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“Rabbits. Squirrels. Raccoons. I’ve seen a fox a few times too, and coyotes. And a possum or two. “
The brush thins, and we return to walking side by side. Her nose wrinkles. “Those look like rats, yes?”
“Yeah. Really large rats. They like to get into the garbage, too.”
Sophia nods. “Yes, I tried to take out your trash, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it open. I’d never thought about it, but I don’t suppose a rubbish collector comes all the way up here. What do you do with it?”
“Have to take it to the dump myself. I try to do it whenever I go into town, so it doesn’t pile up too bad. In the winter I go less often, but it’s cold, so the trash doesn’t stink.”
I fight to keep from rolling my eyes at how this is the most unromantic conversation I’ve ever had. I picture Sophia heading back to Ireland, laughing about the man whose longest conversation with her was about where he disposes of his trash through various seasons of the year.
“No dangerous animals, then?” she asks. “Or do the possums swarm and carry them off in the night?”
I laugh. “No, not the possums. I do see the occasional bear, though generally not from too close. You can smell them coming, they stink so bad.”
Sophia raises her eyebrows. “You mean you don’t cuddle up to them like a great big teddy?”
I shake my head. “The ones you really need to watch out for are the moose.”
“Moose,” she says as if I might be joking. “Really?”
“It’s true. A spooked moose will charge as soon as it looks at you, and those antlers hit like a semi when they get going. They’re big, but they’re quiet, so if you’re out here and you don’t see them, it’s easy to step between a momma and her babies accidentally. And then…” I whistle. “Watch out.”
Sophia looks around as if I’ve just told her the woods are haunted. “So what do you do if you run into a moose?”
“Get behind a tree. A big, sturdy one. They have to charge in a straight line, and if there’s a tree between you and it, you’re safe. Then you kind of skip from tree to tree, moving away.”
Cocoa charges off through the underbrush.
“And just hope Cocoa doesn’t get it into her head to defend you. She’s got the good sense to steer clear unless she thinks someone might be threatening her pack. One time, she got between a moose and me and barked up a storm, while the moose lowered its antlers and just about charged. I was long clear before Cocoa realized it and left that beast alone, and it didn’t matter how much I yelled at her.”
“Do you think she’s accepted me into her pack already?” Sophia asks with a grin.
I’m pretty sure she has, though it’s not like there’s a lot of competition. Cocoa’s been stuck up here so long with no one but me, it’s no wonder she’s latched onto the first person to come along who’ll scratch behind her ears. “Given how happy she was to bring you that branch, I think she’s happy you’re here.”
Sophia looks at me sideways as she steps over a large fern. “And her owner?”
My breath catches. I don’t want to say anything stupid, but I can’t keep putting her off. I invited her here, after all. I paid for her to come. What did I do that for, if not to spend time with her, to be honest about my intentions? “I’m glad you’re here, too,” I admit.
Sophia smiles like she’s happy to hear it, and I realize she’s probably been wondering these last few days if I think I’ve made a mistake because I’ve been in my own world. What I think remains to be seen, but I don’t have any regrets so far.
“What made you decide to apply with the agency?” she asks.
I wonder if she’s intentionally not using the words mail order bride. It seems so crass and outdated, and yet it’s precisely what I’ve done.
I clear my throat. She knows my mother is dying, but I haven’t exactly given her the specifics. “I gave up on dating a long time ago. And my mom, they say she doesn’t have more than a few months to live. When she got diagnosed with cancer, the only thing she asked of me was to try to find someone. She knew I wasn’t dating, and she’s the only family I have, so I know she’s worried about leaving me alone. Plus, it’s always been a dream of hers to be at my wedding. I think it’s the last thing she wants to see before she dies.”
Sophia looks sad, and I worry Sophia’s going to feel disappointed that I brought her here essentially for my mother’s dying wish.
But then she smiles. “That’s sweet, that you want to do that for her.”
I shrug. “Yeah, well. I haven’t been the best son in the world. Seems like the least I can do.”
Sophia laughs. “The least you can do is find a wife through an international dating service, fly her to the US, and try to decide if you can marry her on thirty days notice? Yes, well. At least you didn’t have to go far out of your way.”
I can’t help but smile back at her, and her eyes dance.
God, she’s beautiful. And sweet, and charming, and funny as hell. I want to convince her to stay with me. I’m starting to get used to her being here.
