Finding Sleeping Beauty

by Tarrah Montgomery

  I twisted around into a more dignified sitting position and scowled at him. “If you dare lay your hands on me again, there will be dire consequences for you.” My face felt hot. I had never been so humiliated in my life.

  Nate looked down at the dirt. “I’m sorry, ma’am. You’re right, I shouldn’t have handled you like that.” He looked up. “But I have a job to do.”

  I frowned at him but finally said grudgingly, “Fine.”

  When he made no movement to lead the horse, I asked. “Why are we not moving?”

  He lifted his eyebrow again. “Are you going to ride like that? You might fall off when I get on.”

  Confused, I looked to where both my legs hung off one side of the horse. “This is how I always ride.” Although my previous horseback rides had been limited to the castle grounds (and, of course, accompanied by several watchful guards), I knew how to properly sit in a saddle.

  Nate tried to cover a laugh with his hand. “Well then, you’d better hold on.”

  He jumped onto the horse and positioned himself behind me. I began to slide off the animal and instinctively reached back to grasp Nate’s arm.

  “Steady,” he said close to my ear.

  I tried to scoot higher on the horse but kept sliding.

  “It would be easier if you put one leg on each side of the horse. That way you won’t slide off.”

  “I can’t do that. It’s improper . . . and scandalous!”

  “Then I’ll have to hold on to you and suffer the consequences of touching you again.”

  Nate placed a hand on my waist, sending happy shivers up my side. Scowling, I swung my right leg up and over the big knob on the front of the saddle, then positioned my leg at the right side of the horse. The position wasn’t elegant, but it was more comfortable.

  He laughed and removed his hand from my waist. “Does my touch offend you so much?”

  “It’s not appropriate,” I said.

  “You’re an interesting girl, Dani.”

  I liked the way he said my name, sort of playfully and with an accent.

  Stop, Dani! I chastised myself.

  He reached around me to grab the horse’s reins, obviously attempting not to touch me, which was impossible because of our proximity. But at least he tried. “You’ll wake up in the morning and realize you’re not a princess and this was all just a dream.”

  And there it was. Nate’s rudeness erased every bit of attraction I had felt for him.

  “Yes, I’ll wake up and forget all about the man with no manners,” I shot back.

  “None at all?” he grunted. “That’s a little extreme.”

  Not giving him the satisfaction of a reply, I held my stiff position and hoped the ride would be smooth and quiet. The less I talked with him, the better, since I was bound to say something unprincesslike.

  Soon we passed an old brick building with the word “School” etched in the eave. It was a small building, simple and quaint. Farther on we reached a row of houses, each surrounded by a white picket fence. Light peeked out through the windows.

  We passed five houses before Nate stopped at a small yellow one with two stories. Hope surged through me—maybe someone here could help me. Or at least give me a warm welcome.

  “Here we are,” Nate announced.

  After silently rebuking myself for jumping at the delightful sound of his voice, I said, “This is Dorothy’s house?”

  “Yep.” He dismounted and stood next to the horse. “She can worry about you now.”

  Nate reached out as if to help me down, but I pulled back. “I don’t need your assistance.”

  “I’m not going through this ridiculous argument again.” He grabbed me by the waist and yanked me off the horse. “I told you I have a job to do.”

  My hands went to his shoulders and I slid into his arms. I gasped and looked up into his eyes. For a moment, we just stood there. Then he stepped back and removed his hat. His hair was messy and slightly curly. He ran his fingers through it and said, “Sorry I touched you again.”

  You can touch me anytime you want. What? No! I hope I didn’t say that out loud.

  When my brain finally started functioning again, I realized he was walking toward the house. I ran to catch up with him. “Thank you for escorting me,” I said.

  “Escorting? Ma’am, words like that are only going to scare people. Idaho isn’t used to people of your kind.” He looked down at my tattered dress. “Did you escape from the loony bin or something?”

  “Did you escape from the stables?”

  Ouch. That was rude, even for me. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I don’t know why I acted like that.”

