"We should head out," Charles announced, mobilizing everyone to their feet. Anne took her time, not at all excited to start the five-mile walk back. The pulled muscle in her leg still twinged with pain and she doubted it would get better any time soon. Mary, however, loudly vocalized her reluctance and insisted on staying put until someone could come back and fetch her. Hope rose within Anne. If Mary got her way—and she was sure to get it—then Anne could offer to sit with Mary and not have to do the walk either.
"I have an ATV," Chase offered. "I could take you home in that."
Mary's eyes widened in horror at the offer, but Rietta and Louisa approved of the plan instantly and dashed out to get the best spot on the vehicle.
"Wait!" Mary called, hurrying after them. She may not want to ride an ATV, but if a best spot was available, then she had to make sure she got it.
Anne, on the other hand, didn't care what spot she was allotted as long as she had a spot. Unfortunately, by the time she'd trudged to the ATV, not a single spot was available. The ATV had a cushioned seat mounted on the back—claimed by Mary—and technically only had one other spot for the driver, but Louisa and Rietta dangled on the rack attached to the front, holding on with their hands, determined to not be left behind. Anne could probably nab a spot if she squished in the comfy boosted seat with Mary, but she highly doubted Mary would approve of that plan.
"Sorry, Anne," Chase called, installed in the driver's spot. "But I'll come back—"
"I'm fine!" Judging by the state of the run-down farm, she didn't want Chase to waste valuable resources on her. "I can walk." She forced a smile to ensure no one worried about her and added, "I don't mind." She wished Rick was going on the ATV, though. Then she wouldn't have to fret about holding a conversation with him on the walk. Then again, Charles would be with them and the two conversed well enough that she might not ever be included.
"All right," Chase said and the girls on the ATV squealed as he began to maneuver the ATV out of the yard. Anne waved at them, keeping up her happy facade until they went out of sight. Her facade began to fade until she realized Charles's eyes had fallen on her. She snapped a smile into place.
"You sure you're okay with walking all the way back?" he asked. "You can wait here and I can come back with—"
"It's fine," Anne said, touched that he had thought of her. "Really, I'll be fine. Good exercise, right?"
Charles laughed. "Ten miles in one day should do anyone some good." He tossed his head toward Rick who was on his cellphone. "Know who he's talking to?"
Anne hadn't even known he was on the phone. She'd been too preoccupied with her happy facade. But whoever he spoke with, they sure made him happy. His face had lit up, far more than it ever had with Louisa. Anne's heart sank. He liked someone. Could it be a girlfriend? No one had mentioned he had one, but then, he may never have spoken about her. It wasn't like he owed such a confession to the Musgroves. He was here on business, not to date Louisa. Or anyone else, including Anne.
Rick ended the call and looked up, catching her gaze. To her surprise, he jerked as if guilty of something. Why would he do that? What power could she possibly have on him that he'd be embarrassed chatting with his girlfriend?
That little hopeful voice inside her insisted he must still care for her, but Anne ignored it. Eight years was a long time and he had barely remembered her existence when they had re-met. He must be embarrassed being seen taking a personal call during a business venture. That must be it.
"Well," Charles called. "Looks like we get to walk!"
Rick smiled as if eager for the excursion. Anne hoped her smile appeared at least half as eager. The trio headed down the path, the two men in front while she trailed behind, hiding her limp. When they reached the paved road, Rick suggested following it to take some pictures and Charles heartily agreed. Anne groaned inside, not excited to do extra walking, but dutifully followed the men without complaint. She had no interest in gaining their attention. Charles' conversation covered topics she had no interest in and any type of interaction with Rick was just awkward and painful. At least on this trip, she didn't have to watch him flirt with Louisa. And Rick moved a lot slower, taking more pictures than an empty country road should merit.
The low rumble of an engine alerted them to the arrival of a car. Anne minced her way to the side of the road, soon joined by Charles, but Rick stayed where he was as if hoping the driver would stop and chat. Judging by the expensive and sporty look of the car, she highly doubted Rick could gain any local information from them.
