Page 25 of Howls & Harvest
We walk in companionable silence for a while, our footsteps crunching on the leaf-strewn path. The town square gradually fades behind us, replaced by the peaceful whisper of trees. I sneak glances at Ronan, admiring how the moonlight plays across his strong features, and the way his fur seems to absorb the shadows.
“That was some feast, huh?” I say.
He chuckles. “I could have done without the animated turkey incident.”
I laugh, remembering the chaos. “I don’t know. I thought it added a certain...excitement to the evening.”
“Is that what we’re calling near-death by poultry these days?”
We share a laugh, and I move closer to him, drawn by his warmth in the cool night air.
“Candice,” he says, his tone turning serious. He stops walking and turns to face me. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
My breath catches in my throat.Here it comes, I think. The conversation I’ve been both anticipating and dreading.
“I know you’re planning to go back to Chicago soon,” he says, looking pained. “I respect that. Your life is there, your job, your friends, but I can’t help wondering...is there a chance you might consider staying in Evershift Haven?”
Chapter 9
RONAN’S WORDS HANGin the air while he looks at me intently. I draw in a deep breath of the cool evening air. “When I first arrived here, I thought I’d lost my mind. Everything seemed impossible, like a dream I couldn’t wake up from, but now...” I pause, gesturing to the magical town around us. “I feel more awake than I ever have before.”
His ears perk up as a hopeful expression crosses his face.
I continue. “I’ve never been more at home anywhere in my life. The magic, the community, and the way everyone embraces who they truly are—it’s everything I never knew I was missing.”
His tail starts to wag slightly, and I smile at his enthusiasm. “And the farming, Ronan. Working with these magical plants and coaxing life from the earth in ways I never imagined possible—just the idea has awakened a passion I didn’t know I had.”
“Really?” he asks, his voice filled with excitement. “You’re considering staying?”
I nod, an invisible weight lift from my shoulders as I make the decision. “More than considering. I want to stay. I want to build a life here, to see what I can create with my own two hands and a little bit of magic.”
His muzzle splits into a wide grin. “That’s wonderful. I promise I’ll support you every step of the way. In fact...” He pauses, suddenly looking a bit nervous. “I have some land, just on the outskirts of town. I briefly mentioned it before... It’s been in my family for generations, but I’ve never quite known what todo with it. If you’d like, it could be the perfect place for you to start your farm.”
My eyes widen. “Are you serious? That’s incredibly generous.”
He shrugs, a bashful look crossing his face. “It’s nothing, really. The land deserves to be used by someone who’ll love it, and I think you’re just the person to bring it to life.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his furry chest. His strong arms encircle me, and I feel safe and like I’ve finally found where I belong.
We sit down on a nearby bench, our bodies close, and the warmth of his fur is a welcome buffer against the cool air. We start to discuss our vision for the future, and I’m struck by how natural it feels, and how easily our lives seem to intertwine.
“Tell me about this land of yours,” I say, eager to hear more.
“It’s beautiful. About ten acres, with open fields and wooded areas. There’s a small stream running through it, fed by an underground spring. The soil is rich—my grandmother used to say it was blessed by the earth spirits themselves.”
I listen, enraptured, as he paints a picture of the land in my mind. I can almost see the fields stretching out before me, feel the cool water of the stream, and smell the rich earth beneath my feet.
“What would you want to grow?” he asks, his tail swishing with excitement.
I ponder for a moment, remembering all I’ve learned about magical farming in my short time here. “I’d love to start with some of the basics—those singing sunflowers we saw at Puckley’s farm, and maybe some whispering wheat. Oh, and definitely a pumpkin patch.”
Ronan nods. “Those are great ideas, and don’t forget, we could plant some moon-blooming night lilies along the stream.They’re not only beautiful, but their petals are used in all sorts of magical remedies.”
As we continue to plan, the ideas flow freely between us. We discuss crop rotations, magical pest control methods, and even the possibility of raising some mystical livestock. With each passing moment, our shared vision becomes clearer.
Still talking, and hand in hand, we meander back to the feast. The autumn air now smells like spiced cider and roasted chestnuts, mingling with the faint aroma of ozone from the magic that permeates Evershift Haven.
As we approach, Grizelda beams at our intertwined fingers. “Looks like someone’s made a decision.”
