“How did you find her?”
“She found me.” Eggward says quietly. “And we found the others together.”
I glance around, there are a couple dozen chickens visible sleeping in their boxes, the place is crowded. He really does need more space for them all. “And all their eggs are like this?”
“Not exactly…” Eggward takes a deep preparatory breath and then moves to the next box, where a large black hen broods. Sheclucks a casual protest at being disturbed as he reaches beneath her.
“I’ve never shown anyone this.” His fist reappears, clutched tight to hide what’s inside. I suspect it won’t be a normal egg. “But I’m trying to be more—trusting.”
His hand turns over and opens suddenly. A glittering gold orb in the center of his palm.
“Eggward?” I can’t quite bring myself to ask the thing I am actually thinking. A chicken who lays golden eggs. I glance at the black bird. She looks totally relaxed. Her eyes closed, completely unperturbed by anything happening here.
“This is how I keep the rescue running. How I keep all these mouths fed.” He says quickly. “But I could give you eggs, for the land.”
“Oh—okay.” I can barely utter the words.
He gestures for me to hold out my hand, and then tenderly places the egg into it. It’s heavier than a normal egg, but not as heavy as I expect it to be.
“Not—solid gold?” I manage to ask, trying to even pretend to calculate how much money that would be.
“Just the shell. 24 karat. But that’s enough to feed everyone comfortably, even at the pawn shops I usually take them to.”
“And you want to give this tome?”
“One every week. For a year.”
“An entire year?” I can’t take my eyes off of the egg. But my brain finally catches up to what he’s offering. “That’s way too much.”
“It’s not.”
“It absolutely is. What if—What if I also come here? And work for you?” I say it in a rush. “I could use a job. A better job. Something to put on my resume. I think you could use some help around here. Right? This place is huge. And if you’re going to expand. You’ll need more hands, more money—” I feel myselframbling, but every part of me aches for him to agree. I don’t just need money. I need something to pour my passion into. I need something to keep me in Ghostlight. I need to belong here. I need him to say yes.
He steps towards me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? I know all your secrets now.” I blurt. My heart flutters, but I don’t move away from him.
“Not all of them.” He starts to turn a shoulder to me.
“Please.” I reach for his arm. Still clutching his egg in my other hand. “I want a reason to stay in Ghostlight. This place is special, I know it. I feel it. And I want to be a part of it! I want to help!”
I’m begging. I feel like a fool, but it feels like the most important thing I’ve done in a long time. At our feet Alice lets out a loud cluck. And in a moment she’s joined by another clattering chicken, and then as the rows of sleeping birds wake up, the whole flock weighs in. We’re surrounded by scolding squawks, purposeful clucks, and irritated coos.
“Fine! Okay?” Eggward yells loud enough to be heard over the cacophony of fowl protests. He turns so his arm pulls from my grasp and juts one hand out from his cloak toward me.
I stare for a long breath before realizing what he wants, then slip my fingers into his firm grip and shake his hand.
“You’re hired.”
The birds seem satisfied with his decision, taking a moment to settle back into an easy silence. Eggward pulls his hand back from mine, almost reluctantly.
“You won’t regret it.” I assure him. Hot tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I’m briefly embarrassed. This small level of acceptance has me tearing up.
“Keep that—” He gestures at the egg still in my hand. “For your first weeks’ pay. And I’ll see you here on Monday.” All of that is a command, not a request. But I don’t have any problemnodding in agreement. I practically run from the coop, trying to escape his gaze before I truly start crying with relief. I didn’t know how much it would mean to me.
A reason to stay.
Chapter Three
