Page 10 of Time to Stirrup Love (Harmony Glen #10)

Chapter

Six

T he storm raged for the rest of the day. Margaid worked on her reports and went over her findings with the samples she collected, but then knew she needed to go get some more groceries.

By the time she headed out, the rain was light and there wasn’t thunder and lightning.

Pearl had talked about the farm market, so she looked on the little map that Hetty provided for her short-term rental and easily found her way to the outskirts of town.

The farm market was a low red barn building, surrounded by orchards and crop fields, and it was so picturesque just outside of Harmony Glen.

It was like something out of a Rockwell painting. Just cozy and twee, as her mother would say. She made sure she had some reusable bags packed and headed inside. The moment she stepped in, she was greeted by a tall green fellow, whom she assumed was the owner.

“Let me know if you need any help,” he offered.

“Thanks.” Margaid walked through the aisles and picked up some fresh eggs and produce.

Then she found the little spot where Pearl and Hetty sold their stuff.

There were the squishy crocheted penises, which made her chuckle, but also cute amigurumi monsters and woodland creatures.

There were some beautiful beach glass beaded bracelets, but Margaid was drawn to the little paint horse. The yarn was in the colors of Finn.

Don’t do it. It’s weird.

Except, she couldn’t resist and she put it in her basket and made her way to the till to pay for her items.

The troll owner was there and she set her basket down.

“You new to town or just visiting?” he asked.

“I’m here for a year. I’m the marine biologist studying the fish populations in your lake. Have to make sure they and the lake are healthy. My name is Margaid.”

“Oh, I see. Well, welcome to Harmony Glen. I’m Ogram. This is my farm market,” he said as he rang the items in. Then he got to the horse. “I’m glad you’re picking up one of the animals. Many tourists buy the…others.”

Margaid stifled a laugh. “Pearl told me that it had something do with good fortune. Historically, phalluses were used to dispel the evil eye.”

Great. Way to nerd out on one of the locals with your useless facts.

Ogram blinked a couple of times, seemingly stunned, perhaps at the flurry of useless information she’d just imparted on him. “Interesting. Maybe I’ll tell that to the next person who buys one.”

“Maybe.”

Ogram finished ringing in her order and she paid. She headed straight for her truck and drove back to her place. When she got there, Finn was standing outside and holding a bag. Her heart fluttered as she put her truck in park and climbed out.

“Finn?” she said in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I was in the area. I had to pick up some scones for my mom from Dorvak’s. It’s not far from here and I thought I’d stop by. It was quite the storm today and…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to see if you’re okay.”

“I’m okay,” she said gently. It was so cute how he was concerned about her, but he’d been the one terrified of the storm because of what happened to his father. Still, it was nice he was checking on her. No one checked on her. It was comforting.

“I’m glad.” He lingered. “Actually, I do have a favor to ask.”

“Sure, well why don’t you come in and I’ll make some coffee and we can talk about this favor.”

“That would be good.”

Margaid opened the door and Finn followed her in, ducking to get under the doorframe. He stood there for a few minutes in the porch area of the cottage. He kicked off his big rubber boots.

“Make yourself at home and I’ll put the coffee pot on.” She headed to the kitchen, turned on the little coffee maker and put her groceries away, making sure she hid the little horse away in her bedroom.

Once she came back, she poured two cups of coffee and this time, she served Finn, who was perched on the edge of the floral couch. It looked like he was ready to bolt at any second.

“So, this favor,” she said, trying to dispel with any awkward tension as she handed him a mug of coffee and then curled up in the matching floral arm chair across from the couch. “What’s up?”

“It’s Phineas.”

It took her a moment to jog her memory. “The young swamp monster?”

Finn nodded. “Gill man. He’s kind of like an adopted son of mine. I took him under my wing when his parents died.”

“Yes, I remember you telling me that.”

Parentless, something she and Phineas had in common.

“He tries to make ends meet with various jobs. I hire him at the height of my busy season, which is still a month away, but I was wondering if your agency had any kind of ability to hire him out. He’d be good at diving down and getting samples etcetera.

I also think he has the aptitude for science and I want to encourage him to broaden his horizons beyond the odd jobs he does now. ”

“I have some room to hire him for occasional work. It’s sweet you care for him so much.”

Finn dipped his head and took a sip of coffee. “Well, I sort of see his perspective. He was orphaned so young.”

“Do you mind me asking what happened?”

“No, he won’t mind you knowing either. He likes you.

It was before the Great Revelation, obviously.

Not all monsters were accepted. Phineas’ parents were caught in an unfortunate incident outside of Harmony Glen.

They’d come here with Phineas to escape persecution, but when they left to finish the move, their previous town…

well, they died in an accident. And I use the term accident loosely. ”

“That’s horrible.” How could the world be so cruel? Then again, monsters had remained in hiding for so long, but she understood why. As far as she was concerned, it was a better world now they were out there.

“My dad took him in, but Phineas wanted to live on the land and in the house his parents built outright. So, my parents checked in on him. His dad was a peat moss farmer, so Phineas does that. Sells a lot of it to the botanical gardens, to Dazy, who is the gardener there, and to people around town. In the winter, he doesn’t farm that because of the snow, so he does all these extra jobs so he has an income.

The thing is, he’s smart. If given the chance, he could go to school and maybe be a doctor or something like that. ”

Phineas was lucky he had so many people in this town who cared about him. She had just graduated when her mother died. There was no extended family left. It had just been her at the funeral. Just her interring her mother’s ashes next to her late grandma.

She was envious of Phineas.

“You really do care about him, don’t you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Finn asked.

“You didn’t seem like the most friendly guy when I first met you.”

He sighed and spun the half empty mug of coffee around in his hand. “Trust is hard for me.”

“I understand that,” she said quietly. “Truly I do.”

She’d been hurt numerous times, watched her mother struggle with abandonment and hurt.

A lot of people turned their backs on her and her mom.

And Margaid had faced backstabbing and competition in her line of work.

It’s why she guarded her heart so closely.

Trust had to be earned and it wasn’t easy to give.

It was also hard to be trusted because she moved around so much.

No one got to know her.

“Do you?” he asked.

“Of course, my field is very male dominated. Not many men like a woman who gets a promotion over them. I’ve had a few relationships end because of that. I have to fight for everything. Something my mother taught me growing up. You have to learn to rely on yourself.”

Finn nodded. “Right.”

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.