I LOVE YOU REVIEWERS!
Whenever I check my mail and there's a review waiting for me, I get so happy!!! You all get kangaroos!
By the way, I didn't purposely separate paragraphs for the first chapter. It just randomly happens whenever it wants! Sorry, I know how hard it is to read when everything is all squished together, so thanks again for reading!
By the way this is my second story. My other one is also Ella Enchanted and is about Areida, although I think this story will be much better, now that I have more experience. Anyway, read on!
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Alanna smiled contentedly as the strong breeze blew across the lake, rustling the leaves that were still clinging stubbornly to their branches. She lifted her skirts a few inches higher and waded deeper into the shallow water, letting the coolness of the lake seep through her body.
After a few minutes, Alanna sighed. She really had to be leaving soon if she were to make it home before supper.
She started back to where she had left her shawl and her shoes perched on a dry rock. She had just reached the shore when a sound behind her turned her back.
A small boy, no more than seven or eight, was balanced precariously on a flimsy looking raft, made from what looked like tree branches. He had a small plank of wood in his hands and was using it to propel himself slowly across the lake.
Alanna suddenly realized what danger the boy was in. The lake was hundreds of feet deep in places. For that reason alone many parents in Bentworth did not allow their children to swim in the lake.
Just as Alanna was about to open her mouth to call a warning to him, the raft began to tip slightly.
Before she could stop herself, Alanna shouted. "Careful!"
The boy looked up, startled. Too late, Alanna noticed that he would have been fine if she hadn't called to him. Her shout had made him jerk, causing the raft to tip more rapidly. With a loud yelp, the boy spilled into the water.
Alanna stood still, shocked for just a second. The boy came up gasping, trying to grasp onto the slippery raft.
Alanna acted, dropping her skirts and splashing into the water. Inwardly she cursed herself. Why had she called out like that?
When Alanna got to the deeper part of the lake, she didn't hesitate. Taking a quick breath of air, she plunged into the water.
Drat these skirts, she thought. If she hadn't been wearing a dress, she would be able to get to the boy much more quickly.
Even with the skirts though, Alanna was a strong swimmer, having grown up near this lake. As she surfaced for a breath, she saw the boy was only a few feet away. But to her dismay he had begun to slide under the water as his strength gave out.
After a few more strokes, she was to him. Slipping her arm around his waist, Alanna kicked for the surface.
As the boy's face emerged out of the water, he took a huge gulp of air and immediately began coughing. Alanna too was breathing hard, but she didn't have time to linger. Eventually, the adrenaline would wear off and they needed to be on shore by then.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, treading water.
He nodded, still gasping.
"What's your name?"
"Nolan."
"Well Nolan, I'm going to swim back to shore now. You just relax and don't fight me."
He nodded again.
After securing her hold on Nolan, who was breathing more steadily, Alanna started swimming back to shore. Already she was beginning to tire. Her skirts began dragging, and she fought for every stroke.
Alanna was immensely relieved when her feet touched sand. She went on until Nolan could also stand, and then after wrapping her arm around his waist to support him, they continued splashing to shore.
They were not three feet away when a man's voice called up from in front of them.
"Nolan! Are you all right?"
Alanna looked up, and stopped cold.
In front of her was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He had dark blond hair, almost brown, and deep blue eyes. He was at least six feet tall and had a strong, lean body. His handsome features were concerned as he saw the boy.
Alanna felt herself blushing as she realized what a mess she must look like right now. She quickly brushed back the hair from her face and straightened her dress. Why did she have to look like this now?
"Tyson!" Nolan shouted and ran to shore. The man reached out his arms and hugged him. He then took off his coat and draped it around the boy's shivering figure.
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As soon as Tyson made sure Nolan was safe, he turned to the young women who had rescued his younger brother. But not to thank her.
"Why did you shout out at him?" Tyson said to her, his voice showing his annoyance. The girl was slipping her feet back into her shoes, so he couldn't see her expression. "He was doing just-"
His next word as stillborn as the girl faced him for the first time.
She was, without a doubt, very pretty. Her dark hair was wet, but was long and thick. Drops of water clung to her eyelashes and her emerald eyes shone out at him. Her damp gown clung to her, showing off her slender body and slim waist.
Her features were delicately formed, with skin just like porcelain. That's why it was so surprising when her voice rang out with anger.
"You think I meant to tip him over? I was only calling out a warning! The lake can be very deep and I didn't want him to be out there without supervision!"
Tyson's voice returned. "He was doing fine! If you hadn't distracted him, he wouldn't have tipped!"
Her beautiful green eyes flashed with anger. "Well, excuse me for being concerned when I saw him out here all alone."
"I was here!" Tyson protested.
She glared at him, hands on hips. "Then why didn't you try and help him?"
He glared back. "Because before I could, you went diving in!"
She grabbed her shawl from the rock. "What? Did you expect me to stand there and watch him drown?"
Tyson paused. She had him there. Most of the women from Frell would have probably just stood and screamed.