The car slowed to a stop, though, and the window rolled down to reveal Sophy. Anne could barely believe her eyes. How in the world did his sister find him here?
"Rick! What are you doing walking about in the middle of nowhere?"
"Taking pictures," he answered as if part of a private joke. "How's the drive been?"
"Like a dream. This area is gorgeous." She waved at Charles. "You're so lucky to live out here!"
Charles grinned. "Thank you!"
Sophy's eyes then settled on Anne and her face lit up. Anne couldn't help smiling. Finally, someone was glad to see her.
"Anne! You poor thing, did they drag you out on this picture tour?"
"Uh, no—"
"Come!" Sophy swung open her car door. "Let us give you a ride to Charles' place. We'll be passing it soon."
A ride? It was like Sophy had offered her Rick's heart. Well, no, Anne would be far happier about that, but a ride was pretty up there in terms of happiness. But the tiny car didn't seem designed to hold three people. "I don't think there's enough room—"
"Nonsense!" Al boomed from the driver's seat and wrapped an arm around his wife, pulling her close to him. "We'll squeeze together like this, see? Plenty of room for a tiny thing like you."
Anne couldn't help laughing. The two were too good and kind. "I couldn't force you to ride like that—"
"It would be less than ten minutes—"
"But—"
Rick was suddenly by her side. Whatever she was going to say was stampeded to death by the panic of him being so close. He wrapped a warm hand around her upper arm and she stiffened at the touch, but he steered her toward the car like a guard moving a sullen prisoner. And she was a sullen prisoner, or at least a dumbfounded one, so flustered by his presence that she forgot to hide her limp. Without one word, he wrapped his other arm around her waist and steadied her gait, his warmth and presence surrounding her. Every fiber in her being begged to lean into him, to be cradled in his arms once more, to have him pick her up and carry her away to a grander future. But he squeezed her in next to Sophy and slammed the door shut as if afraid she'd scamper out to pester him again.
"Isn't this nice?" Sophy said, leaning at an uncomfortable angle toward Al. "I'm so glad we were out driving so we could give you a lift. You look exhausted."
Anne forced a smile and hoped the thundering beating of her heart was only loud in her own ears. "Thank you. It's a miracle you were even driving down this road at this..." Anne paused, an idea lighting in her mind. "Did Rick call you to let you know where he was?"
"Oh ho!" Al boomed. "The girl is a smart one!"
Anne caught her breath. Rick had been on the phone with his sister, not his girlfriend. That would explain the happy expression on his face. But he had called specifically for her? To make sure she had a ride? And was that why he insisted on taking pictures along the boring paved road?
"Rick's always been good at helping others," Sophy said as if trying to explain his random generosity. "He has a very good sense of honor and fairness."
Anne remembered that part of him all too well; it was one of the reasons she loved him. So, he hadn't called because he cared, but because he pitied her. Just like the walking stick. He had seen her pain and wished to alleviate, not because she was special to him, but because he was a good man. A good man she could never have again.
"Did he really drag you out on a walking tour?" Sophy asked.
Anne shook her h
ead. "Not just me. We had a bigger group, like Charles' wife and his sisters, but they were able to get a ride on an ATV. "
"And they didn't take you along?"
"There wasn't enough room."
Sophy eyed her. "You gave up your spot, didn't you?"
Anne smiled, amused by how well Sophy had deduced her personality. "Actually, I wasn't fast enough to get a spot."
Al laughed. "I could see the other girls racing for the limited spots. Got to be fast to get anything these days!"
"True that," Sophy said. "And, speaking of boldness, may I ask if Louisa was a part of this group?"
Anne raised an eyebrow. "Yes. She was the first to get a spot on the ATV."
"I don't doubt that," Al said. "That girl has a mind of her own."
Anne hid a sigh. "Yes, she does."
"And she seems," Sophy said, "to have caught my brother's eye."
Anne struggled to not let the dismay show on her face. "She has?"
"Yes. He talks about her all the time."
If they weren't so crammed in the front seat, Anne would have sunk into it.
"Does Louisa ever talk about him?" Sophy asked.
