1842 || hs

One

Word Count: 1544

I sat in the back of the large wagon, bouncing all over from the rocky trip over the mountain. We were beginning to see the trees clear a bit and Father told us we only had a few miles left. To which we all smiled widely. We'd been stuck on the foul smelling wagon for days, moving into our new cabin that Father had built over the summer time. It was was beginning to change into autumn as I noticed the trees leaves changing colors.

I had my feet poking out the back of the wagon in order to stretch my sore muscles. I was almost tossed right out of the wagon when the wagon stopped suddenly. I looked around, seeing we had stopped in front of a small wood cabin with a large barn built beside it.

I saw Father and Mother talking to a young man. He looked about twenty. Maybe a little bit older. He was mighty handsome. He wore a tan hat atop of his mess of dark curls. He talked slowly, his lips looking entrancing. My mouth fell open a bit when I noticed his height.

"He has to be over six feet. Easily." My older sister Felicité said as if she read my thoughts. I glared slightly at her. She was only two years older than me. She was twenty. I was eighteen. Though she acted as if I was only five.

I ignored her and continued staring at the beautiful man. He was in very good shape. I wondered if he was married? I couldn't see a ring...

I leaned forward, stretching as far as I could to get a better look at him when I felt a harsh push on my shoulder and I fell face first into the mud below the wagon. Luckily my face didn't land in it or I would've drowned in mud.

I furrowed my brow in anger at my immature older sister. Twenty years old and pushing me around. I tried to get up but fell back down due to how slippery the ground was. I heard Felicité's howling laughter.

I heard a loud pair of shoes running towards me. I looked up expecting to see my Father. But he was standing where he was before, watching.

I felt a pair of strong arms wrap underneath my arms and haul me out of the thick mud that I was slowly sinking into. Damn.

I was held against the young man's firm chest as my feet dangled far from the ground. My, he was even prettier up close.

"Are you okay?" He asks with a worried look.

I hesitated before nodding at him. "Yes. Thank you very much."

He looked at me a moment before remembering that he was still holding me. "Oh I'm gonna need to put you down." He let out a light chuckle. He gently sat me down and I stood upright.

He immediately took off his hat and bowed down. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss..?" He looked at me expectantly.

"Adaline. Adaline Edwards." I smiled politely, lifting my skirt into a quick curtesy.

"Beautiful name." He gave me a lopsided grin and I almost dove headfirst into the mud so he'd pick me up again.

"I'm Harry Styles."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Styles." I smiled.

"Please, call me Harry." He plopped his hat back on his head.

Only then I noticed how quiet everyone was. I tried to distract myself from feeling embarrassed by wiping specks of mud off my face.