Page 24 of Time to Stirrup Love
She set her mug down on a coaster. “If Phineas would like to meet me at the trailhead to the punchbowl tomorrow morning at nine, I think there are some odd jobs he can do for me and I can show him some stuff. He did say that he listens in on the conversation of fish, so I think I’ll find that very entertaining.”
Finn laughed and then set his mug down before standing up. “I’ll let him know. Thank you for that. I better get going.”
“I want to make friends here,” she said, quickly standing up to walk him to the door. “I’m not here to make enemies. I want my year in Harmony Glen to be pleasant.”
His expression hardened for a brief second. “Right. Your year here.”
Was Finn disappointed that she was only here for a set amount of time? She’d liked to think so, but she also didn’t really want to get her hopes up either. She liked Finn. A lot. She hadn’t been sure if she was going to, but the more that he opened up to her, the more she was starting to like him.
Maybe even trust him.
He was a monster of a few words, grumpy usually, but still she was drawn to him. She liked getting underneath that prickly exterior. The real problem was, what would happen if her report was showing that the fish population was in decline and that she might have to shut down his business? What would he think about her then? The idea of doing that, cutting off his stream of income, didn’t sit right with her. On the flip side, she couldn’t lie in her report.
It would put the lake and all the conservation efforts in jeopardy.
She had to be honest. It was her job.
Finn opened the door. “I’ll send Phineas to the conservation area tomorrow. Thanks again for doing this.”
“No problem. Thanks for dropping by.”
“Thanks for the coffee.” Finn lingered for a brief moment in the doorway.
There was a part of her that wanted to kiss him, but that would be very inappropriate. Even if she wanted it. And she definitely wanted it.
He turned quickly and walked down the street, disappearing around the corner of Verdant Street. Margaid shut the door, her blood thrumming through her veins.
For the first time in probably forever, she was very aware her time here was temporary and it made her sad. Growing up, she was used to not having roots, so it was weird that she wanted that right now. A place where people cared for her.
A home.
Someplace to call home, when that was something she thought she’d never have or ever want.
Chapter
Seven
“This is going to be awesome,” Phineas said enthusiastically.
“Right,” Finn agreed.
He was very thankful that Margaid had agreed to hire on Phineas for some odd jobs and that the ministry would allow her to do that. Phineas had been so excited for it, but he also hadn’t stopped talking since Finn picked him up this morning. Phineas’ bog/homestead was just on the outskirts of Harmony Glen. In the opposite direction of the farm market and the lake.
Still, it was worth the backtracking to come in and give the young lad an opportunity. Although, the endless chatter was getting to be a bit too much for Finn.
You don’t seem to mind it too much when Margaid prattles on.
Finn ignored that thought. With Margaid, it was different. They’d been opening up and he was thrilled that she wasn’t freaked out by his faux pas with following her and being shifted. And she’d been so kind and caring when he talked about his dad. And she shared a bit of herself too. About not having a family, her mom’s passing. Yet, she was strong and didn’t let it weighher down. There was something admirable about that. The problem was, Harmony Glen wasn’t her home. She was going to leave and he couldn’t. Here he had responsibilities, a business, friends and family.
Harmony Glen was his home.
The town motto mentioned people staying for happily ever afters, and maybe, just maybe, he could convince her to stay?
Why?That niggling little voice asked. One thing he always wanted was someone to share his life with, he just never met the right mate. Females were only ever interested in him because of his looks as a human and he’d managed to glamour them so they would never remember his ears or his mismatched colors, when they did see his monster form, they only wanted the novelty of playing naughty cowgirl.
Back then it had suited him just fine, but it left him feeling a bit lonely. He knew the kind of love his parents had. It was pure and devoted. Could he really have that? He wasn’t so sure.
“Here she comes, at least I think that’s her truck,” Phineas said, interrupting Finn’s thoughts.
