I know, it was a Halloween challenge. But I'll just pretend it's the fall challenge.


Chapter 2

Mac was curled up on the sofa with her arms tucking one of the many home knitted blankets around her knees, a steaming mug of hot coca, and the crackling of the fire. Beside her was Sarah Rabb regaling them with a story of Harm's dad as a child, and Harm sitting on the recliner, legs propped up as he laughed along with his grandmother while he listened to the story probably for a hundredth time.

Occasionally, Mac would glance at Harm, who never failed to look back at her at that moment with a sparkle in his eye. Sometimes, sharing a smile that she hid with her hot cocoa, him with a pour of bourbon.

She loved it at the farm, the warmth, the feeling of home and family that she never had.

She glanced back at the older woman who joyfully jumped to another story, while Mac started to get lost in her own thoughts…

She doesn't know why she avoided flying with Harm for years, when she was the beautiful orange, gold, and yellow of the mountains on the way to Pennsylvania. She couldn't deny the beauty and peace from being in the air. The peace that radiated off of her partner was contagious, even when he told her that she had control of the plane, and talked her through a couple of turns and simple maneuvers. Up there, it was him, her, the air, and Sarah the plane. Life was simple.

The simplicity followed them after they landed and pushed the plane into the barn where its namesake had a neighbor leave a 1974 blue Ford Ranger for Harm and Mac.

They drove around from the barn to the main home, and Mac was greeted by the older woman as if she had not spent the last two years not accompanying Harm on his visits. Everything was just as she remembered it, and the blanket she had mentioned was her favorite — a light pink and purple knitted blanket that reminded her of one her grandmother had — was sitting at the end of the guest bed that she usually stayed at.

All in all, she was glad that Harmon Rabb Jr. stopped by her office and asked her to come up to his grandmother's with him. All the previous hesitation she had was gone. All that was left was contentment, despite the fact that she did not know what the man in the room wanted with her, if there was still something that he wanted.

"Oh look at me, I have talked your ears off, you both must be tried from your days at work," Sarah Rabb said shaking her head with a smile.

"Not at all Grams," Harm said with his signature flyboy smile. Mac loved the way that he smiled at his grandmother. The love and admiration for the woman he was 'crazy about.' She knew why.

"I love hearing your stories, Sarah. Especially of little Harm!"

"Hey!"

Sarah Rabb chuckled. "Well, dear. I have plenty more! And what did I say about calling me Sarah?"

Mac tried to hide a blush. "Sorry, Grams."

"Good, good," the older woman said, patting Mac's knee. "Glad to see you following orders."

"She is a Marine Grams."

"And you better not forget it," Mac responded.

"As if you'd ever let me!"

"Not on your life, Squid."

"Children, children," Grams said with a smile. "Oh look at the time. I must go to bed now, early morning tomorrow."

Both Harm and Mac stood up as well, out of respect as if she was a senior ranking officer.

"Do you need any help tomorrow?"

Grams started moving her head side to side, weighing the chores over in her mind. "Ah, yes. You know it is the Pumpkin Festival weekend, Harmon."

Harm groaned. "No, I forgot about that."

"Well it is," Grams said throwing a smile Mac's way, then a wink. "I'll have to tell you a story about Harmony's first Pumpkin Festival."

"Oh I can't wait to hear this," Mac said excited, looking over at Harm with a grin.

Harm shook his head. "Is there anything I can do to help you tomorrow?"

"I can help too," Mac volunteered.

"I've already finished some of the pies, but Sarah, if you would like to learn how to make the rest of the apple and pumpkin pies. I have about five to make."

"Oh! I love your pies!" Mac said excitedly.

"Good," the older woman said. "You'll have to make them soon enough when my hands are too shaky."

"Grams!" Harm exclaimed, not liking to hear about his grandmother getting older.

"I'm not getting any younger, Harmon. Sarah here can learn the recipes," she said with a smile. Then turned to Mac. "He's just jealous because he is not allowed to learn the recipes for the pies."

"And you're going to show Mac!"

"From one of your Sarah's to the other."

This time it was Harm's turn to blush.

"With that," Grams said. "I'll see you both tomorrow morning."

She stepped up to Mac who was closest to her position and gave her a hug, and a squeeze. "I'm glad you're here, Sarah."

"Good night, Grams."

The older woman then stepped over to where Harm was standing and gave her much taller grandson a hug. "I love you, Jr."

"Love you too, Grams."

Harm and Mac watched the older woman walk into her bedroom at the end of the hallway. Once her door shut close, Harm turned to Mac.

"Are you ready for bed as well, or do you want to stay up a bit longer."

"Hm, I think I can stay up a bit longer."

He smiled sitting back down on the recliner. Mac returned to her previous position watching the fireplace.

"I'm glad you agreed to come with me this weekend," he whispered as he took a sip of bourbon.

Mac took a sip of her hot coca and smiled. "Thanks for inviting me, I needed this."


Hope ya'll still like it so far!