Living with her had been easier than expected. Before the weather turned, they managed to get a little bedroom organized for her in the house, just behind the chimney so it was toasty and warm, even with the small window that looked over the fields behind the house. She reminded him of his Nan’s tales about little forest maidens that all the animals followed around. Every room where she went had no less than three hovering around her at all times. She nursed six calves back to good health in the little living room. The old crank record player was near always in use and on the coldest days, she kept the fire burning.
He liked her plenty.
But spring was coming and after lambing season, he knew it’d be time to take her into town. She deserved a real life and not one where she was trapped with a man old enough to be her father in some valley, hidden from the world. So he started getting the vehicle ready for the trip, asking her to make lists of supplies, knowing damn well, he didn’t intend to bring her back with him.
“Cassie?” he called out as he stepped through the door. “You got your things together. I want to leave as soon as Barrett’s son gets here in the morning.” Barrett was his closest neighbour. His boys were fine young fellows. Would be good enough even for his Cassie if they weren’t particular in their preference for other men. So that settled that. They took care of the animals whenever Bash had to be away in exchange for just a few ewes picked after every lambing season.
“Cassie?” he called again.
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