Lucie. I have so much respect and admiration for you and what you’ve done to turn this vineyard around. You can’t take the weight of everyone else’s problems on your shoulders. Not even your own family.”
“First, Leland. Now Eli. I feel rotten.”
She squeezed my arm. “I know you do. That’s why you need to promise me we’re going to move past this.”
“I can’t have Eli working here anymore, can I?” I drained my glass.
“I wouldn’t put him in a situation where he’s handling money right now,” she said. “Would you?”
“No.”
That was the quid pro quo she wanted and, as usual, she had finessed her request. We couldn’t afford another scandal. She was willing to sweep this one under the carpet. But next time…?
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll handle it. I’ll tell Eli we don’t need him helping here anymore. He’s not stupid. He’ll get the message.”
We finished our wine.
“Want another glass?” Frankie asked.
“I’d better not. I need to get back to the barrel room. I think we’re going to be here all night with the Riesling. I don’t know where Chance dug up that crew we had today, but they picked everything. Quinn wants him gone, too.”
“I heard,” she said. “Look, go on back. I’ll close up.”
I stood as Frankie began turning off lights. She paused to look out one of the windows.
“Speak of the devil. Chance is just getting out of the pickup.”
“Oh, God,” I said. “I need to get to him before Quinn does.”
We met just inside the courtyard archway. Bruja, who had been following her master, wagged her tail and came to me so I could pet her.
“I ran the crew back to the camp,” he said. “You guys done with getting the Riesling in the tanks already?”
“We haven’t even started,” I said. “Because we have to sort the grapes by hand. All of them.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
The rain had temporarily let up but the air still felt heavy and damp. I watched Chance and wondered if Quinn was right that he was completely incompetent. How could he not know what he’d done?
“Your crew picked
“Same place I always get them. The camp in Winchester.”
“Where’d you really get them?”
“I told you. The camp in Winchester. Look, remember what I said before?” he asked. “Quinn works those men like dogs. If anyone complains he threatens to sic Homeland Security on them. Word gets around, Lucie. You’re lucky I got who I got.”
“I’ve never seen Quinn act like that.”
“You’re not out in the field every day. How would you know?”
“How come my other manager never told me about it?”
“I didn’t know your other manager, but maybe he closed his eyes. Or maybe he didn’t think of day laborers as anything other than one step up from a chain gang.”
“That’s not true!”
“What did you say about a chain gang?”
Quinn’s voice, behind me. I turned around. It was just the two of them and me. Quinn moved closer until he was standing about a foot away from Chance. I was not going to be able to stop this fight.
“I’m handling this, Quinn,” I said. “Let me settle it.”
“Tell this asshole to clear out. He’s through here.”
“Who’re you telling to leave, buddy? You don’t run the place.”
“I said, clear out.”
“That’s enough,” I said. “Quinn, don’t—”
Chance smirked. “Seems the boss doesn’t agree with you, Quinn. Go on, Lucie. You’re not going to let him bully you like he bullies everyone else—”
Quinn cut him off with a hard blow to his stomach. Chance doubled over and groaned.
“Stop it!” I said. “Quinn! Are you out of your mind? Don’t do this.”
“Get out of here,” he said to Chance. “You’re through.”
He turned his back on Chance and started to walk away. Chance raised his head, a look of cold fury on his face, and charged after him. I heard Quinn’s “ouf” as Chance tackled him and the sound of Quinn’s head hitting the ground. He looked dazed, as though the blow had knocked the wind out of him.
“Get up,” Chance said. “Get up and fight me, old guy.”
“Don’t do it! Chance, Quinn!”
“Get out of here, Lucie,” Chance said. “Get lost and let us finish this.”
As he spoke, Quinn got up. This time Chance was ready. He landed a precise flurry of hooks and jabs before Quinn could raise his fists to defend himself. Quinn staggered backward as blood poured from his nose. Chance went after him, punching him hard in the gut, but when Quinn went down, he managed to take Chance with him. I heard their animal grunts as their fists connected with flesh and bone.
Involuntary manslaughter…was that what they called it when someone died in a fight? This had to stop.
I pulled out my phone and called Benny.
“You and Javier, come quick to the courtyard! They’re killing each other!”
By the time the two of them pulled Quinn and Chance apart, I wanted to call an ambulance. No one would let me.
“You’ll get the sheriff involved.” Quinn’s words were slurred. “Don’t need to do that. Everything’s fine.”
Tyler showed up then, wild-eyed.
“Get the first aid kit,” I said, and he fled.
Quinn had gotten the worst of it, or at least there was more blood on his face and clothes. Benny stood by Chance, who was still doubled over holding his ribs. Quinn lay on the ground as Javier tended to him. I heard him mumble to Javier that he was fine, nothing broken.
“That guy is crazy.” Chance straightened up. He was breathing hard as he pointed at Quinn. “And so are you, Lucie, if you let him work here.”
Quinn groaned and sat up. One eye was swollen and his face looked like a piece of raw meat.
“Get rid of him,” Quinn said and coughed. “He’s trouble.”
“So what’ll it be, Lucie?” Chance’s laugh was harsh and challenging. “You can’t keep both of us around. You know that.”
“No.” My voice sounded far away. “I can’t.”
“You’re not thinking…” Quinn watched me, incredulous. “Come on, Lucie. He’s just messing with your head.”
Chance smiled and winked at me. My eyes traveled from him to Quinn. How had it come to this? Was I really contemplating choosing between them? It was Quinn’s fault for forcing this showdown, wasn’t it? In spite of my feelings for him, I needed to be objective, do what was best for the vineyard, the crew…
“You know, Chance, I really like you.” My voice wavered.
“Aw, Lucie…” Quinn’s eyes were anguished. “I don’t believe this.”
I cleared my throat. “As I was saying, I really like you, Chance. You’ve charmed our customers and the crew likes you, too.”
Chance was grinning now, his eyes holding mine in triumph.
“But I guess I’m just crazy,” I continued, “because ever since you joined us, there has never been so much ill will and so many screwups and mistakes as there have been these last few months. And because you laid it down as he goes or I go, I’m firing you. I want you gone now, Chance. Get your stuff and get out of here.”
