Read To Love a Way of Life for Free Online Page B
Authors: Natalie Hart
that I’d know.”
Emma finally allowed herself a laugh.
“Patrick asked me to move into one of his cottages.” She didn’t know why she said that.
“Did you like the woodwork?”
“Yeah, it was nice.”
“Only nice? I slaved on that.” He was still playing with her.
“Did you do the garden furniture as well?”
“I did, I’ve made tables for a few people.”
“Ok, that’s another thing to add to the list.” Emma turned the conversation back to solid ground; taxes.
“Patrick is a good guy,” Peter said. They walked into the house. Stan followed them with his tail between his legs, he was finally left alone by the little female terrier.
They spent the next while going over receipts, accounts, even Daniel’s mother’s will. Emma was starting to get a good idea of what the situation was.
“These accounts are in quite good shape,” she said.
“The farm is definitely profitable,” Peter said. “Patrick helped when he first arrived three years ago.”
“I don’t just mean profitability, I mean you’ve looked after everything well. This will be easy to sort out.”
Emma could see a little pride rise in Peter’s face.
“Did you do all this?” She asked.
“I took an online course, it helped a little.”
“These are good enough for me to start saving you money straight out of the gates,” she said.
Stan raised his head from the floor, he had quietened down while they were working but he had started to get excited again. Daniel and Patrick walked in through the back door. They walked straight over to the kitchen sink and took turns washing their hands. Patrick washed his face as well, his hair wet and slicked back after and Emma could get a hint of a light manly sweat in her nose. Patrick looked amazing.
She caught herself and focused on the papers but Peter but was looking straight at her. Did he see what she was up to? He just smiled, it might be nothing but if he was in tune with her?
“The stump is out,” Daniel said.
“And your accounts are in great shape,” Emma said.
“Really?”
“Don’t look that surprised,” Peter said. “You know I took that online course.”
“I would never doubt you but I thought this stuff was complex.”
“For a simple farmer, maybe,” Peter said. “For a man with more talents than his husband will ever know it’s a walk in the park.”
Daniel scrunched up the hand towel and threw it at Peter. Stan saw the fabric fly through the air and made a jump for it, twisting through the air. He missed, but his action drew the attention of Missy, Daniel’s dog who padded over to inspect the very goofy Stan. He immediately ran under the table and hid by Emma’s legs.
“Poor Stan,” Emma said.
“For such a smart man you really have a thing for intellectually challenged dogs,” Peter said.
“It’s his lust for life I like, we’re not sitting down to discuss politics at night.”
“I think he’d sniff out corruption in a second,” Emma said. She reached down and ruffled Stan’s ear, “Isn’t that right Stan?” He woofed, a firm bark.
“Are you almost finished, Emma?”
“I have a few things to work on, but I can do them at home,” she said. “Thanks Peter, you’ve done a great job with the books.”
Peter and Emma shared a smile then Daniel spoke up, “But where exactly is home?” He said.
Patrick gave Daniel a stern look. Emma realised Patrick had obviously been talking about inviting her to stay in his cottages. Patrick might be annoyed but she was glad he was talking about it with someone. He was so quiet, and calm and reserved. He needed to have this kind of connection with someone. Even if that someone was a young farmer he could almost be the father of. Well, if he had a kid at the age of 16.
“There’s no pressure, Emma,” Patrick said. “It’s up to you if you want to stay.”
“I have that lamb for you,” Peter said, standing and walking to the fridge. He pulled out a big lump of refrigerated
Emma finally allowed herself a laugh.
“Patrick asked me to move into one of his cottages.” She didn’t know why she said that.
“Did you like the woodwork?”
“Yeah, it was nice.”
“Only nice? I slaved on that.” He was still playing with her.
“Did you do the garden furniture as well?”
“I did, I’ve made tables for a few people.”
“Ok, that’s another thing to add to the list.” Emma turned the conversation back to solid ground; taxes.
“Patrick is a good guy,” Peter said. They walked into the house. Stan followed them with his tail between his legs, he was finally left alone by the little female terrier.
They spent the next while going over receipts, accounts, even Daniel’s mother’s will. Emma was starting to get a good idea of what the situation was.
“These accounts are in quite good shape,” she said.
“The farm is definitely profitable,” Peter said. “Patrick helped when he first arrived three years ago.”
“I don’t just mean profitability, I mean you’ve looked after everything well. This will be easy to sort out.”
Emma could see a little pride rise in Peter’s face.
“Did you do all this?” She asked.
“I took an online course, it helped a little.”
“These are good enough for me to start saving you money straight out of the gates,” she said.
Stan raised his head from the floor, he had quietened down while they were working but he had started to get excited again. Daniel and Patrick walked in through the back door. They walked straight over to the kitchen sink and took turns washing their hands. Patrick washed his face as well, his hair wet and slicked back after and Emma could get a hint of a light manly sweat in her nose. Patrick looked amazing.
She caught herself and focused on the papers but Peter but was looking straight at her. Did he see what she was up to? He just smiled, it might be nothing but if he was in tune with her?
“The stump is out,” Daniel said.
“And your accounts are in great shape,” Emma said.
“Really?”
“Don’t look that surprised,” Peter said. “You know I took that online course.”
“I would never doubt you but I thought this stuff was complex.”
“For a simple farmer, maybe,” Peter said. “For a man with more talents than his husband will ever know it’s a walk in the park.”
Daniel scrunched up the hand towel and threw it at Peter. Stan saw the fabric fly through the air and made a jump for it, twisting through the air. He missed, but his action drew the attention of Missy, Daniel’s dog who padded over to inspect the very goofy Stan. He immediately ran under the table and hid by Emma’s legs.
“Poor Stan,” Emma said.
“For such a smart man you really have a thing for intellectually challenged dogs,” Peter said.
“It’s his lust for life I like, we’re not sitting down to discuss politics at night.”
“I think he’d sniff out corruption in a second,” Emma said. She reached down and ruffled Stan’s ear, “Isn’t that right Stan?” He woofed, a firm bark.
“Are you almost finished, Emma?”
“I have a few things to work on, but I can do them at home,” she said. “Thanks Peter, you’ve done a great job with the books.”
Peter and Emma shared a smile then Daniel spoke up, “But where exactly is home?” He said.
Patrick gave Daniel a stern look. Emma realised Patrick had obviously been talking about inviting her to stay in his cottages. Patrick might be annoyed but she was glad he was talking about it with someone. He was so quiet, and calm and reserved. He needed to have this kind of connection with someone. Even if that someone was a young farmer he could almost be the father of. Well, if he had a kid at the age of 16.
“There’s no pressure, Emma,” Patrick said. “It’s up to you if you want to stay.”
“I have that lamb for you,” Peter said, standing and walking to the fridge. He pulled out a big lump of refrigerated