While we monitor the hunters, she peppers me with questions about cultivation and the harvest. Because we’re early in the season, I don’t anticipate finding a large quantity of truffles today. Also, it’s damn cold out. After another few minutes, I whistle and recall both animals.
“How many did we get?” Daphne hands me two lemon-sized truffles to add to my collection.
“We?” I tease as I estimate the total weight. “I’d say a couple pounds at least.”
“Impressive.”
“Glad you think so. Let’s get out of here and I’ll make you a feast for dinner. You have to taste them to understand why they’re so expensive. There’s nothing quite like a fresh truffle.”
Her lips purse.
I sigh. “You’re not a fan of mushrooms.”
“No, but I’m willing to trust you to change my mind.”
“Want to bet on it?”
Her brows tug together. “Did you ever collect on our first bet? I don’t remember.”
“Originally I was going to use it to convince you to go to the party with me. When you went willingly, I banked it to collect at a later date.”
She balks. “That isn’t allowed.”
“Who says? My bet, my rules.” I flash her my charming grin.
She glowers. “Your charms don’t work on me.”
“Don’t they?” I sweep her into my arms and kiss her breathless. “You did fall in love with me.”
“Just a technicality.”
Epilogue
Daphne
“You’d think people would be used to seeing a pig walked on a leash,” I whisper to Odin as we stroll through downtown Green Valley. Holiday lights decorate the streets, and the windows are all aglow with festive displays of the season.
“I’m guessin’ it might be the red and green striped scarf tied around Patsy’s neck.” Even if he’s laughing at me, it’s still my favorite sound. “You know she doesn’t get cold like you do, right?”
“How do you know?” I tip my head to the side.
“You’re adorable.” He touches his gloved finger to my nose. “Well, for one thing, she has a nice layer of fat to keep her warm. Think about a whale. Or bacon.”
Mouth agape in shock, I cover her pointy ears. “Odin Hill! Exnay on the aconbay. So rude. It’s bad enough we had to walk by the store advertising Christmas hams.”
Patsy snorts and shakes her head, displacing my hands.
“You do remember she’s a hog, right? She doesn’t understand most of what we say to her.”
“Still. The only pigs we should be eating are those adorable marzipan ones with the tiny candy mushrooms we saw in the fancy shop in Asheville.”
Since I’m now in on his truffle secret, I make the long drives with him to deliver the goods to his customers. I love our road trips, even if he insists on listening to foraging podcasts. With my feet on the dashboard and the man I love beside me, I feel like we could keep on driving forever, going anywhere the highways take us. We spend a lot of those hours talking about travel and where we want to go. Most of my adventures revolve around parks and natural wonders. Not surprisingly, Odin’s center on food.
He’s never seen the Grand Canyon in person, so after the holidays, we’re going to head west to Arizona for a week of sun, the red rocks of Sedona, and southwest-style Mexican food. I cannot wait for all of it.
Odin takes Patsy’s leash from my hand. “Come on, we’ve had enough strolling for one day. Snow’s comin’.”
Expecting to see flakes falling, I peer up at the flat gray sky. “How can you tell?”
“I can smell it on the wind,” he states, like this is something everyone can do.
I sniff and only smell sugary goodness from Donner Bakery.
“We should buy Patsy a slice of banana cake,” I suggest, pure innocence on my face.
“Nothing for you?” He tucks my hand into the crook of his elbow as he walks in the direction of the shop.
“I mean, if we’re already going to be in there to purchase cake, we could at least check out the muffin selection.” I sneak a peek at his face.
He gives me a closed-mouth smile. “Should probably buy a dozen.”
My eyes flit over his features, like I’m considering something important. “If there’s the possibility we could get snowed in, two dozen might be smarter. We could freeze them.”
“Good idea.” He leans down for a kiss, his nose cold against mine.
The idea of spending days together at his cabin sounds like heaven. Activities at the park have slowed way down, school visits are paused until the new year, and the farm is tucked in for winter, although Odin still has a few root vegetables in the ground. Other than making frequent visits to the filbert grove and delivering truffles to his customers, he is also enjoying the quiet of the coming winter.
Two bags of muffins in hand, we slowly meander our way back to the van. “If the snow isn’t too deep, can we take a hike tomorrow?”
“Sure. Where do you want to go?”
“I want to visit my chapel.”
“It’s yours now, is it?” He chuckles.
“I like to think of it as my personal sanctuary. I go there when I need to think or ask for guidance. Or talk to God.” My gaze shifts to my feet. “Imagine how beautiful it will be surrounded by freshly fallen powder. Magical.”
He lifts my chin with the tip of a finger. “Did I ever tell you the history of the chapel? Before it was relocated to the park?”
I shake my head.
“Ida’s grandfather built it for her grandmother when they settled in the area. He was a pastor.” Odin’s warm voice holds reverence for this revelation.
“My chapel is really Ida’s?” A shiver runs down my spine at the connection.
He nods. “I like to visit it sometimes, more for the connection to my family’s history and not so much for conversations or prayers.”
“It’s a beautiful building.”
In my head, I imagine marrying Odin in the chapel. An early summer wedding when the trees are bright green and flowers fill the meadow, transforming it into a colorful carpet of blooms. The building is so small, we’d only be able to invite a dozen people to witness our vows. No need to host the hundreds of Hills. We could throw a party after at the barn, though, even have a contra dance. Maybe a Maypole, with stack cakes and a banana cake for Patsy.
When I blink away the fantasy, I find Odin staring at me, a knowing smile tugging at his mouth.
He leans close to whisper against my lips. “You know, I think the chapel would be the perfect place for a wedding someday.”
I whole-heartedly agree. “Someday.”
Acknowledgments
To SO, we survived another book. Thank you for loving me even when I’m on deadline and surly.
To Penny Reid, once again, thank you for forming Smartypants Romance and allowing us to play in your worlds. I am grateful for your faith, encouragement, insight, patience, and most of all, your friendship.
To my readers, thanks for following me back to Tennessee and embracing this new series. To the Reiders, thank you for taking a chance on these books.