Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
This was the fourth time. The other two were stupid sightings of us out on a date. “I’m not sure, but I promise you that I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
“No, you have too much going on right now. I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you free today to go house hunting with me and Rhett?”
“I’m on my way now, just making a pit stop.”
With a smile. “Let me guess, to go see Janet?”
“Yep. Do you want to meet at the first house?”
“No, why don’t you come here and we can drive together. We’re meeting Kendall at the first house.”
Kendall was my cousin, and a real estate agent for River Falls and the surrounding area.
“Okay, I’ll let you know when I’m close.”
I hit end and set my phone down. Mom piled pancakes on our plates, and I pushed away all thoughts of The Daily Dirt and stupid town gossip.
“This is it,” I said as I stepped out onto the back porch of the house. “This is the house.”
“It’s not for rent, but I thought if you liked it, we could ask the sellers if they’d be willing to consider it,” Kendall said as she came to stand next to me.
Emeline and Rhett were walking toward the barn, hand in hand.
“How many acres?”
“Eighty.”
Turning to my cousin, I smiled. “I want to buy it.”
Her eyes went wide. “I thought you wanted to rent first?”
With a shake of my head, I looked back out over the land. Pastures were divided by black, four-plank fences. A large barn was directly behind the house, set back about five-hundred yards. And the house itself was amazing. Log cabin, two stories, with a large, updated kitchen and a living room that boasted a massive fireplace. The moment I saw it all, I could picture a Christmas tree in the corner and the mantel decked out in garland and lights.
“I can really see myself in this house, Kendall. Building a new life here with Rhett.”
She smiled. “And maybe a certain insanely beautiful woman named Emeline?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Let’s not jinx things.”
She held up her hands and replied, “You didn’t hear anything from me.”
“How long has it been on the market?”
“Just came up yesterday.”
“The view of the mountain range is insane.”
Kendall walked along the back porch. “The wraparound porch is one of my favorite things. You can sit here and watch the sunset over the mountains.”
I watched as Emeline and Rhett walked back up from the barn. Rhett took off running toward me.
“Daddy! Daddy! I love this place! There’s a big barn for our horse!”
Emeline wore a beautiful smile as she approached. “The barn is amazing.”
“How many stalls?”
“Ten on each side, with the north side featuring a covered stoop. There’s a hay bay, and a shavings bay, as well. A wash and tack-up area. Behind that is a tractor stall, with a tractor already parked in it.”
“I can ask about that if you want,” Kendall interjected.
Emeline added, “There’s also an office, and beside that sits a small kitchen with a table and a Murphy bed.”
“It’s the perfect place for my horse!” Rhett shouted.
I chuckled and said, “The horse you don’t have yet, you mean.”
“Ms. Emeline said she has lots of horses and we can buy one of hers.”
Our eyes met, and I smiled. It was way too early to think about how perfect this house would be with Emeline in it. But the land and the barn were too good to pass up. This was exactly what I’d dreamed of getting once we moved back to River Falls.
“Did you like the house?” I asked Emeline. I wanted her thoughts on it, especially if I was going to be asking her to spend lots of time here with me and Rhett.
“The house is beautiful. The land is beautiful. I think you guys would be really happy here.”
I nodded and looked around before turning to Kendall. “Let’s put in a full-price offer.”
She laughed. “I haven’t even told you how much they want.”
Emeline stepped up onto the porch. “Wait, you’re going to buy it?”
“It’s not for rent. Kendall wanted me to see it and thought she might be able to ask about renting, but I think this is the place for us. What do you say, Rhett? Could you see us owning this place and living here?”
Rhett jumped up and down, letting out a whoop as he did so.
We all laughed.
“I think that’s a yes,” Kendall said as she ruffled Rhett’s hair. “Let’s get back to the office then and draw up an offer.”
Taking Rhett’s hand in hers, Kendall walked back into the house. I pulled Emeline to me and kissed her on the forehead. “Do you like it?”
She giggled. “Levi, it’s going to be your house. Do you like it?”
“I do. I really like it. And I know we’ve only been together a short amount of time, but I want you to spend as much time with us as you can, so if you don’t like the house—”