Eve startled as Gabe ducked his head beneath the tree branches. She quickly swiped at her eyes. “Gabe! You scared me! What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” He knelt beside her on the opposite side of Eden. “I saw you leaving the castle.” His gaze scanned her face and his brow furrowed. “What’s wrong, Eve? Why are you crying?”
Eve shook her head. “I’ll be alright.”
“Who made you cry? I will make sure they never do it again.”
Eve sat back against the tree with a sigh. He was so brave and so… “You followed me here?” Gabe smiled, and Eve’s heart quickened at the same time it broke.
“You changed the subject.” He nodded, allowing her the secret. “Yes. I followed you. I brought horses. You wanted to ride one by yourself.”
She was so glad he was here with her, to cheer her. “I’d like that.” One more adventure with him. Spend time with him again for the last time.
He stood up and held his hand out to her.
Eve placed her hand into his warm one and he helped her to her feet. He stood for a long moment looking down at her. Eve realized how tall he was. He stood a foot above her, his dark hair fell to his shoulders in soft waves.
He lifted a hand to wipe a thumb across her cheek, clearing away the tears. “I swear. I will make sure that no one makes you cry again.”
Her heart ached for him. She watched the way his lips formed the words, caressing and gentle.
“Come. I shall make you laugh again.” He led her into the clearing where the two horses waited in the brown grass.
“You’ll ride behind me like you did before?”
“I shall ride my horse, guiding yours, until you are comfortable.”
Eve felt a quake of unease and apprehension race through her as they approached the horses. The animals were so big! She didn’t remember Gabriel’s brown palfrey being this tall. The other was a beautiful dark red color.
“I’ll help you mount,” Gabriel said.
Eve stopped and stared at the horse. It seemed so large even though it was smaller than Gabe’s palfrey.
Gabriel looked at her. “Are you alright?”
She wanted him to be proud of her. She wanted him to admire her. She wanted him… to love her. What? She quickly moved forward, pushing the thought from her mind. She placed her foot into the stirrup. Gabe put his hands around her waist and lifted her up. She grabbed the pommel and swung her leg around.
The horse backed up a step and Gabriel grabbed the reins. He handed them to Eve. “Remember how I told you to hold them?”
Eve nodded and situated the reins in her hands.
Gabe adjusted the stirrups so her feet rested comfortably in them. Then, he quickly mounted his horse and took the lead rein from Eve’s horse. “Ready?”
She nodded, and they started slowly across the clearing, Gabe leading Eve’s horse.
“You have control of the reins. Just relax and steer the horse where you want it to go.”
Eve tugged too hard and the horse bridled, tossing its head.
“Gentle,” Gabe reminded.
They moved together across the clearing. “Gently turn her.”
Eve followed his instructions and the horse walked where she steered.
Gabe nodded. “Good.”
They moved back and forth across the field beneath the cloudy sky.
