had gone down to zero. I was so tired I felt it in my bones. But Dash McPhee never took no for an answer, so up the hill I trudged, carrying a basket full of what passes for junk food at my mother’s house.
Kale was involved. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
We spread out the blanket on a remote hill overlooking the equine trails below. Dash dug into the basket, withdrawing our afternoon snack. “I’m going to miss you when you’re gone this summer,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m going anywhere,” I said carefully.
"Why not?”
I sighed. There was no way I could explain this to a five-year-old. “Because I’d rather be here with you, silly,” I said instead, poking him in the tummy till he giggled.
“But I wanted to meet a prince,” he pouted.
I laughed. “Wait a second. Last night you didn’t want me to go. Now you want to meet a prince?”
“I was thinking about it,” he announced as he prepared a plate for us. He loved to make things pretty. “I’ve never met a prince before. I should meet one now. It’s time.”
“You think so?”
He nodded. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
I sighed. It was. But that was over now.
I turned towards the sound of a horse’s hooves galloping on the trail below us. I gasped when I recognized a familiar figure astride one of the horses, his auburn hair unmistakable in the sun. I blinked a couple of times, just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating, but even from a hundred yards away I could feel his gaze meet mine before he guided his horse away from the trail and up the hill where we were sitting.
Dash himself let out a gasp at the enormous animal’s approach, ducking behind me for safety. I sprang to my feet.
“Hello.”
How was that one word so powerful? And many other questions. Starting with, “What are you doing here?”
He smirked as he dismounted, crossing the remaining feet between us. “We never got to finish our conversation last night.”
“You could have called,” I pointed out.
“Would you have answered?” he shot back.
I sighed. “Didn’t we say all there was to say?”
He stood over me. “You did all the talking,” he reminded. “Aren’t you the least bit interested what I had to say in return?”
I scoffed. “I know what you were going to say.”
“You do?”
I nodded. “You don’t do complications. Well known fact about you. And this is about as complicated as it gets.”
He looked me over. His gaze felt like a spark chasing gun powder down my body. “I see no complications. You look wildly capable to me.” I searched his face, trying to find any hint of insincerity. “I told you I wanted you. That hasn’t changed.”
“Even knowing…,” I trailed off, glancing down at Dash, who glanced between us, trying desperately to follow our conversation. “Even knowing the whole story?”
He glanced between my young brother and me, picking up the cue to be discreet. “Your story is none of my business, Peaches. Unless you want it to be. Otherwise, I see no problem moving forward with our original plan. You can still travel for the next several months, yes?”
I nodded. “Till September.”
“There you go,” he decided, and promptly changed the subject so I couldn’t argue. My heart dropped as he knelt to one knee, but he turned his full attention to my baby brother. “Forgive my manners, young sir.” He reached out a hand. “I am Prince Augustine.”
Dash’s eyes widened. “You’re a prince?” Auggie nodded, his hand unwavering. Dash finally reached slowly to accept the handshake. “I’m Dashiell McPhee,” he said, straightening his spine. “My friends all call me Dash, though.”
Auggie laughed. “My friends call me Auggie.”
“Auggie” Dash repeated, crinkling his nose. “That’s a funny name. Sounds like doggie.”
I covered my face with my hand, but Auggie chuckled.
“It does, doesn’t it?” He glanced at our picnic. “What do you have here?”
“We like to picnic and watch the horses,” Dash explained. “Would you like something to eat?”
“I would love something to eat,” he told him with a winning smile.
“Okay, you sit there,” Dash commanded the prince, which made me giggle, particularly when Auggie obeyed the command.
His eyes met mine. “Maybe your sister would like to join me.”
Dash nodded. “Sit next to him, Pea.”
“Pea?” Auggie repeated.
I felt the blood rush to my face. “It’s a family nickname,” I dismissed with a shrug.
“Mom calls her Sweet Pea,” Dash added.
Those green eyes glittered as he studied me. “Appropriate,” he murmured, which made my stomach flutter.