Page 51 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

“…what?” Her question was the smallest whisper, the bare minimum to be audible, but that was as much sound as she could get out.

“There’s no excuse for my behavior. Please don’t think I’m someone who would take advantage of a woman. I can only pray you’ll come to forgive me. I promise it won’t happen again.”

A lump formed in Briony’s throat, one that killed any attempt at responding. All she could do was gawk at him as she felt her hope, which only moments before had been soaring like a bird, suddenly plummet to its death.

Is that pain on his face? ’Tis hard to tell when he won’ meet my eyes.

“I must depart. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He had barely uttered the words before he was moving away from her, down the hill, out of sight.

Rising Temperatures

As Briony sat in her chair with her fingers over her tingling lips, she tried to get a handle on what had just happened. Something I wish with all my soul that I could forget about!

Well, most o’ my soul, at least. The part o’ me that’s reasonable. The part that can’ stop thinking about the fact that Santiago promised never to kiss me again.

But there’s a tiny part o’ me that can’ shake the joy that it happened in the first place. I know some o’ the villagers exchange a kiss or two fer a spot o’ fun, but Santiago does na seem like the sort to do that; he’s much too sincere o’ a person.

Something drew him to me and led him to reciprocate my feelings, even if ’twas just fer a moment.

Except now he regrets it.Briony tapped her lip as she mulled it over.Why would he regret it? I don’ think I did anything to make it seem like I disliked it.

Did he dislike it? He’s the one who initiated it, after all, na me. But afterward…his reaction was so strong. Almost like he kissed me against his will.

What a ridiculous thought!

Briony kicked at a nearby stone to vent her frustration.I have no experience with matters o’ the heart. They’re more difficult than anything I’ve dealt with before.

Mum did na gave me much to go on either. All she ever said was “Stay away from the lot o’ them. They’ll cause naught but ill fer you.”

Thanks, Mum. Does that mean I’m naught but ill fer you, since I’m the result o’ yer time with Da’?

And now that yer gone, I’m left with nothing. No father, no mother, and no idea what I’m doing with my life.

That lump Briony had felt earlier was still in her throat, but she shoved it back. She shoved back all the sadness, all the heartache, all the longing. She was tired of being a weeping wreck.

Ever since Santiago arrived in town, all I ever do is cry. I cried because Adaira thought Santiago and I had a chance, I cried when he and I argued, and now I’m on the verge o’ crying again.

The time fer tears is done.

Briony felt the heat first. It appeared in her fingertips, wrapping them in an angry, powerful warmth before spreading through her palms.

Within a second of her noticing this, a loud noise sounded overhead. Briony peered up only to see lightning rip the suddenly black sky in two and strike about thirty feet away from her!

Briony held out a hand, waiting for droplets to fall, but nothing came. The clouds just continued to roil and crackle like a volcano about to burst.

CRACK! Another bolt touched down, this time only fifteen feet away! A section of dirt was left charred and smoking in its wake.

Briony hurried into the safety of her home, praying that no one would be injured in the freak storm. She gripped her table just to have something to hold on to. There were a few more peals of thunder, this time further away. She stayed completely still, too afraid to even breathe.

But then, just as abruptly as the storm had arrived, all the noise stopped.

No wind.

No lightning.

No thunder.

Nothing.