  Nate didn’t reply, which only increased my guilt. He walked up to the front door and knocked. Several long seconds later, someone opened it. The cheerful-looking woman had red hair gathered at the top of her head. When she saw Nate, she smiled and asked sweetly. “What are you doing here at this hour?”

  “Good evening, Dorothy,” he said. “Sorry to bother you.”

  “You are never a bother. Would you like to come in?”

  “Maybe another time.” He looked behind him to where I was standing. “I found something at Aunt Em’s old place.”

  Dorothy’s eyebrows furrowed. “What?”

  Feeling foolish, I wanted to disappear behind Nate. But he stepped to the side and left me no choice but to curtsy a greeting to the new stranger. “My name is Princess Danielle Channing,” I said shyly.

  While I really didn’t know what to expect, I never would’ve guessed Dorothy would rush to me and gather me into her arms.

  “Aurora!” She squeezed me tight. “You’ve finally come.”

  Chapter 4

  Another Unanswered Question from My Childhood:

  Why Is My Nickname Aurora?

  The occasion of my birth was celebrated by the entire kingdom, with a week of balls, feasts, and festivities. Close friends of my parents gave them gifts, and many others wished them blessings for their new arrival. Even though no one else knew about the wizard’s curse, the blessings offered hope for my protection, as well as happiness for my parents. Some of the gifts included a wish for me to have beauty, wealth, an angelic disposition, grace, ability to dance perfectly, a voice of a nightingale, and the ability to play musical instruments.

  The most loved treasure came from my mom’s cousin, who traveled from far away to attend the celebration. My mom said that when they were growing up, the two of them were as close as sisters. Everyone on that side of the family had a nickname, and my mom’s cousin chose mine—Aurora, meaning “goddess of the sun.” The name meant I would always live for another sunrise.

  Very fitting for a princess who is doomed to be poisoned into a lifelong sleep, I thought now.

  I always wondered why my mom’s cousin never came around when I was old enough to remember her.

  Dorothy’s Place

  Dorothy guided me into the house and then shooed Nate away. “Thank you,” she said to him before closing the door.

  Holding my hand, she pulled me further into the small home. “Hank! Abby!” she shouted. My legs moved on their own accord. I was still stunned by this woman calling me Aurora.

  “What, honey?” said a low voice from around the corner.

  Seconds later, a man slowly walked toward us, and a girl who looked to be about my age bounced down the stairs.

  “What’s going on, Mom?” she asked.

  Dorothy squeezed my hand. “I’d like to introduce you to Princess Danielle Channing.”

  The girl stared at me, looking as confused as I felt, but the man grabbed my free hand, lifted it to his lips, and placed a kiss on my knuckles. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

  I curtsied. “Thank you.”

  Dorothy cleared her throat with a cough. “I’m Dorothy, as you know. This is my husband, Hank, and my daughter, Abby.” She motioned with her hands.

  I curtsied again to the man and then to the girl, who just stood the
re.

  “Pray tell, is there somewhere I can rest?” I asked. “I am not feeling well.”

  “Of course.” Dorothy urged me forward. “It is very late and you have traveled far.”

  “Rest well, Princess,” the man said. Grateful for his kindness, I smiled at him.

  Dorothy led me up a staircase. “I apologize for our humble home, Aurora. It is a lot different than what you’re accustomed to.”

  “It is lovely,” I replied truthfully. Though small, the home seemed cozy and comfortable. Picture frames covered almost every wall, and I could almost feel the happiness from the cheerful smiles encased in each portrait, which were painted so perfectly as to appear real. After a tiring evening, I was relieved to be in a place that felt safe. All I wanted was to lie down and go to sleep. Hopefully when I woke up, I’d be back at the castle and all this would be just a dream.

  We reached the top of the stairs, where Dorothy led me to a small bedchamber. The room was decorated in a peaceful pink color, with a large fluffy bed in the corner.

  “Can I get you anything?” she asked.

  “Thank you. I think I just need to sleep.”

