Could you cut to the chase? I was in school with you guys, remember?
Well, he met Debbie in college. In the beginning they seemed real tuned. She was real gregarious, a life-of-the-party type. And I guess they were fine when they were first married. At least thats how I heard it. But then they had the twins, and a year after that his mom died. Violet shook her head. Big life things, you know? Only its as if Pete grew up and she never did.
What do you mean?
Have you got my ribbons cut?
Sheesh. It was like blackmail. Having to listen to all this extra chat and work, too. But she had to hand over the cut ribbons before Violet was willing to continue.
Those babiesfrom the day the boys were born, Pete was just crazy for them. Everybody noticed. He was the one walking the floor at night, taking them to the pediatrician for their shots, taking them for walks, the whole shebang. As far as I know, Debbie wanted a baby, at least in theory, but maybe she didnt realize how tied down she was going to be. And having twins made it worse.
How come I never heard any of this before? Camille said impatiently.
Everyone knew.
I didnt.
Violet took the mess of weeds and ribbon and some paper, and somehow, when she stuck it all in a vase, it looked like a zillion dollar florist arrangementtalking the whole time. Cam, you were in college, and then you got that great marketing job, and then you were with Robert. You werent thinking about the stuff going on back home. Neither was I-when I was with Simpson. Anyway. It wasnt just that Pete settled down after the boys were born. He also came back to White Hills because his dad needed help after his mother died. Debbie went nuts. Whining all the time about country life, nothing to do. Initially Im not sure if Pete ever intended to stay here. It was more temporary, to help his dad.
But-? Prodding Violet to get to the bottom line was like waiting for Congress to balance the budget.
But he liked the land. And the boys just loved it here. And then he got into that other work-I dont know what he does exactly, except that its something he can do at home. And that was the point, that he could make a good living and yet still be available for his kids-because by that time, Debbie sure wasnt much of a mother.
They both glanced up when the door opened, but it was just Killer pushing his nose in, looking for Camille. Three cats promptly leaped to tall shelves. Violet said quietly, I think Pete really knew she was playing around quite a while before she took off.
Camille ignored Killer, ignored the cats, ignored the ribbons. She blurted out, I just cant believe any woman would play around on Pete.
Neither can I. Violet finished another breathtakingly artistic arrangement. Of course, she left enough of a mess to fill a trash truck, but neither woman was paying attention by then, anyway. Its not as if Pete and I ever clicked. We didnt. But I still always thought he was a hunk. Not just because hes good-looking, you know? But because some guys just come across as
Male with a capital M, Camille supplied.
Yeah, exactly. You can just look and know some guys will be good lovers, some wont. Its in their eyes. Its in how they move. You can just tell they like sex-
Um, Vi. All men like sex. They come out of the womb reaching for a boob.
Violet grinned. Well, I know that. But I meantsome men like the pleasure of it, the touching, all of it, not just the getting-off part. She paused. Thats theory, of course. Everything I learned wrong about sex, I learned from Simpson. Anyway-
Anyway, Camille echoed.
The point is, Pete seemed to lose all his spirit after Debbie left. He turned into a complete Sobersides. I dont mean theres anything to criticize. Cripes, hes a football dad, Boy Scout leader, volunteer for anything in the community involving kids. But ask him to a party, and hes got a dozen excuses why he cant go. And they say in town that he never goes out, no matter what womans tried chasing him. Hes just seemed to lose his pizzazz, you know?
No, she hadnt known.
But as she trudged back home, she felt more troubled than ever that theyd made love. It was one thing for her to do something insane in a moment of impulse-and wild chemistry-but another for her to risk hurting someone else. Violet had made her see Pete as far more vulnerable than showed on the surface. For damn sure, he didnt need a woman in his life who he couldnt trust, not after what his ex-wife had put him through.
She was within yards of the cottage when she heard the unexpected roar of engines. Killer paid no attention. The dog was used to the sound of trucks and tractors. And so was Camille-but not coming from anyone on Campbell land, much less from the direction of the lavender field.
She hustled to the top of the knoll, where she tried to sort out the commotion. Petes white truck glinted in the sun on the far side of the field. Strangers were milling all over the place. Three truckloads of mulch were being dumped up and down the rows of lavender, and then tractors with blades were pushing the mulch closer to the plants, with workers pitchforking it directly under the plants from there.
