I glance down at him. I can’t help but stare at his broad shoulders. His shirt clings slightly where the fountain water has soaked him. His muscles look huge, his hands capable of almost anything. I’m trying not to think too hard about it. I’m already dizzy.
I can feel eyes on me as we move. People stare openly now, phones out, smiles wide. I hear someone whisper, ‘Oh my God, how romantic,’ and another person say, ‘It’s like a film.’
I suppose I’d rather that was the takeaway, focusing on how dreamy the cowboy is, rather than how embarrassing I am.
This is absurd but… I don’t know, kind of magical too. I feel like I’m living out every woman’s fantasy now, if we forget the bleak reality he’s leading me towards. At least the ring isn’t still stuck on my finger.
I’ve spent the last few days feeling like I was being repeatedly punched in the heart. Today, I’m sitting on a horse, being led through a beautiful garden by an actual cowboy. My life isn’t serious at all, is it?
We reach the edge of the garden where the path opens toward the main house.
Rosewood emerges, its grand stone walls and big windows reminding me that I’m back to reality.
‘Thanks so much, I can make it from here,’ I tell him.
The cowboy glances up at me.
‘You sure you’re alright, miss? I can hitch her up…’
‘No, really, it’s okay,’ I insist, suddenly aware of the time, of the fact that Andy and Cordelia are probably waiting for me. ‘I can’t thank you enough for saving me.’
‘Glad to be of service,’ he replies.
We reach the terrace steps. He halts Biscuits, then lifts me down carefully, hands at my waist, gently setting me on the ground.
My ankle protests again, but it doesn’t feel as bad as it did before. I think I’ve probably just rolled it.
He steadies me with a hand at my elbow.
‘Careful,’ he murmurs.
I look up at him and my breath catches slightly.
His eyes are still bright with amusement, but there’s something else there too – something gentler, like he’s genuinely concerned about me. Honestly, I could swoon.
Then I glance left and notice movement through the glass doors. Andy and Cordelia, waiting for me. Thankfully, they’re not looking this way.
‘Thank you,’ I say, voice suddenly rushed as I hobble away. ‘I have to go, I’m late.’
‘Sure thing,’ he replies. ‘Maybe I’ll see you around?’
‘Maybe,’ I call back as I head inside.
I was lucky that my bag – and the ring box – didn’t fall in with me. A quick wipe and the ring is back in its box, like nothing happened. Sadly there’s little I can do for myself. I am soaking wet and limping.
I don’t look back to see if the cowboy is watching. If I do, I’ll trip and probably fall into another body of water. That’s just my luck at the moment.
Andy looks over as I approach them.
His whole face lights up, the way it always does when he sees me, and for one aching moment I forget he’s engaged. But then I notice Cordelia. And he notices that I’m soaking wet.
‘Whit!’ he says as he approaches me. ‘What happened to you?’
Cordelia follows him.
‘Oh my gosh! Are you okay?’ she asks.
‘Yes,’ I say brightly, forcing myself to smile. ‘Fine. Great. I… er… took a dip in the fountain, while I was waiting.’
