Moments with Mason

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Mason Hayes stepped back and looked around the refurbished barn that was now the tasting room for his very own brewery. From the first batch he’d made at twenty-two in his parents’ basement, he never would’ve imagined that beer-making would become his lifelong passion, or that he’d be a business owner at the age of twenty-seven.

“You did it.” His best friend and brother, Cooper, smacked him on the back.

“We did it,” he said, giving credit where credit was due. Cooper, who hadn’t stayed put in one place for more than a couple of weeks since he graduated high school, had stayed in Red Maple Falls for four months to help Mason get things running.

Mason never would have gotten everything done in time for his opening in a couple weeks. None of this would’ve been possible without the help of his five siblings, his parents, and definitely not without the generous loan his grandparents had given him.

It was a dream come true, made possible by the people he loved most, even if they all were a big pain in his a*s.

“I need to head out,” Cooper said. “See if Dad needs help with anything on the farm before the bulk of the storm hits. That way the festival can start right back up when the weather clears.”

The Fall festival at their parent’s farm happened every year from the end of September to the end of October, and it required all Hayes’ hands on deck. Mason had felt guilty about not being around as much he usually was.

“Let me know if you need help,” he offered.

Cooper’s blue eyes travelled around the tasting room. “If you haven’t noticed, you have a brewery to open.”

“Bad timing on my part.”

“The festival happens every year. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We can manage. Besides, I’m here. What else can Mom and Dad possibly need?”

“Peace and quiet.”

“Whatever. They love having me around.”

“That’s because I gave them earplugs.”

“Funny.”

“Are Grandma and Grandpa down at the farm too?”

“No, Mom told them to stay home today. Which reminds me, I forgot Mom asked me to check on them to see if they needed anything so they don’t try to wander out in the storm.”

“Because that would stop them,” Mason said. He loved his grandparents fiercely, respected them, owed them his life for believing in him enough to loan him such a huge chunk of money, but Betty and Harold Hayes were stubborn as all hell and getting progressively worse with age. If they wanted to go out, Cooper stopping by and offering to do it for them wouldn’t deter them.

“That’s what I said. Mom was still adamant about it. Ever since the old man’s stint in the hospital, Mom’s been on edge.”

While their grandfather was recovered and back to his normal obstinate eighty-two-year-old self after a bout with heat stroke, Mason understood their mother’s concern. Sitting in that hospital waiting room, not knowing what the hell was going on and unable to get answers had been t*****e. Mason had never felt so helpless in his entire life. Even he’d been making extra trips to his grandparents’ house since that dreadful day, finding ridiculous excuses to stop by and check in on them.

“Hopefully I can be in and out before Grandma corners me and tries to set me up with one of her friend’s grandkids. I don’t know how many times I can tell her I’m not interested.”

Mason laughed. Betty Hayes was desperate for grandkids and had taken matters into her own hands by offering up any single girl she could sink her work worn hands into. They had thought when their oldest brother Matt had knocked up his new bride, they’d get a bit of a break, but if anything, Betty Hayes was more relentless than ever.

“I don’t think she’ll stop until we’re all married off with kids.”

“She can keep it up, but it’ll never happen. Me with kids?” Cooper scoffed. “Now that is the biggest joke of all.”

“Especially since you’re still a kid yourself.”

Cooper grabbed Mason’s hand and smacked him upside the head before Mason could scramble out of the way.

“What the hell was that for?” Mason asked, knowing damn well his brothers didn’t need a reason to hit him. It’s something they’d done since they were kids.

“Trying to knock some sense into you.”

“If that’s the case you should be hitting yourself.”

“I think I’m the sanest person in this family.”

“And I think you just found your calling.”

“Calling for what?”

“Standup comedian, because that s**t is hilarious.”

Cooper shook his head, but before he could retort, Mason patted his back. “Need to work on your comebacks though. Come on, I’ll follow you out.”

Mason hadn’t eaten all day and needed a lunch break if he was ever going to get through the rest of the night.

“Damn, it’s coming down in buckets,” Cooper said as he opened the door, letting the sound of rushing water echo through the space. “I’ll catch you later.” He pulled the collar of his shirt up and dashed toward their dad’s old beater.

Mason pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and jogged to his truck, being careful not to land in any deep puddles. Cooper beeped as he drove away, and Mason offered a nod, though he doubted his brother could see him through the sheet of rain.

Mason turned his Bronco onto the main road, his windshield wipers working overtime to try and clear the rain. It was one hell of a storm blowing through, and he worried his parking lot would turn into a mud pit. He opted against putting down blacktop because he wanted to keep the rustic feel—plus, he didn’t want to add to his overhead costs.

Now he was questioning that decision. He’d been doing that a lot lately—double guessing every decision he had made, wondering if what he decided now would bite him in the a*s down the line. He wanted to be a success, but more than anything he wanted to prove to himself that he could do this, that he could take the intelligence he was known for and create it into something he was passionate about.

