home for the summer. She smiled broadly as
she touched the growing bouquet to her nose.
Justin had given her heart wings. It had been
two weeks since he’d left her on the mountain and she woke every
morning missing the feeling of being wrapped in the warm safety of
his arms. He’d been there when she woke from one of her night
terrors and he’d comforted her like nothing else ever had. She’d
never felt anything so gratifying and perfect. She couldn’t wait to
tell Abby.
By midday, with the sun hot on her shoulders,
she reached the lowland meadows of Abby's farm. The farmhouse was
half a day’s hike from her little cabin in the high country and
she’d started out at daybreak. Brinn knew the way with little
attention to paths or landmarks. If Abby followed her usual
routine, she would be out riding and Brinn would find her traveling
the trails on Callie, her chestnut mare.
As she hummed her way across the meadow, a
familiar silhouette appeared in the distance. This time, however,
her friend wasn’t alone. Brinn ducked behind the large willow that
stood solitarily in the open field. As the two riders drew nearer,
she made out the distinctive shape of a young man with neatly
cropped, sand colored hair, riding alongside Abby. Caught between
her desire to see her friend and her fear of being seen by a
stranger, she remained hidden.
Abby and the young man chatted and laughed as
their horses approached. Brinn, close enough to hear their voices,
pressed her back against the broad trunk of the willow, listening
to the casual conversation carried on the warm breeze. Abby
obviously trusted her companion and the tone of their conversation
sounded light, the two laughing and enjoying the sunny day. Maybe
he was like Justin, she considered. Maybe he was gentle and good,
and would keep her secret if Abby asked him to. Mustering her
courage, Brinn stepped out from behind the tree.
The horses started and reared back. The young
man let out a girlish squeal as he tumbled from the back of Apollo,
Callie’s mate. The bucking Appaloosa stomped the ground, just
missing the stunned rider. Abby jumped down from her mount and was
at his side in a flash. "Phillip, are you all right?" She fussed
over him and brushed the dirt from his clothes as she helped him to
his feet. She wheeled on Brinn who was nervously clutching the
flowers behind her back.
"What are you doing? He could have been badly
hurt!"
Brinn stared at the man, who was visibly
angry and shaken. Ashamed and flustered, she looked down at her
feet. "I’m sorry. He looks fine," she added. She glanced from her
feet to his face but avoided eye contact. The young man gaped at
her as if she were an apparition.
The perfect southern hostess, Abby softened
her tone and made introductions. "This is my boyfriend, Phillip
Maitland. We met at school. He’s majoring in Biomedical
Engineering." She paused, waiting for Brinn to make eye contact
before continuing. "Phillip, this is my friend Brinn—the one I told
you about."
Brinn shot her a harsh look, hurt by the
betrayal. When the man held out his hand, she stared at it
suspiciously, certain it wouldn’t feel warm and soft like Justin’s
had. Besides, they hadn't come to any particular agreement worth
shaking on.
Abby smiled and blushed. "She doesn't shake
hands, Sweetheart." The embarrassed look on her friend’s face made
the hollow place in Brinn’s chest grow bigger.
Phillip’s hand lowered and the blue eyes that
examined her held an expression of mixed distaste and relief. An
awkward silence followed and an unpleasant heat flushed Brinn’s
cheeks.
"I didn't expect to see you today, Brinn.
Although, I'm awfully glad you've come,” she added quickly. “I was
hoping you would get to meet Phillip. We're engaged." Abby beamed
as she held out her hand and revealed a small sparkling stone atop
a thin gold band.
Brinn eyed the stone, not quite certain how
to respond. She looked from her friend to the man and back again
and
she touched the growing bouquet to her nose.
Justin had given her heart wings. It had been
two weeks since he’d left her on the mountain and she woke every
morning missing the feeling of being wrapped in the warm safety of
his arms. He’d been there when she woke from one of her night
terrors and he’d comforted her like nothing else ever had. She’d
never felt anything so gratifying and perfect. She couldn’t wait to
tell Abby.
By midday, with the sun hot on her shoulders,
she reached the lowland meadows of Abby's farm. The farmhouse was
half a day’s hike from her little cabin in the high country and
she’d started out at daybreak. Brinn knew the way with little
attention to paths or landmarks. If Abby followed her usual
routine, she would be out riding and Brinn would find her traveling
the trails on Callie, her chestnut mare.
As she hummed her way across the meadow, a
familiar silhouette appeared in the distance. This time, however,
her friend wasn’t alone. Brinn ducked behind the large willow that
stood solitarily in the open field. As the two riders drew nearer,
she made out the distinctive shape of a young man with neatly
cropped, sand colored hair, riding alongside Abby. Caught between
her desire to see her friend and her fear of being seen by a
stranger, she remained hidden.
Abby and the young man chatted and laughed as
their horses approached. Brinn, close enough to hear their voices,
pressed her back against the broad trunk of the willow, listening
to the casual conversation carried on the warm breeze. Abby
obviously trusted her companion and the tone of their conversation
sounded light, the two laughing and enjoying the sunny day. Maybe
he was like Justin, she considered. Maybe he was gentle and good,
and would keep her secret if Abby asked him to. Mustering her
courage, Brinn stepped out from behind the tree.
The horses started and reared back. The young
man let out a girlish squeal as he tumbled from the back of Apollo,
Callie’s mate. The bucking Appaloosa stomped the ground, just
missing the stunned rider. Abby jumped down from her mount and was
at his side in a flash. "Phillip, are you all right?" She fussed
over him and brushed the dirt from his clothes as she helped him to
his feet. She wheeled on Brinn who was nervously clutching the
flowers behind her back.
"What are you doing? He could have been badly
hurt!"
Brinn stared at the man, who was visibly
angry and shaken. Ashamed and flustered, she looked down at her
feet. "I’m sorry. He looks fine," she added. She glanced from her
feet to his face but avoided eye contact. The young man gaped at
her as if she were an apparition.
The perfect southern hostess, Abby softened
her tone and made introductions. "This is my boyfriend, Phillip
Maitland. We met at school. He’s majoring in Biomedical
Engineering." She paused, waiting for Brinn to make eye contact
before continuing. "Phillip, this is my friend Brinn—the one I told
you about."
Brinn shot her a harsh look, hurt by the
betrayal. When the man held out his hand, she stared at it
suspiciously, certain it wouldn’t feel warm and soft like Justin’s
had. Besides, they hadn't come to any particular agreement worth
shaking on.
Abby smiled and blushed. "She doesn't shake
hands, Sweetheart." The embarrassed look on her friend’s face made
the hollow place in Brinn’s chest grow bigger.
Phillip’s hand lowered and the blue eyes that
examined her held an expression of mixed distaste and relief. An
awkward silence followed and an unpleasant heat flushed Brinn’s
cheeks.
"I didn't expect to see you today, Brinn.
Although, I'm awfully glad you've come,” she added quickly. “I was
hoping you would get to meet Phillip. We're engaged." Abby beamed
as she held out her hand and revealed a small sparkling stone atop
a thin gold band.
Brinn eyed the stone, not quite certain how
to respond. She looked from her friend to the man and back again
and
Similar Books
