But he still hurried through his tasks so that he could spend more time with her.
Chapter 8
Getting To Know You
Mara reminded herself firmly that this wasn’t a date. They were going on a road trip to discuss adding chickens to the farm.
Chickens they’d tend together. As partners, not a couple.
But a girl could dream.
Working in the kitchen with Seth hadn’t made her crush disappear. If anything, it grew stronger daily. She was too old to have crushes, but her feelings wouldn’t stay under control.
He was stoic and quiet. Not quite grumpy, but skirting the edge. She wondered how much of that was pain. Physical and emotional.
She knew he’d been injured in the army, which was why he was no longer enlisted. Ford had never talked much about his own time overseas. Maybe with their dad or one of their brothers, but she suspected that if he needed to talk about what he’d experienced over there, he spoke with Knox or one of the other men who’d experienced similar things.
She couldn’t imagine. Didn’t want to.
She didn’t watch plays or read books without happy endings. There was so much sorrow and pain in the world. Nothing she wanted to experience herself, even vicariously.
That might make her a coward, but she wasn’t built for a dangerous life. Instead, she did her best to spread a little joy with her food. It wasn’t much, but her dad told her every piece of joy was important.
The silence on the drive toward Phail was comfortable. Thanks to spending time together in the kitchen, she knew Seth was an internal person. He didn’t need to fill the silence, and he didn’t do much small talk.
Okay, he never did small talk, which meant she didn’t have to stretch for a topic today. She could enjoy the scenery and his presence.
Seth had texted ahead, so when they pulled in to park beside a pretty yellow cottage, Kimi and Garrett were waiting for them, with a trio of dogs at their side.
Seth and Garrett knew each other from the military, and they did the backslapping man-hug she’d seen so often at the farm. None of these people were afraid of hugs.
Like her family. Her dad ensured they were comfortable showing love. Looking back, she could see how hard he’d worked to be both parents. Firm and kind, he’d always looked at them as individuals. And he’d made sure they had strong connections with him and with each other.
He would like these people. Mara talked to him every couple of days, but watching these men interact had her aching to call him again. She’d do that back at the farm.
Kimi reached out her hand. “I’m Kimi Twinishe-Briscoe, and this is my husband, Garrett. We’re glad to meet you. Welcome to our farm.”
Garrett shook her hand. “We hope you’ve got a little time. We love showing off everything we’re doing here.”
Kimi nodded. “We do, but if you need to hurry us along, feel free to say so.”
Mara grinned. “We don’t have guests at the inn yet, but Seth has a turkey in the oven, so we have to be back before it dries out.”
Seth nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on the time, but we’d love to see it all.”
Kimi’s veterinarian business was in the barn behind the cottage, so they headed that way. “We use these smaller corrals for new or injured animals. Or those who are nervous around the rest. Except for Snoops over there.”
A donkey brayed at them, and Kimi reached out to pat him, narrowly missing getting snagged by his enormous teeth.
Mara stayed out of reach. “I’ve never seen a live donkey before. Does he always try to bite you?”
Kimi shrugged. “Pretty much. He tries to pretend he’s fierce, but it’s mostly bravado.”
The experience reinforced Seth’s claim that a donkey wouldn’t be the best guardian for their chickens.
A group of tiny goats raced by, ducking into the donkey’s corral, and Mara’s heart raced for them. Before she could truly panic, the goats bounced around Snoops, and the grumpy donkey reached down to nuzzle at them.
Kimi smiled. “On day one, these pygmy goats decided they were going to befriend Snoops. I think he’s mellowing in his old age.”
