More than a year ago, Penny began transforming the eight rundown cottages on Anchor Lane into something that would enhance Sapphire Bay. Originally built as vacation homes for the staff of the Polson Steamboat Company, generations of families had enjoyed them.
But the hundred-year-old buildings hadn’t aged well. With hardly any maintenance having been carried out, and no budget for bringing them back to their former glory, the county had left the cottages to decay.
Penny had seen their potential. Wearing her property developer hat, she’d negotiated a contract with the county that was a win-win for everyone. The first four cottages had enabled four small businesses to open.
Owen’s mom had sent regular updates on the remodeling that had transformed the buckled and sagging homes into a flower shop, a café, a knitting and yarn store, and a quilting store.
What excited him the most were the next four homes. They’d been turned into community housing. They wouldn’t solve the housing crisis, but anything that gave people a chance to live in a safe and warm house was worth it.
With a gentle turn, he opened the door and led Harper into the cottage.
This house was even better than the first one he’d seen. The wooden floor and high ceiling spoke of an era long past, but its charm was as welcoming as the daylight flooding through the windows.
Harper looked at the quaint features of the cottage. “This is amazing,” she whispered. “I thought it’d be the same design as the other home, but Penny’s changed the layout. It’s gorgeous.”
Owen stood in the middle of the small but perfect living room. “Even though it’s been remodeled, it still feels like an old cottage.”
Harper nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “My apartment in New York was so cramped. I only had one window, and all I could see was the brick wall of the building next door. I used to dream about a place like this—with room to breathe and tons of character.”
As they wandered through the kitchen and into the backyard, Owen was surprised by Harper’s expression. Instead of being unimpressed with the empty garden, she was excited.
“It’s a blank canvas,” she murmured. “Imagine what you could grow here.”
His eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know you enjoyed gardening.”
“It’s ingrained in my DNA. My grandparents loved showing me how to look after their garden. We used to grow all sorts of vegetables and flowers.”
Owen picked up a garden gnome someone had left on the edge of the brick patio. “John warned me the backyard isn’t finished, but I prefer it this way. If my application’s accepted, I can do what I like out here.”
“It could be fantastic.” Harper moved her backpack onto her other shoulder. “Did Penny or Pastor John say how many people have applied to live here?”
“They’ve received twenty applications so far.” That might sound like a lot for a small Montana town, but Owen was grateful there weren’t more. “I missed the open day for prospective renters, so this is my only chance to see it before John makes his decision.”
“It’s in a wonderful location,” Harper told him. “And it’s a stone’s throw from where you and your sister work. If you ever want company, you can easily walk to The Fairy Forest from here.”
Owen grinned. “Sweet Treats is a short walk away, too. Between that and The Starlight Café, the cottage couldn’t be more perfect.”
Harper held her hand above her eyes as she studied the gable roof. “Before you get too excited, let’s look at the rest of the cottage. There might be something you don’t like.”
Owen laughed. “I’m thirty-six years old and live with my parents. This is the first home I’ve seen that isn’t being turned into an Airbnb. Those two things alone make it perfect.”
Harper grinned. “You’ve got a point. If Granddad didn’t have room for me in his house, I’d want to live here, too.”
As they made their way into the cottage, Harper placed her hand against one of the walls, her touch gentle, as if connecting with the cottage’s history. “Imagine the stories this cottage could tell.”
They walked by the whitewashed kitchen cabinets and dark counter. As Owen stood in the doorway of the only bathroom, he couldn’t imagine a better place to live.
Harper peered around the doorframe. “The shower’s nice and tall. You wouldn’t have to bend over to wash your hair.”
He grinned at her upturned face. “You’re lucky you don’t have to worry about things like that.”
“Are you calling me short?”
Owen had made that mistake with his sister, and he wouldn’t repeat it with Harper. “Definitely not. I’m just pointing out the advantages of being perfectly proportioned.”
Harper’s eyes narrowed a smidgen before she retreated into the hallway. “Pastor John’s wife said they want to rent the cottage as soon as possible. They’re hoping to find someone who appreciates the history of the building.”
“I’m a history buff from way back. My grandma told me stories about going to school on horseback and sneaking apples from an orchard that wasn’t far from here.”
