The third time Nether-Bane reached for the watering can, Hester put her foot through its handle.
He looked down at her boot.
“The northern row is insufficiently vigorous.”
“The northern row was watered.”
“It appears dissatisfied.”
“It is a cabbage. Give it time to develop an opinion.”
Beyond the little fence, a delivery worker wrestled a basket through the gate. The latch lifted, caught his sleeve, and let the gate swing back against his heel. He swore with feeling. Nether-Bane turned toward him, grateful for a problem which could be defeated immediately.
“I shall replace that mechanism.”
