AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I think the horse is a perfect creature. They have grace and power, but when you really spend time with them, you also get to know their gentleness, their humor, their affection."
Her face lights up as she continues.
"It's amazing how beautifully they can communicate if you're willing to listen. They're not just transportation, they're companions. Friends. Family."
The sparkle in her eyes as she talks about horses draws me back in. My own love for horses – their strength, their grace, their spirit – has always been a driving force in my life.
I find myself nodding along, my heart resonating with each word she says.
"Absolutely.” I can hear the passion in my voice echoing hers. "They're more than just animals. They're partners in every sense of the word. They sense what you feel and respond to your thoughts. With them, it's not about dominance. It's about trust, respect, and mutual understanding."
We spend the next hour bonding over our mutual appreciation for these majestic creatures. I tell her stories of riding through the woods of my homeland. She tells me how she helped nurse a sick colt back to health.
She suddenly glances up at the sun and sighs. "Look at the time. It's almost noon," she remarks. "I have other animals to check on back at my own ranch." Her words are light, her smile still firmly in place, but I can sense regret in her tone.
Reluctantly, I push myself back up to my feet. "I owe you an apology. I did not make a great first impression. I was..." I pause, looking for a diplomatic word. "I was brusque. I feel perhaps we should start again."
I reach down my hand.
"Hello. My name is Alex Vanecourt."
She extends her hand towards me, her smile genuine and warm. "Pleased to meet you," she purrs. I help her to her feet. "My name is Isabella Sanchez. But most people call me Bella."
"Bella," I repeat softly. The name dances on my tongue. "Welcome to my ranch, Bella."
With the sun high above us, we decide it's time to head back up the trail. Bella and I mount up and guide Maximus and Water away from the river.
I turn to her, offering a gentlemanly nod. "I'd be honored to accompany you and Water back to your ranch before I return to mine," I propose, my voice warm. She flashes me a delighted smile and nods in agreement. Gently, we guide our horses to a soft trot, side by side.
I ask Bella to tell me more about life on the ranch. "It's quiet, peaceful. You learn to appreciate the small things. You learn how to rely on people. And how to rely on yourself.
She turns to me, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"It's a simple life. But when you see an animal grow and thrive under your care, that gives you a sense of accomplishment like no other." As I listen to Bella's stories, a part of me yearns for the tranquil life she describes.
Just as the stables come into view, a sudden clamor breaks the serenity, like a clatter of snare drums or fallen armor.
We turn our heads sharply toward the source of the sound. An older woman stands with pots and utensils surrounding her on the stone steps near the side door of the main house. She stares at me as if she's seen a ghost.
"Francis?" the woman squints. Her eyes slowly grow wide with recognition. "Is that you, Francis?"
Bella looks at me and then back at the woman. "Who's Francis?"
I slide down from the saddle. "Francis is my uncle. Everyone says I look more like him than my own father." I take a deep breath, knowing that what I'm about to say will change everything. "But I am the son of the late Prince Ronaldi, who was the brother of King Francis of Solvaria. I am Prince Alex Vanecourt."
Isabella comes down from her horse, a look of befuddlement firmly set across her face. "Hold on. Who?"
8
ISABELLA
Ishould have known,I tell myself. All the clues were there. The accent, the fancy riding clothes, the posture.
"You're a prince?"
Alex nods solemnly. "I am. And I'm here on special request from the King."
I can't help but feel a flutter of disappointment. The morning had held so much promise. Now, to learn that Alex had been keeping something this big a secret is like a punch in the gut.
