At least Anne had one hope. With everyone in the cottage grumpy, there was a good chance Charles would avoid bringing Rick here. And it sounded like Charles would be taking Rick around the property anyway. If she played it right, she wouldn't have to see him.
With breakfast over, Anne managed to convince the boys to play with their blocks while their mother growled at her computer and Anne cleaned the kitchen. Everything seemed to be at peace until the sound of voices penetrated the walls of the cottage. Resisting the urge to look out the window, she put more energy into wiping down the counter and prayed they were only passing the cottage, not heading for it. Mary, however, stalked to the window and flung it wide open.
"Charles! Where are you going?"
"On a walk!" Louisa's clear voice sailed through the air. "We'll see you later!"
"No one told me there was going to be a walk today," Mary huffed. "Why is there a walk today?"
"Rick needs to see more of the property," Charles answered.
"Then I shall come."
Anne abandoned wiping the counter and quickly joined Walter and Charles, hoping to get a game going so no one would invite her along.
"It's a long walk," Louisa countered, obviously not wanting Mary to join them. Anne turned to hopefully help that argument, but Mary spat an angry retort and faced Anne. "Come, Anne, we're going on a long walk."
"I'm good. I'll take care of the boys—"
"No, Charles can do that. I'm sick and tired of him tramping about with that Wentworth fellow and expecting me to always take care of the kids. He's their parent, too!"
Anne hesitated, well aware that any counter argument would only anger her sister further. Mary was unhappy and had a mission to make sure everyone else around her was the same. "How about we take the boys to the main house?" Anne offered. Mary might cool down by then and the elderly Musgroves, never eager to be surrogate parents, would insist Anne stay with them to help, a duty Anne would gladly perform.
Unfortunately, Anne's plan backfired. The Musgroves, happy with the news that Rick's boss liked the area so much, agreed to watch the boys without Anne's help and urged her to go with Mary, their eyes silently pleading for Anne to manage her sister so Mary wouldn't offend Rick. If Anne was more selfish, she could have stomped her foot and refused to go, but she had no desire to bring trouble or pain to those around her, so she sadly found herself traipsing along with the rest of the group on a long walk she had no desire of traveling. She had one small hope, though. Mary, despite her claims, was not in the habit of long walks. When she'd tire, she would need someone to return with and Anne would gallantly offer to be that someone.
Anne stayed at the back of the group, avoiding being pulled into any conversation. Not that it mattered. Most gathered around Rick, admiring his photography skills, or listening to Charles tell stories about the countryside, with many additions by Louisa and sometimes Rietta. Louisa also managed to keep herself glued to Rick's side and Anne had the unfortunate privilege of figuring out whether Rick liked Louisa or not. He did smile a lot and, to Anne's annoyance, he laughed at several of Louisa's jokes and seemed to enjoy chatting with her, but Anne couldn't deduce if he was in love. Then again, she'd only seen him in love once, and that had been with her. His face had lit up every time she stepped into his view, but his face didn't have that same glow with Louisa. However, he might have matured and no longer wore his heart so openly on his sleeve, especially after she'd crushed it.
When Louisa began to pose for some of his pictures, Anne switched to enjoying the beautiful countryside instead, trying to pretend she didn't care one bit if he fell for someone else. And the tears she fiercely blinked back were only due to the beauty around her. Unfortunately, those tears caused her to stumble a few times and she pulled something in her right leg. Thankfully, no one noticed. But then, Anne was often unnoticed. She could plop down where she stood and she'd doubt one of them would realize they'd left her behind. Why was she even on this walk?
