Page 9 of Crimson Born

It was the kind of thing I would have done for my younger siblings without a second thought. Being the oldest daughter, I’d been bathing them and combing their hair for years.

But as soon as I touched him, I realized this was different. Reece’s hair felt amazing, not coarse at all, but as soft and sleek as my horse Esther’s coat.

Being close like this, I could smell the woodsy fragrance of Reece’s shampoo or bodywash or whatever it was he’d used that smelled so fresh and enticing.

And I was struck by a sense of unreality. I’d never touched even my closest male friends in such an intimate manner.

What on earth am I doing?

Rather than answer my own question or stop, I continued to sift through his hair.

Reece didn’t seem to mind. His face relaxed. His breaths became slow and even. The sounds of the party nearby faded until it felt like we were the only two people there. I was almost sad when the task was finished.

“Okay, all set,” I wheezed, surprisingly out of breath.

Reece opened his eyes and shifted upward, propping himself on one elbow and meeting my gaze straight on.

The icy blue eyes were almost otherworldly looking now, the combination of the moonlight and the bonfire in the distance making them glow in a way that was mesmerizing.

“Thanks,” he whispered.

His breath on my face was hot, scented with mint chewing gum and a hint of cherry cola, and I was possessed by a sudden wild thought.

What would it be like to kiss him?

“Abigail?” A new voice entered the conversation. Josiah’s voice. “Abigail, is that you?”

Moving quickly, I slid from the hood of Reece’s car, my boots stumbling on the uneven ground. For no reason at all, I straightened the top of my dress and smoothed the skirts.

“Hi. Yes. It’s me. What are you doing?”

Josiah’s penetrating stare moved from me to Reece then back to me. “Looking for you. What areyoudoing?”

“Nothing. Talking. To Reece. Reece, this is my friend Josiah. Josiah, this is Reece...” My face heated in mortification. “I don’t actually know your last name.”

Reece got off the car and planted his feet on the ground, rising to his full height—which was considerably more than Josiah’s. He stretched out a hand toward my friend, though his facial expression didn’t match the friendly gesture.

“Reece Hendrix. Nice to meet you Josiah.”

Josiah gripped his hand for the briefest moment then turned to me. “It’s time to go. Hannah and Aaron are already at the buggy.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I looked back at Reece, feeling suddenly bereft. This was it. The unexpected magical night was ending.

“Well, goodbye then. It was... nice meeting you.”

And then I fell into step with Josiah, heading for the buggy where Aaron and Hannah stood waiting. She’d already changed back into her dress and apron, the picture of Amish propriety.

“Wait.”

I turned around to see Reece had followed us.

“Do you want to maybe go for a ride or something?” He held his hands out in front of him. “Justdrive around—that’s all, I promise. I just... I’m not ready to say goodnight.”

My heart leapt then sank just as quickly. I stepped away from Josiah and spoke quietly to Reece.

“I can’t. I... have to go. My friends... you understand. And I’m sure it’s late. I don’t even know what time it is. My parents will be worried.”

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