Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

Carol.â€
    Reginald Mars had his own hydroponic farm and his vegetables were sought after and considered the best. But the man could be very difficult and before the Drake sisters’ aunt had returned to town, he’d just as likely throw his produce at a person as sel it to them.
    He winked at her. “Don’t buy any of this mass-produced, poison-covered garbage, El e. I already left a box of vegetables on Jackson’s deck. I owed for—â€
    â€œThat was kind of you, Reginald,†Jackson interrupted. “I’m trying to feed El e as healthy as possible. I particularly like those tomatoes you gave me a couple of weeks ago.â€
    As a distraction, it should have worked. Mars could talk tomatoes almost as wel as Clyde Darden talked flowers, but nothing was deterring the man. He simply acted as though Jackson hadn’t spoken.
    â€œ. . . helping me with the paperwork for the permits. I couldn’t have gotten through them without you. I was pretty sure you talked them into letting me extend my building and Darryl, over at the courthouse, told me you had.â€
    â€œI don’t sel poisoned tomatoes,†Inez denied in the background, hands on her hips, glaring at al of them. “My vegetables are every bit as healthy.â€
    Jackson wanted to sink through the floor. El e was beaming at him. He gritted his teeth and forced a semblance of a smile. Don’t say a word. Not one word.
    El e gave him a wide-eyed look of innocence that he didn’t buy for one minute.
    â€œEl e!â€
    Trudy Garret rushed El e, nearly knocking her over so that Jackson reached out a hand to steady her, keeping it on her back to let her know he was there supporting her. He stepped close, crowding her body when he felt her instant withdrawal. She steeled herself and hugged Trudy back. Jackson helped her stem the flow of information, holding a shield for her to prevent invading Trudy’s privacy. Beside Trudy was her little boy, Davy. Trudy was engaged to Matt’s youngest brother, Danny Granite, and she worked at the Salt Bar and Gril .
    â€œHow are you doing?†Trudy asked, taking a firm grip on her son’s hand. He tugged at her, trying to get to Bomber.

    Jackson shifted the dog a little closer to give the boy access. Instantly he was petting and talking to the German Shepherd.
    â€œGood. How are things?†El e responded. She leaned back into Jackson.
    â€œAwesome. Danny and I are thinking we might buy the Gril . It’s for sale. His parents said they’d help us.†She grinned. “Of course, I think they want us married first, which would be logical.â€
    â€œIs anything holding you up?â€
    â€œI see. Now that you’re taking the big plunge, you’re going to get the rest of us to do it,†Trudy teased, but her smile faded. “I just want to know that Danny real y loves Davy. I don’t want Davy to be pushed aside in any way.â€
    â€œAl Danny does is talk about Davy,†Jackson supplied. “He’s a good man.â€
    â€œNervy,†Reginald supplied, “real nervy.â€
    El e patted his arm. “You’re not helping the cause here, Reginald. We want Trudy to marry Danny.â€
    â€œIn that case then, stop living in sin in front of the boy,†Reginald advised.
    Inez glared at old man Mars. “Shame on you!â€
    â€œWel , she shouldn’t be,†Reginald said. “In my day that boy would be taken out behind the barn and taught a lesson. You don’t play with a lady’s affections.â€
    â€œDanny asked her,†Inez said.
    Reginald’s bushy brows came together and he turned his piercing gaze on Trudy. “You don’t dal y with young men unless you’re serious. Not at your age. And not when you have a boy to look after.â€
    Trudy blushed wildly. Jackson coughed behind his hand.
    Inez leaned over the counter, taking matters into her own hands to get the attention off Trudy. “I’ve done a lot of planning, Jackson, and everyone is helping. It’s going to be a wonderful celebration.†She blushed a little and turned toward the quiet man sitting with her behind the counter.
    El e’s eyes widened at the sight of Frank Warner, who must have just gotten out of jail. “Frank, how nice to see you.â€
    He looked pale and much older, his silver-gray hair closely cropped, but stil thick