Page 6 of To Trap a Soul

Lindi flattened her lips, still unconvinced, but she chose to let it go. Her father released them both so he could pull a wooden mug out from under the counter. He shoved it into the bucket of clean water they had available and guzzled it down like a man who hadn’t had a drop in days.

He’s going back outside to work.Before the sun went down and he could no longer safely see.

The conversation about the fortifications likely lit a fire under his arse to work even harder.

Allira came to her side. Lindi slapped her hands away as she tried to assist, wishing she’d go sit down and rest, but her mother just did it back until she caved.

Fine. It’s only supper.And she was nearby to make sure her mother didn’t faint again.

“I heard Clyde’s boy was at our doorstep with a bundle of flowers in his hand this morning,” her father stated casually, breaking off a piece of fresh bread Lindi had baked earlier.

Lindi’s cheeks heated so quickly she feared her long hair would catch fire. “MA!” she squealed, turning to her with a sense of betrayal. “You promised you wouldn’t tell him!”

Her mother bumped her hip against her own. “I don’t understand why you just won’t go on a picnic with him. He’s a nice boy.”

“Because I grew up with him,” she snapped back, the idea of kissing her lifelong friend making her want to hurl. “And he’s two years younger than me. I want to marry someone older.”

“Like Joshua?”

She scrunched her nose. “Not him, either.”

“Well, you need to pick someone, my dear,” Nico said as he patted her shoulder before heading to the door to exit their home. “You are two and twenty in a few days.”

“Oh? Am I?” Lindi asked in a snarky tone. “I had no idea. Thanks, Pa.”

His lips curled with humour. “What I’m saying is: find someone.”

“Who?” Lindi barked as she chopped into the cabbage before her, continuing to prep the stew she and her mother had planned with a little more aggression than she intended. “Because there’s only Marcus – Clyde’s son – and Joshua who are around my age, and you won’t let me go to the town with you to meet anyone else.”

A small silence fell upon them and all that could be heard was Lindi’s blade smacking against the chopping board, her mild huffs of annoyance, and her thoughts raging within her mind.

Do they think I want to be alone, cooped up in this house with them?Chop. Chop. She cringed when she nearly nicked her thumb with the blade.I’m sure they want me to make haste and marry someone who will be happy to maintain the farm with Pa, but I don’t want to just pick anyone.Chop.

She wanted someone special. Someone who would make her heart flutter. Both Marcus and Joshua left her feeling cold, as if ice was growing in her heart and between her thighs. They were each handsome in their own way, and she thought they’d be wonderful husbands, she just... didn’t see herself being with either of them.

Marcus was like a younger brother to her, and Joshua was a bit of a shy man, which was why he was six years her senior and still unwed. Although she didn’t mind that in Joshua, she just wasn’t attracted to him – but she’d never been able to figure out why.

I know I’m getting older and that I’m running out of time, but what else am I to do? Sitting here isn’t going to get me married...

“About the town...” Nico said at the doorway, cutting into Lindi’s thoughts.

Her head perked up at his strange tone, and she turned to him with her brows furrowing.

It was her mother who answered, which was likely the reason the next words were even being uttered. “We’ve decided that the next time your father goes to Rivenspire, you are to accompany him.”

Her lips parted in disbelief, then a small smile slowly curled them. “What? Really?”

“There are a few families I have developed good relationships with when trading,” Nico stated as he leaned against the doorway and folded his arms. “Your mother made me realise you’re right. You’ll never find someone here, and I know a couple of strapping young lads who would be suitable husbands. I’ll organise some meetings.”

The squeal that left Lindi was loud and piercing to her own ears as she ran for her father and threw herself into his embrace. He easily caught her, chuckling as he did, then squeezed her so tightly he lifted her to the tips of her toes.

“Thank you!” She hugged his neck tighter as she properly settled her weight onto her feet. “I would appreciate that so much.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, releasing her just enough to place a hand on the side of her face. “Any man would be lucky to have you, Lindiwe. You’re smart, hardworking, and beautiful.”

Her cheeks warmed once more. “You’re only saying that because I have your features.”

His gaze softened, which made his amber eyes seem to glow. “I think you look like your mother.” Then, like he was incapableof being serious, or perhaps because he found the conversation of her being wed uncomfortable in his own way, he said, “Unfortunately for you, I doubt you’ll find anyone as handsome as me. Your mother was a lucky woman.”

---