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Mathias leaned back in the chair and stretched out his legs. “In that case, I insist we pay you rent.”

“I don’t want rent.”

“That’s the only way it’s going down.”

Milo scowled. “What’s the rent on the house you’re in?”

“Too much. $1600.00.”

“How about $500.00?”

“That’s not enough.”

“She’s basically renting a room.”

“Okay, $500.00 it is.”

“She can move whatever she wants into the suite and store the rest in the carriage house if you want.”

Mathias smiled. “I love that you have a carriage house.”

“It’s pretty cool. I wish I had a carriage to park in it.”

Mathias crossed his ankles. “I have one more thing to talk to you about.”

“Okay.”

“Now that I've accused you of having ulterior motives, I’d like to ask you to keep an eye on them for me.”

“You don’t need to ask.”

“I’ll just feel better knowing she has someone to turn to if she needs help.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Mathias exhaled sharply. “Good. I feel better now. Does that offer for a beer still stand?”

Milo stood. “I’ll be right back.”

Milo went to get the beers and handed one to Mathias when he returned. “If you want to get them moved in before you go, Wilda has a key, not that I always remember to lock the doors. I generally don’t.”

Mathias looked out at the rolling hills surrounding the house. “Out here, there’s probably no need.”

“I’ll fix the latch on the kitchen door so we won’t have any more late-night visitors.”

“Please tell me that was a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“I sure hope so.”

Mathias left after he finished his beer, indicating he’d start moving Wilda’s things the following day. Saturday she would officially move in. Milo waited until Mathias drove away, then whistled for Frenchie.

“Come on, boy, we need to get the bedroom suite ready for Wilda and Caleb.”

He went inside, fed Frenchie, then warmed up some stew his mother had made for him. She was sure the bear had ransacked his kitchen, and she insisted on cooking meals for him. Milo was never one to turn down a meal from his mother.

He sat at the card table and ran a hand over the vinyl top. “Hopefully, Wilda will move in a table and chairs.” He blew on a spoonful of stew, then froze as his heart raced. Wilda would soon be sitting across the table from him. He savored the thought for a moment, then shook his head. No ulterior motives.

Milo finished his stew, washed out his bowl, then went to the downstairs bedroom. It was on the outside corner of the house next to the parlor.