Her jaw didnt drop in complete shock-because she already knew Pete was capable of massive interfering. But knowing that he was a hopelessly take-charge kind of guy and realizing hed become even more embroiled in helping her were two different things. She hurled down the hill with her scowl and her vicious dog, practicing dire threats under her breath until she could catch up to deliver them in person.
Initially his back was to her-he was speaking Spanish to a man in a plaid shirt who obviously worked for Pete. When the small man noticed her, he gestured quickly, which was all it took for Pete to spin around.
Hi, CamCamille, this is big Al. Hes been my farm foreman for a bunch of years. And Al, this is Camille Campbell.
Nice to meet you, Al. She shook his hand, then whipped around to Pete. MacDougal, I want a word with you.
Sure, I-
Now. She-and Killer-did their best to herd him behind the shade of the giant maple tree, because it just didnt seem politically correct to murder a man in front of people who worked for him. But she was doubly tempted to do bodily harm when Pete smiled at her.
He knew perfectly well she was susceptible to his smiles. He knew perfectly well what theyd done the last time hed smiled at her like that. He couldnt be glad to see her. No one was glad to see an ornery curmudgeon with a chronic case of PMS who was neurotic to the nth degree. He also didnt find her attractive. No man could find a woman attractive whod abandoned nail files and lipstick and grooming and was wearing clothes so big theyd smother a shroud.
She was already worried about him, and now that smile of his worried her even more. What if her hermit-type insanity was infectious? What kind of influence could she be on him or for him if he started behaving as sick and demented as she was?
Her forefinger poked him in the chest. What in the Sam Hill do you think youre doing?
Damn. I figured youd take one look and know. You mean, you cant recognize mulch?
Her eyes narrowed. Dont mess with me, MacDougal.
He didnt look repentant for teasing her, but he sidetracked to more direct information. I checked the pH a couple days ago. Youre fine there, although youll probably want to put on some lime in the fall. The mulch was critical, though, Cam. Thursday, were forecast a major rain. Obviously you wouldnt normally mulch with the plants starting to bud and you still hustling to get the pruning done. But youve got a decent chance at a crop, at least if you can bolster the drain-ability-
MacDougal. I know what mulch is. I know what its for. And I know the damn lavender needs a ton of mulch. But I have no possible way to afford it right now.
Im paying for it.
No, youre not, she said.
Yeah, I am. Your sister agreed.
Camille pushed a startled hand through her hair. Violet agreed to let you pay for this?
She agreed to let me temporarily help you two out of a mess. Youre doing the lions share of the work. But obviously there are a couple things you cant do totally on your own. He scratched his chin. Im having a case of déjà vu. Didnt we already have this exact fight before?
He was having fun. Too much fun, she decided. Im going to punch your lights out. Do you remember that part of the fight from before?
I remember the threat. His eyes glinted at her again. He seemed to remember exactly what hed done with the threat the last time.
Pete. You should have told us you were doing this. Not just shown up with strangers.
Whoa. Pete turned sober, glanced at the workers to make sure the project was progressing, and then steered her deeper into the shadows of the maple. Cam, I did tell Violet. She knew I was bringing in the mulch. I really wouldnt have just shown up with a crew unannounced-no matter how bossy you think I am. I only moved fast because of the weather. If we really get three or four inches of heavy rain before this is mulched, you could ruin the crop.
You told Violet, she repeated.
Yeah. Because we both discussed that Violet needed to be consulted on what her plans were. And her idea was to pay me from the crop profits, so there was no charity involved.
MacDougal, dont try selling horse spit to a horse owner. My sister doesnt have a clue how shes going to harvest this or what shes going to do with it.
Yeah, I got that impression, too. She went on and on about how she loved the lavender, but some days, trying to get a commonsense answer out of her is an uphill job.
Dont you start on my sister!
Im just trying to be straight with you. Shes all excited, full of pipe dreams, but I couldnt get a realistic plan out of her-and apparently you couldnt either. The thing is, youre working your tail off, and whether your sister gets a clue about the situation or not, certain things are cut-and-dried. Youve got a shot at a crop and some long-term profit-if the fields taken care of. So the only thing that makes sense is to bring the field back, help it become all it can be, and then try to get your sister involved in the decision-making process as soon as you can get her a brain transplant. Preferably from a brunette.