Hopeless Romance

9 | Sincerely

Addie and Mr. Crandall walked in an uncomfortable silence. Mr. Crandall made awkward attempts at conversation during the first half of their stroll, but Addie was determined to keep her replies brief to maintain the quiet. She focused on the lovely shrubbery, rolling hills, and vivid flowers bathed in the glowing sunlight. She remained doubtful about the storm that Mr. Forsythe had forecasted earlier.

Mr. Crandall's horse came to a stop, panting from thirst. Mr. Crandall apologized to Addie before retrieving a canteen and bowl from the saddle, providing his horse with a much-needed drink. Despite her nagging thoughts urging her to use the opportunity to escape him, she was captivated by his care towards his horse. He gently held the bowl as the horse drank while admiring the stallion's majestic beauty. A flicker of respect for Mr. Crandall sparked within her, recognizing his capacity for kindness — if only he could extend such compassion to people and not only his prized pet.

Mr. Crandall noticed Addie's fixed stare, causing her discomfort, as she feared he'd reprimand her for staring at him. His gaze met hers with an inquisitive air.

"What a beautiful stallion you have, Mr. Crandall," Addie remarked, deflecting suspicion. "I hadn't had the opportunity to truly appreciate his grandeur before this. He's a magnificent creature," she commented, recalling a horse from her childhood the stallion resembled.

"Why, thank you, Miss Addie," he replied as the horse finished the water in the bowl. "He has been my closest companion for the past several years," he observed, looking at the horse affectionately. Addie smirked.

"I'm certain Mister Forsythe would be delighted to know he ranks second in your affections to your horse," she teased.

"Horses have always been superior to jackasses, didn't you know?" he retorted. She chuckled softly but was surprised to see him laugh genuinely at his joke, appearing more handsome as he displayed his straight, pearly-white teeth. He quickly suppressed his smile, reverting to his usual somber expression. "Shall we proceed?" he proposed, returning the bowl to the saddle. They resumed their walk to the Joyner estate.

~

They continued in silence as they came upon fields brimming with tall, lush sunflowers and golden barley. With the sun casting its glow from the clear blue skies, the scenery was idyllic, an aspect of countryside living that Addie cherished.

"I must say, Braeland Heights is blessed with remarkable landscapes," Mr. Crandall expressed as he observed the scenery alongside Addie. "Though I hold Lancaster's landscapes in the highest regard, I've recently come to appreciate the charm of your town," he said. Addie recalled his remarks calling Braeland "perfectly adequate," a phrase she deemed a greater compliment than the mere "adequate" he used to describe her and her frail charms. Yet, she viewed his evolving opinion of the countryside as a positive shift. "Growing up here with your sisters must have been enjoyable," he said. Addie bit the inside of her cheek, pondering his presumption. "How was it? Your childhood here in the Heights?"

"I wouldn't really know," she said resentfully without thinking.

"What do you mean?" he asked. In that moment, she regretted not thinking before she spoke. Mr. Crandall gazed at her, awaiting her response. Could she lie? No, it was already too late.

"I...didn't grow up here," she begrudgingly confessed.

"Oh..." he said followed by silence. "May I ask where you're originally from?"

Initially hesitant to reveal her origins, she found no harm in responding to that particular inquiry. "Trotter's Ridge," she replied.

Addie was born and raised in Trotter's Ridge, a small town to the far south of Braeland, famous for its exceptional horses. Her mother, while pregnant, had escaped Braeland and found refuge in Trotter's Ridge. Addie grew up believing her father had died tragically before her birth. However, it wasn't until her mother passed away in Addie's twelfth year that she discovered the truth about her father, Mr. Joyner, which led to her being taken to Braeland before being cast off to boarding school.