He leaned forward to get a better view of the road, and tried to ignore that annoying voice in the back of his mind when he spotted a figure walking down the side of the street. He didn’t recognize the person from behind, but that didn’t stop him from slowing down.

Born and raised in Red Maple Falls, Mason knew everyone, and would never let a neighbor fend for themselves in this type of weather. He pulled his truck to the side of the road and rolled down his window.

On closer inspection, he could see the petite, soft curves of a female. She kept her head down, hiding her face behind a curtain of long, wavy, reddish-brown hair that was sopping wet as she continued to walk on by without offering as much as a glance in his direction. Concerned for her well-being, Mason put the truck back in drive and rolled alongside of her.

“Can I give you a ride?” he called out, trying to make his voice heard over the relentless wind and loud smacking rain drops.

“I’m good,” she said, but he detected a hint of sadness in her voice. Her shoulders were raised, body hunched, probably trying to keep water from running down her neck. She wouldn’t look at him, so he had no idea if he knew who she was. Regardless if he knew her or not, he couldn’t just leave her out in this monsoon.

He put his truck in park and jumped out. He came to a stop in front of the girl, who paused, her eyes wide and startled before she tried to step around him.

“Hey,” he said, reaching his hand out to her shoulder, but she flinched at his gesture, causing him to retract his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just want to give you a ride.” He removed his hood, so she could see his face, hoping that would give her a little peace of mind.

She finally looked up; her golden-brown eyes reminded him of a fresh poured amber ale, making him momentarily forget how to speak. He definitely didn’t know her; he would have recognized those eyes anywhere.

Big rain drops ran down Mason’s face and neck, pooling where his hoodie met his skin. “Please,” he said. “You’re soaked through, and you’re shivering. Let me give you a ride.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust strangers.”

“Then allow me to introduce myself. I’m Mason Hayes.” He held out his hand, but she only looked at it, so he let it fall back to his side. She was hesitant and she was scared, and that was the last thing he wanted, so he broke out the signature Hayes smile known to charm anyone it came in contact with. “If that doesn’t mean anything to you then that tells me you’re not from around here.”

“Are you famous or something?”

“In our own right,” he said with a laugh. “I was born and raised in this town. My parents own Basil Hill Farms that’s currently running the state’s famous Fall Festival, my sister owns Serenity Glass Blowing Studios, my sister-in-law owns Sweet Dream Bakery, my soon to be brother-in-law owns the Chain and Spoke. Oh, and my oldest brother is the Sheriff, so I really can’t be a serial killer, because that would be bad for business. So please, let me give you a ride.”

She stood there, rain sluicing down her black leather coat as she fidgeted with her hands. Finally, with a deep breath she nodded. “All right.”

Thank god, he thought as he ran over to the passenger door and opened it. She slid a backpack off her shoulder, and he reached out to take it for her, but she aggressively hugged the bag to her chest.

“I just wanted to help,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“I got it,” she answered, tossing the bag up on the seat.

She looked up at the truck and placed her foot on the running board. It was still a bit of a climb for her, so he held his hand out to help her. “I don’t bite.”

She hesitated for a moment before slipping her hand into his. It was small and delicate, but he imagined the girl it was attached to was the total opposite. She used his hand as leverage as she hoisted her petite frame into the large truck.

Once she was settled, he shut the door and ran back to the driver’s side.

Her small frame shook as she blew into her hands. Raised in the White Mountains, Mason was used to cold weather, but he could tell his passenger wasn’t. He reached behind him, grabbing a thick blanket he kept in his truck and draped it over her shoulders. “That should help,” he said. She looked at him, shock widening her eyes, lips parting ever so slightly. She yanked on the edges of the blanket, pulling it tighter around her body.

He reached over to the dials and turned the heat on full blast.

“Thanks,” she said as the stiffness began to leave her body, and she sank a little farther into the seat.

He pulled the truck back onto the road and headed in the direction she had been walking. “Where to?”

She pointed a long slim finger straight. Her nails weren’t painted, but kept short and clean. She didn’t have a ring, so she wasn’t married. “Make a left at the end of the road and then take it all the way down.”

Mason’s eyebrow arched in curiosity as he glanced over at her. The only thing at the end of Turtle Creek Road was the campsite. “You’re staying at Turtle Creek Reserve?”

She nodded.

Mason was the quiet one in his family, never wanting to compete with five siblings, so he only spoke when he had something important to say or to rip on one of his brothers or sisters. Being part of such a large family, he never had to work for a response, at least not in a way she was making him.

“What’s your name by the way?” he asked, realizing she never told him. Just because he didn’t know who she was didn’t mean he had never heard of her.

“Why?”

“It would be nice to have a name to go with your face. Know who I’m talking to.”

She fidgeted with the strap on her backpack instead of speaking.

“Or I can just call you rain girl. Aquawoman. Kathy Seldon though it was really Don Lockwood who was singin’ in the rain.”

“Cassie,” she mumbled just loud enough for him to hear.

“She speaks,” he said. “So, Cassie.” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. “What were you doing walking out in this storm? Planning on singing and dancing?”

