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Mother placed a hand on Grace’s shoulder, looking at her with tenderness. Then she turned her eyes to Garrick and nodded to him. “Thank you.” Then Mother marched toward the mayor’s copse.

“Let’s go help,” Grace said. How and what, she didn’t know, but Fidara needed her.

Garrick gently tucked her hair behind her ears. “You’ve done plenty for today. Let me help you to a seat.”

After mild protestations, Grace accepted help to walk. She still felt a bit shaky on her feet. It annoyed her. She knew she was physically able to walk, but the sight of the mayor and the horror of the experience had left her feeling weak.

To disguise her shakiness, and because any excuse to hold on to Garrick was welcome, she slipped her arms around his, hugging close.

“Come on.” They walked together through the town square to the Dahl’s home on Craftsman Ridge.

Chapter 29

Grace wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed in celebration, dropping the scythe to the ground.

The harvest wasn’t entirely complete, but this moment marked the end of Grace’s part of the process. Willa had a bit more to go, and Mother and Father were finishing up the other field.

Upwards of thirty people worked in and around the storage barn, helping to thresh the crop.

It was amazing what the town could accomplish when they came together.

The harvest would be done by nightfall.

What a relief!

Grace gathered the last armful of wheat and made her way to the storage barn.

Depositing the wheat, Grace searched the crowds and smiled when she found Garrick trying his hand at threshing.

She watched him for a time. He really was terrible at it. Milo eyed him suspiciously and then held out a hand to stop him, grabbed the wheat, and continued the process.

Chagrined, Garrick brushed off his trousers. He looked around, and, finding Grace watching him, broke into a smile. Stomach erupting in butterflies, Grace hurried to him. It pleased her to see a touch of red on his cheeks. She poked his face.

“When are you going to teach me how to do that? I love your blush.”

He pulled her hand away from his face, keeping hold as he brought it down by his side.

“I happen to adore your blushes.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Oh please. You will never convince me the blotchy mess of red that pops up on my neck and cheeks is anything but horrific.”

“You may be stubborn, but so am I. It’s adorable.”

Grace shook her head.

“And it’s very telling.”

“Ahh,” Grace said. “There’s the truth.”

He smiled.

“There are people working here!” someone said. Looking to her left, Grace saw Frank Tucker grinning at them, eyebrow raised in a knowing smirk.

“Yeah, and what are you doing?” Grace called.

That earned her a chuckle from Garrick.

“Come on,” Grace said, tugging on his hand. She led him away from the group of people.