  She released my hand and stepped toward the door, but I stopped her with a question. “Why did you call me Aurora?”

  Dorothy turned back. “Because that is the name you were blessed with.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “There are many things that haven’t been explained to you.” She gave me a small smile. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Now rest. Everything always seems brighter in the morning.”

  Dorothy closed the door, leaving me to my racing thoughts. Who is this woman? How does she know so much about me? Where am I?

  Soon the questions made me even more exhausted, so I lay down on the soft pink bed. My mind began to play a lullaby to help calm my troubled soul, and I waited for the blissful escape of sleep.

  Chapter 5

  More Sleeping Beauty Tales:

  La Belle au Bois Dormant

  (The Beauty in the Sleeping Wood)

  1697

  At the christening of a long-wished-for princess, seven fairies invited as godmothers offer gifts: beauty, wit, musical talent and other virtues. However, as her gift, a wicked fairy who was overlooked having been within a certain tower and thought to be either dead or enchanted places the princess under an enchantment, saying that, on reaching adulthood, she will pierce her hand on a spindle and die. However, one last fairy had yet to give her gift. She partially reverses the wicked fairy’s curse, proclaiming that the princess will instead fall into a deep sleep.

  The Next Morning

  A knock at my door woke me from my odd dreams. Assuming it must be my maid coming to dress me for the day, I called out, “Cathy, I’m not ready to wake up.” Then I covered my head with my pillow. Just as I was drifting off again, I heard the click of the doorknob.

  “Princess, if you don’t get up now you won’t have time for breakfast before school.”

  I recognized that voice from my dreams—it was the woman I’d climbed up some creaky stairs with. Dorothy was her name, if I remembered right.

  No, this can’t be real! I opened my eyes and glanced around the room. My usual bedchamber was much larger than this room. I lay on a small mattress under an unfamiliar pink covering that was very thick and warm. Normally it would take three quilts to keep a person cozy all night. This was not my bed and I was not in the castle!

  I sat up and saw a person standing in the doorway—the same woman from last night who knew me as Aurora and whose husband had kissed my hand and called me Your Highness.

  Why can’t I wake up from this nightmare? I cried in my head. Am I losing my mind?

  The woman stepped into the room. “Getting up and starting your day with a regular routine is just what the doctor ordered. Before you know it, you’ll forget all about the curse.”

  The curse! That’s right. Suddenly, everything from last night flooded back. Matthew at the ball, my dad pushing me through a door, meeting the inconsiderate but handsome Nate, and then being brought to this woman, Dorothy’s, home.

  “Who are you?” I asked. “Why am I here?”

  She sat next to me on the bed and lovingly rested her hand on my arm. Even though she was a stranger, I didn’t pull away. Something about her soft touch and caring eyes reminded me of my mom.

  “I am a friend of your parents,” she began. “I realize you must be very confused, but all you need to know for now is that you are safe.”

  “But where am I? Is this Fenmore Falls?”

  “No, honey.” She smiled. “This place is very different from Fenmore Falls.”

  The young man from last night had called it something peculiar. “Idaho?” I remembered out loud.

  “Yes. This is Shelley, Idaho.” Dorothy tilted her head. “How much did you tell Nathan last night?”

  I shrugged. “Not too much. He just laughed at my curtsying and mocked me for saying I was a princess.”

  “Hmm. Well, let’s keep your title and your background secret for now. You’ll simply be Danielle, not a princess.”

  “I thought you said I was safe here.”

  “You are. Well, much safer than in Fenmore Falls.” Dorothy gave me another reassuring smile. “There’s no harm in being extra cautious though, is there?”

  I tried to return her smile but felt uneasy. If we had to hide my identity in Idaho too, how was it safer here than back home? Wouldn’t the wizard be able to find me anywhere?

