Once Upon

three

Normally, the sound of the rain beating down on the house would have soothed Celeste to sleep, especially after a long day of chores. Sure, she was physically exhausted, but she couldn't overlook the fact that her skin was tingling. Her mind was racing. Her heart was thudding with excitement. 

She kept replaying the feeling of Leo's hand on hers. It was such a simple act, but it was the single warmest gesture she'd felt in a long time. She couldn't remember the last time another human being took an interest in what she had to say. It didn't hurt that he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. His crystal blue eyes and stark black, wavy hair were impossible to forget. 

She knew how unlikely it was, but she hoped with every fiber in her being to see him again one day. 

Was it all in her head? Or was he just as taken with her as she was with him? She could have looked into his eyes all night. She hoped he and the captain were okay in the barn. She had the sudden urge to insist they sleep inside in the warm house. So despite her better judgement, she slipped out the backdoor to check on the men. 

To her dismay, the barn was empty. All that was left behind were the discarded bowls from their bread and milk. She made sure to clean up to leave little room for suspicion. 

Though a thin vail of sadness crept into her heart, she worked to shake it off, recognizing that she had let her imagination run wild with possibilities after meeting a complete stranger and spending all of five minutes in his presence. In a matter of days, she'll have forgotten all about it, and she was sure he would too.

When she finally slinked back into bed, she decided she'd allow herself one night to dream and get lost in a fantasy concocted from the short, but sweet interaction. One day she'd leave this house she was forced to call a home and meet someone as kind and as handsome as Leo, and for now, all she could ask for was hope.