She glanced at Mary, hoping to find her sister exhausted, but she eagerly admired Rick's photos like the rest. Anne caught a few glimpses and had to admit, he had a talent for capturing the shots, a talent Anne had never known of him. Then again, there were a lot of things she no longer knew about him. Eight years ago, all she and Rick talked about was either his frustrating history of a broken family and ensuing foster homes or his grand plans for the future. She had loved hearing Rick talk of the latter. Traveling about the globe, seeking adventures, and finding riches along the way seemed completely possible when he spoke. Ironic that he'd accomplished exactly that. She would love to hear the details of those adventures and eagerly drank up anything he dropped when chatting with Louisa and Charles, but it wasn't the same as him telling her directly. Alas, while he would answer her greetings and would even answer a question if she asked it, he never bothered to maintain a conversation. He purposefully kept his distance, the memory of her breaking his heart like an impassable chasm between them.
Anne sighed. How did she get into this situation? Because she let others persuade her to do things she didn't want to do. It was why she had lost Rick and why she was on this stupid walk. But, at the same time, Anne would hate to be like her sisters, constantly getting their way but causing pain and discomfort to others. Wasn't there a way to get her way and everyone being happy about it as well?
Actually, Rick had given that to her. He had been so eager to make her happy that she had felt like a spoiled princess in his presence. Oh, how she missed those days!
She blinked to hide the tears. She had been a fool to give him up. But at the same time, she couldn't regret erring on caution. Older now, she could see how many things could have gone wrong and how lucky Rick had been. Too bad Rick wouldn't bother to forget the past and resume a future with her. Now she would have to watch him treat Louisa or someone else like that spoiled princess she had once been while she was reduced to the poor beggar girl, stuck behind the palace's walls, never able to enter again.
A whistle drifted through the trees, snapping Anne out of her misery.
"Chase!" Rietta ran down the trail and nearly bowled the boy over as he came into view. Everyone else hurried to catch up, but Anne took her time. The pain in her leg had subsided only slightly and she had no intention of aggravating it. Besides, no one would care if she was listening or not. Her job was solely to keep her sister happy.
"Another mile?" Mary's annoyed voice made Anne lift her head up with hope. "No, we can not go another mile. We've walked enough as it is. I say we turn back. You've seen the best part, already. No need to go to Chase's place."
"Mary," Charles began with a pleading tone, "His place could be a great addition to the plan." He tried to signal with his eyes for Mary to drop the argument, but she either didn't see it or didn't care.
"But I'm tired. I'm not walking another mile to his place."
Anne silently agreed but knew it would offend Charles, so she kept quiet and minced her way to Mary, hoping Charles would offer her as the sacrificial lamb to walk back with her sister.
Charles breathed in as if readying for battle. "Fine, you could stay here."
Mary gasped. "Stay here? By myself?"
Charles jutted his chin toward Anne. "Anne will stay with you."
Anne straightened, surprised. Why stay when they could walk back? And the area didn't exactly have any places to sit. Otherwise, Anne would already be on it.
"Why should we stay behind?" Mary snapped, utterly refusing to back down, glaring at her husband who answered with his own glare. Anne stepped forward, hoping to stop the argument, when Rick abruptly spoke.
"How about a walking stick?
Charles shot forward as if inspired. "Yes!"
Everyone eyed the ground as if expecting walking sticks to suddenly sprout into being. Charles abruptly bent down; behind him, Anne noticed Rick also reached for something on the ground.
"Here you are!" Charles proudly offered a long, somewhat gnarly stick to Mary. She eyed
it as if it was a snake, but a warning glare from her husband made her take the stick with a haughty sniff. She tested it out for a moment, but when she didn't launch into a tirade, her husband relaxed. Crisis averted.
"Rick found one, too!" Louisa abruptly announced.
Charles froze as if terrified his finding a stick faster than Rick could offend him. "Do you want one, Louisa?" He asked as if she could save the situation.
"Anne could use one," Rick said.
Anne jerked, stunned to hear her name tumble so easily out of his mouth. He had thought of her? But his eyes were on the stick as if he could care less what she thought. Everyone else, though, stared at her as if surprised she was with the group.
Charles took a step toward her. "You're not tired, are you, Anne?"
