“What are the chances that you’re going to come home with another animal?”
“Not very high today. But when the baby chicks are on sale in a month or so, I make no promises .”
He laughs. “Once the new barn is built, I’m good with chickens.”
I make a face. “I’m not keeping chickens in my horse barn.”
“Why not? Isn’t a barn just a barn?”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t just hear that. But I have faith in you to build me a really nice chicken coo p.”
“You know what?” He steps in close, widening his stance. “I’d like that.”
I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. “I would too. I really like our little farm and our little family.”
“I do think we should eventually expand it.”
My heart lurches in my chest. Obviously, we see a future together or we wouldn’t have moved into the same house so soon. We’ve pretty vaguely talked about the future together. I always hoped I’d find someone who loved me and I’d settle down, get married, and have a kid of my own.
Ethan never thought he would.
But things changed when he met me, and now he knows he can have a similar future.
“With more animals?” I smile and raise my eyebrows.
“Among other things.” He kisses me again and steps back, slowly letting out a breath. “I’ll count on defensive training with you in a few hours.”
“I won’t be gone that long.”
He cocks an eyebrow and I laugh. Ethan knows me too well. “Fine. I might spend an hour looking at the new horse stuff they have.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He grabs me around the waist and kisses me once more before Hunter and I finally set out. The remaining snow and ice have finally melted away, though it’s not unusual to get a decent snowfall in late March in the Midwest.
There’s only one feed store in the area, and it’s located in Paradise Valley, not Thorne Hill. Everyone else must be taking advantage of the somewhat warm day, and I park in the back of the full lot and head in, with Hunter walking in sync with me, right at my side.
Grabbing a cart, I decide to get a few bags of feed and hay cubes while I’m here, as well as a bunch of stuff I want but don’t need. Hunter and I actually make good time and get in line only forty minutes after we came into the store.
“Anora?” someone calls, stepping in line behind me.
Turning, I see one of my few neighbors. “Donna. Hi,” I say back.
Donna waves and nudges the friend she’s with, loudly whispering, “She’s old Estelle’s niece and lives in her big, old house.”
“How are you?” I go on, wanting to be polite. I push my cart forward a bit, moving up in line. Only one cashier is open and there are three people ahead of me.
“Good, of course. Busy as ever with the kids!” She laughs and looks me up and down before shifting her eyes to Hunter. He’s not on a leash and I know it’s killing her not to say anything. As a vet tech, I’ll be the first to say it doesn’t matter how well-trained your dog is, you need to respect leash laws and always be prepared for anything.
But Hunter isn’t a dog.
“What about you? I saw you have permits filed with the county for construction on your property. What are you doing?”
I blink, surprised but also not. Because, of course, Donna would know everyone’s business. “I’m having a new barn and indoor arena built once the ground thaws.”
“Oh, wow. How nice. And expensive? I thought you said you weren’t working at the moment.”
“I’m not working as a vet tech.” Reaching down, I rub Hunter’s ear between my fingers, comforted by his soft fur. Where this woman gets her audacity is beyond me. The line moves again and I turn, wanting to just leave it at that.
“What about your husband?”
“My boyfriend,” I correct, knowing Donna did that on purpose. “And what about him?”
“What does he do for a living?” She smiles again, eyes not matching her smile in the least.
“He’s a private contractor at a security company,” I say, unable to recall if I’d already made something up. I haven’t talked to Donna very often, but the few times I have, of course, were awkward. Though, again, if she only knew.
Mean girls grow up to be petty, unhappy housewives, and there might have been a time when her backhanded comments and not-so-hidden insults would have upset me. But I look at her now and can only think how small she is. Small-minded and small-hearted, if that’s a thing. But all she knows is her small-town gossip and stupid drama. S he’s totally oblivious that a hidden door to a secret world is in the heart of her town.