Page 66 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
“Come on, Mom.” Harper finished her meager breakfast just as I drained the last of my coffee, pulling on my arm to get us outside. “We have to hurry before they get away.”
The bright morning sun filtered through the changing leaves and the crisp morning air made me glad I’d dressed Harper in her wool sweater. Still, it was instantly soothing to be outside.
These woods were thick and gorgeous with mossy bark and fallen trunks. Through the clearings, you could make out the mountains in the distance. I hadn’t yet hiked past the ridge and into the valley where there was a geyser but it was on my bucket list.
All around, the world seemed to be singing as animals scurried by, preparing for winter. Fat white clouds rolled overhead. I felt lighter with each step. A tingling sound like wind chimes came from somewhere. It was beautiful, calling to me. I wanted to take my time and go look.
“This way. Hurry!” Harper tugged me along.
Miss Grace wasn’t in her usual spot by the creek in the backyard with the deck that overlooked the valley below. Instead, we ran into her out front.
Seeing her in human form after all these weeks as a dragon had me doing a double take. She looked younger somehow. Her white hair was fuller and longer. There wasn’t a crease in her ironed skirt or mark on her one-inch white pumps as she rounded the corner up the gravel drive that led to the abandoned cottages below. No one would ever be able to tell that she’d spent weeks outside.
“Oh good, you’re awake.” Miss Grace smiled at me as Harper hugged the woman’s middle. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of getting the new staff settled in for you.”
My brow furrowed. “Why would I mind?”
“As lady of the house, I assume you’ll want to organize the help the way you see fit.” Miss Grace patted Harper’s back before sending her my way. “But they arrived so early, I didn’t want to wake you and the hatchling up. Now, I’ve vetted them, but if you want to conduct your own interviews, that can be arranged.”
“Staff?” I choked. “Interviews?”
Malachy, what did you do?
“What’s a lady of the house?” Harper walked at my side.
Grace ushered us down the gravel driveway. “Your mother is.”
“Thank you, Miss Grace.” I panicked, looking for an escape and finding nothing but the looming figure of a woman just ahead.
She was a tall woman—taller than me, and I wasn’t short—with what could only be described as birthing hips and an ass I would kill for that filled out her denim pants. Her work boots and flannel shirt somehow made her look more feminine, especially with that mass of curly brown hair cascading from her ponytail and those extra wide honey brown eyes.
“Our new house keeper,” Miss Grace said. “Amanda, this is Mrs. Willow, the guardian’s mate.”
I wasn’t sure I liked being introduced that way, but Grace meant no harm. And with the way this woman was sizing me up, I realized I needed to at least act the part.
“Pleased to meet you, Amanda,” I extended my hand, mentally repeating her name so that I didn’t forget it. “I didn’t realize Malachy was hiring someone, but I’m grateful for the help. Keeping a place this big clean is a full-time job.”
There was a tense moment where she just looked at my hand hanging in the air.
Then a wide smile turned her face into one of the friendliest I’ve ever seen.
“It’s an honor to meet you, guardian’s mate or not, and lucky for you, the guardian is paying me full time to do some work around here too.” She gripped my hand and shook.Oh my God she’s strong.“You can call me Mandy. And these two trouble makers are Dakota and Kyle.”
Twin dirt-crusted cuties came tumbling out of the larger of the cottages. Both boys looked about eight years old and had curly brown hair like their mama, wearing matching devilish grins. Mandy held out her arms like a boxing rope and the boys ran right up to it before stopping.
I discreetly shook my hand to make sure no bones were broken and counted my lucky stars. “We saw them playing from the window. This is my…”
I looked to the side and my heart jumped into my throat for a moment when I couldn’t see Harper, but she was hiding behind me.
Never in her life had this girl been shy.
But it was a strange year.
“My daughter, Harper,” I said, keeping her hidden. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
The boys leaned to either side, trying to get a look at Harper. I took a step back slowly, waiting to see what she’d do.
“Hi,” she squeaked as she peeked out from behind my back. “Want to see my tire swing?”