Anne hesitated. Whatever she said would undoubtedly be passed on to Rick. Did she want to encourage this relationship? Her instinctive response was a screaming no. But she was heavily biased and bias for security and caution made her make a wrong choice earlier in her life; she didn't want to repeat that.
If she could separate her feelings for Rick and become a random bystander, what would be her opinion?
Ironically, she would still be against it. Louisa wasn't serious about Rick. At best, she'd treat it as a fun fling. Rick deserved more than that. At the very least, he deserved not getting rejected again.
"On occasion," Anne decided to say.
Sophy nudged her shoulder. "Very diplomatic."
"And very ungossipy for my wife," Al announced with a grin.
Sophy poked him. "It's not gossip! It's family concern!"
"You're worried about him?" How much did she know of his last heartbreak? Or had he another after her?
"Oh, it's nothing major. I'm just being a nosy older sister who wants to ensure her brother is happy. So," Sophy squirmed in order to smile at Anne like a conspiring thief. "Do you have anything enlightening to say about this Louisa?"
Anne grinned back, amused by Sophy's tactics. If only she had an older sister like Sophy. The fun they could have had together.
"Well," Anne began, considering what she'd say. She wanted to warn his sister, and thus Rick, that Louisa was more concerned about her own life than a life with him, but at the same time, she didn't want anything she said to mortify Louisa in case, somehow, Anne's words made their way to her. "She's still young and has to finish college and start her career..." She faltered, realizing she had produced the exact same arguments her godmother had used on her to persuade her against following Rick. Ironic, however, that Louisa actually wanted those dreams while she never did. "She's very ambitious," Anne added lamely, a description that couldn't be applied to herself.
"Yes, I gathered as much. And Rick is very ambitious, too. They'd probably make a good pair. What about you?"
"M-me?"
"Are you ambitious? What are your dreams?"
"Uh..." Anne stared out the window for a minute. What were her dreams?
Rick's smiling face flashed before her eyes, but she let him dissolve into the passing scenery. The next dream was to be a mother, but that kind of involved Rick, too. She didn't really have any dreams beyond him, did she?
"I'm...kind of in between dreams at the moment, to be honest. The dream I had been chasing hasn't turned out so well."
"Oh, what was that?"
Even if Sophy had been her real older sister, she doubted she'd confess the truth. "To be a lawyer," she said instead. It wasn't a lie. She had been chasing it until she realized she only chased it for her godmother and family's sake, not for her own.
"Oh, yeah, that is definitely not you."
"Sophy!" Al said with a laugh and Sophy immediately apologized. "I didn't mean that in a bad way!"
Anne laughed. "It's okay. My family are all lawyers so it was expected of me."
"Aw, that makes a lot of sense. But I think your talents are better in a nurturing environment, like how you mother those dear nephews of yours."
Anne flushed. How had Sophy figured her out so well?
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've embarrassed you. I forget that these days being a mother is not an ideal job anymore."
"No, no, that's not the case. I—" Anne took a deep breath. "I'd love to be a mother." There, she had finally said it out loud, though Sophy and Al simply smiled at her as if she had only pronounced her favorite color instead of a major announcement.
"They why don't you?"
"It's...kind of hard being one without a partner."
"Oh, not dating anyone?"
"Not recently," was Anne's careful reply. The last date had been over a year ago. She wasn't opposed to dating, but each potential new partner always bored her, failing to excite the passion Rick had once ignited.
"I thought," Al cut in, "you promised your brother you were not the type to set him up with random singles.
Anne stiffened, heat rushing to her face. They were trying to set her up with Rick? Hope shot through her like fireworks. If Sophy could be on her side, then Rick might finally be persuaded to forgive her! He had a good heart. It was possible!
"I'm not setting anyone up!" Sophy declared. "I'm simply being nosey." She squeezed Anne's hand. "I hope you didn't think I was implying for you to have an interest in my brother. That's not what I meant to do at all."
Anne mustered a smile while the hope within withered. "It's okay. I understood what you meant."
"Oh, good, because you're an absolute dear and we'd hate to scare you off with our meddlesome ways."
