Can't Afford Mistakes.

Chapter Twenty-two

Arabella

When I wake up, I'm in the bed and Brett is no where to be found. On the far side of the room, I see my clothes neatly folded with a note on top. I  wrap the bed sheet around me and toss my legs over the side of the bed. On top of my clothes, a small index card with Brett's handwriting on it.

"Washed and dried. Meet me at the end of the walkway.
~B."

I smile to myself as I rush to find the shower. Downstairs I find a closet full of towels, so I grab two towels and walk into the bathroom. I quickly rinse the sweat and ocean from my body before wrapping in a towel and run back upstairs. I get dressed while admiring the view of the ocean. I let my hair out of the towel it is wrapped up in allowing it to fall limply to my waist. I look around the room for my sandals but give up after five minutes of looking.

Downstairs, the back door is left slightly ajar. An ocean breeze floats through the door and fights its way into my nostrils. As I walk outside, I see index cars cut into arrows taped to the walkway. I pick the arrows up as I pass each one of them. I look up from picking up about the 15th arrow to see Brett standing between two horses facing the water. He turns around as I approach him and I notice he has changed his clothes. 

"How'd you pull this off," I ask with a smile on my face. 

"I know you love horseback riding, so I thought to myself, 'why not combine Arabella's love for horses with the greatness of the beach.' After I congratulated myself for the genius idea, I called our family friends across the street and he brought these two over," Brett says as he hands he the reins a beautiful buckskin mare.

"You are truly a piece of work," I laugh as I mount the horse, "but I beat I'll beat you to that pier."

Before Brett can mount his horse completely, I spur my horse into a gallop and leave Brett to eat the sand I leave in my wake. I grip the reins tightly and lean forward to keep my balance while the horse gives the race her all. I admire the view of the sun sinking behind the sand dunes and the ocean waves breaking against the white sand as I fly by. I look over my shoulder and break out in laughter. Brett holds onto his horses neck for dear life as the horse moves at a slow canter. I pull back gently on the reins as we close in on the pier. I turn my horse to watch Brett struggle for a while longer before trotting slowly in his direction. 

"Need some help," I ask with a small laugh. 

"I got it," Brett says as he tries to slow his horse.

I let go of my reins and reach over and take hold of Brett's. I check the horse's reins and he slows down to a walk. My horse does the same and soon we're causally strolling down the beach. I admire the oranges and  reds in the sky. Seagulls chirp in the background and our horses' neighs are music to my ears. I take the reins loosely in my hands and try to memorize everything about this moment in time. 

"Bella,"Brett whispers sweetly. 

"What," I ask without bothering to look in his direction.

"Your eyes," he says equally as sweet. 

I turn my head and look Brett in the eyes and shudder when I see violet reflected back at him. I look ahead of me and see a small group of people making their way in our direction. I close my eyes and try to focus on returning them to their solid brown color. When I can't feel the coolness flooding back into my eyes, I panic.