Page 41 of Daddy's Little Farmer

“Oh, my.” There was a brand new huge red barn. Several corrals were attached to it with crisp white railings, and she saw where the horses would be stabled. There were other pens around for the other animals. There were pastures of thick, lush grass for miles and fencing everywhere she looked.

They came to a stop, and the door opened. Rafael got out first and reached in for her. Her head swiveled right and left, trying to take it all in.

“Jorge, can you believe this?” she asked.

“Porter did a fine job. He thought of everything.”

“I can’t wait.” She looked up at Rafael. “Can we go look?”

“Yes, but then I want us to go to the house, eat lunch, and maybe rest for a bit.”

“But I have to be here when the animals get here.”

“I know, honey. Porter will call when they are thirty minutes away. It’s going to be at least five hours.”

“Oh.”

Chapter Twenty-One

They spent an hour at the farm before Rafael pulled her away.

They got back into the car and drove back the way they came. Her stomach dropped when they pulled in front of the massive house and stopped.

“This is your house?” she asked, praying he would tell her no.

“Yes, baby. I know it’s a lot to take in, but you are not alone. Remember that,” Rafael said and then helped her out of the car when Jorge opened the door.

Rafael kept a strong hold of her hand as they walked up the rounded stone steps to a huge ornate wooden door. It opened before they got to it. The older man stood just inside and bowed to Rafael.

“It’s good to have you home, sir.”

“It’s good to be home.” Rafael turned to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Landry, I’d like you to meet Mara.” He looked down at her. “Mara, this is Landry. He will be in charge of you when I’m at work.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, holding her hand out. The man hesitated for a moment and then shook hers. She wanted to say she didn’t need a babysitter, but this was all so new and overwhelming that she’d need to make as many friends as possible.

“It’s nice to meet you, young lady. I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

“I’ll try my very best to be helpful,” she said.

“I think it will be fine. Sir, lunch is ready when you are,” Landry said.

Rafael nodded and checked his watch. “Good. We’ll eat and lay down for a bit before the animals arrive.”

“Call if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Landry.”

Rafael moved her through a long hallway with rooms off to the sides, but she couldn’t determine what they were. They came to a very large room with a table that was longer than her whole house and what looked like twenty chairs.

“We’ll eat most of our meals in this room.”

“Why can’t we eat in a smaller one?” she asked.

He smiled gently down at her. “Thisisthe small one.”

Mara swallowed. “Oh.” Holy hell.

He sat her down at one end of the table. He was at the head, and she was to the right of him. “This will be your chair, baby.”

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