Page 19 of Hoof It

Nineteen

Chapter 18

Jimazu

M y head snaps to the side and I jump off the bed. I search around for something to pull the angry pot off of the fire. Darcy holds her hand out, a shirt hanging from it. I take it from her with a quick, muttered, “Thank you.” I pick up the pot as carefully as I can and walk a few feet away from the fire before putting it down on the floor. I look down into the pot and see that the potatoes are stuck to the bottom. Pieces of black peek out amidst the mess. I drop my chin to my chest.

A hand gently rubs my back between my shoulder blades, and lips meet the middle of my back. I turn and take my mate into my arms.

“My plans for our meal are ruined. I apologize, little mate.”

Her shoulder, the one not marked, lifts and drops. “We all mess up sometimes, Zu. It’s alright. We can pick something else.”

I sigh. “I know that you speak truth. But, I was looking forward to smashing those and feeding them to you.”

Unsuccessfully attempting to stifle a soft giggle, Darcy leans back in my embrace and looks up at me. “I can tell you were. I’m sorry that I distracted you and the smashed potatoes are ruined. What if we eat something simple for our mid-day meal, and then later tonight you can try again with the potatoes, and I’ll keep myself busy while you cook so that you aren’t distracted again?”

I look between her eyes and see the sincerity in her words. “I like that idea. As long as I can still feed you.”

Her face transforms into a look of confusion. “Feed me? Like, you cook and I eat? Or you hand feed me each bite?”

My cheeks flush and my words are soft. “I’d love to feed you each bite, if you’ll let me. I want to take care of you in all ways, little mate. Why do you think I carry you so often?”

Darcy is silent, but her eyes shine with emotion and tears. She sends so much love and gratefulness down that bond that it nearly takes me to my knees. She buries her face in my chest and tightens her arms around my mid-section.

“I am so fucking glad to have met you, Zu. You have no idea what you mean to me. Or how much I appreciate you being so…eager and happy to take care of me. You’re incredible.”

I drop a kiss to her hair and simply hold her as I commit this moment to memory. Not that I want to forget any moment spent with my mate. But this moment in which Darcy is being so open with me? I never want to forget it.

“I love you, Darcy. I will always take care of you in every way I am able.”

She kisses my chest before pulling away from me. I’m hit with an idea.

“Why don’t you get dressed, and I’ll show you where I grow some of my food. I haven’t picked anything in many days, so I’m sure that there will be plenty to harvest. There’s nothing better than fresh food that you grew and harvested yourself.”

Darcy grows excited at the thought. While she rushes around to find clothing, I return to the food storage and pick up a couple of smaller baskets. When I return to the living area, my mate already has her leggings and hoodie –I think is what she called it– on. She’s seated on our bed and putting her shoes on.

She glances up and smiles at me. Walking in front of where she’s seated, I crouch down and offer her my back. “Climb on.”

Darcy easily climbs on my back and wraps her arms and legs around me before I stand up. Baskets in hand, and mate on my back, I walk through the entrance and outside towards the area where I grow my food. My mate rests her chin on my shoulder and occasionally places soft kisses on her bite mark. I can’t help but to shiver each time.

The love and contentment rolling through the bond as we walk has my heart feeling full. I revel in the feeling quietly until we approach my growing field. Darcy’s surprise catches me off guard and I barely keep myself from stumbling. She taps my arm to be let down, so I bend my knees and bring her closer to the ground. She takes a single step away from me and spins in a slow circle as she takes it in. I don’t even attempt to hide the pride that I feel. I put a lot of work into making sure I can feed myself, and now my mate as well.

I stand quietly as she turns and faces me. “You grew all of this?” I’m hit with her feelings of disbelief.

“Yes. It took me many days to turn over and prep the soil. The first year yielded no crop. The second, it was small. Were it not for all of the fruit trees nearby, I wouldn’t have survived either of those winters. After that, it started to produce more than enough to last me all year.”

“This is absolutely incredible, Zu! Will you show me what’s what?” Her hand motions to the rows of growing vegetation.

I walk to the first section. It’s several rows wide, and each is three times longer than I am tall. I measured over and over to ensure that each row was the same length.

“These rows are all summer squash. So far I’ve only harvested from the first two rows. Today we’re going to harvest the next two. In about a week we’ll need to harvest the last two rows.” I move to the next section. “These ones are all potatoes. The three rows closest to the squash have been harvested. Today we’ll dig up the third, fourth, and fifth rows. Next week we’ll need to pull up the final two rows before the potatoes begin to rot.” I walk the short distance to the final area that’s been planted.

