Page 53 of Gideon's Gratitude

“Oh, I like propositions.”

Was she flirting? I was honestly too tired to tell. “Gideon pointed out the house isn’t designed for entertaining guests overnight.”

“There are several spare bedrooms.”

I snickered. “You haven’t seen the size of my family.”

“Fair enough. What are you thinking? An extension? Out the back?”

A shudder ran through me at the thought of marring my masterpiece. “No. Absolutely not.”

She smiled. “Well, that’s a relief. I mean, we could do it. But I’d be upset with losing the back façade of the house.”

“My thought precisely.” I pointed to the back part of the property, just before the forest line. “What if we built a small log cabin? A couple of bedrooms?”

“You thinking one story or two?”

“I want to keep the footprint as small as possible, so I’m thinking two stories. Set back into the woods as far as is safe.”

“You worried about bears?”

“What?” No, I hadn’t been. But now I was.

A wide grin greeted me. “The realtor didn’t tell you about the bears? We’ve had one come around to check us out. They’re pretty common around here. Also spotted a small herd of deer. You’ll have to watch what flowers and edibles you plant. They love blueberries. Of course, if youwantthem to come around—”

I scowled. “I wasn’t aware of that either. Perhaps I should fence the property.”

“You could…”

“But?”

“It’s their land.”

“I…” Words failed me. This wasmyland. I bought it. I conquered it. Yet I also owed that debt to a force greater than myself. “Okay, so how do we make it so bears are less likely to visit? And do you think we can build a small log cabin?”

“You bet. Come with me.”

Wherever she led me, it’d be interesting. “You mind if Lucky comes?”

Riley went down on her haunches. “Lucky’s always welcome here.”

The dog licked her nose.

She giggled. “But preferable that he’s on a leash. Follow me.”

An hour later I headed back across the property line.

Lucky’d slept through the entire discussion.

Riley had excellent suggestions to discourage wildlife visits without actually putting up fencing. And she’d looped my architect in for thecabin. A guy named Septimus Knight. He’d come highly recommended by my realtor and, to my delight, had designed the perfect house.

Just not a house to entertain an extended family of about twenty people.

Knight planned to have designs for the cabin ready by the next week.

As I neared the house, the door flew open. “You’re here.”

I eyed a frantic-looking Gideon. “Where else would I be?”

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