Organically Yours: Sanctuary Book Five Read online

  Organically Yours

  Sanctuary, Volume 5

  Abbie Zanders

  Published by Abbie Zanders, 2021.

  Organically Yours

  Sanctuary, Book 5

  by

  Abbie Zanders

  Copyright © 2021 by Abbie Zanders

  All rights reserved.

  Visit my website at https://abbiezandersromance.com

  Cover Designer: Graphics by Stacy

  Cover Photographer: Eric McKinney / 6:12 Photography

  Cover Model: Taylor S

  Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Epilogue—Six Months Later

  Connect with Abbie

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks go to members of my readers group, the Zanders Clan, for all of their love, help and constant support. In particular, I’d like to thank them for coming up with ideas for Lottie’s big adventure with Gertie Handelmann.

  Love and thanks to my friend and fellow author, Tonya Brooks, for always being there, no matter what.

  I can’t forget my amazing ARC Angels team, who help ensure that what you’re reading is as close to error-free as it can get, and for providing such great snippets and quotes for teasers and promo.

  And thank YOU. You didn’t have to pick up this book, but you did.

  Chapter One

  Tina

  Tina left Ziegler’s farmers market, feeling tired and hungry. It was hard enough, standing on her feet all day, but pasting on a smile and dealing with people were exhausting. The townies weren’t so bad. She knew most of them by name, knew their families, and a quick and friendly hello was always welcome.

  But the tourists? The ones who had come from out of town and thought venturing to the farmers market on the weekends was a rustic adventure? Not so much.

  On the plus side, they were willing to pay premium prices for organic produce.

  The best and worst thing about working the market every Saturday was having to smell the slow-roasted rotisserie chicken from the Amish place a few stalls down. Mouthwatering and delicious, it was hands down the best chicken around.

  Tina wasn’t the only one who thought so. Zook’s sold out every week without fail. The locals knew to get their orders in early, before the place opened its doors to the public.

  Those enticing aromas were now filling the cab of her truck, whispering suggestively that she didn’t have to wait until she got home to have a taste. Her stomach growled loudly in hearty agreement. Why should she wait? The chicken was hot and fresh now, and when she got home, she’d feel compelled to unload the truck before settling in for the night. It could be an hour or more before she had a chance to sit down and enjoy it.

  That was how Tina found herself in the back corner of Ziegler’s parking lot, ripping into the foil-wrapped goodness of a Zook’s chicken as if she hadn’t eaten in days.

  The first bite was practically orgasmic. The skin was crispy and dripping with hand-churned butter. The meat, melt-in-her-mouth tender and perfectly seasoned. She closed her eyes and savored the moment before she took another bite. And another.

  She was tearing the last piece of meat from the bone when there was a knock at the window. She turned, ready to rip her brother a new one for ghosting her all day, and promptly froze.

  Because it wasn’t her brother standing there.

  No, it was so much worse. Dirty-blond hair, brushed back from a sculpted face, just long enough to skim the collar of his plaid flannel. Amazing hazel eyes so focused that she felt his penetrating gaze on the inside.

  Doc.

  At least, that was what Kate Handelmann had called him. Tina didn’t know his real name. All the Sanctuary guys had nicknames.

  But none of them made her heart beat faster on sight like he did.

  And none of them were currently standing outside her truck, looking on as she tore into a chicken like a savage.

  She scanned the interior of the cab for a paper napkin, a tissue—anything she could use to mop up the butter currently dripping down her chin—and came up empty.

  Summoning as much dignity as she could, Tina moved the bag to the passenger seat, wiped her greasy lips with the back of her sleeve as discreetly as possible, and put the window down.

  “Yes?”

  “Is everything okay?”

  His voice was just as buttery as the chicken. Smooth. Calming. But it wasn’t enough to erase her embarrassment, and her knee-jerk response was to go on the defensive. Growing up with three older brothers probably had something to do with that.

  “Yes,” she snapped. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “You’ve been sitting here for a while.”

  “So?”

  He shifted his weight. “So, I just wanted to make sure everything was all right.”

  “Well, it is.”

  He hesitated, almost as if he wanted to say something more, but simply nodded. “Okay. Sorry to bother you.”

  He started to turn when she said, “What are you doing, skulking around the parking lot anyway? Ziegler’s closed an hour ago.”

  He smiled, and damn if it didn’t make him even more gorgeous. “Helping a friend.”

