Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 06 - A Season of Change by Diane Greenwood Muir Read Free Book Online Page B

care of me.”
    “You take care of me every day. Be safe and call me.”
    She followed him out to his truck and watched as he drove away.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE

     
    “Right on time! Good morning,” Polly said when she answered her phone. She stretched her legs under the blankets, pushing the cats away. “Are you ready for the meeting?”
    “I don’t plan on having to do anything except nod and smile, but yes, I’m ready.”
    “Did you sleep well?”
    Henry laughed. “I suppose I did. The boys paid for a very nice hotel room. After we hung up last night, my head hit the pillow and I crashed. How about you?”
    “I slept well enough that I don’t want to get out of bed. These animals like it when I can’t move.”
    “Do I need to call you back in ten minutes? I can be your human snooze button.”
    “No, that’s fine. You have a meeting and I’m just whining. I’m glad you called, though. I prefer your voice to an alarm any day.”
    “Thanks for opening the trailer for me. I’ll let you know when I’m on the road.”
    “I’ll be out at the hotel. I’m going to finish emptying that basement as soon as I can. I’m tired of looking at it.”
    “I love you, pretty girl. Talk to you later.”
    Polly pulled her legs out from under the blankets and sat up in the bed. “Obiwan, do you want to take a ride?”
    His entire body came alert when he heard his name. He jumped to the floor and headed for the back steps.
    “Just a second, bud. I need to put some clothes on.” She got dressed and pulled a pair of boots on. The latest warm up created muddy puddles from melting snow and ice. “Come on. I’m ready.”
    Obiwan followed, jumping into the truck when she opened the passenger door. Polly shut the door and went back inside to grab a leash. The vineyards were new territory and she didn’t feel like chasing him this morning. Dawn crept over the horizon when Polly turned to go south past the hotel. Lights were turning on in homes as people got ready for the day.
    She stopped in front of the trailer. “You stay here. I’m just going to be a minute,” she said to the dog. He wagged his tail and tried to crawl over her to get to the door.
    Polly pushed him back into his seat. “No. I meant, ‘you stay here.’ Not there.” She laughed and slipped out of the door and shut it before he could follow her. His pitiful face at the window made her laugh even more.
    After unlocking the trailer, Polly looked around. The ground had been cleared last fall in preparation for building. There were a few piles of trees and brush that needed to be taken out, but it was ready. She had seen the original plans for the building and tried to imagine it in place … warm light coming from its windows, people sitting on the large porches enjoying wine and music in a cool autumn evening. This was a perfect spot and the boys had a great idea. She hoped it would be successful and that they would stick around long enough to see it through. Lydia’s words worried her. Bellingwood was waking up again and this could become a wonderful draw for people around the area.
    She glanced back at Obiwan. He was still standing in her seat, wagging his tail, ever hopeful.
    “Okay, okay, you silly dog. You can play. We’re not in a hurry.” She went back to the truck, snapped the leash on his collar and let him out. Polly wanted to walk around the ground before everything changed. The long rows of the vineyard stretched out to the south of the lodge. She was standing on one of the higher hills, so it all lay out in front of her. She could see for miles. Iowa’s open fields felt like they went on forever, only broken up by a few silos and barns, trees and creeks. The sun rose and lit the empty fields beyond the vineyard. Green would soon become the predominant color once again.
    Obiwan pulled her along as he sniffed the ground. He marked a branch or two and continued to pull forward. They circled behind the construction