“Damn women drivers,” Aarongrumbled.
“As if you’re any better,” Gregsnorted.
“Humph.”
Greg circled around to the driver’s side and helped Daisy down. His hands lingered on her waist a moment longer than necessary but it had been worth the sharp look her brothershothim.
“Thank you,” Daisy said. “Now what shouldwedo?”
“Mom’s going to have lunch ready in about an hour,” Greg said. “Until then, let’s grab a few baskets and start working on the lettuce and spinach. I want to pack it into crates before lunch so that we have theafternoonoff.”
“Sounds good,”Daisysaid.
Hours later after packing the crates brimming with spinach and lettuce into the shade inside the barn, they washed up with the garden hose. Greg had never been so tempted to spray anyone from head to toe before. But he couldn’t stop thinking about what Daisy’s dress would look like if it was plastered to her body. He restrained himself, then silently congratulated himself on the willpower he’dexpended.
A sharp ringing pierced the air.Lunchtime.
He hung back as his brother, Andy, River, and Meadow filed up the porch steps. He waited until Daisy strolled up nexttohim.
“You worked hard,”hesaid.
“Thanks. I’mstarving.”
“Wait until you try mom’s stew. It will make you want to cram three bowls into your mouth,”hesaid.
“I don’t know about that much,” she laughed. “But I might be able to put away twobowls.”
He grinned and placed his hand on the small of her back as they climbed the stairs to the porch. When he opened the screen door for her, his dad stood in the entryway. He skewered them with a disapproving look. Greg quickly dropped his hand to his side then stuffed it in hisjeans.
“I’d like a word,” hisdadsaid.
“Of course,” Greg said. “I’ll be there in aminute.”
After Daisy had disappeared into the kitchen, his dad took him out onto the frontporch.
“You need to leave that girl alone,” he said. “She’s not the kind of girl youmesswith.”
“I wasn’t,”Gregsaid.
“I saw your hand on her. Don’t take me for afool,son.”
Gregsighed.
“She’s only going to be here a few weeks. I don’t know why I agreed to let them stay. I guess to help your mom out. But don’t think I won’t kick them out in a second if I think they’re trying to corrupt you with their hippie ways,” hisdadsaid.
“Corrupt me?” Greg asked, stunned. “She’s not doing anything. I was just helping her up thestairs.”
“Really?” His dad narrowed his eyes. “Because from where I was standing, I don’t think she needed a bitofhelp.”
His dad turned and stomped back into the house without another word. Greg clenched his fists. He hadn’t done anything out of line. Why was his dad so uptight about her? He did seem to have an unhealthy dislike of hippies, but why? As far as Greg knew, his dad had never had a run-inwiththem.
If he was going to get closer to Daisy over the next few weeks, he’d have to be more cautious. He couldn’t do anything that would jeopardize her ability to stay on the farm. He’d never kept secrets from his parents before, and he’d never lied so much in his life. But when it came to Daisy, he was ready to risk anything to get to know herbetter.
* * *
Later that day,after he’d mucked the barn and finished the rest of his chores, he headed out to find Daisy and her friends. He found them splashing in the lake far enough around the bend to be out of sight of the house. He grinned as Andy lifted her onto his shoulders and River did the same withMeadow.
Greg stripped down to his briefs and raced into the chilly water. The cool liquid soothed both the heat in his body, and the fire in his soul. They were still chicken-fighting when Greg waded overtothem.