“These are the pumpkins. They’re not quite ready to be harvested yet. The first two rows are all smaller pumpkins that are more for roasting. The last row is the larger pumpkins that I grow for the seeds.”

Her eyes continue to take in the rows of green leaves in various stages of growth. “What do you plan to plant there?” She points to a large empty area. My eyes follow her finger.

“I don’t have anything planned for there. I know that I want something, I just don’t know what. If you would like, it can be an area where you decide what to plant and grow?”

Her face lights up and her excitement is contagious. Even if we didn’t share a bond, I would be able to feel it rolling off of her.

Darcy launches herself into my arms. “Really? I can choose what we plant and grow?” She kisses my face over and over as I laugh.

“Yes, little mate. You can choose. It’s too late in the season now to plant anything. But you’ll have all winter to make up your mind. In the spring, once the snow has melted for good, I’ll turn over the soil so that you can plant whatever you decide. It can be nearly anything. It doesn’t have to be something we eat. It can be wildflowers if that would make you happy.”

She attacks my face with kisses again. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I’ve never had a garden before!”

I chuckle lightly. “You’re welcome. I look forward to learning what you decide.” I kiss the top of her head before pulling away. “Are you ready to harvest vegetables before we go home?”

Her head bobs up and down excitedly. “Show me what to do and put me to work!”

Her eyes stay on mine as I explain how to properly harvest the squash and potatoes. Confident that she will be able to pull or dig them up easily, I hand her one of the baskets to fill up. While she picks the squash, I move to the pumpkin patch. I slowly walk each row to inspect the individual plants for insects that may harm the stalks. I also check that every individual mother plant is healthy. Once I’m satisfied that there aren’t any pests or diseases, I head back to the main patch and begin digging up potatoes from the rows that are ready.

Half an hour later, I’m nearing the end of my last row. I glance up and see my mate seated in the grassy area. She’s leaning back on her hands, her face tipped up towards the sun. A full basket sits beside her, full to the brim with yellow squash in all different sizes. I focus on our bond and she feels peaceful, content even.

I finish harvesting the last of the row and drop the final potato into my basket. It’s just as full as hers is. Picking up the basket, I walk towards my mate. I place my basket next to hers and sit behind her, pulling her in between my legs. She leans back onto me and we sit in the silence, enjoying the warm sun. The stream nearby burbles softly, and birds fly around as they chirp to one another. My head tips backwards so the sunlight warms my face.

Time loses meaning as we both enjoy the moment in the sun together. I can’t help but picture what the future will be like now that I’ve met my mate. My future looks far more appealing now than it did even days prior. I’m excited for whatever may happen.

“You said we need to inspect everything next?” Darcy’s voice startles me and I jump lightly. Her head is turned towards me. She laughs at the look on my face as my eyes pop open. “Sorry, Zu. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I roll my head from side to side to loosen the spots that grew tight while my head was tipped towards the sun. “It’s alright. I was just enjoying the sun.” I smile at her. “Can you hear the stream?”

Darcy scrunches her eyes closed, then shakes her head. “No.” Her eyes open and meet mine.

I lift my hand and point behind my back. “It’s that way. It’s actually the stream that you and your friends walked to that day. We’re a small way upstream from where you were though. Near the bush you stopped and inspected.”

“I knew you were there!” She swats at my leg playfully and I laugh.

“I was, yes. Only a small distance away from where you were, in fact. Had you taken only a few steps deeper into the bushes, you would have seen me.”

Her head moves slowly from side to side and her smile spreads. Then her face falls. “So, that means you heard what the other two were saying?”

“That it was, what’s the word? Creepy?”

Darcy nods once, and shame fills the bond. “I am so damn sorry that they said those things. I wish they hadn’t.”

I pick her up and turn her around to sit on my legs and face me. I hold her chin between my thumb and first finger. “You need not apologize for the actions of others. They are your friends and simply wish to look out for you. I do not fault them for that. Exactly the opposite, truthfully. I…” I pause when I can’t think of the word. Instead, I send the exact feeling through the bond.

Darcy tilts her head to the side as it registers. “Admire? Wait. No.” She thinks for a minute. “Respect. You respect them.”

“Yes. I respect them for being so protective over you. I’m forever in their debt for looking out for you the way that they have.”

Her response is immediate. “That’s what family does, Zu. They look out for and protect one another. Lexi and Frankie aren’t the family I was born into, but that never mattered to me. They’re my chosen family. And now you’re part of my chosen family too.”