Page 39 of Autumn Kissed

“I remember you.”

Archer

Juliet falls silent, her legs remaining still.

“You do?” she says in a breathless voice, then she takes to uselessly kicking at the air again like a frog.

Help her, you idiot.

Rushing forward, I move to Rapunzel’s side, then stare. Those embroidered flowers on her back pockets now stare at me eye-level, and I hesitate. How the heck am I supposed to help her out of this without...touching her?

I think through it a moment longer, then move into action. “Hold onto the saddle horn.”

She shifts, and I secure my arm against her thighs to ensure she doesn’t fall. With my free hand, I grasp her lower thigh and give it a gentle shove, providing the correct amount of leverage until she swings her right leg over the horse.

I keep a steady hand on her other leg now as she leans forward over the saddle horn with heavy breaths, finally seated properly.

Her cheeks are rosy, though from exertion or embarrassment, I can’t be sure.

“So...you remember me.”

Embarrassment, it is.

“I do,” I say, fighting off a grin.

I can see the image as clear as day now. Instead of Juliet with long dark hair, I see little Juliet with a blonde bob, still the same height, still the same hopping as she tried to mount, still the same launching into the air and legs flailing about.

“What gave me a way?” she asks, straightening with a grimace.

“The helpless kicking.”

She covers her face with both hands, then her shoulders start to shake. Is she...crying? I hesitate, placing my hand on her knee. “Juliet? It’s okay...”

After a moment, she lowers her hand and reveals, to my relief, a brilliant smile across her lips.

Finally, I let loose my own laughter.

After a few minutes, she sits back in the saddle with a shake of her head and a heavy sigh. “I knew this was going to happen. I knew I wouldn’t be able to mount still. I was just so desperate to prove myself.”

Her attention rests on my hand still on her lower leg, and I instantly drop it.

“You don’t need to prove yourself, Juliet. You’re impressive enough, even without a knowledge of horses.”

I’m not sure if my words are what she needs to hear, but her expression softens. “Well, can we start this trail ride before my dad’s fifty-one?”

“You bet.”

She smooths out her hair and looks to the ground at her right. “Would you mind grabbing my hat for me? I’d hate to have you see what I look like when I get off the horse.”

I really wouldn’t mind seeing those embroidered flowers again, actually. But I walk around Rapunzel to retrieve the hat anyway, extending it to Juliet.

She places it on her head. “Thanks. Although, maybe I’m better off with a hard hat.”

“Nah. I like this one better on you.”

She looks down at me in surprise, and I wink.

What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.