Rainbow Hill Read Free Page B

effect? These people don’t care about milking cows and crop rotation.”
    “What do they care about when heading for the country?” Quinn challenged.
    Ethan shrugged, thinking over the question. “Pretty scenery.”
    Tucker threw up his hands. “We got views that’ll make you want to climb to the nearest hill and sing out like that women in that movie you always forced me to watch when you were a kid.”
    Ignoring his father, Ethan pressed on. “Organic food. Jams and jellies in pretty packaging. Fresh baked goods that look like they were made in your grandmother’s kitchen, and not in some industrial lockup. Crafts by local artisans…Maybe even furniture or paintings.”
    “Now you’re getting the idea, son.”
    Ethan stood and walked the length of the floor. “But we can’t do that here.”
    “Why not?” Tucker asked.
    Ethan didn’t have an answer.
    “Look,” Quinn said, standing so that Ethan noticed the snug fit of Quinn’s T-shirt. “Granted, my dad and your dad might not know much about those types of things, but we do, especially you. We plan on repairing some of the outbuildings so we can use them for retail space. With some whimsical paint choices and creative marketing, I think we can pull this together.” Quinn stopped directly in front of Ethan, the smell of freshly cut hay and Irish Spring soap attacking his senses. “Are you on board with this?”
    “Please say you are,” Tucker said, his soulful gaze tearing away Ethan’s resistance. “We can’t do it without you. Your mother always said this was your special gift.”
    “Arranging jars on a shelf is my special gift?”
    “Making things beautiful,” Tucker clarified, smiling.
    Ethan didn’t know if the tears that were threatening to spill were because his father needed him after all those years of believing that he didn’t, or if they were tears of sheer stupidity because he planned to say—
    “Yes,” Ethan replied, looking at Tucker. “But it’s a joint effort.” He redirected his gaze to Quinn. “You have to help. No taking off planting and rotating things when I need you to erect a retail space or contract workers and artists. This is a job shared by everyone. Understood?” He stuck out his hand, waiting for a shake to seal the deal.
    Swatting away Ethan’s hand, Quinn enveloped Ethan in a bear hug, hooting like it was ten seconds into the New Year. Ethan allowed his usually tense muscles to melt into Quinn’s mind-altering embrace. For only a moment, he half expected to relive the heat of that kiss he’d never forgotten, but with his father cheering by his side and slapping their backs in approval, he realized that it wouldn’t be.
    Pulling back with a playful shake, Quinn said, “You won’t regret this. We’ll make it work.” Quinn pulled him in again, hugging tighter. “And thanks for giving my dad a fighting chance,” he whispered into Ethan’s ear.

Chapter Three
    Filled with optimism, Quinn took the stairs two at a time. It was something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Taking the last step onto the threshold, he regained his composure as he prepared to break the good news to his dad. He breathed deeply, mustering the courage for what he would find behind the closed door. Purposely stomping across the hard wood floor, he loudly cleared his throat and knocked on his father’s bedroom door.
    “You up yet?” he asked through the closed door. “It’s getting late. Come down and get something to eat.”
    On hearing a few muffled, undecipherable words, Quinn opened the door, the brass knob cool in his hand. “You okay, Dad?”
    “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    Frank Kincade’s voice sounded like he’d spent the better part of his life drinking whiskey late into the night, something Quinn suspected he had been doing a lot of lately. He inched in, the scent of stale sweat and beer floated in the gloom. Quinn saw his father sitting on the side of the bed, fully dressed except for his lace-up work boots that