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"That's fantastic, Everleigh."
Her cheeks heated at the praise from Henry's father. Praise hadn't come that easy from her parents. She'd need to let all that baggage go. Her parents were good people, they just weren't great parents. Not everyone was.
39
It took them four hours to move the seven horses to their farm and set them up in their stalls. The fact that the guys had done the bulk of the work during the day helped tremendously.
He was tired, sweaty, and hungry. Mostly hungry. Maybe tired. Ack, it was hard to tell what he mostly was. But, hanging the last of the saddles, bridles, and other articles in the tack room, he was ready for something to eat.
He stepped onto the middle apron in the barn and saw Everleigh talking to Harper. "This is your new home. I hope you'll be happy here."
He grinned as he watched her talk to the horse. For her part, Harper nodded and snorted as if she understood. Everleigh was a horse whisperer.
She turned her head and smiled the brightest smile he'd ever seen. "Harper and I are in agreement that it's quite nice here."
He chuckled. "I'm happy to hear that. I think it is too."
He bent down and kissed her lips. She pulled back. "I think I stink."
He laughed from deep down in his belly. "You can't smell more than I do." He turned and saw his dad and Tate moving something outside. "Or any of us for that matter."
She giggled.
"Let's go eat." He held his hand out to her and the instant they connected, his heart sang. Stepping outside, he saw Spencer up on a ladder on the side of the barn.
"Hey, Spence. Let's eat."
"Yep. I'll be right there."
They gathered folks as they neared the house and that's when his stomach growled in earnest. The aromas coming from inside made him feel like a starving man nearing a feast.
Inside they froze. The transformation was astounding. "Holy shit." He whispered.
"Yeah." Everleigh responded.
His mom entered from the dining room. "What do you think?"
The living room, which was directly across the foyer from the front door had been rearranged, cleaned, and furniture from other rooms had been moved in. It was cozy and it looked like it could be in a magazine.
“Now, keep in mind the wallpaper is old and it should be removed or replaced. I’m happy to work with you on that. But, for purposes of getting you settled in, this is what we’ve come up with.”
He and Everleigh stood speechless for a few moments. She finally found her voice first.
“I never would have come up with that arrangement. It looks like a scene from a movie.”
His mom beamed. “I think it turned out lovely. Once we have the floors refinished and the painting complete, it’ll be simply stunning. The wood in this house is amazingly preserved.”
He moved gently into the living room and turned around slowly to take in all that had been done in such a short time. He turned as he took in the fireplace with its gleaming wood and ornate marble façade. He hadn't noticed the intricate carving in the wood mantel before. It hadn't been his focus at all actually. The hearth matched the marble around the fireplace, and it shined.
"Bridget scrubbed on this fireplace for an hour. It was so dirty and dusty you couldn't see what was beneath."
"She did an amazing job." He breathed.
Across the room from the fireplace was a wall of bookshelves. There were a few encyclopedias on the shelves, and miscellaneous books scattered here and there, but for the most part, the shelves were clean, but empty.
His eyes scanned the detailing on the shelves, it matched the fireplace. He'd enjoy this room. It felt homey and comfortable. The rug that covered the floor was worn and the edges frayed, but that was replaceable.
He turned to see Everleigh transfixed on the detailing. "What do you think, Ev?"