  Tina immediately wondered who that friend was, followed shortly afterward by a wave of envy. She imagined those broad shoulders lifting crates into the back of her truck. Not only would she have enjoyed the view, but she also would have appreciated a second pair of strong hands since her brother hadn’t bothered to show.

  The Good Samaritan walked away. She groaned and banged her forehead on the steering wheel.

  Nice going, Tina. Way to make a great first impression.

  She lifted h
er head and followed his progress in the side-view mirror, curious to see where he was going, but another knock, this one on her passenger window, garnered her attention and made her jump.

  “Damn it, Rick!” Tina yelled. “You startled me.”

  “What did he want?” her brother asked, tilting his head back toward where Doc had disappeared into the shadows.

  “He just wanted to see if I needed help.”

  He snorted. “I bet he did.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means, you stay away from those Sanctuary boys, Bert.”

  Tina—or Bertina, as her misguided parents had named her—bristled. She hated being called Bert, which was exactly why her brothers did so at every opportunity.

  “I’ll do as I damn well please. And you, you can mind your own business.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I. Where the hell have you been anyway? You were supposed to be here hours ago to cover the stand.”

  Rick knew she had difficulty being on her feet for fourteen hours straight, which meant he’d either conveniently forgotten or he was just being a prick. Again.

  His jaw clenched. “Something came up.”

  “I bet,” she said, throwing his own words back at him, but she did sarcasm a whole lot better than he did. “Like what?”

  He clamped his lips shut, and she knew she wouldn’t get an answer tonight. Things had been coming up more and more frequently these days. Rick was up to something, and she had a feeling that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

  She’d find out sooner or later. Keeping a secret in Sumneyville was like trying to hold water in your hands. Eventually, it would start trickling out.

  She changed the topic. “Climb in. I’ll give you a ride back to the farm, and you can help me unload.”

  “Can’t. I’m supposed to meet up with the guys at O’Malley’s.”

  “They can wait. Unless, of course, you want me to call Bonnie and ask if she knows why you didn’t show today.”

  Bonnie was Rick’s wife and the mother of their two kids. They’d only been married a decade, but they’d already slipped into the phase where they could barely stand to be together in the same room. Tina knew the last thing Rick wanted was another reason for Bonnie to complain.

  He scowled but got in, picking up the takeout container so he could sit. “Zook’s?”

  “Of course.”

  “Any left?” he asked hopefully.

  “Nope.” There was no way she was telling him about the second chicken she’d picked up for later in the week. “Maybe if you’d shown up like you were supposed to, you could have gotten one.”

  “Get off my ass,” he grumbled.

  Chapter Two

  Doc

  Doc was still smiling when he returned to the others. The pretty, wholesome-looking blonde who’d caught his eye months earlier was even more attractive up close than she was from afar. Feisty, too.

  She had been so focused on her chicken that he’d stood beside her truck for a full minute before she noticed. Should he have rapped on the window like that when, clearly, everything was fine? No, probably not, but he hadn’t been able to help himself. It was the first opportunity he’d had to talk to her without half a dozen people around.

  “Everything okay?” Brian “Mad Dog” Sheppard finished securing the handcrafted Amish furniture in the back of his truck with a solid tug.

  Knowing how much his wife, Kate, admired the craftsmanship, Mad Dog had commissioned a set from one of the families who had a stall at the market. Each week, they picked up a new piece for their custom cabin. Tonight’s addition was a stunning corner hutch made of cherry wood.

  “Seems to be,” Doc answered. “Although I don’t think I earned any favor by going over there.”

  “Why not?”

  “She was eating.”

  Devouring was probably a better word. She’d been attacking that chicken with gusto and single-minded focus. He wondered vaguely if she put that much effort and passion into everything she did.

  Kate laughed. “I bet it was a Zook’s chicken.”

  “It was chicken,” he confirmed.

  “I was never able to make it home without taking a bite either. They’re that good.”

  Doc looked back to the older model pickup. A big guy was now leaning against the passenger side, shooting unfriendly glares their way.

  Doc’s hackles rose, right along with his protective instincts. “Who is that?”

  Kate followed his gaze. “Relax. That’s her brother Rick.”

  Doc was sure he’d seen the guy before. It didn’t take long to remember where. “He’s one of the preppers.”

  Kate nodded somberly. “All the Obermacher boys are.”

  That didn’t bode well for him or his desire to know more about the woman with the ponytail and a penchant for good chicken. The Obermachers were an old and powerful family in the area, owning hundreds of acres of farmland and dominating the local food supply market.

