AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hannah looked at Emma, who shot back a look of concern as the pig barreled toward them. “I have the baby.”
She pushed the stroller behind her cautiously as the pig approached. As the animal scooted up to them, Emma grabbed the collar, garnished with a pink bowtie. The pig sat right in front of her and dropped the stick at her feet.
“Aww, it’s like a real Miss Piggie.”
Jake came running up with a leash dangling from his hand. “I’m so sorry!” He was out of breath by the time he hooked the lead on. “She loves new people, and around here there are never new people.”
Emma pointed to the animal. “Look Mae, it’s a pig.”
Mae was in love. She leaned on the tray, hands extended out to the snout, letting the pig lick her fingers.
“Mae, yuck, you just took a bath!” Hannah said, pulling the baby’s hands away from the portly pink-and-grey creature.
“I’m so sorry.” He pulled the pig back, and she happily sat down next to him, snorting.
He held his hand up to shield his eyes from the low rays of the evening sun, his tattooed, toned, forearm front and center.
“What brings you out this way?” he asked.
Mae dropped her sunglasses on the ground, and Hannah reached down to grab them before she spoke. “We’re babysitting Mae for the night.”
“It’s nice to see you again.” He glanced at Emma.
“Emma,” Hannah said, “this is Mr. Malloy, who had dinner with us at the farm the other night.”
“Hi.” She waved, but her attention went back on the pig. “Is she your pet?”
He looked down at the pig, and the pig looked up at him, and Hannah couldn’t help but giggle, even though she couldn’t keep her eyes off his perfect muscles.
“She is, though she thinks it’s the other way around.” He shook his head. “Don’t you, Millie?”
“I thought you had cows?” Hannah had listened to every word he said at the dinner at the farm. He had talked about his six cows, what his plans were, even volunteering to help at Broken Eagle Ranch to gain more experience.
“I do, but I thought I’d raise some pigs, too. Millie had other plans than becoming bacon, though.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet.” Emma got down on one knee and rubbed the pig.
“She likes her chin scratched,” he said, showing her where. The pig closed her eyes and her hind leg started to kick.
“She’s adorable. I want a pig!”
“We can’t even have aguineapig in the apartment. Come on, Emma. We should finish our walk and leave Mr. Malloy and Millie to get on with their night.”
“Are you going for a walk?” he asked. “I was just headed out with Millie, down to the train trestle. It’s really nice out that way.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never really gone further than this.”
“Why don’t you join us?”
“Um…” She wasn’t sure if she should. She hadn’t told anyone at the farm where they were going. Wasn’t this exactly the kind of situation she told Emma to avoid?
“We’d love to!” Emma answered for her.
Hannah nearly squirmed with discomfort. What would they talk about? Would Mae even tolerate such a long walk? Would he bring up how she’d lost her job? Or worse, try to apologize again for what happened with Troy?
But when Jake smiled at her, she had to look away as her tummy did a teeny somersault. He gestured toward the dirt road, and they all walked side by side, with the pig leading the way.
Mae threw her glasses down on the road again.