She forced a smile and opened her mouth to ensure she had no need for all this attention, but Rick's tall form moved toward her, the stick outstretched for her to take. Flustered and her heart pounding in her ears, she took the offered stick. Her mind raced, desperately trying to come up with something to say, something that would keep his interest on her. However, the second the stick was out of his hands, he turned and walked straight toward the smiling Louisa. "Now, Chase," he called, grinning at Louisa. "I think we're ready to continue our way."
"Yes, we are," Charles echoed and the group resumed their trek as if nothing amazing had happened.
Anne, however, stared at the stick. He may not have said a word but the small gesture seemed to have spoken thousands. He had thought of her. Had noticed her exhaustion and provided a way to give relief without embarrassing her. They may never be friends, and he'd probably never forgive her, but this small act proved he didn't despise her. Kind thoughts of her could still cross his mind, even if his heart was forever closed to her.
She clutched the stick to her heart, suddenly ridiculously happy.
Chapter 13
Anne tested the stick, surprised to find it was at the perfect height for her. It would have been too short for Mary. Had Rick known that from the beginning? No, it must have been by chance. There weren't a lot of walking sticks to choose from, after all. Still, the stick did wonders with her hurt leg, allowing her to hide her limp entirely. And with each step, she couldn't help remembering he had thought of her. She had crossed his mind in a good way. The world seemed so much brighter now, the trees so much grander, and the area so much more beautiful. One of her happy songs began to play in her head and if she'd been by herself, she might have even twirled in glee. Assuming her tired legs could handle the move, of course.
The trail eventually led them to a paved road and Anne glanced in both directions, expecting cars to be zooming back and forth, but not a single one showed up. Must be a road only used by locals.
"It's over here," Chase called, leading them across the road and onto a wide dirt road that led to his humble home. It wasn't as grand as Charles, with no cute hills, but it did have an old farmhouse, a large, rather run-down barn, and a pond behind both of them. Scattered about the yard were various aging equipment, rusting away, plus a pasture filled with several old trucks that probably hadn't been used in a decade. Sheep baaed in a separate pasture, the old fences barely managing to keep them in.
Anne stole a look at Rick and his face confirmed what she thought. The place was too run down. If what Charles said about the type of customers Rick's boss would be bringing, this would not fit into that world. Poor Chase. His family needed the money far more than Charles, but would probably not get it due to the lack of money in the first place. The world can be so unfair sometimes.
An elderly man ventured outside and waved.
"Hey, Dad!" Chase called and brought the group toward him. As the introductions were made, Anne noticed the man's swollen joints. He must have arthritis, which would explain why the place had become so rundown. Chase was an ambitious boy, but he couldn't keep up the farm all by himself. She wondered how he had even managed to afford to go to college and if he ever felt guilty for not helping enough with the farm.
Chase's father invited them inside for cookies and Anne, hoping cookies would also include a place to sit, followed her sister and Charles into the kitchen, well aware that Rick would be staying outside with Chase. She managed to not glance back at him. She was rather proud of herself. Then again, a backward glance cost energy—energy she didn't have.
To her surprise, Rietta and Louisa abandoned their respective men and joined the cookie group in the kitchen, all squishing around the large, wooden table as Chase's mother delivered a plate stacked with fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies.
Anne took a cookie; it was warm and sweet, but Anne relished the solid kitchen chair more than the cookie. She had five miles to walk back—every second of rest was important.
"It's so good to have you all over!" The mother began, "And you brought so many visitors." Her eyes fell on Anne.
Rietta grabbed a cookie. "That's Anne. She's Mary's sister."
"Well, we're glad to have you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to finish another task. Have as many cookies as you like!" She called as she headed further into the house.
"We should save some for Rick," Louisa said around a mouthful of cookies. "He'll like it."
"He should have come in, then," Mary announced, snatching another cookie.
Rietta leaned forward, a mischievous glint to her eye. "I think there's something else he would like!"
Charles laughed. "I agree! You've got him around your finger!"
