AN: Hey everyone, sorry about not updating sooner. I got very busy with school and also lost myself for a while but I'm back! I may not update frequently but I want to be able to share this story with you all. Thank you for waiting and I hope you all enjoy!

I stretched my weary arms in the air and yawned loudly. My scythe lay at my feet along with my watering can. The heat of the spring sun beat down on me. How long had I been at it today? I cupped my eyes, trying to keep the sun from blinding me. The sun was directly above me, meaning it had to be past noon. I yelped loudly. Noon! I promised Madam Eda I would have tea with her at noon. I quickly put my tools in my bag and ran to the neighbouring farm. I owed the world to Madam Eda. She let me room with her when I first moved here and she taught me everything I needed to know about farming. I was useless at first. She was elderly, which surprised me at first. I didn't understand how an old woman could run a farm by herself but she quickly changed my mind. She was a spry lady. I had seen her take control of cows twice her size. She had become something of a fairy godmother to me. She gave me a cow soon after I moved into my own house.

I knocked on her wooden door. I heard her voice from within the house and opened the door. Madam Eda was sitting at her table, knitting mittens. I smiled despite myself. Even if she was a farmer, Madam Eda had a grandmother feeling to her that made me feel completely at home.

"Annie!" She exclaimed with a toothy grin, "At last, I had a feeling you were going to be running late. I just put the kettle on the stove so we have a few minutes!"

"I'm sorry I'm late, I completely lost track of time!" I apologized and bowed my head slightly in embarrassment.

She waved off my apology, "Child, it's all right. New farms take time. They desire all of your attention and rarely give anything back! It's like being married." She motioned to the chair sitting next to her, "Come sit and relax for a while. Tell me how you are doing. I feel like I haven't seen you all season!" I felt my cheeks heat up. I hadn't really left my farm in a few weeks. I never needed to. Fritz had visited a few times and taught me some pointers with the animals. I had seen Gunther most often than most since he came to oversee my construction attempts. But I did leave my farm, on Wednesday afternoons, so I could read with Raeger. Even though the last few times had been less about reading since we spent most of the afternoons talking. I no longer felt shy around him and my cheeks did not flame when he spoke to me. We had a lot in common surprisingly except that I was a horrid cook.

"It's promising! Summer is just around the corner and I'm considering growing corn. I'm worried about the heat, though." I told her. Eda nodded along with my words.

"Summer is the worst season. It's so dreadfully hot and it's easy for the crops to fail but I have faith in you, Annie. You'll succeed." Almost like clockwork, the kettle screamed from the stove. Madam Eda pushed herself out of her chair and hobbled to the stove, pouring the water into a teapot. Madam Eda placed the hot teapot on the table in front of me. I jumped to my feet to take it from her but she waved me down.

"I may be old Annie, but I can carry a pot of tea." She smiled, "I run a farm all by myself you know."

I nodded, "How can I forget, you taught me everything I know." I poured the tea into my teacup and Madam Eda's as she took her time sitting down. She smiled once more and dumped a few teaspoons of sugar into her tea.

"Unfortuantely, farming is just one of those things that you have to experience rather than teach. I could never teach you how to deal with the long days or how to 'talk' to your crops." She took a sip from her cup.

I shrugged, "I know. That first week here made me think that it was going to be so simple. It's a lot harder than I thought. I thought I was busy enough but Madam Veronica gave me lease to the root crop field…"I sighed and ran my fingers through my loose hair, "I need more hours in the day especially if I want to improve and be as successful as Elise." My cheeks grew hot at the thought of Elise. She was always stopping by to inspect my farm. She was appalled at the quality of my crops compared to hers. I know I'm a beginner but it's still mortifying to hear someone say your hard work has amounted to nothing.

"Do not let Elise scare you, Annie." Eda sipped her tea once more, "She just does not like new competition. She has been the best farmer in Oak Tree for a while and your arrival could rival her claim." Eda shot me a wink.

I raised my eyebrows at such a notion, "She has nothing to worry about. I have none of the experience Elise has. I could never be as good as her."

"It may be about the experience my dear but it's also about heart. Elise has known nothing but the luxury of her mansion. She farms but she spends most of her days designing clothes and ordering about her servants. She would never want to be in your shoes. You, Annie, are a true farmer. That farm of yours, no matter how little or how insignificant you find it, is the product of your sweat and tears."

I stirred my spoon in my teacup, watching it swirl, "I don't know. I don't want to be better than anyone. I just want to keep my head down and work." I sighed.

Madam Eda chuckled as she sipped her tea, "That, my dear, is already impossible. I've heard that you've already caused a few heads to turn."

I looked up from my tea, my cheeks hot, "What do you mean?"

Eda placed down her teacup, "There is one thing about this town I should warn you about. It is full of gossip. It is just one of the consequences of living in such a small town. We have nothing better to do than to gossip with each other. I've heard from a few that you have caused a stir amongst our young men in town."

I felt my jaw open, "Me? I'm barely in town!"

"Perhaps that is why you are so intriguing to them." Her eyes twinkled, "You are elusive. You are this beautiful young girl who moves here to farm and not fawn over the men! You are an anomaly in this town."

I sighed loudly into my hands, "I have no interest in dating right now!" I told her, "I have a farm to take care of and I have the stupid crop contest this week that I won't win but I can't embarrass myself!" My voice was flustered and I knew I was rushing through my sentences, "Maybe I'm not cut out for this."

Eda looked alarmed, "Annie, where is this coming from?"

"What if I'm not good at this? What if my farm never starts to succeed and I'm just dragging along the inevitable…"

Madam Eda took one of my hands in her own and squeezed gently, "Annie honey, you are doubting your ability when you have no cause. I saw so much potential in you that first week. You may have some setbacks over the course of your life but you will succeed. I guarantee it."

"How?"

"Because I had the same thoughts when my husband died. I had to run the farm alone and I never thought I could do it. But I did, and I know you will. My darling girl, you are endless with potential. I would not be surprised that by next spring, you will have won the crop festival."

I tried not to cry but tears overcame my desire. They rolled down my cheeks and dropped onto the table. I had never heard those words from someone before. Madam Eda believed in me even if I didn't. Even if I never believed in myself again, she always would.

"Thank you, Madam Eda." I wiped away the tears yet the corners of my lips were pulled into a smile.

"We all need some encouragement at some point. Despite how much we all gossip, the people in this town care for one another. We always look after one of our own. You don't have to do this alone, we will always come to help." She patted my hand once more and returned to her teacup, "You find family among us eventually. And maybe, just maybe, you will want to test the waters of love. I know there of some that would line up waiting for that day."

I took a sip of my tea, "I imagine you're not going to tell me who they are."

Eda chuckled, "Of course not, that you would the fun. Love is supposed to be fun."

I laughed along with her. We changed subjects and talked throughout the afternoon until the sun sank below the horizon. Yet the whole time, I had the lingering thoughts of Raeger in the back of my head. Was he one of these men Eda had mentioned? Was he lining up waiting for me? Despite our afternoons together, I had found no inkling of anything greater than friendship. Besides he could have any girl he wanted, why would he want me?