Page 7 of Fire Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #1)

Chapter

Seven

“Morning, Ms. Hampton!”

Eliana turned to see Mateo, who jogged toward her with a wide grin. He wore the orchard’s branded T-shirt. “I didn’t expect you out so early,” he said. “I was about to start clearing these tables.”

Eliana offered a tired but genuine smile. “I couldn’t sleep in, not with this mess to handle.” Her gaze swept across the orchard grounds: crumpled paper cups, stray apple cores, and a few decorations that volunteers had not removed last night. “But it’s a happy mess. We had a fantastic turnout.”

She stooped to pick up some discarded banners, rolling them into neat tubes. As she did, a wave of pride washed over her. More staff trickled in, forming a cleanup crew. They chattered animatedly about how crowded the orchard had been.

After an hour of cleanup, Eliana slipped away to her office in the sorting and cider barn. It was a large, wooden-sided structure that smelled of apples and faint hints of yeast from fermenting cider barrels.

The ventilation fans inside the barn hummed, and rows of sorted apple crates lined the walls. In her office, Eliana was greeted by a desk cluttered with forms, notes, and business cards left by festivalgoers. Her brand-new orchard pamphlets sat in a half-empty box, evidence of how many guests had taken them. She plopped into her desk chair with a sigh. Grabbing a neat stack of order forms, she began leafing through them.

One local bakery wanted weekly shipments of apples for tarts. A larger store in the next town requested multiple crates for an autumn promotional event. Eliana felt a small thrill that her orchard was poised for significant growth. She whispered a silent thanks to her grandparents and her staff.

Eliana still had a full day ahead of her. She had to work with Talia to coordinate picking schedules, cider production, and possibly hire more seasonal workers. She left her office and walked outside.

As she crossed the yard where the festival had been the day before, Gerald approached. He was an older man who had been around since her grandparents’ era. He waved her over, looking uneasy.

“Eliana,” he said in a low voice. “I was returning some things to the back shed last night. I saw a few seasonal workers lurking around in the forest near the fence line.”

Her pulse jumped. “Who was it?” she asked, her thoughts returning to the smell of accelerant in the air last night and the fire last week.

“One’s tall, wiry, the other stockier, with a thick mustache. I can’t recall their names, but they started about two weeks ago.”

Eliana rubbed her temples. This tied in too closely with the orchard’s suspicious sightings. “Are you sure it was employees?”

“Pretty sure.”

“All right. Thank you, Gerald. I’ll look into it. If you see anything else, let me know.”

Eliana scratched her head. Could some of her own employees be up to something dangerous? She dreaded accusing innocent workers of sabotage. Eliana knew what she needed to do next. She had to install some form of security around the orchard, like Ash had suggested. It was the only way to ensure the safety of her grandparents’ legacy.

Three days later, Eliana and her crew stood around one of the barn’s worktables. She’d just received several brand-new security cameras, and they were spread out in front of them. Talia had a clipboard tucked under her arm. Mateo looked eager to get started. Gerald’s hands were deep in his pockets.

Talia tapped her clipboard. “I’ve been making notes about the orchard’s high-risk zones. The biggest concerns are the fence lines, storage sheds, and maybe the barn’s perimeter.”

Gerald sighed. “Widespread surveillance seems wrong. Still, if trouble is lurking, we can’t ignore it.”

They began discussing the details of the installation, poring over the manuals. Talia and Gerald then laid out a plan for the best positions around the orchard. “Once we set up the cameras, we can install the orchard security app on our phones so we can monitor the feeds,” Mateo said.

They all agreed. They gathered camera boxes, and Eliana led them out of the barn and onto the orchard’s main walkway. They soon split into pairs. Talia and Mateo headed toward the main entrance. Eliana and Gerald took the path toward the southern fence.

The uneven terrain made them step carefully over small rocks and patches of tall grass. Gerald carried an electric drill and a box of screws. Eliana carried a camera kit. When they reached the south fence, Eliana felt an unsettling prickle at the back of her neck. She wondered if someone was watching them this very minute.

Gerald studied the fence and found the best post. He began to mount the base for the camera. The sound of drilling mingled with bird calls. Eliana read the camera instructions again, wiping sweat from her brow. The morning sun felt heavier than usual.

They mounted the camera at the top of the post. She turned the angle slightly to capture a wider view of the fence line, then smiled at Gerald. She was grateful to have people she could trust.