Page 113 of Bad Seed

The first hints of green were just beginning to showbeneath the winter-brown grass. Harley pointed to a huge bird circling high in the sky above them.

“Eagle,” Brendan said.

“Wow,” Harley said.

Shirley tapped her on the shoulder and pointed into the trees they were passing just as a bright-red cardinal dropped down from a limb.

Harley nodded to indicate she’d seen it, but didn’t know where to look next. Everything was new and beautiful and just the tiniest bit intimidating, but she loved challenges, and this was going to be life-changing. She was about to become a part of the history of Pope Mountain, and their children would continue a legacy she would never have known existed. Taking the job for Ray Caldwell had forever changed her life.

They kept driving and looking and talking until in the distance, Harley saw a small cluster of trees out in the clearing, and then as they came closer, a huge animal stepped out of the shadows.

Harley grabbed Brendan’s arm. “Stop! Stop!”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Look!” she said, pointing toward the trees.

“Oh my!” Shirley said. “What a magnificent elk, and it still hasn’t shed its antlers.”

“Look for the stag to make my bed. Look for the stag to lay my head,” Harley said.

“Yes! Amalie!” Brendan said.

“What am I missing?” Shirley asked.

“We saw Amalie when I took Harley out to lunch.As she was about to tell us goodbye, she put her hand on Harley’s shoulder, and suddenly she’s staring off into space. That’s what she told Harley. To look for the stag. We didn’t know what it meant, but now we do. I think this is the place. This is the land we’re supposed to choose.”

“Perfect,” Shirley said. “And you’re less than a quarter of a mile from my house. You can use my driveway to enter the property and then we’ll build a road from there and gravel it all the way to your place. If Uncle John can find water, of course.”

“Is this it, Sunshine?”

“Yes, this is it!” Harley whispered.

“Then the water will be here, too, because the stag marked the spot,” Brendan said.

“I brought a couple of stakes,” Shirley said. “You two go put them in the ground to mark your land. They’re in the back, Son. You and your girl should do the honors.”

Brendan found the stakes with strips of red fabric tied to them and a small sledgehammer to drive them into the ground. He handed the stakes to Harley, then took her hand and walked about thirty feet ahead.

“You first,” Harley said, and handed him a stake.

He drove it into the ground with two blows, then they walked a short distance further, where Harley set her stake—hammering until it was securely in the ground.

When they turned around, the stag was gone.

“If it’s meant to be, we’ll see him again. He was herefor a reason,” Brendan said, then wrapped his arms around Harley and gave her a quick kiss and a hug to commemorate the moment before they started back to the ATV.

Shirley’s eyes were tear-filled as she watched them, walking back hand in hand, animated and laughing, so full of joy they were almost bouncing with each step. “I did it, Mom. Thanks to you, I did it. Four good boys turned into four amazing men. Daddy would be proud to know his grandsons are carrying our name.”

***

By the time Brendan and Harley were home, they had a tentative plan for their future. Harley was still waiting for Wolf Outen to take possession of the inn, and they were awaiting her parents’ arrival, neither of which was within their control. But Brendan had plans of his own, and now that he was about to meet her parents, he didn’t intend to leave them guessing as to how he felt about their daughter.

So, while Harley was in the kitchen, he snuck a ring from the travel pouch of jewelry she’d brought with her and dropped it in his pocket. When he went back up the hall, Harley was already in the living room with her feet to the fire and her laptop open.

“Hey, honey. I’m settling in here for a while. I need to go through my email, pay some bills, and check on the details of moving me from Chicago to Jubilee.”

Brendan leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “And I have some errands to run downtown. Anything special you need while I’m out?”

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