Season of Dreams by Jenna Mindel

ma’am.”
    She gave him an odd look. “Great, let’s hook up the wagon and get to work.”
    Back to business. No fawning, no pat on the back. He craved a little praise here. “What’re we doing today, field boss?”
    â€œPicking up the branches from pruning. Once that’s done, we usually have a big bonfire with some neighboring growers. Kind of like a kickoff to the growing season. Are you interested?”
    He loved the idea. “Absolutely. What’s in the basket?”
    â€œCoffee and muffins.”
    â€œWith dried cherries?”
    She looked away. “And chocolate chips.”
    Something about the way her cheeks flushed confirmed that she’d baked those muffins for him. Eva was a person of action. Her gratitude popped out of the oven instead of her mouth. “After clearing the brush, what’s next?”
    â€œApplying nitrogen fertilizers throughout the whole orchard, and then dormant spraying for bacterial canker. There’s also a section of old trees you need to decide what you’re going to do with.”
    She might be more comfortable talking work than anything else, but there was something softer about Eva. Maybe it was her vacation or the mild spring weather. Whatever the cause, he liked it. And he liked her. A lot.
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    After hours spent gathering brush and branches, Eva was worn-out. Dropping a large bundle onto the trailer, she stretched her back.
    â€œReady to call it a day?” Adam leaned against the tractor tire looking like a city boy on a country field trip. His leather jacket was dirty and the cuffs of his jeans were mud-splattered. He wore a Detroit Tigers hat and his dark hair curled up at the ends.
    She wanted to touch that hair and feel its texture. Eva released a weary sigh. “We’ll finish the brush tomorrow and then start fertilizing the orchard. How’s Friday night for the bonfire?”
    â€œFriday’s perfect. Hey, you said something about old trees. Where are they?”
    Eva shook off her wayward thoughts. “I’ll show you.”
    Adam held the tractor cockpit door open for her. “You drive. I’ll hang on.”
    She climbed in and lowered the window to give Peece something more substantial to grasp while he balanced on the tractor step. Did he find the closeness in the cockpit uncomfortable, too?
    In no time they were at the back of the orchard where trees planted before she’d been born grew. Her father had never gotten around to removing them. She shut off the motor. “This is it. Might as well be seven acres of firewood.”
    Adam jumped down from the tractor step and looked around. “These are big trees.”
    â€œWorthless.”
    He gave her a swift look. “So, they’re old.”
    â€œThey no longer produce much fruit. They served their purpose, but it’s time to uproot them, refurbish the soil and let it sit a couple years before replanting.”
    â€œMore Montmorency?”
    At least he knew the name of the tart cherries they grew. “Whatever you prefer.”
    His eyes narrowed. “And what would you do?”
    Without a moment’s hesitation, Eva jumped in with her opinion. “Sweets—I’d plant more sweet cherries. I think that’s where the money’s at for a small orchard.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œThere are more retail outlets for selling sweet cherries.Fruit stands, farmers’ markets in Traverse City, U-pick.” Eva had tried to convince her father of this very thing, but he was used to doing business his way. The same way for years and look where it had gotten him. Forced to retire because he couldn’t compete with the big commercial orchards.
    Adam took off his hat and fingercombed his hair. “I don’t have to decide this year.”
    Eva disagreed. “Leaving unproductive crop in the field wastes time and money.”
    He smiled. “These trees are the least of my worries. Come