"Yes you can."
Paddy and Shaun were talking quietly in the kitchen.
Colleen and I were trying to find out what they were talking about.
Gen looked like she was about to burst.
"What is it Gen?"
She smiled. "Connor has asked me to be his Lady."
"That is wonderful."
"He wants me to move into his quarters with him." I quickly glanced at Colleen. She was smiling.
"When does this happen?"
"Um soon." She beamed.
Paddy and Shaun came out of the kitchen with the tea tray.
'Thank you." I said. Paddy smiled.
"You are welcome." He placed it on the small table and served everyone.
"Katey has been asking everyone to give her a list of vegetables to be planted this year." Colleen was telling me.
"Oh?"
"She wants to be able to order them on the next trip to Montreal."
"That is next week."
"Yes."
"I will make my list tonight while the Boys are sleeping."
"Good idea."
"Gen what do you need for your new quarters?" I asked.
"Some bedding, dishes, um furniture for the common room."
"Pretty much everything."
"Yes I guess so."
I went into the kitchen to start the evening meal. Gen came to help me.
"I am so excited. I was so surprised when he asked me. We have been eating our meals together now for months. We have become very good friends. I am hoping his sister approves."
"Why would she not approve?"
"I do not know sometimes it seems she does not like me."
"How bad do you think it is?"
"I am just hoping it is nothing personal."
"You mean because you are a shapeshifter and not a mortal."
"Exactly." She said.
"Every once in awhile I see her staring at Quinn. She becomes very shy around him."
"Shy!" Gen looked shocked. "She is not shy around me. She tells me exactly what she thinks."
"Then we will just have to wait and see. When is he telling her?"
"Now."
"Then you will find out soon."
She nodded smiling.
We finished making dinner. We were sitting down eating when Cory walked in with Mariela and Annabelle and she was carrying their baby.
Colleen went to her and helped her to a chair.
"I am fine Colleen."
"Just making sure, Dear." Annabelle smiled.
"This time Kylie I would like it very much if you were the first one to hold our son." She beamed.
"I would be honoured."
I picked him up from Annabelle's arms. I think everyone was holding there breathe.
He shifted into a kitten. Everyone applauded.
"Does this mean he is going to grow as fast as Mariela?"
"Yes."
Mariela had just turned a year and a half and she was as tall as her father and built like her mother. Her hair was black with red tips similar to Cassie's.
"Where did you have the baby?" Colleen asked.
"In my bathing pool."
"Then our feelings about the 'Sacred Pond' are right. The whole cave system here is Sacred." Colleen said.
"That means other shapeshifters will be coming here to birth their children." Shaun said.
"We should make a special pool just for them."
"Good idea Gen." Paddy said. "We will go to all the small pools and see which one would be the best."
"All right Paddy when do you want to start?"
"Perhaps tomorrow. It depends on how busy the Boys get."
She nodded.
I served Cory and Mariela some food. I gave Annabelle a bottle of Chilled blood.
"Oh thank you Kylie. I do miss this."
She took a long drink. "Mmm. This is good." She licked her lips. "Has my Grandmother been helping Councilwoman Cleo with making this?"
"I do not know Annabelle. I have been busy lately." I told her.
"I understand." She smiled.
Every one chatted about the warmer weather.
"The snow has finally melted around the barn." Cory was saying around a mouthful of food.
"I noticed today the ice is off the river." Shaun piped up. Everyone cheered.
"We should be able to canoe our way to Montreal then." Cory said.
"Yes more than likely." Shaun agreed.
"How many canoes do we have?" Paddy asked.
"My boys and I have been making some during the winter. We now have thirty-three: three-man canoes and ten: two-man canoes.
"That should help with transportation." Shaun said proudly.
"Yes Dad it should. Vincent and his pack have been tanning hides too. They have over a hundred deer hides, ten bear skins, a lot of rabbit, raccoon, beaver and some moose too."
"That is a good haul."
"Of course look how many of us hunt."
We laughed.
