As we descended the stairs I could tell Fiona was very impressed and wasn’t at all surprised when, on returning to the kitchen, she started trying t...o negotiate.“Where did you say we were on the list?”I looked at the file in my hand.“Fifth, I’m afraid.”She pulled a face.“Has everyone else seen the place?”“I’m not sure. Most know it already so don’t bother.”“Have they offered a deposit up front? We can offer a big one.”“We can’t accept deposits unless we have a contract,” I replied, amused.The. She gave me a huge hug, throwing her arms around my neck and almost choking me.She pulled back and blushed brightly, realizing she had just hugged me. Funny thing was I never pegged her for the shy type. I thought she was always really popular with the guys ... wait ... She had said..."I thought I wouldn't ever have another chance ... I mean after heather got pregnant..." I started. "But here we are, and you asked me out?" Yes, silly. I just asked you out. Well, sort of ... I told you I wanted. Smiling and waving...wearing that favourite black dress of hers.I unlocked the door and let her inside, being sure to lock the door behind us and gave her a hug and a kiss."What are you doing here? Where are the k**s?" I was pleasantly surprised to see her, but curious as to what was up."Oh, my mom's watching the k**s for a little bit .... I told her I needed to run an errand or two." She said as she was leading me back to my office, "I felt bad for you here working all by yourself ... everyone. “I guess the two across the creek were city folks who leased most of the land to someone to farm. Whoever was leasing the land stopped leasing it after the two disastrous years. The families are in trouble because they don’t get the extra income to help pay off the mortgage. Bill says the land was just being used for pasture, so nothing has been applied to it for several years except the natural fertilizer the cattle left behind,” he chuckled.“I don’t really want to lease land and build.