Cathy sighed. “Well, it’s still hard to let the world see your dirty laundry.”
“You need to read it,” Mercy said. “You’ll feel better about yourself once you do. The new owner did a fabulous job of telling your story. You came across as very brave while dealing with a scary situation. I predict you will have even more fans than you did after you took out the rabid coyote…which by the way was so badass.”
“Truth,” Lon said. “And Duke, my friend…you need to check out the video on YouTube because you’re gathering yourself quite a fan club. Most of them are women, but there are plenty of men giving you a thumbs-up, too, for taking care of business.”
“Lord,” Duke said.
Cathy laughed. “I told you.”
Jack rolled his eyes…pretending dismay. “I will never live up to my big bro’s reputation.”
“Oh…I think you’re doing okay,” Hope said. “You’re the one who’s gonna be a daddy.”
Jack grinned. “You’re right! And I’ll take that any day. I’ll also take a piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream, please.”
“You want more? After all we’ve eaten?” Hope asked.
“The first piece was pecan. We don’t want the pumpkin pie to feel left out.”
“I second that,” Duke said, then got up from the table to bring the coffeepot back to the table.
When he got to Cathy, he not only added a little coffee to her cup, but the lingering touch on the back of her neck as he paused at her seat gave her shivers. She would not be sleeping alone tonight.
* * *
It was the witching hour.
The energy in the old farmhouse was magnetic. Love was happening, moving air through the rooms like breath in and out of lungs.
A floorboard creaked—even though no man trod the planks. The grandfather clock in the living room downstairs was striking midnight as the couple in the bed upstairs continued to chase their own kind of magic.
The house had come alive within the joy of the people in it, as if sensing the burgeoning love of Duke and Cathy, and the impending arrival of a new life with Hope and Jack. Another Talbot was to be added to the generations who’d lived and died beneath this roof.
The toll of the clock had struck ten previous times…and then eleven…and then the last.
Midnight.
Another creak…a small pop…and then silence, like the long exhale of a breath—the sign a new day was just beginning, even though the occupants within were still at rest.
* * *
Hope left the farm before daybreak to begin her shift and turn in her notice.
Jack went to feed the animals on his own, leaving Duke to get Cathy home.
“I don’t want you to go,” Duke said, as they drove away from the farm.
“I don’t want to leave you, either, but our lives together will begin when we move into the new place. Not moving in with Hope and Jack.”
“I know,” Duke said. “And I agree, which is even more of an impetus to get a crew into the house to start renovation. The only drawback is that legally it doesn’t belong to me yet.”
“What all will they have to do?” Cathy asked.
“The Realtor is drawing up the papers. Hopefully, they’ll be ready for me to sign soon, and once I hand over earnest money, that seals my intent to purchase. Then we’ll get an inspector in so everything is in writing. We’ll close as soon as we can.”
“Is there anything we can do in the meantime?” she asked.
“We can’t do anything to the house…but I’m going to take the tractor and brush hog over and knock down all the grass and weeds around the place. It hasn’t been tended in months.”
“This is where I miss having a purpose,” Cathy said. “I used to volunteer a lot in Vegas, but there’s not a lot of call for volunteering around here.”
“Well, there is the upscale side of Blessings. There’s a small country club, a golf course, and the high-end lifestyle that goes with it. I understand there’s a group of women who—”
Cathy shook her head. “No thanks. I’ve been there, done that, and I want no part of that anymore. I’ll figure something out. And when we can finally start tearing into the house, I can help.”
“You should get online and start looking for design and decor. I’m no good at stuff like that. All I know is I don’t want it to look sleek and modern, but I do want the modern touches that make living life easier. We won’t have the house