A Sleigh Ride For Rowena (Sleigh Ride) by Kaitlynn Clarkson

Author:Kaitlynn Clarkson [Clarkson, Kaitlynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kaitlynn Clarkson
Published: 2024-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Rowena

Rowena breathed deeply of the cold, fresh spring air, excitement filling her senses as she walked through the meadow on the way to school. Most of the snow had melted and spring flowers were poking their heads up from the damp ground. The air was filled with birdsong as the migratory birds returned from their winter homelands, and the sun shone brightly overhead. It was a good day to be alive.

She heard a horse approaching from behind and despite a prickle of unease at being alone on the trail, she turned to discover Jake riding up behind her. His face split into a wide grin as he saw her. It had been a week since they’d seen one another; he’d been working from daylight until dark with the plowing and planting and she knew she wouldn’t see much of him for a while yet.

Jake dismounted and stopped in front of her, holding the horse’s reins loosely in one hand.

“I was hoping I might see you,” he said.

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at his familiar face. Each night, she went to bed dreaming of him, picturing his bright eyes and large hands as he told a story or drove his team. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, and now that he was here in the flesh, her heart hammered. She’d been almost sorry when the snow melted and she was able to walk to school again because it meant that she saw a lot less of Jake.

“I didn’t expect you to come along but it is a most pleasant surprise,” she told him.

He fell into step beside her. “I’ll be glad when the spring planting is over. I’ll have more time then,” he said, looking at her as if he wanted to memorize every inch of her face. “You have such beautiful hair, Rowena,” he said softly. He reached out to touch it, his fingertips feather-light as they brushed a stray curl off her cheek. “I’ve hardly seen you without all your winter coverings.”

“I haven’t seen you much without them, either,” she told him. She’d guessed from his bushy dark beard that his hair was thick and dark, too, but her attention was drawn to his lips. So rosy and full for a man. She wondered what it would be like to kiss them and blushed at the thought.

“I’ve missed you,” Jake went on. “I did enjoy our sleigh rides to school so much.”

“So did I,” Rowena confessed.

Jake stopped walking and dropped the horse’s reins on the ground. He turned to face her and reached for her hands. “Rowena, I can’t stop thinking about you,” he said, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that took her breath away. “Do you feel the same way about me?”

She dropped her eyes, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. “I do,” she whispered.

“Would you … would you mind if I came a-courtin’?” he asked.

“That … that would be fine,” she managed, kicking herself at the same time. Of course it was more than fine.

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