Page 54 of Hearing Little Hadley

“I will. I will spend the rest of my life sharing everything with you.”

“Well, there’s the newly engaged couple,” Nanny J said when Finn and Hadley reached the Caterpillars Room that morning.“Congratulations. You two are the talk of the Ranch,” she said, pulling Hadley into a hug.

Hadley showed her the ring on her hand and Finn appreciated the way she oohed and ahhed over it.

Finn kissed Hadley goodbye before heading to breakfast with Derek. Using the texted instructions, he followed the tunnels down to the Big House where Derek and Sadie lived. Knocking on the big wooden door, Finn wondered what the Ranch Master wanted to meet about.

Derek opened the door and welcomed him inside. Sadie rushed down the stairs, but one look from Derek had her slowing her pace.

“Good morning, Master Finn.”

“Good morning, Sadie. Are you all ready for Santa?” he asked.

“Yes, Sir. Daddy took the day off so we could bake cookies to leave out tonight. He forgot the carrots, but Chef Connor promised to bring us some when he leaves the kitchen today.”

“Oh, well that was very nice of Chef Connor,” Finn said, chuckling.

“We’re glad you came today. We needed to talk to you about something really important.”

“Oh?” Finn asked.

“Sadie, can we get Master Finn some coffee and a seat before you accost him with your plan?”

“Sorry, Daddy. Would you like some coffee, Master Finn?”

“Well, if I am going to be accosted, I think yes, maybe I would like a cup or two.”

Sadie giggled and rushed off to the kitchen.

“Thank you for coming,” Derek said, leading Finn into the living room. “We did want to talk to you about something rather important, but Sadie got ahead of herself.”

“What is it?”

“We understand that it’s only you and Hadley, right? No other family?”

“My mom is alive, but not involved in our lives. Hadley has a few cousins, but again, not involved.”

“I imagine it’s hard to weed out who is just in it for her wealth, huh?”

Finn nodded. “Unfortunately.”

“Sadie has a heart of gold and as you know, she also has no family involved with her life. I think she just has a soft spot for people who don’t have family waiting for them back home.”

Finn nodded, still unsure of where this was going.

“Sadie feels like you two would like to get married sooner rather than later?”

Finn nodded. “We haven’t really talked about it, but yes, I am sure it will be soon. Probably just a quick ceremony.”

“And I feel like perhaps you’d like to keep it as stress-free as possible for Hadley?”

“Absolutely.”

Sadie walked in carrying a tray that held two cups of coffee, a pitcher of cream and a bowl of sugar. She set everything on the table and Sadie sat in a chair beside Derek.

“Did you ask him yet, Daddy?”

“I haven’t. I was going to give you the honors, sweetie.”

---