Echoes of the Heart Read Free Page B

herself to sleep.

 
 
    Two

 
 
    The next morning
she awoke early, climbed out of bed and noticed a puffy complexion staring at
her from the reflection in the vanity mirror.   She observed the dark circles under her eyes and a thick mass of curls
rumpled from the restless night. “What a sorry bride you will make.”   Bride,
what a joke.    I look more like a corpse.
    Diane called her
name as she rapped on her bedroom door and swept inside after Raeden invited
her to enter.   A lovely woman in her
forties, she still had the figure of a young girl with long blonde hair and
eyes the color of sapphires.   When she
entered, elegance and self-assurance showed in her confident walk and to Raeden’s
surprise, her riding outfit consisted of a plaid flannel shirt tucked in boys
riding beeches and black riding boots.   She had pulled her flaxen hair back in a ribbon and held a hat in her
hands.   A radiant smile showed straight
white teeth.
    Her youthful
stride carried her across the room. “I thought I would see about the ride you
promised.”
    At the reminder of
the morning ride, a smile spread across her lips.   She hurried to get dressed and brushed her
hair.
    Diane peered at
the dark circles under her eyes.   “You
look like you had a restive night.”
    “Yes, you could
say so.”   She reached for a dress from
her armoire, restlessness building up inside.
    “I think I had too
much to drink last night.   I guess I made
quite a fool of myself.”           
    A look of
compassion crossed Diane’s face.   “Well,
maybe a little.   Perhaps we can talk
about it, if you feel it will help.”
    Raeden slipped
behind the triple-fold white wooden screen placed around the bathtub beside the
fireplace. While donning her summer dress, she said. “That would be nice.   I wanted to discuss something with you.   I have my riding clothes in the barn.   It upsets mother when I wear breeches.   I like to ride the same way.”
    “Well, where I
live this is the only way to ride.”   Diane’s mouth curved in an impish grin.
    Raeden brushed her
hands down the folds of her lavender day dress and walked toward the basin atop
a washstand next to her chest of drawers.
    Raeden cleaned her
teeth, splashed some water over her face and brushed out her hair, letting it
fall around her shoulders.   She tied her
hair at the base of her neck with a ribbon and proceeded out of the room with
energetic strides.
    “I had the groom
saddle our horses, so we will be able to leave right away.”
    “Great.   Let’s get out of here.”   They bolted to the front door like children
on Christmas mornings, lifting her spirits, and Raeden began to feel an urge to
laugh aloud.
    As they sprinted
to the stable, Raeden glanced at the blue sky, and a warm breeze caressed her
face.   Brilliant red birds raced through
the trees.   What a perfect morning for a ride.
    When the two women
entered the stable, Raeden moved to the trunk and pulled out her riding garb
then dressed in the tack room, elation glowing in the pit of her stomach when
she re-entered and stood next to her aunt.   Diane smiled her approval and winked at Raeden.   They walked outside to mount their rides.
    Feeling free from
her worries for the moment, Raeden bounded toward Arte running a hand over his
soft black muzzle and kissing the soft spot between his nostrils.   As the horse stamped his feet in
anticipation, she climbed with ease into the saddle.   She felt his power beneath her while he
bobbed his head and snored in expectation.   Instant relief fell over her as the worries of the previous day drained.
    Diane’s bronze
colored mount, a long-legged hunter, had no difficulty keeping up with
Arte.   Raeden thought Diane appeared
almost regal as she sat straight and sure in the saddle.   She admired Diane and it had grown over the
years.   They rode out at a moderate pace,
taking in the sight of fluffy clouds resembling cotton boles spread over