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Our shoulders bounce against each other over a bump in the road as she leans back. “Why does that not surprise me? You’ve chosen a good one.”

My heart turns to Genevieve even more.

“Speaking of,” she says, lowering her voice, “you two still going strong?”

“The two of us are. Dad’s still struggling.”

She nods as if she understands—whether that’s because of her own father or because she knows Dad, I can’t be sure. “The older men get, the slower they seem to move. Don’t give up hope. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

She’s speaking with an assurance I don’t possess.

The wagon takes us deeper into the dark forest, the jangling horses’ tack and the creaking wagon becoming the only sounds as the party fades behind us. The lights dissipate, too, aside from the lanterns swinging near Sadie and James to light their pathway forward.

“Keep your eyes open,” Sadie speaks to the group over her shoulder. “I hear a specter has been known to haunt this holler.”

The teenagers whisper to each other amidst giggles, and the kids’ eyes widen. In the next minute, a movement of black shifts in the distance. I narrow my eyes as the high schoolers point it out. Another movement occurs, followed up by the sound of galloping horse hooves.

Then Archer appears. A few people jump, including Genevieve, who laughs at herself before looking back at him.

The sight is alarming—even though I know it’s him. Dressed all in black with a long cape atop his pitch-black horse, he gallops his steed across the pathway in the distance, his headless figure sinister and unsettling.

A few of the kids gasp when they finally spot him, so their parents hold them closer, whispering reassuring words to them while the teenagers say to their boyfriends, “That’s actually kinda freaky.”

I grin. Being able to hear the reactions around me firsthand is something I’m glad I didn’t miss. It makes me glow with pride for my boyfriend.

He crosses our path a few more times, a fog machine somewhere in the forest creating a misty haze he rides through time and time again before his horse rears on his hind legs, then gallops off into the darkness.

I smile the rest of the way back.

Genevieve speaks with me about how Archer and I are a formidable couple for pulling off both the festival and Sleepy Holler, then climbs down from the wagon when we arrive back at the stables.

“That was well worth coming for, wasn’t it?” she says. “You’ll have to tell him how much I loved it.”

“I think he’ll be wandering around soon if you want to tell him yourself.”

“I wish I could, but I’ve got to get back. Early morning class at the shop.” I nod my understanding before she continues. “Thanks for letting me sit next to you, Juliet. I always have a fun time chatting.”

She waves as she walks away. I want to shout after her, “Please date my dad!” but I manage to hold my tongue.

I watch her for a minute, hoping to catch her eyes on Dad, but Sadie approaches, pulling my attention.

“Archer told me to tell you not to leave before he comes back out,” she says near the Percherons. “Apparently, I’m his messenger girl on top of everything else.”

I grin. “I’ll be sure to stick around. Thanks, Sadie. This was awesome. I know how much you guys worked on this.”

“Ah, it was all Archer. He always goes a hundred percent on everything.”

Don’t I know it. He’s even that way with kissing. That afternoon was...Well, let me just say I wouldn’t mind being autumn kissed again.

I wave goodbye to Sadie, then wander toward the stage area, finding Dad still speaking with the pastor, his arms folded in his typical “Dad Stance.”

Instead of harping on him now—because the harping is coming—I move to the food booths. Sitting down on the wagon had been fine, but now that I’m standing, my legs feel a little weak. I purchase cider and a bag of popcorn and move to a quieter area to lean against the paddock fence where Archer tied up the horses on our first ride together.

I pop a popcorn in my mouth and try to absorb what little nutrients I can from it, then take a swig of the drink. While it helps my shaking legs, it doesn’t help my thoughts.

I fulfilled my promise this week. I even spent more time with Dad than Archer. And he can’t even put in a tiny amount of effort tonight. Why? What is so wrong with Archer that⁠—

“You about ready to head home, Jules?”