"I'm apologize. I didn't mean it that way," he said, taking a step towards her.
She brushed past him. "Apology not accepted."
Tyson felt the annoyance rise in him, but he tried to push it down. She had, after all, dived into the lake to save someone she didn't know, even if it had been her fault in the first place.
He turned to see the girl kneeling down beside Nolan, who was sitting against a tree, fast asleep. She felt his forehead.
"Is he going to be alright?" Tyson asked.
She nodded. "He'll be fine."
There was a moment of silence.
"I'm Tyson McConty," he asked, more to end the awkward silence than out of curiosity. "We just moved into the Bentworth manor. Nolan was just tired of unpacking, I suppose, and decided to explore a bit."
She inclined her head slightly and frowned, but didn't say anything.
"What's your name?"
She glared at him, but replied, "Alanna." Boy, she must really know how to hold a grudge!
"Is there a last name?" he pressed.
"Thetcher," she said, reaching out and straightening the coat Tyson had draped over Nolan.
Nolan began to stir. Tyson looked down to see him open his eyes.
"Ready to go home?" He asked kneeling beside his younger brother.
Nolan nodded, then looked admiringly at Alanna. "Thank you, miss."
Alanna smiled at the boy, a pretty smile, Tyson noted, which gave her sweet, little dimples.
"My name is Alanna. And you're welcome. Just make sure you don't go in the lake without someone watching you," she said, her green eyes twinkling. "I don't want to have to keep rescuing you every time you feel like a swim!"
Nolan grinned. "I won't, don't worry."
Tyson was surprised. Nolan wasn't usually this comfortable with strangers. There was just something in this girl that set the boy at ease.
Tyson helped Nolan to his feet, then reached a hand out to help Alanna. She ignored his hand and stood on her own, brushing herself off.
Tyson shrugged and retracted his hand. If she wanted to be that way, it was fine with him.
"Do you know the way to your home?" she asked him, shivering and pulling her shawl tighter around herself as the wind started up again.
"Yes, I think so."
"Well, then I'd better get going. It's nearly suppertime," Alanna said, glancing up at the setting sun.
"Goodbye Alanna!" Nolan piped up cheerfully. Tyson merely nodded as way of farewell.
Alanna shot an odd look at Tyson before smiling at the boy. "Goodbye."
And with that, she started away, leaving Tyson to stare at her departing figure. He had a feeling Alanna Thetcher would interrupt his plans for peace and quiet. But the strange thing was he didn't know if he really cared.
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So how do you guys like it so far? Please Review and tell me!!!
Whenever I check my mail and there's a review waiting for me, I get so happy!!! You all get kangaroos!
By the way, I didn't purposely separate paragraphs for the first chapter. It just randomly happens whenever it wants! Sorry, I know how hard it is to read when everything is all squished together, so thanks again for reading!
By the way this is my second story. My other one is also Ella Enchanted and is about Areida, although I think this story will be much better, now that I have more experience. Anyway, read on!
--------------------------------------
Alanna smiled contentedly as the strong breeze blew across the lake, rustling the leaves that were still clinging stubbornly to their branches. She lifted her skirts a few inches higher and waded deeper into the shallow water, letting the coolness of the lake seep through her body.
After a few minutes, Alanna sighed. She really had to be leaving soon if she were to make it home before supper.
She started back to where she had left her shawl and her shoes perched on a dry rock. She had just reached the shore when a sound behind her turned her back.
A small boy, no more than seven or eight, was balanced precariously on a flimsy looking raft, made from what looked like tree branches. He had a small plank of wood in his hands and was using it to propel himself slowly across the lake.
Alanna suddenly realized what danger the boy was in. The lake was hundreds of feet deep in places. For that reason alone many parents in Bentworth did not allow their children to swim in the lake.
Just as Alanna was about to open her mouth to call a warning to him, the raft began to tip slightly.
Before she could stop herself, Alanna shouted. "Careful!"
The boy looked up, startled. Too late, Alanna noticed that he would have been fine if she hadn't called to him. Her shout had made him jerk, causing the raft to tip more rapidly. With a loud yelp, the boy spilled into the water.
Alanna stood still, shocked for just a second. The boy came up gasping, trying to grasp onto the slippery raft.
Alanna acted, dropping her skirts and splashing into the water. Inwardly she cursed herself. Why had she called out like that?
When Alanna got to the deeper part of the lake, she didn't hesitate. Taking a quick breath of air, she plunged into the water.
Drat these skirts, she thought. If she hadn't been wearing a dress, she would be able to get to the boy much more quickly.
Even with the skirts though, Alanna was a strong swimmer, having grown up near this lake. As she surfaced for a breath, she saw the boy was only a few feet away. But to her dismay he had begun to slide under the water as his strength gave out.
After a few more strokes, she was to him. Slipping her arm around his waist, Alanna kicked for the surface.
As the boy's face emerged out of the water, he took a huge gulp of air and immediately began coughing. Alanna too was breathing hard, but she didn't have time to linger. Eventually, the adrenaline would wear off and they needed to be on shore by then.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, treading water.
