been a blessing for the farm.”
A long sigh traveled past Kianna’s lips. “I know.”
It was true. Giles was getting old and he didn’t have the stamina to work all day in the field, especially when it was too hot or too cold. Her mother was thirty-eight, not too old. But after years working in the field and running the house and managing the kids, her back hurt more days than not, her hands were covered in calluses, and her face was becoming covered in wrinkles. Kianna thought her mother was still beautiful, but it was easy to see all the hard work taking its toll.
“And he’s not bad to look at either.” Cat winked at Kianna, who groaned. “What? It’s true!” She gestured to the window. “Look at him. He’s handsome and strong, and he has been helping your family like no one ever did.” Again, Cat was right. “If I were you, I would forget all about an arranged marriage and marry him.”
Kianna gasped. “Cat!”
The girl shrugged. “What?”
“That’s … not even an idea.” Kianna lowered her gaze, focusing on the produce in the wash basin.
If it wasn’t an idea to consider, then why had her stomach tightened at the thought? It was silly, really. Just because he was handsome, and helped care for her family and treated her with respect? She didn’t know where he came from, his family. What if he was already married? Or had a debt bigger than her family’s?
Marrying him, or even thinking about it, was impossible.
“Your mother told me he’s staying.”
Kianna nodded. She had had her first big argument with her mother when she told her the news last night. “My mother said he doesn’t remember anything from his past and he has nowhere to go. So, she offered to let him stay here. He'll work the farm for housing and food and little compensation.” She gestured one wet hand at the view outside. “He accepted the offer.”
Though, she didn’t consider sleeping on a cot in the barn alongside the tools as housing, but he didn’t seem to mind. Not that she wanted him sleeping inside the house. If her mother even tried to move him into the spare room, Kianna would put her foot down.
“Who wouldn’t?” Cat asked.
Kianna stared at her. “What?”
“I mean, it’s just like he said. He doesn’t remember anything and has nowhere to go. He’s all alone, but he found your family, who has been kind and welcoming to him.” Kianna narrowed her eyes and Cat chuckled. “All right, most of you have welcomed him with open arms. Why would he want to leave?”
Kianna’s gaze returned to the young man in the field. When Cat put it that way, when Kianna allowed her prejudice and fear of the stranger and his intentions fade, then she could understand it too. If it were her, lost and alone, she would cling to any offered help with all she had.
And that was exactly what Devon was doing.
Then why, even after knowing this, did Kianna feel like she had to guard her family and herself from him?
Devon straightened, lowering the plow he had in his hands, and glanced to the bottom of the hill. Two seconds later, Kianna’s mother walked past the window, going to the front of the house. Selina and Calvin ran after her.
“What’s going on?” Kianna dropped the vegetables and dried her hands on the apron tied around her waist.
Cat furrowed. “I don’t know.”
The two rushed through the house. Kianna paused at the heavy, double wooden doors in the foyer as a strident, loud voice carried.
“Oh no,” she muttered.
She flung the doors open and immediately regretted it.
A large carriage with a red velvet top and golden embroidery rested in front of the stone steps leading to the manor, and a plump woman, with bright red lips and wheat-colored hair pulled into an updo atop her big head, waved from the open window over the door. “Ophelia! It's been ages!”
A coachman hopped down from the front of the carriage and opened the door. The woman took his hand and climbed down the steps, until she was standing a couple of feet from Kianna's mother, her fancy dark blue gown spilling around her.
“Hello, Jocelyn,” her mother said, her voice edged with concealed anger. “What brings you here?”
Kianna’s stomach tightened as she stared at the woman’s fake smile. “Oh, I was just on my way to the village and remembered I used to stop for tea every now and then.” Her eyes scanned the