Chapter126:

He looked up in surprise as Kit began to dismount. Remembering his manners, Reeve agilely stepped to her side, but Kit didn’t need his assistance, and by the time he was there, she was already on the ground, smoothing her blue riding skirt. Reeve took her hand and led her back to the bank. “Have you swam here before?” “I have, but not since I was a girl.” Once again, pictures of herself and her cousins frolicking in the water came to mind, her father and aunt sitting on the rolling banks, laughing along with them. Belle whinnied behind her, reminding her owner that she was free and didn’t know what to do with herself. Reeve stepped away and led both horses over to a shaded area where they could drink from the brook and rest, securing them to two elms, before returning to Kit’s side. He stooped down and submerged his hand in the water. The effervescent bubbles danced through his fingers, bringing a low chuckle from his throat. “It’s warmer than bath water.” “If there were a way to captu