“No.”

He turned a glance in her direction, waiting for her to elaborate.

Her lips parted and trembled as a tear fell down her cheek, causing Mason to shift uncomfortably in his seat. Even with three sisters, he never got used to a girl crying. It made him feel helpless, and there was nothing he hated more.

She angrily swiped at the teardrop as if she couldn’t believe she let it fall in the first place. “If you most know, I was hoping to find a job, but it seems like no one is hiring. So now I have no idea what I’m going to do.” She laughed, but it wasn’t a humorous sort of laugh; it sounded more deranged. “I should’ve known better. Things never work out for me. Did I honestly think a miracle would happen? Miracles aren’t even real. They’re just made up lies people talk about to give you false hope.”

She continued to vent, and Mason sat there listening to everything she was saying. It’s what he did. The reason his brothers and sisters came to him whenever they were having a problem was because he was a good listener. Most of the time they would work their problems out themselves before he could even get a word in.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said, a slight tinge of crimson filling her cheeks before she shook her head. “I didn’t mean to dump on you. It’s been a crappy day.”

Mason pulled the truck to a stop, and Cassie let out a sigh. “I understand,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a car with a lunatic either.” She began to remove the blanket and pull her bag onto her shoulder when he cut the wheel and headed back in the opposite direction.

“What are you doing?” she asked, and he didn’t like the panic lacing her tone, so he turned that Hayes charm on again.

“You need a job.”

“Yes, I do, but—”

“We’re going to see about getting you a job.”

“I told you, no one is hiring. I’ve been everywhere.”

“You haven’t been everywhere.”

“But I walked up and down Main Street.”

“This place isn’t on Main Street.”

“I don’t have a car. I can’t walk far.”

“This place is closer than Main Street.”

“How is that possible?”

With a slight smile still on his face, Mason said, “Miracles,” before he turned his truck into the parking lot of Five Leaf Brewery and shifted into park.

“I didn’t even know this place was here,” Cassie said, staring at the front of the refurbished barn.

“It’s new. What do you know about beer?” Secretly he hoped she had some knowledge, but even if she didn’t, she could learn.

“Actually, a lot. I waitressed at a sports bar with over forty taps of craft beer.”

“Perfect.” He needed to hire someone to work the tasting room. He planned on waiting a while, taking his family up on their offer to volunteer their time while he saved some money, but Cassie desperately needed a job He wouldn’t be able to sleep if he dropped her off at the campsite and never looked back. The fact that she had knowledge about beer already was somewhat of a miracle. “Now come on.”

“Where?”

“You have an interview.”

“What? No. I look horrible.” She tried running fingers through her hair, but kept getting snagged on knots.

Mason glanced over at her, her hair was sopping wet, hanging in long waves on her shoulders, and her eyes were a little puffy around the edges, but he could see beyond the disheveled mess and see the beauty beneath. “I have a feeling that that’s impossible.”

Mason hopped out of the truck and was happy when Cassie was right behind him. He stuck the key into the lock. “You work here?” she asked, sounding a bit surprised.

“Something like that.”

“Do you think the owner will like me?”

“I think the owner will like you just fine.”

He held the door, letting her in from the rain. She hoisted her backpack higher up onto her shoulder as she looked around the tasting room. Drops of water dripped from her jacket onto the floor that he still needed to mop.

“Wow. This place is great. Look at the craftsmanship of these tables and benches.”

“Earl does great work. He runs Red Maple Falls Wood Studios.”

She dragged her finger across a tabletop as she walked toward the bar. “Five Leaf Brewery,” she said. “I like it.”

“Thanks.”

“What does it mean?”

“I have two brothers and three sisters. The five points make the leaf whole.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.”

“That’s really sweet.” Realization settled on her face. “Wait. You own this place?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the bar, a sense of pride swelling inside of him. “I do.” It was hard not to keep the smile off his face as he looked around at all that he had accomplished.

“Why didn’t you just interview me in the truck then?” Cassie asked, shrugging out of her dripping wet leather jacket and hanging it on a chair. He reached for a rag behind the bar and handed it to her to wipe her jacket dry. She took the rag without hesitation and pulled it down each sleeve then peered back up at him, her eyebrows pulling tight above the bridge of her nose. “Why bring me back here?”

“I wanted to get you out of the rain.”

“Afraid I was going to melt?” she said with a laugh, and it surprised him how much he liked the sound. It was light and sweet, and he had a feeling it wasn’t something she let flow freely too often.

“I was raised to help those in need.”

Her body stiffened, her golden eyes darkened like a storm was brewing within her and not just outside. “I’m not a charity case.”

“Never said you were.”

“I didn’t need your help, you know.”

Her sudden defense mode made him curious. Anybody else would have brushed the comment off, possibly even admired his chivalrous side. Though, he had always been good at reading people, and he could tell that she wasn’t just anybody. He wanted to know who the girl beneath the leather coat and golden eyes really was.

His lip quirked at the corner when he replied, “A simple thank you would suffice.”