Free Eternal Vows (Hideaway (Kimani)) by Rochelle Alers Page B

people when they have their open houses.”
    Lee gave her a steely-eyed stare that almost forced her to take a step backward. But then Peyton refused to back down from the supposedly intimidating glare. “Don’t even go there,” she warned him in a quiet tone.
    “What seems to be the problem?” asked a familiar voice. Everyone turned to find Jeremy standing in the doorway. The expression that had settled into the features of the former marine, ex-DEA special agent’s face was one few saw and probably did not want to see again. Repressed rage had darkened his face and eyes. “If there are complaints about a change in today’s menu, then speak up. If not, then I don’t want to hear another word about it. The chef and his assistants aren’t magicians, even though some of you would like them to be. It was my decision for them to concentrate on preparing food for tonight’s open house, leaving everyone to either eat what is available or you can check with your supervisors to see if they’ll permit you to leave the farm to go eat at Shorty’s Diner. What’s it going to be, folks?”
    Lee was the first to acquiesce. “I guess I can eat cereal,” he muttered.
    Jeremy’s expression softened considerably when he rested a hand on Peyton’s shoulder. “Lee, I remember a time when you ate Cap’n Crunch cereal every morning.” The other men smothered sniggles and laughter. Jeremy sobered again. He leaned close to Lee. “You grew up here and you should know better than to wear a hat indoors.” It was a hard and fast rule Sheldon had learned as a boy; he’d established the regulation when he’d first set up the farm, and it was still in effect thirty years later.
    The apprentice groom snatched off his cap, crushing it against his chest. “Sorry about that.”
    Jeremy’s fingers tightened on Peyton’s shoulder. “I’d like to talk you outside.”
    Peyton had no idea what he wanted to talk to her about, thinking perhaps Ryan had mentioned their conversation about her wanting to work for another farm. “What is it?” she asked when they stood under the sweeping branches of an ageless red maple.
    “Tricia called the house and Claire told her you’d left for the dining hall. So, I came to see if you wanted to have breakfast with us.”
    “I’d love to. Unlike the guys, I don’t have a problem eating cold cereal.”
    Jeremy ran a hand over his cropped hair. “I understand the men. I outgrew cereal years ago. But when I gave Andy the head count for the number of visitors we expect to attend this afternoon he said it was going to be impossible to make breakfast and lunch for the farm folks and prepare for the open house. It was only after I talked it over with Ryan we decided Andy should serve a stripped-down breakfast and lunch. You’d think after all they’d eaten last night they wouldn’t want to look at food this morning.”
    Peyton had to agree. She’d missed the cocktail hour because she’d posed for wedding pictures; however there was an inexhaustible amount of food for dinner and after dinner. She’d overheard Nicholas tell the caterer leftovers were to be donated to a local food kitchen.
    “Maybe they just need something to moan and groan about,” she said.
    The instant the words were off the tongue Peyton thought about her conversation with Ryan, experiencing some guilt. Fortunately she didn’t need to look for a position because there had been one waiting for her even before she’d received her degree. Some of her classmates had sent out résumés prior to graduation with the hope they would secure employment if only to begin repaying student loans.
    Fortunately for her she hadn’t been saddled with student loans. Her parents had covered the cost of her undergraduate education and as promised, Sheldon paid for veterinary school and the advanced training in the specialty of internal medicine and surgery. Living on the farm afforded her free housing and meals, and while she refused to accept a