Lost Creek Hollow a brief history of time

shock; mona seemed to crumble before gannet, settling to shaking haunches while her scarlet ears fell back atop her delicate skull. what was he offering? her murkwater gaze seemed formless momentarily, focused on the male while his offer reverberated within her tired mind.
would it so be the same? what if they grew up to know that gannet was not their father in the usual way, as she had? no — no. she must not keep it from them. and suddenly, embarassingly, mona's chin trembled and her gaze was forced toward the earth, to hide the sheen of tears that had cascaded into it at gannet's offer.
"i think," she began, when she had found composure again, "i would like that." her voice was small, tremulous, but mona raised her eyes back to gannet all the same. why was he being so kind to her?