  I opened my mouth to ask these questions but was interrupted as Dorothy’s daughter, Abby, came into the room. “Oh good, you’re awake,” she said, joining us on the bed. She had a big smile on her face and bounced slightly while speaking. “You have no idea how wonderful it will be to have another girl in the house. When Mom told me you were staying, I was so excited. Let me tell you, when it’s just me with my parents, it’s pretty tough finding adequate entertainment. With you here, life will be a whole lot better.”

  Wondering if Abby knew I was a princess, I gave Dorothy a questioning glance. She subtly shook her head and held a finger to her lips.

  The girl continued her excited chatter. “I’ve always dreamed of having a younger sister. But this is even better. Now I don’t have to worry about quarrelling with a little sister. Instead, I get to have someone my own age. How perfect is that?”

  “Abby, sweetheart.” Dorothy patted her daughter’s leg. “Let’s not overwhelm Danielle. How about you go through your clothes and bring me something she can wear to school today?”

  “Oh yes.” Abby scanned my crumpled dress. “Girls usually don’t wear dresses to school. Is it all right if you borrow some of my pants?”

  “What are pants?” I asked, then gasped in horror. “Do you mean trousers? Those are for men and boys!”

  “Abigail,” Dorothy quickly interjected, “please just go find something you think will work.”

  “I’ll grab a couple of outfits for you to choose from.” The girl jumped up and went out the door.

  Once I figured Abby was out of earshot, I asked Dorothy, “Why doesn’t she know who I really am?”

  “The less information she has, the better, for her sake and yours. First of all, it is difficult to explain where you come from and how you got here. We want things to appear as normal as possible. Here in Idaho, you are simply a daughter of a friend who has come to stay with us.”

  “Does your husband know who I am?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Is he one of the three fairies my dad told me about?”

  Dorothy laughed. “No, you’ll meet the other fairies later.” I must’ve looked dismayed, because she wrapped her arm around me. “Cheer up, Princess. Think of this as an adventure, and take advantage of your first opportunity to experience life outside the castle.”

  Abby returned with an armful of clothes. “I think we’re the same size, so I grabbed everything.” She dropped the pile on the floor and began sorting through it. “It
probably would have been easier for you to come to my room instead of me hauling all of this down the hall, but oh well.” She handed me some clothes. “How about this cute pink top with these jeans?” She pulled out a few more items. “Or how about this shirt? It looks good with khakis.”

  My brain wasn’t registering anything she was saying, so I looked to Dorothy for help. She gave me a wink and said, “Abby, I think Danielle would feel more comfortable in a dress or a skirt.”

  “I don’t have a lot of dresses,” the girl said. “How about some pants?”

  I quickly shook my head. “I cannot wear those.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean you can’t wear pants? Why not?”

  Luckily Dorothy came to my defense. “I think Danielle is saying she’s more comfortable in dresses. Do you have a long one she can borrow?”

  “The longest I have is this one.” She pulled out a white lace dress that was the size of a small blanket.

  I can’t wear that. I thought. It would barely cover my knees, let alone modestly cover my ankles. Dread filled my stomach. Again I looked to Dorothy for help.

  “With a nice sweater and some boots, you’ll be fine,” she said.

  Abby frowned. “Why would she need a sweater? It’s not even September.”

  “It’s warmer where Danielle is from. She’ll feel better with something on her arms, and the boots will help cover her ankles.” That was Dorothy’s subtle way of rationalizing why I didn’t want to expose my arms and legs. I was always taught that a lady, especially a princess, never reveals her skin. My mom always said showing your ankle was one of the most scandalous things a princess could do.

  “Fine, if she wants to be hot in a sweater, that’s her choice.” Abby grabbed a dark-blue sweater and handed it to me. “This one is my least hot sweater. If you wear it with a brown belt and my brown boots, it actually looks pretty good with the dress.”

  I placed the sweater on my lap, along with the lace dress. “Thank you.”

  “Let me go get the brown belt and boots.” Abby rushed out of the room, leaving the heaping pile of clothes on the floor.

  “It will be all right, Princess,” Dorothy told me quietly. “You won’t ruin your reputation by wearing pants or showing your ankles.”