Chapter Seven
Of course it wasn’t that easy.
Since the majority of the audience were parents and needed to settle their rambunctious offspring down before bed, the room cleared of adults in a surprisingly short time.
Which left Reid and Prudence with a few others, all of whom ended up assisting the deacon in restoring the church hall to its former state of order. It seemed wrong, thought Reid, to leave the poor man alone with the residue of such a lovely evening.
He didn’t even have to ask Prudence, who was already gathering up torn paper, streamers, and the other bits and pieces the children had left behind. Several lads, too old for the play and too young for the ale, willingly moved the chairs back into their places and it didn’t take too long for a sort of normalcy to be restored.
“Thank you, Mr. Reid, Ma’am,” bowed Deacon Trent. “You’ve been a blessing this evening and saved my sanity, I can assure you.” He grinned as Prudence leaned over and removed a clump of pine needles from to his cassock. “Oh dear. Thank you again.”
She smiled. “A lovely remembrance of a charming evening.” She passed him the pine. “It’s sticky though.”
“Part of the charm. The scent of the pine resin, Mrs. Dalton’s fresh gingerbread and a fall of snow…it all says Christmas, doesn’t it?” He looked around, then sighed. “And for us it’s one of the busiest times of the year, so I must go along now.”
Hands were shaken, more thanks exchanged, and at long last—after what seemed like an eon to Reid—he was able to lift her up onto his horse, mount behind her and steer them both out into the cold night.
“Are you warm enough?” He leaned his head over her shoulder, a cloud of warm fog accompanying his words.
She nodded in response, taking in a deep breath and exhaling her own little cloud. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He knew she was looking out over the countryside, but he was looking at her, her profile dark against the white of the snow, but unmistakable nevertheless. He saw her lips part on a smile as she moved slightly, lifting a gloved hand from the folds of her cloak. “Oh, a rabbit I think. Or perhaps a small fox.” She leaned against him. “Out hunting for dinner perhaps?”
“Looking for his mate?”
“Maybe.” She chuckled. “Poor chap. I don’t envy him.”
“Not keen on a nighttime romp through the snow?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Well, now, when it comes to romps, I’m finding the thought most interesting. In the snow? That might not be as alluring…”
Reid laughed. “I’m told that on the Continent some people enjoy rushing out and bathing in cold snow after soaking in hot springs.”
“Really?” She sounded amused. “How pink their skins must be after that kind of treatment.”
“Mmm.”
The thought of Prudence, naked and pink in the snow, was doing natural things to his masculinity. Thus he wisely turned his mind to the ride and away from carnal pleasures lest he let the horse wander off the track and tip the two of them into a snow bank while he imagined them in all sorts of improbable frolics.
They rode in silence, accompanied only by soft hoofbeats on snow and the hoot of an owl in the distant trees.
She felt so right in his arms, Reid realized. Her head had found the perfect spot on his shoulder and her weight was balanced exactly where it should be. She didn’t fidget or fuss, just moved with the horse, busy with her own thoughts as he was with his.
It was a kind of silent companionship that was new to him. And he found he enjoyed it very much. The anticipation of what was to come lay there all around them, a ring of pleasure that he was eager to explore.
But that need didn’t obliterate his awareness of this moment, this quietness that had developed between them.
No words were necessary. They both knew where they were headed…all that remained was to relish the journey.
The night was cloudy, dark and with a scent that hinted at more snow soon. It was a good thing Reid knew most of this part of the county like the back of his hand, having been riding over it since he threw a little leg over his first pony. The path to the hideout was sloppy now, but crusting over as the temperature fell.
“We’ll see snow before dawn.” He spoke quietly, knowing she would hear and understand.
“You can smell it too?”
“Yes.”
“I believe there is enough wood to keep us warm if we must stay.” She turned slightly and glanced up at him. “What about your horse?”
