“The goats love it,” Sophia said as Mollie ran up to Liliana.
“I’m glad someone does,” Caspian said diplomatically, looking down at Sophia with a grin.
They quickly reached the fence for the northern pasture and Sophia led the way to the gate. “I want to go in with the goats,” Liliana announced.
“Of course,” Caspian said.
Sophia reached for the gate, not realizing that Caspian was as well. Their hands touched and Sophia could almost swear that a spark passed between their hands before they both pulled away and looked at each other.
The butterflies that had faded were back in full force and she couldn’t look away from his dark brown eyes. She took a step forward before she realized what she was doing, then took a step back.
But even with the distance between them, he was still looking deep into her eyes, and she couldn’t remember what she’d been doing until Liliana said, “Can I open the gate?”
The spell broke and they looked away from each other, turning to look at Liliana.
“Let me get the gate for you,” Sophia said, shaking herself as she reached over to open the gate.
Liliana ran in and the goats followed her, including Ivy as Caspian let go of the rope. Caspian latched the gate behind the goats and the girl and Sophia couldn’t help smiling at the sight of the golden-haired girl running in the sunshine, the four baby goats chasing her. The mothers immediately set to eating the weeds that had sprung up since the last time they’d been to the north pasture.
She leaned against the fence, her arms resting on one of the lower boards. She loved days like today, when the sun was shining, the cool breeze of fall was stirring up the air, and the goats were happily eating weeds. The manor also had a few cows, but they didn’t like the weeds the way the goats did, so there was always plenty for them to eat when they went around to the different pastures.
“I have a question for you,” Caspian said, turning to look down at her.
“Oh?” Sophia didn’t want to look at him, afraid that if she did, she would get dizzy with the closeness of him. She was incredibly aware of how near he was, so close she could probably brush against him without moving more than an inch.
Why was he so close?
“Will you help me with the Fall Festival?”
Of all the questions he could have asked, that was not one she would have expected, or could have ever guessed.
What did helping him with the Fall Festival entail? Would she even be capable of helping with it?
“I don’t know anything about it,” she admitted.
“My mother is in charge of hosting the Fall Festival in the town every year. This year, she wants me to get involved. And I’ll be honest, I feel like I’m in over my head, given that I’ve never had anything to do with the Fall Festival except attending it and enjoying myself. I was hoping you would be willing to help me.”
Sophia still couldn’t look up at him. She would start blushing if she did. Why did he want her help? Was it because he’d felt the spark between them when their hands had touched? Did he want to spend more time with her? Was he using this as an excuse?
“I don’t know how much help I could be,” she said slowly. “I’m new to town and I don’t know anyone or anything about the Fall Festival. And I don’t get very much time off since the goats always need someone to look after them. But if there’s something I can help with, I’ll be glad to do it.”
And not just because she wanted to spend time with him, either.
She dared to glance up at him, though he didn’t notice, his gaze focused on the activity within the pasture. “I noticed you were sitting with a bunch of people at the café when I walked past the other day,” he said. “I’m assuming that they might be able to help with the festival.”
“So you’re just using me for my connections?” she teased.
He looked down at her with a grin. “Absolutely,” he said with no trace of hesitation. “I figure I could use all the help I can get.”
Sophia nodded gravely. “I agree. You need lots of help.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked, turning to face her, crossing his arms across his chest as he leaned against the fence with his shoulder.
“You don’t even want to walk in the barn, and yet you’re supposed to put on a Fall Festival. Won’t that require getting dirty?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “I’ll have you know I am perfectly used to walking in the barn. I just like it when the aisle is swept first.”
Sophia laughed and climbed the fence to sit on top of the fence post. She loved sitting on the fence, twice as tall as her normal height, and looking out across Lord Rendon’s land. “And I suppose you think that the aisle should be swept regularly?” she said, looking down at him.
