Frowning, Nathanial pulled back and looked down at her, his arms still around her middle. “Pardon me?”
“Would you spin me in a circle?” Charlaine asked, and he could feel her wiggling her feet as they all but dangled in the air. “I’ve always wanted to know what that felt like.” Unadulterated joy stood on her face, and Nathanial found himself swept up in it.
“If you insist,” he said, grinning at her. Then he locked his arms more tightly around her before glancing around them to ensure that no tree stood too close. A moment later, he began to move, his feet stepping on the spot as they turned in circle after circle.
Charlaine’s hands grasped his shoulders as her legs swung outward from the force of the movement. Her eyes were open wide, and laughter spilled from her mouth. “This is wonderful!” she called again and again, and her laughter echoed in his ears long after he went to bed that night. It warmed him and gave him hope because he cared for her.
The thought gave him pause.
After everything that had happened, after his determination not to be made a fool of once more, not to trust another woman ever again, Nathanial realized that he had come to trust Charlaine. She was a good person, genuine and honest. She was a true friend, and he was fortunate that she had found him.
That thought made him smile for it had been her tenaciousness that had led them to where they were now. If it had been up to him, they would have never laid eyes upon each other ever again.
That would have been a grave loss for him.
Perhaps it was that tenaciousness as well as the steadfast belief that happiness could be found anywhere that always led her back to a place where she would not be alone, where people loved her.
It was something to think about.
Chapter Thirty-One
A Storm Approaches
Charlaine clung to the mare’s mane as they raced across the meadow. Her dress had risen to well above her knees for she rode astride and without a saddle. The pressure of her knees kept her upright as she urged the chestnut mare eastward.
Glancing over her shoulder, Charlaine spotted Nathanial slowly gaining ground.
As expected, he had been a bit reluctant when she had proposed they ride without saddles. That adorable, little frown had once more teased his face before his lips had thinned in determination and he had agreed.
Lately, Charlaine had sensed a change in him as though he had come to understand how restrictive his life had been and was now determined to seize opportunities he would have ignored before. It was still an effort for him, but he was trying.
Charlaine was proud of him.
“Do you see those clouds?” Nathanial called over the thundering of their horses’ hooves. He pointed ahead to where the sky began to darken.
“Yes!” was all Charlaine said in answer.
Nathanial rolled his eyes. “What if it rains?”
Pulling on her reins, Charlaine slowed her mare to a trot. “Then we’ll get wet,” she told him with a smirk.
“Soaked, you mean,” Nathanial chuckled before his gaze dropped to her bare legs and then immediately snapped upward, a tinge of red coming to his cheeks. “How much farther do you wish to go?” he asked, urging his gelding ahead of her.
Charlaine smiled at the back of his head. Indeed, old habits died hard! Still, she could not imagine riding a side-saddle with her legs strapped into leather boots on a hot summer’s day like this. No, it was much more preferable to ride bare-legged and feel the soft breeze brush over her skin.
Nathanial would simply have to make his peace with her oddities as he called them.
Over the past few weeks, she had succeeded in persuading him into trying all sorts of things. Most, he had first deemed childish, like climbing a tree, or girlish, like picking flowers. Still, in the end, he had not refused her…and he had enjoyed himself.
“Only a little farther,” Charlaine exclaimed before urging her mare into a gallop once more. “Race you to the horizon!” she called over her shoulder as she shot past him.
A faint chuckle drifted to her ears from behind…and then the skies opened and she felt the first drops of rain land on her heated skin. They felt wonderful and refreshing, and she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the heavens.
“Charlaine!”
At the sound of Nathanial’s voice calling her name, Charlaine reluctantly reined in her mount, then turned to see him pull to a halt only a few paces in front of her. “Isn’t it wonderful?” She held out her hands, palms facing upward as more and more drops began to fall.
He laughed, then cast an uneasy glance at the sky. “We’ll get soaked.”
“I thought we’d already agreed to that.”
He eyed her through narrowed slits. “Are you saying you have no intention of returning to the house before the storm breaks?”
Smiling at him, Charlaine shook her head. Then she opened her mouth to catch a few raindrops on her tongue. “Try it,” she urged him.
Attempting to hide a smile, Nathanial ran a hand over his face, a sure sign that he was uncomfortable or otherwise emotionally overwhelmed. “You’re mad!” he told her, finally allowing his smile to show. “Mad beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”
Charlaine bowed her head. “Thank you, kind sir, for that most wonderful compliment.” She pressed her hands to her heart and blinked her lashes at him. “I shall treasure it always.”
Nathanial laughed. “I’m glad my words are of such amusement to you. But what will Pierce and Caroline think when we return soaked to the skin?”
Charlaine shrugged. “They’ll no doubt laugh about us.” Then she released the reins and let her mare go where she pleased.
The rain slowly grew in intensity as the dark clouds drifted closer. The drops’ splats upon her skin felt heavier and, after a few minutes, Charlaine felt small streams run down her temples as well as her arms and legs. The wind picked up as well, whipping the rain about.
Nathanial urged his gelding closer. “We should return to the house,” he told her with a worrisome glance upward.
Sighing, Charlaine playfully kicked his shin, his skin warm against her own. “Race me to the horizon first, then we’ll ride back,” she dared him, curious to see what he would do. Would he give in or would he stand his ground?
“No!” The moment she made to urge her mare onward again, his hand whipped out and grasped her reins, stopping her from riding off. “We return now,” he told her with a steady gaze. “I’ve seen storms like this before and, believe me, you do not want to be caught outside when they hit.” His eyes held hers, and Charlaine knew that there was no use arguing.
“Very well,” she said with a nod, proud of his insistence. Ever since they had first met, his behavior had been marked by indecision, reluctance and the fear to fail or disappoint. The man looking at her now, however, showed none of them.
A sigh of relief left his lips. “Ride ahead then,” he told her, releasing her reins. “I’ll follow.” Again, his gaze drifted to the darkening sky.
Seeing the deep concern in his eyes, Charlaine directed her mare toward home, noting the way the animal tossed her head, agitation in the way she moved. “It’s all right, girl,” Charlaine mumbled, gently patting her neck. “We’ll be home soon.”