Raphael
The sleigh ride was over before I was ready for it to end. Maria pulled the horses to a stop in front of the barn, and I jumped down so that I could lift Lucy to the ground. When I turned around, Beth was trying to struggle down by herself, and I took advantage of the moment to wrap my hands around her waist and pull her against my body.
It felt so familiar, so right, to hold her in my arms. I loved the feel of her, the substance. She blinked up at me with those large grey eyes, and grabbed fistfuls of my jacket to balance herself. “Wow,” breathed, taking a self-conscious step away. “That was…”
“A-mazing!” Lucy filled in. She was standing beside the giant drafts. “Can I feed the horses their treats now?”
“Absolutely, if you don’t mind giving me a minute to unhitch them.” Maria
