Page 78 of Pick Your Spot

“Does he like the farmhouse? It’s huge. Maybe he wouldn’t feel closed in there.”

Thea grinned. This teen was intuitive and intelligent. “As far as I know, he’s never been inside. He’ll sometimes walk with me closer to the farmhouse, but he always stays in the trees.” Other than when Andy had arrived but she wasn’t telling Nina about that.

“Where does he sleep?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never followed him to see. Seems like an invasion of his privacy.”

Nina laughed. “I agree. As long as he’s happy and healthy.”

Thea agreed. “He generally comes to see me at the compost in the mornings. Then, he’ll check in with me a few times a day. He’s always happy.”

Nina ran her hands over his fur. “Sure seems like it. I wonder if he’d like a friend one day. Maybe I can bring my dog, Animosh, to visit. She’s a shepherd mix ,and she’s a sweetie. She wouldn’t scare him away.”

Thea’s heart swelled. “I’d like that. I think Fox would like that, too.”

“I’ll talk my parents into bringing me back once the Worminator is working or if you need help. It’s too far for me to bike but I’ll have my license in a few years. Then I can drive out and help whenever you need it.”

“That would be awesome.”

Knox walked over with a grin, and Fox popped up to greet him. He went through the rubbing and rubdown routine. “Did you make a new friend, Fox? I bet the noise and amount of people is a little overwhelming. But they’re all as nice as Nina here.”

Fox returned to Thea and snuggled in for another hug. Then he loped off into the orchard again.

Knox held out his hands to help the two of them to their feet, making Nina laugh. “Thank you, kind sir.” Then she bounced off to the group.

Knox slung his arm over Thea’s shoulder, and they walked more slowly. “You still doing okay? Are the noise and people overwhelming for you, too?”

She smiled. “Not as much as I’d thought. They’re great people and the noise is all about making progress with the Worminator. I think Fox will check it out after everyone is gone.”

“Ford and Sean have most of the things hooked up. I’ve learned a ton from the two of them already.”

She smiled. “Ford fits right in. He’s going to be really good for this place.”

“I agree. I’m so glad he’s here.”

The winds picked up as they walked, and the first of the raindrops started to fall. Not heavy yet but enough to have everyone moving more quickly.

Chaos and laughter reigned as the rain increased and the wind battered them.

Enough people were helping at the Worminator, so Thea headed to the compost area to put away her equipment. No sense in losing her stirring sticks to the wind and having to hunt for more. She also needed to put away the hose with her very own key. That was never going to feel old.

She grinned into the wind as she moved. Even the weather couldn’t dampen her feelings. At long last, she was learning the meaning, the feeling, of friendship. Of home. Surrounded by love and doing work she loved with a man who made everything better.

Tonight would be the night. She’d tell Knox she loved him. Hopefully, he felt the same.

But the feeling was too big and bright to contain any longer. It was going to burst out of her. Her mind filled with a dozen erotic scenarios of how she would tell him. It was going to be an excellent night.

After she’d set her sticks inside the shed, she moved to wind up the hose.

A flash of movement had her starting to turn. But she never saw who or what it was.

Something heavy thunked into her head, and everything went black.

Rain battered against Knox as he and Ford guided Sean and his zoom boom back onto the trailer. The pounding rain and heavy winds had sprung up out of nowhere.

Because that’s the type of people they were, he heard more laughter than complaints. He’d invite everyone in for hot drinks and towels before they headed for home. It was the least they could do after all the help they’d received today.

Thea had practically glowed as she’d put in the final screw on the kettle. And as she’d played with Fox and Nina. While she’d been chatting with friends, too.

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