Samuel Brennan, Thomas’s father, stepped forward with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “You’re a part of our family now, lass. Make yourself at home,” he said, his voice rich with warmth and sincerity. Margaret nodded, feeling a flicker of warmth in her chest.

As they walked toward the farmhouse, Thomas spoke again, sharing stories of the land and the life they lived there. Margaret listened intently, her apprehension slowly giving way to curiosity. The farm was vast, stretching beyond what she could see, and as Thomas described the fields, forests, and rivers that made up the property, she realized that this was unlike anything she had imagined.