  That they were associated with the survivalist camp bordering Sanctuary property wasn’t surprising. Most of the members were of the good ol’ local-boy variety. Unfortunately, they also tended not to be fans of Sanctuary.

  He wasn’t interested in getting to know her brothers though. “What about her?”

  “Tina? She’s really nice. Nothing like her brothers.”

  Tina. Now, he had a name to go with the face. And according to Kate, she was really nice. That was good enough for him. As a member of an old Sumneyville family herself, Kate knew a lot about the locals.

  “You know that peach tea you’re so fond of?” Kate continued.

  Doc nodded. He’d become addicted to the stuff since Sandy—another Sumneyville native now living at Sanctuary—had first introduced him to it.

  “You can thank Tina for that. She manages the Obermacher orchards.”

  Doc looked toward the back of the lot again. The big guy was now getting into the truck, but he didn’t look happy about it.

  “That guy looks pissed.”

  “Rick always looks like that,” Kate said. “Don’t worry. Tina knows how to handle him.”

  “Hey, do you think she’d be willing to come by and look at the old orchard at the resort, see if it’s salvageable?” Mad Dog asked.

  “I don’t see why not,” Kate responded. “I’ll call her tomorrow. I bet she’d love to see the greenhouses you designed. From what I remember, she got her degree in agro science.”

  The more Doc heard about Tina Obermacher, the more interested he was. And if Kate could get her to come to Sanctuary? Even better.

  “Great,” Mad Dog said. “We can use all the help we can get.” He patted the back quarter panel. “All right, everything’s secure. We’re good to go.”

  Doc glanced back toward the old pickup, now on its way out the back gate reserved for vendors. With any luck, he’d be seeing Tina Obermacher again soon.

  Chapter Three

  Tina

  Running the orchards was a year-round job, but some seasons were busier than others. Things started ramping up in the spring and then built to a peak in summer and early fall before dropping off again.

  March was typically the time to prune existing trees, plant new ones, and fertilize, but exactly when work could be done depended on the weather. This year, winter seemed reluctant to let go of its icy grip on the region, so it was important to make the most of every good day.

  Tina had been making her rounds, checking on the state of things and growing angrier with each section she visited. At least half the trees hadn’t been pruned yet, and the new trees she’d ordered were still waiting to be put in the ground.

  By the time she hit the peach grove, she was fuming.

  “Eddie!” she called out, spotting her supervisor hanging around the equipment shed along with several guys. Guys who should have been out planting and pruning. Instead, they didn’t seem to be doing anything besides shooting the breeze.

  E
ddie turned and saw her, his face morphing into the expression she knew so well—irritation. He worked the ever-present chew between his teeth and gums before spitting off to the side. “Yeah?”

  She waved toward the stationary compact utility tractor and the three dozen newly delivered young peach trees ready to go. “Why aren’t those in the ground yet? You know we can’t let those roots freeze.”

  “Tractor’s acting up.”

  The tractor had been fine three days earlier when she hooked up the backhoe attachment and used it to clear debris from blocked drainage channels—something else Eddie should have taken care of but hadn’t.

  “What’s wrong with it?”

  He turned his head and spit again. “Ain’t a mechanic, am I?”

  Some of the guys behind him smirked.

  “You sure as hell aren’t,” she agreed, earning a glower.

  Eddie had spent enough time around equipment that he should know how to diagnose and fix common problems, but he was more likely to stand back and offer his unsolicited—and often incorrect—opinion rather than actually do something. Letting Rick talk her into putting Eddie on her team had been a decided lack of judgment on her part. She wished Fritz’s arthritis hadn’t forced him to retire. She’d never had to worry about things getting done with Fritz in charge.

  Regardless, it didn’t matter. They had jobs to do. Growing superior peaches in the upper regions of Pennsylvania was hard enough. She didn’t need Eddie’s crap, too.

  She offered a tight smile and asked the obvious, “Did you remember to put it in neutral and close the choke?”

  His shoulders stiffened. “Now, look here—”

  “No, you look. I’ll check out the tractor. You grab some shovels and wheelbarrows and get started on those trees.”

  “By hand?”

  “Yes, by hand.”

  “The ground’s frozen.”

  Oh, for Pete’s sake. She took a shovel from the shed and drove it through the light covering of snow and into the soil. Then, she put her booted foot on the edge and gave it a good shove, putting her weight into it. A lift and twist brought up dirt along with the snow.