Page 17 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

“That bandit came back, but I convinced him to leave for good.”

Harek cocks a brow. “How’d you manage that?”

“I can be extremely persuasive.”

He doesn’t look convinced.

“It’s true.”

“I appreciate your effort, but let’s get dinner. You need nourishment after the day you’ve had.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

He puts an arm around my shoulders and guides me toward the front door. “Give me your word that you won’t keep putting your life on the line. I can’t lose my best friend.”

“I wasn’t in danger.”

“You were. It took both my father and me to send him away earlier.”

“I’m no damsel in need of saving.”

“You’re not going to stay away from danger, are you?”

I nudge him. “Do you really think I’m going to shrink back from trouble?”

“Unfortunately not.”

“Then don’t ask me to.”

He sighs. “I’m going with you on your adventure.”

“Let’s discuss that in the morning.”

I plan to be gone before then but don’t tell him. As soon as he starts snoring tonight, I’m going to take off.

“After dinner.” He holds the squeaking front door open for me.

His parents are already seated at the table. Harek and I scoop stew into wooden bowls and join them.

Conversation centers around my mother. Everyone shares their favorite memories and laughs a lot. My mother was one of those people who never met an enemy. I’ve never crossed paths with anyone who didn’t like her immediately.

It lightens my spirit to have this conversation, especially knowing I won’t be around to even watch her funeral from a distance. It’s too big of a risk.

I shove those thoughts from my mind. This is better than any service. Friends as close as family and good food. What else could I ask for? Other than a stepfather who would care for me as he promised his wife so many years ago.

But that will never happen, and now I have the chance to get to know my real father. Maybe he never even knew about me. He might want to know more about me once he finds out he has offspring. Unless of course he has a family of his own with other children.

His wife might be as thrilled about me as Gunnar. As long as I can get some information, I’ll be good. Just enough knowledge about our powers then I can be on my way. Where to, I have no idea. But I’ll figure something out.

Maybe there’s a settlement of my kind somewhere. If there are territories of the dreaded human race all over the world, surely there must be something similar for the vile halflings.

Everyone needs community. I’ll find mine somewhere.

Harek, his parents, and I continue talking about my mother after the meal. We gather around the fireplace and reminisce.

I’ll remember this evening for the rest of my life. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation, but if I do, they’ll clue in on the fact that I’m planning on leaving. Instead, I act like everything is normal. They seem to buy it.

We settle in for the night, and I toss and turn on the guest bed while waiting for them all to fall asleep. The little house makes noises that keep me awake. I’ve grown so accustomed to the subtleties of the farmhouse at night that this place seems foreign even though I’ve been here countless times throughout my life.

---