FRIDAY MORNING, ADDIE watched Edward’s form on the pinto pony. She was still exhausted from the events of the past week, and the last thing she wanted to do was go for a boat ride with Thomas Carrington.
“Back straight. Heels down,” she called. The horse she rode was a quick and responsive mare named Whisper. Ferns as high as trees bordered the clearing where they rode. Addie kept an eye on Gideon to ensure Edward wasn’t on the verge of an attack.
“Papa will be so surprised,” Edward said, his cheeks flushed. “He never let me ride before.”
“He was rightly worried about you. It would be dangerous for you to become ill while on a horse. It was all I could do to persuade him to let you try.”
The boy’s grin stretched wider. “I can do anything with Gideon.”
It was true. Since she’d arrived at Eaton Manor, she’d seen Edward’s confidence grow. This latest adventure was to be a surprise for John’s birthday. She glanced at her watch, a gift from Mr. Eaton. It had once been her mother’s, and Addie couldn’t stop admiring the diamonds and the delicate workmanship. It was nearly ten o’clock, and she had to be ready for the dreaded yachting trip at noon. Lord Carrington’s staff was preparing a picnic lunch for aboard the boat.
She opened her mouth to tell Edward it was time to head back to the house, when a flock of birds rose from a bush near him. The pony reared with its eyes rolling.
Addie rode forward and snatched at the reins, but the pony evaded her. “Edward, hang on!”
The boy’s knuckles were white as he gripped the reins. Then the horse bolted straight for an opening in the thick ferns. Gideon barked and followed.
“Rein him in!” she shouted. She urged her horse after Edward. The ferns and towering trees blocked out the sun. It was like stepping into twilight. She caught a flash of white and saw the pony racing toward the stream. Edward still clung to his back, with Gideon on the pony’s hooves. Once the horse hit the stream, Edward’s chances of being seriously injured by rocks would increase.
“Rein him in, Edward!” she screamed, urging her horse faster. “Pull hard on the reins!”
The boy straightened from his hunch over the pony’s neck. She saw him yank on the reins. “Don’t let up. Pull!” she yelled. Edward continued to pull on the leather. The pony began to slow, then finally stopped, his sides bellowing with exertion. Foam flecked his sides.
Addie dismounted and ran to pull Edward from the pony. “Are you all right?”
His eyes filled, but he nodded. “That pony can run fast. But I did it, Teacher. I made him stop. And I didn’t fall off.”
She hugged him. “I’m very proud of you. You were quite the little man.”
John’s voice spoke behind her. “You are quite the little man, Edward.”
“Papa!” Edward released Addie and ran to this father. “Did you see me? I didn’t fall off even when the birds spooked the pony.”
John lifted his son into his arms. “You were very brave.” He kissed Edward’s cheek. “You were right,” he told Addie. “He needed to learn to ride.”
She clasped her hands together. “Thank you for trusting me. I want him to enjoy being a child.”
“So do I.”
Edward wiggled to be let down. “Miss Addie said we could go wading in the stream!”
John raised a brow. “I’d rather you didn’t, Edward.”
Addie curled her fingers in Gideon’s fur. “You could come with us.”
“Yes, Papa, you come too!” Edward tugged on John’s hand.
Addie nearly giggled at the consternation on John’s face. She grabbed her horse’s reins and led him through the redwoods and Sitka spruce. They passed rhododendrons, huckleberry, and redwood sorrel. The roar of the waterfall grew louder until its cold spray misted her face.
“Take off your shoes,” she said.
“I-I have bank figures to go over.”
She only hoped he found some way out of the overwhelming pressure on her to save the Eaton family. “Everyone deserves some time off. We won’t be long.”
Edward took off his shoes and pulled his knickers higher. “Hold my hand, Papa,” he said, pulling on his father’s fingers.
With a roll of his eyes, John sat down and pulled off his shoes and socks, revealing long white feet. No calluses. He’d obviously not been accustomed to walking barefoot on the beach, as she was. Gideon barked and ran ahead of her to the water. He jumped in and snapped at the small fish swimming in the stream. He eyed a frog until Addie commanded him to leave it alone.
She waded out into the stream. “Come on in, Edward.” Her skin quickly numbed from the frigid water. Minnows darted between rocks in the clear water, and larger fish swam from her splashes.
“Ooh, it’s cold!” Edward waded toward Gideon. He turned to face his father. “Come on, Papa.”
“I’m coming,” John growled. He rolled his pants legs up a little more, then gingerly stepped into the water. He grimaced. “Boy howdy, is it cold!”
Addie giggled behind her hand. “You’ll get used to it in a minute.”
He still wore his bowler, vest, and jacket, but with his pants rolled up and the wonder on his face, he reminded her of a little boy dressed in his father’s clothes. She leaned down and flicked cold water at him. A dollop splashed on his cheek and rolled down his neck.
His eyes went wide, then he grinned and took off his hat. He scooped up a hatful of water and started toward her. Adrenaline kicked in, and she scurried backward with her hands out. “I give, I give!”
He advanced on her. “You’re not getting off that easy.”
“Do it, Papa!” Edward splashed water as he practically danced along beside his father.
Gideon barked excitedly as if he approved as well. “Traitor,” Addie told him.
Her feet slid on the moss-covered rocks. She threw out her hands to try to regain her balance, and John caught her arm. She clutched at him, and in the next moment, she was in his arms, and they both tumbled into the stream. Cold water filled her mouth and nose and soaked her clothing. Her water-heavy dress dragged her down, but she managed to sit up. Laughter bubbled from her throat when she saw John. His wet hair hung in his face, and his suit was soaked.
“Hungry?” She picked a flopping minnow off his shoulder and tossed it back into the water.
“That was too small to keep anyway,” he said.
The current caused by the waterfall kept trying to force her back down, and she only managed to resist its pressure by holding on to John. He had his arm around her back and his hand at her waist. She was close enough to see the flecks of white in his eyes—like starbursts. A rather comfortable position, or it would have been if not for the freezing water.
“I suppose we’d better get up,” she said, her head buttressed by his shoulder.
“I’m in no hurry. The damage is done.” He kept his left arm around her, but dumped a frog out of his hat with his right. “You’re right. The water doesn’t seem so cold now.” He put his hat on his knee.
“I’m sorry your suit is ruined,” she said.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had since I was a boy.” His tone was wistful. “No wonder Edward loves you.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch when his face came closer, but he stopped, then scrambled to his feet and held out his hand to lift her from the rushing water.
“Are we still on for the concert tomorrow night?” he asked.
“I can’t wait,” she said.
“You’re going with Carrington today, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I don’t want to, but my father insists.”
“Don’t let him force you into anything you don’t want to do, Addie.”
“What would you do if your family’s future depended on you?” she whispered.
He sighed and rubbed his head. “Your father has brought this on himself. What if this is discipline from God?”
“I’d never thought of that,” she said. “If I intervene to save him, I could be circumventing God’s will.” She would have to think about this.