killing someone.” Riley chuckled and took another long sip. “There’s never a shortage of gossip in this town.”

  “I can only imagine.” She took another drink and then turned her chair in Riley’s direction. Since their first awkward meeting, they had spoken several times across the neighboring fence, striking up a budding friendship. “So, what about you? You’re not married, I presume. I haven’t seen anyone but you next door.”

  “Nope. Single.”

  “Anyone special in your life?”

  “Nope. Hey, want to play pool? I know that guy at the table playing by himself.” Riley hopped off the barstool and headed toward the back of the bar. Not wanting to be left alone with the gas company crowd, Kate followed. She drew up short when she noticed the man Riley was talking to at the pool table. It was Travis, the dreadlocked guy from the supermarket, who also happened to be the mechanic who had fixed her grandmother’s car. She looked back over her shoulder, weighing her options: sit with the matching ball cap boys currently taking shots in unison or play pool with the pineapple-picking mechanic. Not much of a choice.

  Why hadn’t Brody learned to ignore his sister when she insisted he do something? She’d been after him for weeks to come down to the Brass Rail and he’d always come up with a believable excuse…until tonight. He had convinced himself that she was right—he needed to get out more. Now here he was sitting in a dark corner of the bar, watching Katherine McNamara play pool with Travis and Riley, wishing he’d followed his first instincts and just said no.