Dreams or Reality
“Well, blow me down!” Jesse Somers exclaimed, as he rode out of the livery the next morning. In the midst of folks scurrying about, trying to get to their destinations, a tall, slender woman in a pale blue dress stood out like a beacon in this otherwise dreary day. Jesse was captivated. Her body in motion was the essence of femininity, and just as he was about to get a clearer image of her face, she stopped and turned toward the muddied street. For seconds she stood in contemplation. Her dainty finger rose to the brim of her bonnet, tilting it back so as not to obstruct her view. Jesse’s brow arched when she ever so slightly lifted her skirt and began her graceful trek across the boards staggered across the mucky road. He sighed deeply. The way the bright sunrise brought out the red highlights in her long brown hair took his breath away. Unaware of anyone except this intriguing young woman, Jesse moved toward her, fully intending to get a closer look. His heart skipped several beats when the heel of her boot slid into a knot on the wood plank. She tried to wiggle it out—wavered—and lost her balance, falling face first into the sticky bed of mud.
Jesse’s forward motion was stopped by the sound of laughter. Her friends, who had already crossed safely, were greatly amused by their companion’s mucky plight. Without bothering to help her in any way, they offered to inform her teacher that she would be late and went on their way.
Appalled by their lack of concern, Jesse would have said something, but the poor young lady was failing miserably in her attempt to stand. She needed help—now.
Jesse maneuvered Shadow alongside of her, reached down, plucked the unsteady maiden off the street, and sat her across his lap. The front of her dress was heavily laden with sludge, and her face, hands, and arms were not much better. “Are you all right, Miss?”
Awed by his selfless act, Olivia nodded, as a man she could not see proceeded to wipe the muck from her face.
“If you’d like to try and open your eyes, Miss, you should be able to see a little better.”
As if the sound of his deep masculine voice was not enough to send shivers up her spine, she lifted her cumbersome lids to find herself in the arms of a fine-looking man with dark brown hair and eyes bluer than any she had ever seen. I must be dreaming, she concluded. While anything was possible—it was not probable. At a loss for articulate words, Olivia rambled apologetically.
“I can’t thank you enough, Sir. Oh my, look what I’ve done. Your clothes…they’re all soiled. I am so sorry. I’m…I’m such a klutz. Please, I beg your forgiveness.”
Jesse couldn’t believe his ears. Here she was, covered with muck, and her own condition did not bother her in the least—her concern was for him alone. “No need to apologize, Miss. I’m glad I could help. Here,” Jesse offered. Feeling somewhat flustered himself, he handed her the hanky. “Maybe this will assist you.” Had he been paying attention, he would have noticed that the amount of mud dripping from the fabric rendered it useless.
Her efforts were ineffective. When she tried to return the soiled cloth, he insisted she keep it.
“If you tell me where you live, I’d be happy to take you home, Miss…”
“You’re too kind. If you could let me off at the end of the boardwalk, I should be able to make it the rest of the way on my own. My house is just a short distance from there.” Curious, she asked, “Are you new in town, Sir?”
“Yes and no. I’ll be teaching in Frenchtown this year. I stopped overnight so I could rest up before continuing my journey.”
“I see, Mr.…”
“S. I’ve been informed that my students will call me, Mr. S.”
“Then I’ll pray for you, Mr. S, as you begin your new teaching position.” She paused for the space of several seconds. “I hope you won’t find me presumptuous in saying so, but concentrating on my studies would be nearly impossible if you were my teacher.”
Jesse, finding her straightforward honesty a complete delight, laughed aloud. “Then it’s best I’m not teaching here. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of putting a halt to your education.”
She shook her head and rolled her playful green eyes in such a way that she reminded him of Elizabeth. The memory made him smile. “Do you think there’s a chance I might capture a glimpse of the real you when I come back through town for the holiday?”
“That is a possibility. I’m sure my parents would be pleased to meet the kind gentleman who took such good care of their daughter. I must warn you though—you could be running a great risk.”
His brow furrowed. “Oh! What risk would that be?”
“For all you know I’m as ugly as a mud fence, and you’re none the wiser.”
His grin went from ear to ear. “True, but what lies beneath the surface has me captivated.”
She lowered her head, taken aback by his compliment. “A chivalrous knight tends to bring out the best in a clumsy maiden, My Lord.”
He chuckled softly. With wide-eyed curiosity, Jesse just had to know, “Tell me, Miss, how do your parents respond to a daughter with such a vivid imagination?
She shook her head. “You don’t know the half of it, Mr. S!”
“You might not surprise me as much as you think. I have three sisters. The oldest, Elizabeth, is a character like you. I’m sure the two of you would be good friends if you ever had the pleasure of knowing her.”
She cracked a muddied smile. “I am quite sure that anyone related to the daring knight, who so gallantly rescued me from the dreaded bog, would be well worth knowing.”
Again, he laughed, a deep hearty laugh.
Olivia was impressed with this kind man. In the few minutes they spent together, he had altered the way she would perceive men in the future. Surely, she mused, few men exist who would so graciously rescue a clumsy maiden from such a terrible plight. While the thought of ending this enchanted moment was nothing short of dreadful, if she allowed him to go much further she would be knee deep in the mire trying to get home. Although time spent with him might be worth it, she had an inkling that he needed to be on his way.
