“He chased me until he soaked me thoroughly,” Willow told the huge Warrior.
Caleb held up his hands. “That’s not—”
“It sounds like you enjoyed yourself,” Jonas said to Caleb, cutting him off.
“I did, but—”
“You should do it more often,” his second in command said. “And by the way, I brought those supplies you wanted. They’re outside, in the back by the door.”
Caleb smiled, forgetting the water and everything else. “Thank you, Jonas.”
He took Willow’s hand and led her out of the cottage.
“What did he bring?” she asked as he led her around the back of the house.
“You’re impatient, aren’t you,” he remarked, slanting his glance at her.
“No, I’m curious.”
He smiled, loving her clever defense. She may have been pampered but stripped of her comforts, she’d learned to do things for herself and worked until her hands bled.
She was part of this now. Part of Shondravar. He wanted her to feel it.
“Caleb, what is all this?”
He looked down and nodded. Everything was there: ten sacks of soil, a watering can, a small trowel, a fork, and a small wheelbarrow with twelve large stones inside. “Your garden.”
“My…” The soft gasp that parted Willow’s lips made Caleb thankful for the idea.
“It won’t be too big, but—”
“Caleb,” she cut him off, lifting her eyes to him. “You’re giving me my own garden?”
Emotions suddenly washed over him and he felt his eyes grow misty. He didn’t know why. He loved the idea of others planting and loving it. If Willow was one of them…he closed his eyes for a moment and said a quick prayer. “Yes. This will be yours. I’ll help you lay the soil and prepare it. You can plant vegetables or herbs, or even flowers.”
“Vegetables,” she told him in an awe-filled voice.
He was surprised. He thought she’d want pretty flowers.
“When you give something life, your love for it will never fade,” he told her softly.
“When can we began?” she asked. Her eyes were lit from within.
“Now,” he laughed, reaching for one of the stones.
“But I thought you had to help someone plant some—” she laughed softly. “Oh, you meant me this morning.”
Drawn by her laughter he moved closer, hauling his heavy stone with him, and bent his lips to her ear. “Yes, I meant you.” He withdrew from her ear and kissed her mouth.
“Now tell me, where do you want your garden?” He looked around. “Near the back door?”
She nodded with enthusiasm.
He carried each stone to the spot and created a large half circle against the back wall of the house. They dumped the ten bags of soil and Caleb mixed it with compost.
Willow helped, and while Jonas delivered some carrot, cucumber, and pepper seeds, she even hurried inside to change into her pants so she could get down on her knees in the soil and not harm Shauna’s gown.
Caleb showed her how to plant the seeds and how to care for them. There was no seasonal schedule for sowing and reaping as there were no seasons.
“I want you to feel the earth between your fingers,” Caleb told her coming to kneel beside her. He took her hands, covered in soil and rubbed his palms over them. “Care for it and it will give itself back to you.”
“I will care for it,” she promised and leaned in to sweep her lips over his. She blushed at herself for being so bold—but not bold enough to actually kiss him.
“I will speak to Pastor Joseph about marrying us.”
“Yes,” she laughed softly, blushing again. “Please do.”
He kissed her soft mouth, then rose to his feet and left her, just as he had once left Jonas on a hill long ago. He left her to dream her very first dreams of a land filled with color and rich with life. It wasn’t too late to save Predaria and now, part of it was in her hands, placed there by its own Warrior angel.
Willow worked in her garden every day for the next week, planting the new seeds Caleb had traded to get for her. She loved the feel of