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“Was a fool, I hope.”
“Absolutely. I love you, my flower.”
She looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a misty smile.
“I love you too.”
They rode down the lane to their house, its flaws invisible in the moonlight, as a peace he’d never known settled over him.
Home. He was home at last.
EPILOGUE
Six months later…
Celenk peered out of the window at the white flakes that had been drifting down all afternoon, then shook his head.
“If this keeps up, I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it to the main house tomorrow for this Christmas celebration you’ve been planning.”
“Nonsense,” she said cheerfully. “You’re going to insist on checking on the cattle, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but-”
“If you can make it through the snow to check on them, then we can make it through the snow for Christmas dinner.”
“I don’t want you to get chilled, my flower.”
She rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m not as delicate as you seem to think.”
“I know very well how strong your spirit is, but your body is more delicate. And Raja doesn’t like the snow,” he added hopefully and she laughed.
The kedji was most definitely not a fan of snow. The first time he’d stepped off the porch and almost disappeared in a fluffy cloud of white, he’d squealed loudly and scrambled back up the steps, chittering unhappily. As much as he enjoyed playing in the water, he did not enjoy being surrounded by cold wet snow. He’d refused to go out in it again, preferring to remain curled up by the fire when he wasn’t in her lap or Celenk’s. Fortunately, he was quite happy to use the litter box Celenk had rigged up for him.
“That’s not a very convincing argument since we both know quite well that he’ll be riding in your pocket.”
“I suppose.”
“Is it just the snow that’s making you so reluctant?” she asked softly.
The past six months had not always been easy. Although Borgaz had forgiven him, it had taken longer for the others, and she knew the lingering coolness had bothered him. But he’d assumed his stoic mask, worked hard, and let her comfort him during their long nights together. And just last week, Temel had told him that the probationary period was over. He was now fully a part of the community.
“Not really.” He sighed and came to join her on the couch, lifting her onto his lap. “We had a similar type of holiday on Karthika, full of formal social events and lavish displays of wealth. They are not good memories.”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about that here. Although you might get a pair of socks,” she teased, trying to make him smile.
She had been trying, not very successfully, to learn how to knit and he had been an amused witness to her frustration. He didn’t know that she’d finally succeeded in producing the pair of rather lumpy multi-colored socks that were currently in a small box under their tree, but she knew he’d understand the effort she’d put into them. And she did have another present for him…
He sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”
“And you know Ida has prepared a feast.”
Everyone on the farm had been involved in the preparation at one point or another over the past week.
“Also tempting,” he agreed. “It just seems odd.”
“Odd good or odd bad?”