Anne's smile turned real. She didn't think these two could ever offend her. "With as happy a marriage as yours, I can see why you'd encourage others to join in."
Sophy laughed. "Yes, we can be real saps, but I would never want to encourage someone to just jump with anyone. You have to choose wisely."
"Like me," Al said, nudging his wife's shoulder. While the two grinned at each other, Anne's smile died. If only she had chosen so wisely eight years earlier.
Chapter 14
Anne waved as the Crofts drove away, having dropped her off by the cottage. When she could no longer see their car, she let her hand drop to her side, then glanced up at the main house. She craved a piano. All the emotion tumbling inside her needed a way out, to express her longing for siblings like Sophy and Al, her frustration of being so close to Rick, yet emotionally light-years away from him, and that it was all her fault. But she didn't want anyone around to hear the music channeling from her heart. It would cause questions she didn't want to answer.
With a sigh, she headed inside the cottage to save a grumpy Mary from her rowdy boys. Determined to make wiser choices, Anne kept herself within the cottage when Charles and Rick returned from their long walk. Neither did she check the window when she heard Rick's car drive away. Now if only she could be sure she'd never see him again.
Luckily, Charles confirmed Rick was gone for good when he discussed when he'd hear from Rick again. Rick's boss would likely take several days, maybe even up to a month, before she'd make the final decision. Anne would be in Boston by then.
"You'll call me to let me know, though, right?" Anne asked.
Charles grinned. "Or you could just stay here until then."
That was the last thing she wanted. "I really should get back to my father. He still hasn't fully recovered from his cancer—"
"Aw, right. I keep forgetting that."
Truth be told, Anne was ashamed of how easily it has slipped her own mind. Ever since Rick had shown up, it had thrown her world upside down. But now that he was officially gone, she had a life to re-gather. Making her excuses to Charles and her si
ster, she headed up the hill to make the belated phone call to her father. Except it went straight to his voicemail. She hoped that meant he was taking his afternoon nap, but there was only one way to be sure and that meant calling Eliza. She paced the forest floor, gathering her courage. A month may have passed but that didn't mean Eliza would have forgiven her for messing up that package.
Bracing for a difficult, yet hopefully very short call, she dialed her sister's number.
"Anne! It's so good to hear from you again!"
Anne blinked stupidly for a few seconds. Her sister was happy to hear from her?
"How is Mary?" Eliza continued.
"She's good. The boys have been—"
"That's nice. Do you remember the Dalrymples?"
"The who?"
"Anne! They are our cousins! Surely you remember them. They visited us once when I was ten."
Anne frowned, vaguely remembering a couple from that time. "Weren't they Dad's cousins?"
"Which makes them family! Mr. Dalyrmple passed on a few years ago, poor fellow, but Mrs. Dalrymple didn't let that stop her and is now a senator for Massachusetts! Can you believe it? We're related to an actual senator! Dad read an article about her and was able to get re-acquainted last week. It was fabulous! You should see her house! I'm so glad she can't see ours; she may denounce the relationship. Oh, and guess what? She is thinking of holding a gala in a month or so and we'll be invited! All the press will be there and everyone will know that we're related!"
Anne hid a groan. Participating in a major event like a gala, surrounded by flashing cameras and snoopy press, was not her ideal way to spend a night. She hoped she wasn't expected to attend with them.
"Which would be great for Dad's own career. Can you believe it, he's actually thinking of dabbling into politics. Maybe even run for the State Senate himself? It's possible Senator Dalyrmple might not run again and if she retires, Dad's thinking he might go for her spot. Just think Anne, our dad, a senator! You can be the secretary and help Penny. I already have it all planned out. Should take less than five years. We're already getting tons of invitations to events when people found out we're family of Senator Dalrymple. Oh! She has invited us to see a symphony in Boston's renown Symphony Hall in two weeks. You'll have to come, I suppose, since you're family but don't make a scene. Can't ruin Dad's chances for senator!"
Persuading Him: A Modern Persuasion Retelling (Pemberley Estates Book 1) Page 12
