His Reason to Stay

es when I pushed them open, and the cool morning air wrapped around me w

me how fragile everything had become. This farm, this land... it wasn't just home. It was my father's pr

problems of their own. Maybe they did, I'd cut back on feed portions last month to save money

I whispered to them like I always did, calming words I barely believed myself, then headed out

rd the farmhouse. Paint peeled like curling paper on the front porch

was

phone. No n

word fr

the "doom and gloom." She didn't understand. Not really. Gracie always found someone t

ouse, a sound stopped me, the

ot even the mail truck. I squinted down the dirt road and saw i

driver's side door open

ooked too clean for this place. City polished. His

as he stood by the gate, looking around l

forward. "Ca

h kind, either. The charming kind. Like he'd prac

I was told this was the Daws

arms crossing on instinc

osed to ease my suspicion. "Said I'd find a great v

. "She lied ab

figured. Thought I'd g

wander out to our place for no reason. Especially not men

re for?" I asked

r. Just passing through. I'm

d. That told me

closer and he

Liam

m was warm and steady. Comfortable,

a Daw

s nice to meet you, Amara. You'

I said, then added, "if you

some walking around, get inspired. I write a little

ation.

rd the house. "Well, I've got chores

ike he was used to brushing off awkward

ay

e and walked away, feeling his gaze trail

chen. The coffee was still warm, barely. I poured a cup and sat a

pretending to be. He did that when he didn't want to

he window. The

worse. There was something too smooth about him. Too interested in a to

idn't trust anyone who showed up

wandered into our li

ed unless they