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She’d been here for four days and her muscle aches were worse now than before. Today she’d been tasked with cleaning out some pens, along with putting either a harness or saddle on some of the animals and leading them around. The sheep had gotten their halters on and had been fairly nice when she’d led them around their pen to start them off. They were big enough that she was afraid of getting hurt should she start them off outside. Especially since they hadn’t been walked or had a halter on for a couple of summers, according to Martha. Still, Valerie wondered if they really weren’t all that big and strung under all the fluff they wore through the winter. She’d love to see them when they’d been sheared.
The worst part of the whole working day was when that barbaric donkey had tried to bite her again while she was in there cleaning up his manure. The ungrateful beast. Now with darkness settled in and the chores done, Valerie flopped down with a groan, sitting on the floor and draping her torso over a rocking chair. Gus raced over, somehow still full of energy. Maybe it was because he hadn’t gotten bitten or dragged through half a pasture by a recalcitrant donkey this week.
The smell of Martha whipping something up in the kitchen came to her and prompted her to lift her head with a sigh. She refused to stay this dirty, no matter how tired she felt. She may be back in Alaska, but she still had principles.
She raised her voice so Martha could hear her in the kitchen. “I’m going to try and take a shower. If you hear a thump, just know that I want to be cremated.”
“Oh, no, you don’t get to die before you’ve tasted this cabbage and sausage.”
Valerie wrinkled her nose. “So, even if I collapse, you’ll drag me out here to eat that?”
“Oh, goodness, no. I’ll bring you a bowl.”
“How very thoughtful.” Valerie pushed herself up to her feet. She didn’t remember the last time she’d been active enough to hurt like this. It felt strangely good. Like her body was enjoying being stretched and used. And abused. She couldn’t believe Martha wanted that donkey to be a part of a holy scene. Valerie thought he’d do rather well as a representation of some type of creature from hell.
“You’re moving slower than I do.” Martha laughed when Valerie sent her a disgusted look. “Oh, by the way...” Martha said, just as Valerie prepared herself to bravely mount the steps.
Uh-oh. Whatever was about to come next couldn’t possibly be good. Not with the overly casual way Martha had said it.
“Yes?” Valerie asked cautiously, considering how hard it would be to run up the stairs in her present shape should she need to escape and hide from whatever crazy thing was going to be said next.
“I invited a friend over, as well, for dinner.”
“What friend?” Valerie narrowed her eyes.
“A neighbor friend.”
Valerie opened her mouth, but her complaints were stopped by a knock on the door.
“Will you get that?” Martha’s tone was a little too innocent, and all she was doing was stirring something in a large pan.
“Me? I look like a disaster.”
“My hands are in the middle of cooking.”
With a growl, Valerie marched to the door and swung it open.
There, standing in all his broad-shouldered glory, a lock of hair slipping down onto his forehead in the most handsome way, was Damon. When he saw her, his eyebrows shot up and a smirk appeared. “I see Martha has given you manure duty.” He squinted at her. “Or perhaps you’ve started digging a tunnel to Russia?”
A flush crept along her cheeks to her ears, but Valerie lifted her chin. “I’ll have you know that tunnel digging is a highly valued skill.” She stepped back so he could come inside.
Smiling, he glanced down at her one more time before walking past—he’d taken his boots off in the entryway—and making his way over to Martha in the kitchen, where he gave her a kiss on the head.
“Oh, you stop that.” Martha waved at him, but her smile betrayed her.
Valerie closed the door and hesitated, wanting to say something. Such as...sorry for whatever nefarious plans my aunt has dragged you into. She decided it was safer to just go take a shower.
For whatever reason, she found herself hurrying. It wasn’t that she wanted to talk to Damon or spend time with him. Not at all. She was just hungry.
Liar. She pushed away the thought.
Several minutes later, she was back in the kitchen, where she found Martha and Damon chatting animatedly. Or were they debating? Yes, that was it. Something about the merits of some type of animal feed over the other. Those two were classics. Valerie found herself smiling.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Oh, look what a pretty dress you put on.” Martha beamed at her and winked before looking at Damon and doing the same.
Valerie narrowed her eyes. What was her aunt doing? “It’s comfortable after being bundled in that bear costume you made me get. Not everyone likes waddling around with fifty pounds of padding on.”
“What? I thought it was the latest in fashion,” Damon said, exchanging shocked glances with Martha.
“No, I think those string bikini-type dresses are in now. Padding has been out for at least a few months,” Martha told him.
“Hope frostbite and missing fingers and toes come into style, too, or they’re going to be in for a surprise,” Damon added.
Valerie planted her hands on her hips, but then let them drop with a smile and shake of her head. “I’m going to take you two to see what the latest fashion is one of these days.”
“Please don’t. I’ve seen pictures in magazines when I’m in the city. I don’t think my stomach is cut out for fashion,” Damon said.
“Fashion is also cultural. When I traveled to certain parts of Africa, tops weren’t a thing. It was lovely and freeing. Who knew they have advanced more in what women wear than we do?” Martha winked.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind for any future designs,” Valerie said dryly. She glanced at Damon, who was suddenly very interested in a painting of a moose on the wall. After that conversation, that was what made him uncomfortable?
Soon they were all seated together at the small square table, the window nearby revealing wind twirling snow in the beam of the outside light. Dinner was better than she’d expected, and she had to hand it to Martha. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.
“So how long was it before you went back out to work after your injury?”
Damon chuckled. “About an hour. I’m not good at sitting around doing nothing.”
“Valerie told me what happened,” Martha said around a bite of dessert. “I’m surprised Patti didn’t tackle you and keep you inside.”
“She tried. Turns out a sweet five-foot woman can be easily picked up and set on the couch.”
They chuckled at that.
“She may be sweet, but I think she’s pretty tenacious. I’ll bet it was harder than you’re admitting,” Valerie teased.
“Tenacious is a good word for her. She held on like a tick while Josiah laughed himself nearly out of his chair. I finally had to bribe her with promises of going to the doctor without a fight the next day if I was still feeling bad.”
“And the next day you magically were feeling better.”
He grinned. “A good night of sleep is a great aid in healing the body.”
Martha snorted.
They all chatted about various topics for nearly another hour, though it didn’t feel like it. Valerie found herself leaning forward to listen and laughing more than she had in a long time. The peace and inclusion she felt sitting here with these two was more than she could have hoped for.
Finally, Damon pushed his chair back, gaze on the window.
“I’d better go. The wind is picking up and the radio station reported that there’s going to be a kicker of a storm coming through here. It’s supposed to last a while.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. And for joining us for dinner.” Martha stood and gave him a hug, then started clearing the dishes. “Why don’t you see Damon out, Valerie?”
Valerie walked side by side with him to the door. At the door, he turned to face her, eyes unsure as they looked at each other.
She swallowed, but resisted the urge to look down shyly, and instead kept her gaze on his. “It’s been really nice getting to know you again.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I’m glad you came back, Valerie.” He reached out like he might touch her, but then he stepped back, flashed a smile, and disappeared out the door.
Valerie found herself gazing at the closed door, aching to run out and wrap her arms around him. Without a doubt, she knew her feelings hadn’t gone away, even after all this time.