Page 39 of Falling For You

“I heard them both inside, and they didn’t answer.”

She bit her bottom lip for a brief second. “Interesting.”

“I thought so.”

“We can’t get ourselves worked up in a tizzy,” she reminded me. “Life is too short to worry about stuff that’s out of our control.”

“True, but I like it better when it is under my control.”

She laughed and sipped her water. “I know you do, Vi. But sometimes, we have to learn to just let things be.”

Chapter Ten

Violet

This was precisely what I needed in my life.

Stability.

Even though I had even fewer answers than before I chatted with my mom, I felt more at ease and like my world wasn’t spinning in the wrong direction.

Since my sisters were out, I decided to work in the petting zoo area. The new zebra was still in her own pasture, but there was always something to do with our regulars.

The crisp weather was perfect for working outside. I wouldn’t overheat if I shoveled or hauled hay.

It should be a peaceful afternoon. Most of the lodge guests had cleared out for town or excursions a village or two over. The goats were all tuckered out from Liam playing with them this morning, and the hogs usually didn’t do much one way or another. A few chickens clucked their way into their hen house, and I chuckled.

Boy, it was hard to believe that this time last year, I lived in a tiny apartment in the middle of a city where very few even knew who I was or what I did with myself. Now, I smelled the amazing sweetness of fall while tending to animals in the middle of our acreage.

Truthfully, they were probably tending tome.

I wandered to the enclosure with a feed bucket, carefully avoiding puddles from this morning’s rain.

Maza eyed me from the corner of the gated area near one of their water troughs. An unease rippled up my spine. He looked like he meant business as Liddie stood far away from him.

“Ease up, boy,” I said softly. “I’m not mad at you about Liddie. She’s just not ready. You can’t be so pushy about things.”

He nodded as if he understood me but then returned to watching me with his usual mix of boredom and disdain. Maza’s large brown eyes focused on me like I was interrupting his flirting session, but I knew Liddie didn’t want any winks, licks, or calls from Maza today. Anyone could see that by looking at her.

But I wanted to make amends with Maza, so I put my bucket down, grabbed some feed into my palm, and smiled at him.

“Alright, Maza. Be nice,” I muttered, making my way toward the llama. I reached out with a handful of feed, trying my best to appear calm and unbothered by his aloofness.

But Maza had other plans.

Without warning, he took a step forward, right into me. I yelped, losing my footing in the muddy pasture.

His eyes locked on mine, and I swore a grin plastered over his sloppy chops as my feet slipped on the grassy portion. My feet went right out from under me as my hands flailed into the air, tossing the feed far and wide like confetti.

I reached for him, but Maza had other ideas as soon as I stood up. True to his name, he was nowhere to be found. Just like a Maserati, he sped away.

But then he was back.

With a sudden and unexpected push, Maza pushed right into me and shoved me.

Maza’s eyes widened with delight.

It was too late.

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