No Longer A Secret
An Hope Holmes Adventure Book II Chapter X
Faith Robin
"Watch me," I muttered ignoring Watson's and Granger's surprise and followed him out the door. I hailed a cab.
"What do you think you're going young Lady?" He hissed at me angrily, and trying to snatch my wrist; to drag me back into the house. I dodged his grip and stepped into the waiting cab.
"I believe I told you I was going to get some things that I left down in the barn," I said quietly. He sighed.
"Then I'm coming with you," He said climbing into the cab with me. The cabbie snapped his reins and we were off.
"Again with the overprotection," I sighed with a touch of annoyance. We rode in silence for the rest of the journey. When we had reached the barn I had John saddle two horses while my father paid the cabbie. John brought out one of the horses and handed the reins to me.
"Are you all right Miss Russell?" He asked as I mounted up.
"I'm perfectly fine John, too much sun I'm afraid," I muttered to avoid more scandal to my father's name. I rode out to the forest alone for the moment. Soon my father would realize that I had ridden out and he would come out after me. Soon I heard his horse's hoof beats come up from behind me.
"Hope wait up please," My father called up the trail. I reined my horse to a walk and let him catch up to me. "Thank you, I'm not as talented with a horse as you are," he admitted to me as he caught his breath.
"Well then, let me handle the leading," I said beginning to trot. He settled into a gentle trot next to me.
"So what exactly happened this afternoon before this gentleman decided to approach you?" He asked casually as if to start up a conversation again.
"Well I came up here to relax on the hillside in the middle of field," I said, "I was lying under the tree and was trying to regain my senses because of the …cravings."
"Hope, how bad is it?" He asked sensitively, as if he were afraid to ask. I sighed.
"Its not as bad as it used to be," I admitted truthfully, "There were times were it was so bad I would nearly collapse out here, but now that's rarely ever."
"Where did that vial come from?" My father asked trying to probe more answers out of me.
"I already told you, I don't know how that got there," I said. "Do you not trust me?" I asked slowing the horse down to face him.
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