He nodded, still gasping.
"What's your name?"
"Nolan."
"Well Nolan, I'm going to swim back to shore now. You just relax and don't fight me."
He nodded again.
After securing her hold on Nolan, who was breathing more steadily, Alanna started swimming back to shore. Already she was beginning to tire. Her skirts began dragging, and she fought for every stroke.
Alanna was immensely relieved when her feet touched sand. She went on until Nolan could also stand, and then after wrapping her arm around his waist to support him, they continued splashing to shore.
They were not three feet away when a man's voice called up from in front of them.
"Nolan! Are you all right?"
Alanna looked up, and stopped cold.
In front of her was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He had dark blond hair, almost brown, and deep blue eyes. He was at least six feet tall and had a strong, lean body. His handsome features were concerned as he saw the boy.
Alanna felt herself blushing as she realized what a mess she must look like right now. She quickly brushed back the hair from her face and straightened her dress. Why did she have to look like this now?
"Tyson!" Nolan shouted and ran to shore. The man reached out his arms and hugged him. He then took off his coat and draped it around the boy's shivering figure.
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As soon as Tyson made sure Nolan was safe, he turned to the young women who had rescued his younger brother. But not to thank her.
"Why did you shout out at him?" Tyson said to her, his voice showing his annoyance. The girl was slipping her feet back into her shoes, so he couldn't see her expression. "He was doing just-"
His next word as stillborn as the girl faced him for the first time.
She was, without a doubt, very pretty. Her dark hair was wet, but was long and thick. Drops of water clung to her eyelashes and her emerald eyes shone out at him. Her damp gown clung to her, showing off her slender body and slim waist.
Her features were delicately formed, with skin just like porcelain. That's why it was so surprising when her voice rang out with anger.
"You think I meant to tip him over? I was only calling out a warning! The lake can be very deep and I didn't want him to be out there without supervision!"
Tyson's voice returned. "He was doing fine! If you hadn't distracted him, he wouldn't have tipped!"
Her beautiful green eyes flashed with anger. "Well, excuse me for being concerned when I saw him out here all alone."
"I was here!" Tyson protested.
She glared at him, hands on hips. "Then why didn't you try and help him?"
He glared back. "Because before I could, you went diving in!"
She grabbed her shawl from the rock. "What? Did you expect me to stand there and watch him drown?"
Tyson paused. She had him there. Most of the women from Frell would have probably just stood and screamed.
"I'm apologize. I didn't mean it that way," he said, taking a step towards her.
She brushed past him. "Apology not accepted."
Tyson felt the annoyance rise in him, but he tried to push it down. She had, after all, dived into the lake to save someone she didn't know, even if it had been her fault in the first place.
He turned to see the girl kneeling down beside Nolan, who was sitting against a tree, fast asleep. She felt his forehead.
"Is he going to be alright?" Tyson asked.
She nodded. "He'll be fine."
There was a moment of silence.
"I'm Tyson McConty," he asked, more to end the awkward silence than out of curiosity. "We just moved into the Bentworth manor. Nolan was just tired of unpacking, I suppose, and decided to explore a bit."
She inclined her head slightly and frowned, but didn't say anything.
"What's your name?"
She glared at him, but replied, "Alanna." Boy, she must really know how to hold a grudge!
"Is there a last name?" he pressed.
"Thetcher," she said, reaching out and straightening the coat Tyson had draped over Nolan.
Nolan began to stir. Tyson looked down to see him open his eyes.
"Ready to go home?" He asked kneeling beside his younger brother.
Nolan nodded, then looked admiringly at Alanna. "Thank you, miss."
Alanna smiled at the boy, a pretty smile, Tyson noted, which gave her sweet, little dimples.
"My name is Alanna. And you're welcome. Just make sure you don't go in the lake without someone watching you," she said, her green eyes twinkling. "I don't want to have to keep rescuing you every time you feel like a swim!"
Nolan grinned. "I won't, don't worry."
Tyson was surprised. Nolan wasn't usually this comfortable with strangers. There was just something in this girl that set the boy at ease.
Tyson helped Nolan to his feet, then reached a hand out to help Alanna. She ignored his hand and stood on her own, brushing herself off.
Tyson shrugged and retracted his hand. If she wanted to be that way, it was fine with him.
"Do you know the way to your home?" she asked him, shivering and pulling her shawl tighter around herself as the wind started up again.
"Yes, I think so."
"Well, then I'd better get going. It's nearly suppertime," Alanna said, glancing up at the setting sun.
"Goodbye Alanna!" Nolan piped up cheerfully. Tyson merely nodded as way of farewell.
Alanna shot an odd look at Tyson before smiling at the boy. "Goodbye."
And with that, she started away, leaving Tyson to stare at her departing figure. He had a feeling Alanna Thetcher would interrupt his plans for peace and quiet. But the strange thing was he didn't know if he really cared.
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So how do you guys like it so far? Please Review and tell me!!!