The Ice Giant's Housekeeper by Autumn Dawn

Author:Autumn Dawn
Format: epub

9

The barn door silently opened. Hakon set down his burden and cautiously listened, but she didn’t stir.

So much for security.

He set up his cot and stretched out, the light blanket more than enough to protect him from drafts. The cold didn’t bother him of course, but a breeze could be annoyingly ticklish.

It was as clean as a barn got, but it still smelled like animals. This close to the door, he’d instantly know if someone tried to enter. All the guns in the world were useless if you slept through an attack.

He lay back, trying to make his sore arm happy on the narrow cot. The tougher problem was, how would he make Fern happy? If she wanted to go, he couldn’t stop her, but he wasn’t above bribery if she were tempted to stay.

Obviously, he’d have to provide better accommodations. He should have done it long ago, but he worked insane hours…

They couldn’t build anything with a foundation until the ground thawed, but he had options. He’d already got her all the animals she asked for…

Maybe he should be careful about bribes. She didn’t seem materialistic, but he had to know she would stay because she wanted to.

He was overthinking this. Courting wasn’t supposed to be difficult, and Fern wasn’t complicated. He was just nervous…

With a growl, he rolled over and forced himself to sleep.

***

The barn door squealed. Hakon woke instantly, battle ax in hand as Hall banged into the barn.

Hall paused, his mouth open on a lecture, then took stock. No doubt he’d had a big speech about morality and setting an example for the boys as he stomped from the house. It was probably disappointing to find his brother guarding the door and sleeping on a cot. Hall took moralizing seriously.

“Does she know you’re here?”

“No.” Hakon glanced at the van, but Fern’s head didn’t pop up. Right. Her gun would save her. Just by cuddling it as she slept like the dead. “Keep it that way.”

Hall held his piece until Hakon put his cot back in the garage. He leaned against the counter, coffee in hand, a superior look on his face. “So, when’s the wedding?”

Hakon’s reply was short and surly. It was a little embarrassing to be caught guarding the barn, but he’d do it again. As deeply as Fern slept, she’d be eaten before she knew she was dead.

“She’ll make you a decent wife.” Time was the key with Hall. Fern was still new and suspect, but no longer a stranger. He felt invested enough in keeping the devil he knew than in hiring someone else…even if it meant marrying her off to his brother. Besides, she made a mean pot pie.

“Shove it, Hall.”

“I’m serious. Everyone knows you like her. She seems oblivious, though. When are you going to do something about it?”

“Since when do you care?” He had a sneaking suspicion that Hall thought they’d no longer have to pay Fern a wage if she were family. More likely, they’d have to hire someone to clean to free Fern up to work with Kat.

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