Chapter 6 First breakfast

Savannah’s POV

The next morning during breakfast, I could barely enjoy my food as the air was tense. Across from me sat Julian, who looked both exhausted and out of place.

At the head of the table, my father adjusted his reading glasses and set his coffee mug down before clearing his throat and pinning Julian with his gaze.

“So, Julian,” my father began. “Your father tells me you have been trying to build some sort of tech firm in the city. Logistics, was it?”

Julian paused, clearly surprised by the attention on him as he threw a glance my way. “Tech logistics and supply chain automation, sir. I built the software infrastructure from scratch to optimize global shipping routes.”

“Software,” my father repeated, clearly not familiar with the topic. “Out here, infrastructure means something you can actually touch. It means irrigation pipes, sturdy fencing, and bloodlines so now tell me, have you ever done a single day of manual labor before now?”

I watched Julian’s jaw tighten as a look of irritation crossed his face but he kept his expression neutral. “I managed my own finances, worked eighteen-hour days to secure funding, and handled my own operations. Just because I do not work with my hands does not mean I do not know the meaning of hard work.”

“Managing numbers on a screen is a far cry from managing life, son,” my father countered coldly as he threw a glance my way. “Savannah, the eastern field is ready for the early maize harvest. Take your husband down to the third plot after breakfast and let us see how his eighteen-hour drive translates to a real day of work.”

My stomach dropped as I looked at my dad. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him! “Dad, the workers are already down there so I can just supervise them. I do not need to play babysitter.”

“The contract said he lives and works on this ranch, Savannah,” my father stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. “He needs to learn the operation if he is going to be here for a year.”

I let out an annoyed sigh and threw a nasty glance Julian’s way but he met my gaze head-on.

An hour later, we were dressed in our work wear and ready to begin work, but I had a few things to let off my chest first.

“Listen up, city boy, because I am only going to say this once,” I said, as I reached for a ripe maize. “You do not just yank it. You grip the stalk firmly, pull down, and snap it against the joint, like this.”

With a practiced move, I snapped the maize free and tossed it into the wooden bin behind me but I didn’t even spare him a glance to know if he was following before I moved to the next stack.

Julian followed my lead and grabbed the next maize plant with a look of concentration. He grabbed an ear of corn and pulled but nothing happened. He pulled harder, his knuckles turning white, until the entire stalk bent sideways and snapped in half, sending him stumbling back a step.

I burst into laughter, seeing his struggle.

“Pathetic,” I said, shaking my head. “You are going to ruin the crop before you even harvest a single basket and I thought you were supposed to be an expert in logistics and efficiency.”

Julian's eyes darkened as he stared at me. “They are clearly different things so give me a moment to adjust, I am not a magician.”

“Time waits for no one, Julian,” I shot back, stepping directly into his personal space to look him in the eye. “Every mistake you make out here costs my family money so if you cannot even handle a simple harvest, you might as well pack your luxury bags and tell your dad you failed.”

“I am not failing and I would love to get back to work now, leave me alone.”

For the next hour, none of us said a thing to each other as we worked. Julian was swearing profusely but he wasn’t giving up.

By mid-morning, the heat was becoming unbearable and then, I noticed a group of our regular field workers coming to join us. Knowing my father didn't have as many eyes on me anymore, I had a plan.

“The workers are taking over this section,” I announced coldly as I looked over at a swearing Julian. “Keep working with them and do not slack off, because they will report back to my dad.”

Julian wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and watched me with a suspicious glare. “Where are you going?”

“Away from you,” I snapped.

“You were asked to work with me, not leave me to do all the work,” he whined.

“I was asked to teach you, which is exactly what I have done,” I said, taking a step away from him. “I think you should quit whining and get back to work, city boy.”

Without waiting for his reply, I turned and looked around to make sure I wasn’t being watched and when I saw it was clear, I turned on my heel and walked briskly away from the rows of maize. I walked quietly towards an old fence and disappeared into the small bush that I was very familiar with.

I walked for a while more before I arrived at a small clearing under a tree that was completely hidden from the view of the main house and the workers. It was my hidden spot where I usually went to cool off or simply read one of my books that my dad would normally frown upon. As I pulled out a book from a hidden storage and began to read through, a genuine smile appeared on my face.

Now that I had my dad's men out of my hair, I was going to have more time to spend on my books.

“This marriage isn't as bad as I thought it would be,” I said to myself as I remembered Julian was still sweating under the sun.