Once Upon A Dream-Ch 3
The ride back home couldn't end fast enough for Penelope as they pulled up in front of the huge house, Aaron held out his hand and said, "here mam let me help you down". JJ smiled and said, "thank you Aaron", Penelope then put her hand in his and smiled as she stepped down, she said, "thank you Aaron", he said, "you are very welcome mam".
Penelope said, "father is it okay with you if JJ and I go for a ride"?, he said, "Aaron can you get the horses ready"?, he said, "yes sir", as he headed toward the barn Dave said, "you don't mind to ride with them do you Aaron"?, he shook his head and said, "no not at all sir" before turning back around and heading toward the barn.
Penelope said, "thank you father" as she made her way quickly toward the house with JJ right on her heels, once they were in her room JJ started putting her things away. Penelope said, "Jayje I need you to help me", she shook her head and said, "I can't disobey your father, I can't just let you go and meet that man".
Penelope said, "nothings going to happen with you and Aaron there", she said, "and how do you think you are going to be able to get anywhere close to this Derek person with Aaron with us"?, she said, "wellllll I was hoping that you could keep him busy for a few minutes while I go for a little walk". She said, "I don't know about that mam".
She put her hands together and said, "please Jayje, please", she blew out a breath and said, "alright but if your father finds out I'm not going to cover for the two of you". Penelope hugged her friend and said, "thank you, thank you, thank you" as they headed to get her dressed for her ride, a few minutes later the two women walked up to Aaron and smiled as he helped them both upon their horses before climbing upon his horse.
As they rods Penelope looked at Aaron and said, "it's beautiful today isn't it Aaron"?, he said, "yes mam, it's very beautiful today", JJ said, "I was afraid that it was going to rain earlier but I guess the storm blew over". Aaron nodded his head and said, "we are due a good storm, it's been a while since we've had a bad one", both girls nodded their heads in agreement as they made their way through the path.
Derek got out of his buggy and hid it before making his way toward the trees Penelope had told him about, he stood there for a few minutes before he heard some horses coming. He watched as Penelope, Jenniffer and a man rode up and climbed down off their horses, he listened as he heard Penelope saying, "I'm going to go right up the path Aaron, I want to look at the water".
Aaron said, "I think that we should go with you", Penelope opened her mouth but it was JJ that saved the day by whispering something into Aarons ear, he smiled and said, "just be careful". She said, "I will" and hurriedly made her way up the path hoping that Derek would be there, as she stepped behind the huge trees she smiled when she saw Derek perched against it.
He had his arms crossed over his chest, he said, "hello beautiful", she blushed and said, "hello yourself handsome", he walked closer and said, "I was afraid that you weren't going to show up". She took a deep breath and said, "it was easy to get away and I wanted to take you up on your offer", he said, "my offer"?,
she said, "yes, to get to know you better".
He slowly slid his hand up her arm and said, "I'm looking forward to that", she smiled up at him and said, "so am I", he said, "so Penelope, tell me a little about yourself". She bit down on her lip as she spent a few minutes filling her in on everything, he said, "so your father is having two men come to your home in order to get you a husband"?, she nodded her head and said, "sadly this is true".
He caressed her cheek and said, "I can't believe that he would think that an amazing woman such as yourself would need his help in finding a husband", she felt her heart racing as his hand touched her cheek. She said, "I don't want to marry Kevin or Sam but my father is in negotiations with both of their fathers and they will be here by the end of the week to try to court me".
Derek said, "I would like to put my name in that race", she laughed and said, "well I would like that but my father on the other hand, I don't think he would agree". Derek pushed a lock of hair out of her face and said, "what do you say about it, can I add my name to the list for your suitors"?, she nodded her head and said, "I'd like that very much but we would have to do our meetings in private like we are now".
He leaned in and said, "I would like to kiss you", she said, "I would like that to", he then cupped her face in his hands and slowly leaned in pressing his lips gently against hers.