AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is that something we should be worrying about right now?” Isabel hoisted herself higher. “It’s just the two of us, and this plant is really needed.”
“And how am I going to explain it to your mother when you return with a broken leg?”
“Stop worrying. It’s not going to happen. There it is!” Isabel pointed, almost losing her grip. “I can just about reach it.”
Richard saw a yellowish-green plant sticking out from between the stones. He had no idea how Isabel knew that was it, but he wasn’t up close to inspect it.
“And we can get back to the house after this?”
“Absolutely.” Isabel reached out. “Just give me a …”
There was another loud clap of thunder, which made Richard jump. Isabel gasped and wobbled, her arms flailing. Then she was falling. Richard caught her, and he ended up losing his footing, landing in the dirt and sliding down the hill before he came to a stop against a tree with Isabel wrapped in his arms, her arms wrapped around his neck. He could feel her heart beating fast against his chest, or was it his own? He wasn’t entirely sure right now.
They lay there for a moment, Richard trying to figure out how to breathe again.
“Are you ... are you all right?”
“I think so.” Isabel lowered an arm and opened her hand. “I got the plant. Now we’ve got everything we need.”
“Are you sure? There isn’t something you’ve missed?”
“That’s it.” Isabel looked up, her eyes shining. “I’ve got what I need to make that tonic. I knew I could be useful somehow.”
It was hard not to feel upbeat seeing her like this. Richard swallowed. He didn’t know what to say, and he didn’t want Isabel to climb off him. Even in the awkward position they were, having her lie on top of him felt really nice. It was worth having the tree digging into his back.
Then Richard felt water drop onto his face, followed by another. Soon, the heavens had opened, somehow getting through the canopy of leaves above their heads.
“We’re too late. The storm’s here.”
“Come with me.” Isabel rolled off him, scrambling to her feet as she went to where she had left her basket. “I know of somewhere we can take shelter until the storm moves on.”
“You don’t want to try and get back to the house? This storm could last for a while.”
“We can wait out the worst, at the very least.” Isabel held out a hand. “Come on, Richard, or are you going to sit there staring at me?”
The thought of looking at Isabel with mud and rain all over her with her flushed cheeks and bright eyes was very tempting, but the rain was getting worse. Taking her hand, Richard got to his feet, and then he found himself slipping down the slope as Isabel tugged him after her. They reached flat ground, and Isabel led him along a path they hadn’t gone down, turning into a leafy avenue. Then Richard saw the stones coming out of the ground, built into a makeshift shelter and looking like it had seen better days.
“I’d forgotten this was here.”
“That’s what happens when you don’t come around for four years.” Isabel tugged him into the shelter. “This should keep the worst of the storm away until it eases off.”
“We should have gone back ages ago.”
Isabel snorted.
“I wasn’t going anywhere until I had everything. This is needed, Richard.”
“I know, but not at the expense of your own life.”
“I wasn’t going to get hurt.”
Richard threw up his hands.
“Unbelievable. You could have broken your leg or your neck. And if you were out here alone, nobody would have found you until it was too late.”
“Don’t speak about it like that.”
“How do you want me to speak about it? Like the world is a basket of roses, and bad things are never going to happen?” Richard slumped onto a makeshift stone seat. It was very cold. “You’re meant to be a young lady now, Isabel. You shouldn’t be climbing in your current attire, and you certainly shouldn’t be taking risks like this.”
