Free Autumn by Lisa Ann Brown Page B

motion.
                  Just admit it, Arabel admonished herself mentally in a faintly mocking and self-deprecating tone, you really just want to see him!
                  Sadly, Arabel realized she would no longer be able to make fun of Shelaine and her crushes in quite the same way anymore, seeing as she was now rendered and reduced to the same giddy state as her friend. For the first time ever, Arabel was now just as open to ridicule and the amusement of good natured teasing over a boy, so she would make sure she was more tolerant of Shelaine’s infatuations in future. 
                  Arabel hummed to herself and strode briskly ahead in the cool morning air. Across the fields, she could see the last of the autumn leaves as they blew off of the trees, leaving the branches naked and unadorned, whilst the leaves gaily swirled and frolicked in the chill wind. Free at last, the red, orange and yellow leaves scattered and waltzed gleefully, their frantic merriment the only bright spot in the unrelenting grey of Arabel’s walk in the rain.
                  Above Arabel’s head, a crow circled. It let out a raucous cry of greeting and Arabel whipped her head up to see it. Her black hood fell back with the movement and the rain slicked her face. The crow swooped Arabel’s head playfully, tousling her hair with its claws. Arabel laughed, glad of the bird’s attentions. She wondered if it was the same bird from the night before. There was really no way to tell, as most crows had that same naughty gleam in their eyes and their voices all resonated with the same sandpapered and gravelly tone.
                  Caw! Caw! Caw! the bird cried out again, and Arabel swore it was saying “Yes, it’s me!”
                  “Alright, it’s you, I get it,” Arabel laughed, and the bird dropped down to land noisily upon her shoulder. The crow leaned in toward Arabel’s face and made the small cooing noises again as it rubbed its beak on her ear. Arabel brushed her fingers over the bird’s slick black feathers and counted herself a very lucky girl indeed to have such a friend accompanying her on this adventure.
                  When she reached Murphy Estates, Arabel quickly moved up the drive to the front door to ring for Shelaine. When the door was opened, however, Arabel was informed by a parlour maid that Miss Shelaine had taken ill in the night and was not able to receive visitors. Arabel asked for her well-wishes to be sent to Shelaine and then retraced her steps back down the long drive to the stables. The crow remained fixed upon her shoulder, its weight a happy burden Arabel was only too glad to bear.
                  A great deal of movement was going on at the stables. The stable master was supervising the exercise schedule for the horses and the beasts were being moved out into the paddock in groups of two apiece. Four stable boys helped with the manoeuvres but Eli was not one of them. Arabel slipped inside the stable to seek him out. The crow flew off her shoulder and perched on a gable overtop the stable doors. Arabel hoped it would wait for her; she had the feeling it would.
                  It was warm inside the stable and the flurry of activity continued here as well. Horses neighed and whinnied at Arabel as she passed, each looking for carrots or lumps of sugar. Or just a friendly pat from someone. 
                  Arabel spied Whipsie ensconced in a nearby stall and moved to greet her immediately. Whipsie turned her great soulful eyes upon Arabel and let out a cheerful little whinny of friendly recognition.
                  “Someone wants to escape the stables today,” a voice whispered in Arabel’s ear.
                  Arabel turned to see Eli grinning at her, in his hands a pitchfork, bits of straw hanging off of it.
                  “Hello, Eli,” Arabel