𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒗

Chapter 28 - Winter At Sandringham

Valentin settled in at Sandringham right away. That week, Maria and Valentin were inseparable. They did everything together - Anastasia didn't like this one bit. She couldn't wait until Andrei arrived. Till then, she would have to race Vasili, who kept begging, claiming he'd finally beat her.

A few days later, the house received the news that Andrei had arrived. Anastasia was out riding Lavrenti when the news was sent so she didn't know he was coming.

While Anastasia was still riding, a black car pulled past the gates of the house. Just as it stopped in front of the house's porch, Lavrenti sprinted around the corner of the house and was spooked by the car. He reared up on his high legs and neighed frantically as Anastasia held the reins tightly, trying not to fall off. He came back to the ground and sprinted past the car.

"Was that Anastasia?" Dasia asked, shocked.

"I think." Andrei answered.

Anastasia tried to stop the horse but Lavrenti still dashed, making it to the back of the house. As he zoomed, Anastasia spotted Maria and Valentin walking, unaware that a horse was charging toward them.

"Maria! Maria!" Anastasia screamed, trying to alert her. The two turned dove out of the way just in time. 

"Anastasia?!" Maria yelled, embarrassed by her again. When her sister disappeared, they continued their walk.

"Do you hear that?" Valentin stopped in his tracks.

"Hear what?" Maria asked.

Seconds later, they heard screams in the distance.

"It's Anastasia!" Maria shouted as she ran off towards the sound.

She ran to the front of the house where she saw her sister holding onto the saddle, whimpering as the horse jumped around. The stable boy confronted the horse, which only made it more scared.

"You're going to have to jump off!" Andrei shouted as he stepped out of the car.

    "I can't!" Anastasia yelled above the horse's nickering.

"Trust me! It may hurt but you'll be safe!"

Anastasia let go of the saddle, just as the horse reared once more. She hit the pebble driveway with a thud, knocking the air out of her. Once on the ground, scared for her life, she sprinted to her sister, crying as she fell into Maria's arms.

"It's okay. It's okay." Maria repeated, comforting her sister. The stable boy finally managed to get the horse under control.

"Have you any shame! It took you this long to control a horse. She could have been gotten hurt! Maybe even killed!" Valentin lectured to the stable boy.

"Are you alright?" Andrei asked, concerned.

Just then, Anastasia's bottom lip started to bleed. Dasia had to look away.

"Oh, poor dear. You've busted your lip! Let's get you a rag." Maria led everyone inside and into the saloon.

"What's happened?" Alexandra asked, frantically when she stepped into the room.

"Her horse spun out of control. It ran around with her on it. It was about to throw her off. Luckily, she jumped off in time before anything else happened. She's just busted her lip." Andrei explained.

"Do release that stable boy. He did nothing whatsoever to stop it sooner. He needs to train his horses right to not get so spooked." Valentin added.

"Was not expecting that this was how'd I see you after all this time!" Anastasia laughed, holding the rag to her lip.

"You still have the necklace on!" Dasia gasped.