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She gave a relieved sigh and turned back to Temel.
“No need to move furniture then.”
“But we can move more in.” Ida smiled at her. “I know there’s a halfway decent couch in one of the storage buildings and I think there’s a rocker as well. You’re welcome to come and take a look and see if there’s anything else you want.”
“You don’t need to give us more furniture. You’ve already been very generous.”
Ida shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I’d love to see it put to good use. All of it is from the various farmhouses on the property. Matthew took it after he acquired the farms, although he was very random about what he put in storage.” She sighed. “I used to see him in town occasionally before he moved away and I always thought he was a very unpleasant man. Of course, I didn’t realize then that he was running people off their land.”
“Celenk told me. What an awful man.”
Temel had carried the big basket inside and they started putting things away as they talked while Temel and Celenk went to inspect the rest of the house.
“He bought out some of the other farmers - not always willingly - but others he drove away with threats or sabotage. Definitely not a nice man.”
“Celenk said there was only one woman left and her mate convinced him to sell, with some help from his friends?”
Ida laughed and lowered her voice.
“That’s what Rosie told me - she’s the one who was left. One of the warriors from the ranch threatened to eat him.”
“What?!”
“Oh. not really, of course. I’ve met Benjar a few times. He’s the sweetest thing - and very good-looking - but he does have some very impressive teeth.”
They were both laughing when the males returned. From the look Temel gave Ida, she wondered how much he’d overheard, but he didn’t say anything. Ida announced it was time for them to leave and now they were alone at last - except Celenk still seemed distracted.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yes, my flower. And no, I’m not worried about the work although it may take longer than you anticipate.”
She forced herself to smile, even though the reminder that their time was limited made her chest hurt.
“Six months should be plenty of time.”
He started to say something, then shook his head.
“You’re right. Six months is a long time.”
Raja had been perched on her shoulder, but now he tugged on a strand of hair and she sighed.
“You can’t use my hair as a dinner well, Raja, and you can’t possibly be hungry after devouring that huge slice of cake.”
He chittered softly and gave her a pitiful look. She laughed.
“I think he’s a better actor than you are, Celenk. He actually looks as if he were starving.”
“Actor?”
“Acting like I was really your wife in front of Ida and Temel. I thought you were very convincing.”
So convincing that it made her heart ache even more at the thought of leaving him. I have six months, she reminded herself. I’ll just have to enjoy them as much as I can.
“You were very convincing yourself,” he said slowly.
Because it didn’t feel like an act.
But she couldn’t bring herself to tell him that. Instead she thanked him and led the way back to the kitchen to feed Raja and start putting together a simple dinner. They worked together as they always did, but he was still unusually silent, frowning down at the vegetables he was cutting.
