Chapter 3: Under the Sun’s Cruel Gaze

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But no matter how much I tried to prepare myself, The next day, when I saw Caleb and Savannah together in the cornfields, I couldn’t stop the bitterness in my heart. Caleb is the foreman of the Maple Hollow work crew, always serious. He oversees the city volunteers. He’s strict with everyone—no work, no lunch. But he’s especially lenient with Savannah. More than once, under the harsh sun, I’ve seen Savannah doing light work in the shade. I remembered seeing Caleb hand her a bottle of water, letting her take a break while everyone else worked. Many folks joked that the foreman was bewitched by the city girl, and would probably ignore me, the hometown girl. Whenever that happened, I would argue with them. Now I realize how foolish my stubbornness was.

The fields smelled like fresh earth and new green shoots, but the air between Caleb and Savannah was thick with something sweeter. Caleb’s voice, usually gruff and clipped, softened whenever he spoke to her. I remembered how, just last week, Mrs. Wheeler from the post office had laughed and said, “Looks like our foreman’s got a thing for city girls.” I’d snapped back, defending him, but now the words felt hollow.

Caleb seemed to be teaching Savannah to tell corn seedlings from weeds. He’s famously handsome for miles around, with a strong, straight build. Even in his thin spring shirt, you can see his muscular lines. Right now, he’s turned sideways, slightly lowering his head, looking at Savannah with an expression much gentler than his usual cold, stern look. And Savannah lifts her delicate chin, gazing at him with eyes like melted chocolate. The gentle sunlight falls on them, wrapping them in a beautiful glow. Just standing there, the two of them are the most eye-catching sight on this patch of farmland. I couldn’t bear to look anymore, so I forced myself to turn away, digging my nails into my palm to keep from crying.

A tractor rumbled in the distance, the scent of diesel and dust hanging in the air. But all I could hear was the quiet laughter drifting from where they stood. Savannah’s hair caught the light, turning it almost gold, and Caleb’s smile—rare and real—made my heart twist. I dug my fingers into the soft earth, wishing I could disappear into the rows of corn and never come out.