The memory of Glyn Phillips’ smile stayed with Megan all the way home. The handsome, quietly spoken horse trainer she’d just met was so charismatic. He obviously doted on his son, and she could understand him being worried about him handling the wild little mare, even though she’d seemed to calm down for the boy.

She could not help wondering about the boy’s mother. The village shopkeeper had informed her Glyn Phillips and his son moved into the farm about three years ago, but made no mention of anyone else. Well, it wasn’t really any of her business. She would hate to be thought of as a typical ‘nosy neighbour.’ Still, it was difficult not to feel a bit curious.

By the time she drew up outside Ty Gwyn, the daylight had faded, and a young moon filtered through the grove of trees next to the cottage. The newly whitewashed walls which gave the cottage its name, reflected back the gentle moonlight. She couldn’t help a little rush of pride. All the time and effort she’d spent on the cottage over the last weeks had been worth it!

She gave a sudden start. Was that a shadow moving in the darkened window of the kitchen? She left the car and fumbled in her bag for her keys, her hands shaking a little. She needed to invest in a sensor light. Apart from the practicality of having such a light, she always felt a little nervous in the dark. Of course the moonlight played funny tricks sometimes, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling of someone watching her. She looked around but could not make out anything suspicious in the shadows cast by the trees.

She tried to stop her hand trembling as she turned the key in the lock. She cautiously pushed open the door, wondering what she could use as a weapon if she disturbed an intruder. She swallowed hard, her heart thudding, and a slight feeling of panic rose and tightened like an elastic band around her chest. She switched on the light and gazed across the hall to the dining room. The door into the room remained closed, as she had left it. She could see no sign of anything being disturbed. She knew she hadn’t left any windows open and had locked both the front and back doors securely. Logic told her no-one could have broken in without there being some sign of damage, and everything looked fine.

Ty Gwyn and the nearby village lay in a peaceful, rural area. She’d never seen anyone wandering around at night, nor felt uneasy about living there alone. The cottage being located out in the sticks as most people would call it, had never been a concern for her. In fact, she welcomed the peace and tranquillity after the hustle and bustle of the city. So why was she now jumping at shadows?

Taking a deep breath, she opened the dining-room door. The room looked undisturbed, everything in its usual place. The peaceful atmosphere she always felt in the cottage settled over her and she relaxed under its calming influence. She went back and double checked the locks on the doors though, just in case there were any strangers prowling around nearby.

She made herself a cup of tea and switched on the television, breathing deeply and trying to calm her nerves. After flicking through several channels, she switched it off again, finding it hard to concentrate. She did her best to dismiss the fleeting shadow she’d seen at the window, as her imagination. Gradually she settled down and let her mind wander back to Glyn Phillips and his wild pony. His rich, smoky Welsh accent kept reverberating in her mind. Hmmm, she’d better not start getting any ideas in that direction either. Her last relationship hadn’t ended so well, and hadn’t she vowed to avoid getting her heart bruised again?

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn-ebook/dp/B0DYF6L15C 
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Matchmakers-Mare…/dp/B0DYF6L15C…  
Walmartz; https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=9781509259885  
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259885 
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-matchmaker-s-mare  
ITunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-matchmakers-mare/id6742454839

Where you can find Hywela
https://www.facebook.com/HywelaLynAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/Hywela.Lyn
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228393877-the-matchmaker-s-mare
https://bsky.app/profile/hywela-lyn.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr7hUq6Mv2uJTI0dIfFQ25Q