“I see that Meagan is back again,” I remarked to Lily as stood and stretched from where I had been planting Nasturtium seeds. The girl waved and walked over to where Sara lay in the shade. She had been coming every afternoon to visit the cougar for a week.

“Yep. She’s persistent and brings treats,” Lily replied. “I even told her the first day that Sara wouldn’t bond with her.”

“The heart wants what it wants,” I said.

“True,” Lily agreed flying down and kissing my left cheek.

“Did you tell her that Sara was mutated and not a familiar?”

“Nope It’s not my place to tell her that,” my familiar cheerfully answered. I frowned at the pixie. “Don’t look at me like that. Sara enjoys the treats and will have one of us tell Meagan at some point. And if you really want her to know, you can tell Meagan.”

“And tick off Sara?” I asked shaking my head.

Lily laughed and pointed at me. “See! You know better and just want me to do the dirty work.”

“No, I don’t. If I wanted you to do the dirty work, I would get you to help me plant these flowers,” I replied. I reached a dirty hand towards my pixie.

“Ah! Get that dirty paw away from me!” Lily screamed before flying out of reach and giggling at me. “You’ll ruin my dress!”

“Ruining your dress would be a travesty!” I said feigning fright.

“You darn tootin’ it would be!” Lily replied. She was wearing a white and blue-ribbon dress. “Just look at how pretty my dress is.”

“It is nice,” I agreed. “What does darn tootin’ mean?”

“Just nice?” Lily asked flying and getting in my face. “Jase, you’re supposed to compliment a lady and say my dress is pretty!”

“Alright,” I laughed. “Your dress is quite fetching my lady.”

“That’s better!” Lily said giving me a beautiful smile.

“It’s almost as lovely as your legs,” I said grinning at my familiar and giving her an exaggerated wink. “Hubba hubba.”

“Jase!” Lily squealed. She blushed before realizing I was teasing her. She stomped a foot in midair. “You!”

“What? I’m not allowed to tease you?” I asked.

“Not about my looks!” Lily retorted.

“You know I find you beautiful both in your personality and in your physical appearance,” I said sending her loving feelings over our bond.

Lily flew to me and kissed my forehead. “You’re forgiven and aren’t so bad looking yourself.”

“Gee thanks.”

“You’re welcome!” Lily replied spinning in the air.

“Now, are you going to tell me what darn tootin’ means?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Come on.”

“Alright. Darn tootin’ means utterly, absolutely, or even you bet,” my familiar explained. “It’s an old term from the early 20th century.”

“I have no idea when that was since we’re not sure what century it is now,” I replied.

“I know,” Lily said.

“That’s not helping.”

“It’s funny though!” Lily replied.

“Not to me,” I said.

“It is to me,” Lily laughed. I was once again amazed with how quickly Lily changed moods. It really was childlike, and I loved that aspect of her. “Now, why are you planting these flowers? Going to make tinctures from them?”

“No tinctures. Well, maybe from the beauty berry once they are mature enough,” I replied. “But these plants are great for keeping away flies, mosquitoes, and other pests.”

“Are they pretty too?” Lily asked.

“Yes. Didn’t you look them up on the network?”

“No silly. I didn’t read your mind to see what you’re planting,” Lily answered.

“Oh. Well, I just planted Nasturtium. “They’ll be red, yellow, and orange flowers.”

“It’s also edible,” Lily said. “I just searched it and they are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, and we can try them when they mature.”

“What else are you planting?” Lily asked.

“Marigolds.”

“Those are pretty too,” Lily said.

“And have numerous health benefits, especially for the skin,” I added.

“Thought you weren’t going to make tinctures from these plants?” Lily asked grinning at me.

“The Marigolds would be used more as an infusion or compress,” I hedged.

“Uh huh,” Lily replied.

“Ok fine! I’m wanting to use the plants for more than one thing,” I admitted.

“Ok. What about the Beautyberry?” Lily asked giving me another smile. “It’s not a bad looking plant and the berries are a pretty purple.”

“It makes a great insect repellent.”

“Oh!” Lily suddenly said.

“What?” I asked.

“The network shows the berries make a delicious jelly and a nice wine,” my familiar answered. “But you humans can’t eat a lot of them raw.”

“Uh.”

“Get to work Jase! We need these plants!” Lily said.

“You just want the nectar and berries from the Beautyberry, don’t you?”

“Maybe…”

“Lily…”

“I promise not to get drunk,” Lily replied.

“Then why are your fingers, toes, and legs crossed?”

“No reason,” Lily innocently answered. She smiled sweetly at me.

“Am I going to have to change my mind about planting Beautyberries?”

“No. I promise I’ll only drink a little nectar and eat a few berries,” Lily replied. I could feel how serious she was over our bond.

“Ok.”

“Are you planting anything else?” Lily asked.

“Petunias,” I answered.

“Wow! Those are beautiful and come in a wide variety of colors,” Lily said. “Can we plant a lot of those and hang some in baskets?”

“You just said we. Are you going to help me?”

“Sure,” Lily replied changing into coveralls, boots, and a little straw hat. I laughed.

“No gloves?”

“I knew I forgot something!” Lily exclaimed. Gloves appeared in her hands. “I’m ready!”

“Then we can plant a lot of petunias.”

“Yay! Let’s get to work,” Lily said in childlike glee as she flew to the ground and landed.