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“That makes sense,” Hanna said, placing her hand in mine.
Hanna stepped into the carriage and sat next to Ember, arranging the blankets over their laps.
Mom handed me three to-go cups. “I made you some hot chocolate, too.”
“Thanks.” I was pleased she’d thought of it because I was too distracted by thoughts of Hanna being auctioned off to some guy.
“Have a great time.” Mom patted my cheek before turning and going into the house for the night.
I settled next to the girls, my heart longing to call them mine. But I had a long way to go before that would be the case.
I flicked the reins, and the horses moved forward slowly. I planned to take the lane past Emmett’s and Heath’s cabins and toward the pond. It was the best place to take guests. The lights lined the pathways and reflected nicely off the water.
“Are you okay with everything that’s happening?” Hanna asked as we ambled down the lane, her body bumping into mine when we went over a rut.
“Marley isn’t listening to our concerns.”
Hanna wrapped her hand around my bicep. “It sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Romantic dates on the farm sound amazing, and it could be good publicity for the farm.”
Her chest rubbed against my elbow, distracting me. I wanted to take her on a romantic date. It didn’t have to be the hot tub. I just wanted her to see me as someone other than her best friend. Maybe my bidding on her would do the trick. She’d have to see that I was interested in her. Maybe this was the best thing that could come out of it. “You’re right. The dates will be something for people to talk about, and it will be good for the farm.”
“You’re okay with it now?” Hanna asked carefully.
“I guess I have to be, and you’re right, it sounds like a nice evening.”
“Are you going to help plan the dates?” Hanna asked.
I felt her gaze on the side of my face. “I’ll leave that to you and the rest of the women.”
“It’s going to be so much fun,” Ember said.
I moved so I could see her face. “You’re going to help? What do you know about romantic dates?”
“I know what girls like,” Ember insisted.
“You’re going to be a big helper, and you can help us decorate.”
Hanna was a natural with Ember. Whenever we went anywhere together and ran into people we didn’t know, they assumed she was Ember’s mother. They both had lighter colored hair, dirty blonde, although Hanna’s was straight, and Ember’s was wavy.
We rode in silence for a few minutes, enjoying our hot chocolate and the night air.
We passed Heath’s house, and I continued on the path toward the pond. As we approached, I saw green and red lights emanating from the water.
“What is that?” Ember asked, confused.
“I have no idea. Maybe Talon put more of his light display by the pond?” The light display meant for the public was on the new lane we had created for an easy exit onto the main road.
Hanna gripped my arm tighter. “It’s amazing. How did he place the lights in the water like that?”
“I have no idea.” Talon kept to himself for the most part. He didn’t like to be interrupted while he was working, and we respected that. He didn’t make it to every family dinner or holiday event, but we were happy when he was able to.
I wondered if something was going on with him because he hadn’t mentioned this development to anyone that I knew of.
“Sometimes I think he creates things to work out all the emotional stuff,” Hanna said softly so only I could hear.
“What emotional stuff does Talon have?” I asked, genuinely curious about what she was thinking.
Hanna glanced at Ember, who was enthralled with this new light display, and lowered her voice further. “Your father dying and whatever happened between him and Holly.”
