Free Rescuing Rapunzel by Candice Gilmer Page B

her. “Luck, I do believe.”
    “Luck is a good thing.” She stood, her hands spread on the windowsill to either side of her. “What are you sending me today?”
    “A surprise, of course.”
    A short strand of hair around her face fluttered in the breeze. “Any hints?”
    “No.”
    “Aww.” She grinned at him. “I suppose I should let you get your arrow.”
    “I suppose so.” He lowered himself into the garden, landing with a crunch on a leafy green plant he did not recognize. “Sorry,” he called up.
    “That is all right,” she called down. “I cannot stand the taste of those.”
    This made him laugh. “Should I step on more, then?”
    She giggled. “I could tell her a wild cat stomped all over them.”
    He glanced at the crushed green plants. “Should I growl while I stomp?” He did his best imitation of a mountain lion.
    A peel of laughter exploded from her, as beautiful as her singing voice.
    “Roar, roar!” he cried, holding his foot up to stamp on another of the leafy green vegetables.
    As she laughed, she leaned her head against the window sill. “Mother would never believe it…” She stiffened, standing upright again, her posture rigid.
    “I suppose I must be careful then.” He made a point to step around the rest of the vegetables and onto the main walkway, where his arrow had fallen.
    He scooped it up. “Does your mother have a temper?” He used one hand to shield the sun from his eyes as he looked back at her.
    She leaned forward, her arms out and hands clenched together. “Yes, she does.” Her voice was not as loud as it had been. He barely heard the words.
    “She strikes you.” He did not yell, and wondered if she heard him. By her expression, he knew she had and felt like an ass for saying that aloud.
    She stared at him, not moving for what felt an eternity, before slowly nodding her head.
    Nick took a deep breath to steady himself. He had known. Of course he had, but seeing her acknowledge the fact sent a chill through his heart. He had to get her out of this tower.
    He pulled the bow off his shoulder and picked up the arrow. “I am going to shoot now.”
    “All right,” she said and ducked inside.
    This time, when his arrow flew, its track was true and hit her windowsill.
    She popped her head out. “You did it!” She grinned as she pulled the small package off the arrow.
    He stood there, mesmerized by her graceful movements as she removed the package and the grin that spread over her face. Initially his plan had been to not see her at all. Send the arrow up. Ride away. Yet he was glad he had missed the first time. He had spoken to her. He had seen her smile.
    She had been so tentative before. Perhaps because he had been up there in the tower with her? He might need to rethink his plan, maybe visit her more like this–just talking to her from the ground. She seemed much warmer to him.
    “Would you like to come up?” she asked, jarring him from his thoughts.
    “I would,” he said, “but I have to return home. I have a few things I need to take care of today.”
    It was not exactly a lie, for he always had things that needed to be done. His father had given him a few tenant farms to care for. Since Nick would eventually inherit the entire province, his father wanted him to have some experience in handling the farms. Still, there was not anything he could not delay. He could have gone up but did not want to lose any ground with Rapunzel. He would trust his instincts over his desires.
    “Oh.” If he was not mistaken, she sounded slightly sad. “Well, come back when you have time.”
    He smiled, wanting to dance at the invitation. “I will.”
    He walked to the gate and pushed it open, pausing to turn and look at her. She had already opened the package and held the raven feather, tilting it to and fro in the sunlight.
    “Good day, Rapunzel,” he called to her.
    “Good day,” she said, “and thank you.” She waved the feather.
    “You are