Page 70 of Mistletoe

“More than anything,” Emma said.

She nodded, as if that settled the matter. “I know you three aren’t done fussing at each other. I’ll check on Hal. His arm looked ghastly.”

Her mother patted her on the shoulder as she passed and gave her a warm smile, letting Emma know she had at least one ally.

Oscar sat back in his chair, defeated. “But he’s a monster.”

“Hal is not,” Emma said. “Technically. He’s a person with an unusual… condition.”

“He’s green!”

“And he tore that wolver apart limb from limb,” Emma agreed. “To protect me. He’s been here for weeks and has he hurt any of us?”

“A handful of days is hardly enough time to judge,” her father said.

“You are covered in blood,” Felix added, apparently feeling that this observation was vital to the conversation.

“I told you, it’s the wolver’s blood.” She glanced down. Her coat caught most of the spray, and it was hardly anything at all compared to the gore that covered Hal.

Oscar’s expression softened. “Emma, petal…”

“Don’t,” she warned. “I won’t be cajoled with sweet names. The beast that attacked you years ago is not the same as Hal. Surely, you must understand.”

Oscar sighed. “Until today, I would agree that Hal was a decent man. Good enough for my daughter? No. But if he made her happy, I’d welcome the union. Now?—”

“Nothing has changed. Hal is still that decent man. He’s kind. He’s protective. He’s hardworking.”

“He’s… unconventional.”

Well, that was a start. It wasn’t acceptance but it was better than being a beast or creature.

“Yes, and that does not negate all his good qualities,” she said. “I thought you’d rather welcome the unconventional into the family. It’ll add to your poetic legend.”

“The wild poet of the west should have an equally wild son-in-law,” he mused.

She really had no idea how the conversation jumped so quickly from forbidding a relationship with Hal to their presumed marriage, but she wouldn’t fight it. Not when her father was on the verge of acceptance.

Felix, though, did not look convinced. That would require more work on her part.

Oscar waved a hand, dismissing her. “I do not know why I bother. You will do as you please. Go. You said Hal was hurt.”

“Thank you,” she said, not for granting permission but for using Hal’s name. It was a step toward acceptance. A small step.

Felix followed her out of the room into the hall. Concern furrowed his brows. In a quiet voice, he said, “He will hurt you.”

“I’m not in the mood to fight with you, Felix.”

“If not by his hand, then by a hunter’s. One day, a hunter will come to collect a bounty and take Hal from you.”

She wanted to argue that they were isolated on the farm and that no one would know, but several people already knew. The sheriff. Apparently, every soldier in the Sweetwater Point base. She’d just add the entire population of the town, too.

And now her brother, who would return to base in the morning.

“Swear to me,” Emma said. “Swear you won’t tell a soul about Hal.”

Felix gave her a withering look before pressing his lips together. At length, he said, “I’ll think on it.”

Chapter Seventeen

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