“Well, it’s going to be great. We have a good group this time.”
“Are they really that effective?” Piper wondered out loud, earning a quizzical look from Tia that made it seem as if Piper had just uttered something in a foreign language. “I mean, you go up in the tree, you manage to shut things down for a few days at most until Big Trees Logging manages to find a way to get you to come down.” She’d never truly subscribed to the ecoterrorism bent of her parents’ group but what could she do? They were her family.
“Of course they’re effective, particularly when we have our very own reporter to capture everything, right?” Tia smiled but Piper could only return a wan imitation. She was beginning to feel more like a tool to further the personal agendas of her “family” than an actual journalist. Not for long, a voice whispered in her head, bolstering her flagging spirit. Soon, she’d have the biggest story this town had ever seen.
“Well, tree-sits aside, this town seems to have more than its share of corruption from philandering politicians to drug-trafficking,” Piper said. “It’s not hard to find people doing things they shouldn’t, it’s finding people who will go on record with their proof.”
Tia and Rhonda agreed, but Piper could see their interest level had slipped. The baby made some kind of gurgle—or a burp—and they both dissolved into cooing, doting mommies with a one-track mind, effectively forgetting the grown-up talk in the blink of an eye.
Somewhat relieved, Piper went to search for her parents, who had slipped away to mingle before the blessing ceremony.
She found them in a cool, shaded spot, enjoying fresh lemonade.
“I can’t wait to have grandkids,” her father said, surprising her.
“Well, you’re going to wait a long time,” she quipped, shuddering at the thought of being a parent. “My biological clock is set to snooze, so don’t start picturing little heathens just yet.”
Her father nodded but he was plainly disappointed. “Of course, sweetheart. I was just saying…looks like a cool gig.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is.” For someone else. “But I’m nowhere near ready for that kind of commitment. Besides, I can’t be thinking about kids when I’m chasing after big stories.”
Her mother agreed, nodding resolutely. “That’s right, Piper. Keep your eye on the prize.”
Yep. Although she didn’t think she and her mother were on the same page as far as the prize went. However, that was a fight for a different day. “I think I need some lemonade, too,” she announced, but as she turned she found herself face-to-face with Farley. “Oh! I’m sorry, I nearly ran you over,” she said, trying hard not to let her lip curl in distaste. Why her parents thought he was a good catch she’d never understand.
If Piper had one word to describe Farley Deegan it would be lanky. In fact, he reminded her of Charlie Yertz, and that wasn’t a compliment in her mind.
Farley was at least six feet tall and probably weighed one hundred and thirty pounds soaking wet. He always seemed to slink when he walked and when he touched her, she was overwhelmed by the urge to wash. He wasn’t that bad, really. In fact, at one time she’d been briefly charmed by his gentle manner and passive nature, but as she’d matured, she found him…annoying.
And the fact that he was clearly eyeing her as the most suitable candidate to bear his progeny made her want to run, screaming, the other way.
The idea of Farley’s penis… Ugh. It was too much to even fathom.
The awful part? She’d already seen it because, as Owen so mockingly put out there, a community of nudists had raised her.
And Farley had gleefully chucked his clothes whenever possible.
At the thought, she tugged her mom’s shirt hem and leaned over to whisper, “The blessing will be performed fully clothed, yes?” When Coral nodded, she didn’t hide her relief.
Farley, on the other hand, was quick to show his disappointment. “That’s a shame. It seems highly appropriate to be nude as the day we are born when asking for bounty from the earth.”
“Yes, well, it’s a little on the nippy side and we wouldn’t want anyone to shrivel up unnecessarily,” she said, unable to hold her tongue. She received a look from her mother for her uncustomary sharpness and she exhaled loudly. “I’m getting lemonade.”
“I’ll go with you,” Farley announced, making Piper want to groan, but what could she say? She forced a tight smile and started walking briskly in the hopes that it might curtail conversation. No such luck. Farley loped alongside her with ease and started yammering. “You look great, Piper. You blossom more and more into a beautiful woman each time I see you.”
“Thanks, Farley,” she said, and simply to be polite, added, “And you seem to get taller each time I see you.” And more annoying.
“When I see you, it’s nearly impossible not to remember what good times we’ve had together.” She cringed inside. If he had the gall to bring up the time they… “You know what I particularly enjoy remembering?” Oh God. He’s going to do it. She walked a little faster. He slipped his hand into hers, causing her to startle and jump a little. He took advantage in her loss of momentum and pulled her close even as she resisted. “Your lips were like drops of summer rain dancing on mine. It was like…heaven.”
Her cheeks fired with intense heat and she tugged her hand out of his grasp. She took a quick glance around to make sure they were relatively on their own then glared at Farley, who was watching her with confusion at her obvious rejection. “Listen, Farley, I don’t feel that way about you. Once, when I was a teenager, I thought you were mildly cute. But I’ve grown up and we don’t suit. Please stop trying to make something out of nothing.”
“We had a connection,” he persisted, his brown eyes going melty and gooey again. He grasped her hand and put it to his heart. “I felt it here. I know you did, too.”
“Stop it,” she snapped, jerking her hand away. “You’re embarrassing yourself. Go find a connection with someone else. I’m not attracted to you in that way and I don’t relish hurting your feelings but you have to take a hint. It’s not going to happen with you and me.”
His mouth hardened. “We do suit. In time, you will see that. But I’m patient. I’ll wait.”
She groaned. “What’s it going to take? Trust me, if you wait, you’ll wait your life away, because I’m not interested. I’ve changed and you deserve someone who will appreciate your particular beliefs and way of life.” She was trying to be nice but he just wasn’t getting it. She didn’t want to pull her ace because it was also an H-bomb but she didn’t see that she had a choice. “Farley, I stopped being a vegetarian years ago. I’m a…meat eater.”
His eyes widened at her admission, which was exactly what she was going for. She didn’t like to think of herself as cruel but she did register the smidge of enjoyment she gained from his look of horror. “Meat? How could you?” he asked, pained.
She shrugged. “What can I say? I like a juicy steak.”
He shuddered in revulsion and she nearly crowed. “See? We don’t suit. Stop wasting your time on me and find someone who likes tofu.”
Piper thought she’d won but then the look on Farley’s face made her uneasy. He had the look of a man on a mission, like he was going to make it his job to bring her back to the fold. Oh, Lord, please not that. He clasped her hands in earnest and she wanted to stomp her feet in frustration.
“Piper, you’ve just lost your way. You can come back to us. I’ll help you, my love. You just need to remember that you’re eating a living being and think of the terror that animal must’ve