“And the stage company would pay for the stabling?”
Patrick nodded, turning to face her with eagerness in his eyes. “That would bring in more fundsandincrease your inn’s value to the stage.”
Eliza pressed her palms together, resting her fingertips to her chin. “I’d have to hire someone to look after the animals; I haven’t the first idea how to care for horses.”
“I’ve worked as a stable hand,” he said. “Did a fine job of it. Enjoyed it, too.”
“You want to be my employee?” The idea made her laugh.
“Oh, love.” He slipped closer. “That’s not at all what I have in mind.”
She pretended to be confused. “You want to bethe stage company’semployee?”
Patrick put his arms around her, holding her as they stood on the very spot where so many of her dreams had resided these past months. “I can see I have more work to do.”
“Building the inn?”
Laughter shook his chest. “You’re trouble, you are.”
She leaned into his embrace. “I’ve been a source of trouble to many people. I do try not to be.”
“Oh, sweetie, I was only teasing.”
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around his middle. “And I’m glad of it. You never make me feel like a weight or a leech.”
“You’re never either one. And if ever you doubt that, you need only ask. I’ll tell you the truth of it.”
The wind whipped around them, swirling and tugging. She felt very little of it, shielded and warmed by his embrace.
“I’ll likely not be able to pay you very much to tend the horses.”
“I will have income from Finbarr’s farm,” he said.
“You won’t resent that I’m the reason you’re working two jobs?”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work, and I like being busy.”
“So do I.” She looked up into his eyes. “It seems we’re birds of a feather.”
“It seems we’re a lot more than that.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I never did get to kiss you goodbye before leaving for the depot.”
“You didn’t kiss me ‘good to be back,’ either.”
“Hmm.” He somehow drew closer despite already being so close. “Seems to me we ought to be able to sort that out.”
“I should hope so.”
When he’d kissed her on the front step of Ian’s house, it had been soft and hesitant, like the brush of a feather. There, on the spot of land where her dreams had been planted, he kissed her again, but this time, his lips were fervent, and his embrace was ardent.
She bent her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with every ounce of feeling she had.
This was truly a place for dreams to come true.
