| |
“Are you sure you want to stay?” Harmony found it hard to believe Griffin would want to remain in Freedom after all the trouble he’d gone through to have a better life and future.
Griffin drew in a long breath and looked back toward the busy city. “I think I can be useful here during this time of change. All of the citizens are meeting tonight, to come up with some new laws with which to govern ourselves.”
Even in the short time since her father and the others had left for home, the city had taken on a new feeling of hopefulness. They were at this very moment tearing down the walls that had kept Freedom from the rest of the world.
Harmony tried to be happy for Griffin but she wasn’t ready to leave him. She had grown used to having him around. Not many people enjoyed her gruff company the way he seemed to, and she liked his kindness. They were complete opposite in every way but their different personalities somehow worked together.
He touched her cheek. “Don’t look so sad. Maybe it won’t be forever.”
“Maybe’s a big word.” She forced a smile. There was no point in grieving over a lost friendship. The only thing to do was to be happy for him and get back to living her life, as if they had never met. Maybe then she wouldn’t think about him every minute of every day.
She glanced back at the city. “I hope they don’t go back to the way things were before. Whatever you do, don’t let Randall be in charge of anything. Keep him out on the fishing boats. That will keep him busy and out of trouble.”
“Do me a favor.” He glanced up at Skyer. “I know Walker will take good care of Shadow, but if she ever needs me, bring her home or come get me. I don’t like thinking she might be unhappy somewhere, somewhere I won’t be there to help.”
“Of course I will, but I think she’ll be happy with Walker. He can be a knucklehead sometimes but he’s a good man. Mom’s going to love her too.” Harmony grabbed the ladder and placed a foot on the first rung. “Dad talked about bringing a load of wheat and potatoes here in a few months. If you find you’re unhappy, you should catch a ride back with him.”
He grabbed her hand. “Or you could stay.”
She was tempted to say yes but this wasn’t her home. “I’m already behind schedule. I should be on the east coast, but I still have to stop in Forbidden to pick up a load of stuff to trade before I can get there.” She swallowed back another plea for him to come with her. She wasn’t in the habit of begging and wasn’t going to start now.
“Take care of yourself.” He stepped back and folded his arms across his chest.
Harmony took that as a sign it was time to go. “I will, and you too. Boy’s worried Molly will fall apart without him here to pick up the pieces. I told him I would ask if you would keep an eye on her.”
Griffin smiled. “Of course.”
Not wanting him to see her reluctance to leave, she turned and hurried up the ladder. She didn’t look over the side to see if he stayed there or not. Instead, she busied herself raising the ladder and increasing the water pressure. Hoping Boy didn’t see the tears flowing down her cheeks, she wiped them away before sitting in the captain’s seat.
Harmony finally turned to Boy, sitting in the co-captain’s chair. “You ready to head into Forbidden?”
He took another look at Freedom. “Do you think Molly will be okay?”
“Griffin promised to look after her.”
“I’m going to miss them.”
Harmony swallowed and nodded. “I will too.”