Page 54 of Manors & Mischief

“No, it’s okay. I want you to think of a bunch of amazing ideas.”

“I was just thinking how they’ve made it a destination and not just a place where people line up to get on a hayride. That would be boring. We’ll have to think of a way to keep people at the manor.”

Our gazes meet, and he blinks slowly. I’ve been using the word we a lot, but I can tell it’s not bothering him. I don’t mean to. It just slips out because we are the ones who are making Sleepy Hollow come together.

“You keep thinking, and I’m going to get us some cider.”

I tame my enthusiasm and instead, tell him “thank you” as I walk into the shop. A myriad of fall things greets me. Everything from home goods to bakery items, to cute little things for the kids near the register like light-up swords and what looks to be a sparkly wand.

I spy an adorable pumpkin soap dispenser and have to have it, so I take it up to the register. I’m digging the money out of my wallet for the nice woman across from me when Devon walks in and sets the drinks down. “Hold up there.”

He fishes through his own wallet while the woman greets him. “Devon, hi.”

“Mrs. Chisholm.”

“You must be Ember then. I thought you were a tourist!”

It only unnerves me a little that she associates the fact that Devon and I should be together. “I am.” I hold my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Devon pays for my soap dispenser even though I tell him he doesn’t have to. It’s not like I’m desperate. …unless I really do have to pay that $6,000.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mrs. Chisholm says. “I drove by the manor, and it looks absolutely stunning. The Lewises would be so thrilled that someone is in there making it presentable again. They would just be tickled.”

“I’ve really fallen in love with the place since I’ve been here, so I’m happy to hear that I’m doing it justice. Well, Devon and I are doing it justice. I wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for him.”

“It’s about time a woman saw you for what you’re worth, Devon.”

The look she gives us makes me think that literally everyone—even someone who lives outside of town—is pulling for me and Devon.

I’m still not mad about it.

“I’ll keep this for you here until after your hayride,” she tells me, bagging the dispenser and putting it off to the side.

“That’s so nice of you. Thank you.”

“Maybe you’ll find something else to hold on to instead—or someone.”

Devon laughs while I just stand there stunned. He grabs my shoulders, turns me around, and leads me out of the little shop. “Are you okay?”

“Is it me? Or did she just insinuate something very personal? This is wild. Everyone wants us together.”

“We had a townhall meeting about it late last night. You missed it.”

“Were you the lead speaker?”

“I’d like to say yes, but no.” He waits a beat. “If they’re bothering you, I can tell everyone to back off. I don’t think it’ll work, but I can ask.”

“Nope,” I tell him. “I wanted small town life and here I am, living small town life. I’m absolutely okay with it.”

He hands me the cup of cider he bought me, and I take a sip, letting the sweet and almost savory flavor sit on my tongue for a second before swallowing. “That’s good stuff.”

“When I was little, I worked at the cider mill, bottling up gallon jugs of the stuff. It’s not hard to find work for the fall around here. Everyone needs a little help keeping stuff up so we can be ready for when the tourists come.”

“I think what I love most is that you all love this time of year as much as them.”

“Harvest Falls is beautiful no matter the season, but there’s just something special about autumn. The leaves, the view, the weather. Maybe it has a little something to do with everyone coming together trying to make the town successful, but you’ll see. Wait until you’ve been here a whole year, and then you can tell me what your favorite time of year is.”

It’s exciting that I have all that waiting for me. The change of the seasons, downtime, and maybe even the opportunity to turn Sleepy Hollow Manor into something else for the other seasons.