Anne quietly munched on her cookie while Louisa giggled, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "He is pretty amazing. He's been all over the world, speaks several languages, and his job helps so many people! They bring inventions to third-world countries and help people without access to an electric grid get a head start without it. Can you imagine people living off the grid because they have to?"
"No," Mary responded and everyone chuckled, then stopped when Mary swept a steely glare. "Move, Rietta." She poked her sister-in-law. "I need to go to the bathroom."
The group re-arranged themselves to allow Mary out.
"But Louisa," Rietta continued once Mary was gone, "if he travels so much, how are you supposed to date?"
"Uh, oh," Charles stood up. "If we're doing girl talk, then I'm outta here."
"But we'll need your guy advice!" Louisa announced with a teasing grin.
"Ask the guy on a date, then!" Charles hurried out.
"Bah, he always does that," Louisa said. "Failing his brotherly duties."
"You didn't answer my question," Rietta pointed out.
Louisa rolled her eyes. "There is such a thing called long-distance. I mean, there's video calling and email and all sorts of ways to stay in touch!"
Anne quietly ate another cookie.
Rietta sighed, her eyes on the kitchen window as if trying to see a certain someone. "I don't think I could do long distance."
"To be honest, I don't think I could, either. Sounds like too much work."
"So, you'll go with him?"
Anne ate another cookie.
"Oh, no, I'm not going to throw my life away for some guy, even if that guy is as amazing as Rick. No, I'm going to have fun and, if I play it right, he'll throw his life away for me!"
Rietta gasped. "Louisa! You're terrible!"
"I am not. It's not the eighteenth century; girls can do what they want! Boys have no say in the matter since we don't need them anymore. And, there are so many cute boys out there!" Louisa leaned toward Rietta. "You don't have to settle on just one!"
Rietta squirmed in her seat, obviously uncomfortable.
"Sometimes," Anne ventured to help Rietta, "there's only one you want."
Louisa shook her head. "That's just people being afraid and they end up settling."
"Or you settle," Anne continued, "Because of the pressure from family and friends."
"Well, I would never settle," Louisa declared, taking another cookie. Anne noticed there were only four left. No, now only three as Rietta sna
gged another one. "No one could ever get me to do something I don't want to do."
"Being stubborn," Anne said as she quietly hid the last three cookies in a napkin. "Can be good and bad."
"How could it possibly be bad?"
"Mary is stubborn."
Louisa slapped her hands on the table. "Anne! Are you likening me to Mary?"
"She does have a point," Rietta said.
"No, she does not. I am not like Mary at all. Mary is—"
"Mary is what?" Mary, herself, asked as she came into the kitchen.
Loiusa and Rietta squeaked, their eyes zapping to Anne to save them.
"Late," Anne indicated the empty plate. "All the cookies are gone."
"What? But I only got one!"
"Here," Anne offered one of her saved cookies, "I saved you one."
"I don't want just one." Mary reached for the other two but Anne scooted them out of her reach.
"Chase and Mr. Wentworth haven't had any."
"Anne, if they wanted some, they would have come in. Anne!" She snapped when Anne kept the cookies out of her reach. "You're being so rude!"
"What is this?" Chase announced as he walked in on the group, with Charles and Rick behind him. "No cookies?" He looked at Rietta, a half-eaten cookie in her hand, as if expecting her to hand it over. But she froze as if torn between gobbling up the cookie or sacrificing it to him.
Mary glared at Anne, silently warning her to not give up those cookies, but Anne ignored her.
"Here." She produced the two hidden cookies and held them out to Chase and Rick. "I saved you one." Rick's dark eyes caught hers for a second and her breath caught in her throat. Surprise was in those eyes and...maybe something else? She dropped the gaze. If she could read his, then he could read hers and she didn't want him to see the ache in her eyes.
"Thanks," he muttered, taking the cookie as though reluctant to take anything she'd touched. She turned from the group with a fake, polite smile, and stared at the empty plate, wishing her heart could be just as empty.
Persuading Him: A Modern Persuasion Retelling (Pemberley Estates Book 1) Page 11
