Page 72 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

She waited, giving him an expectant look. He glanced from her to Ella who gave him an encouraging nod. Finally, he took Ingrid’s hand in his and gave it a light kiss on the back if it. The girl blushed, her cheeks flaming. When he released her hand, a smile lit up her face.

“I can’t wait to tell Mama and Papa I met a real pirate!” And then she bounded down the gangplank ahead of them, her boots thumping with every joyful step.

“She’s a handful, that one,” Captain Bart said. “Good luck getting her home.”

Nicholas gave him a salute of farewell. Ella and Noella followed him off the ship to the dock, where Ingrid waited with Gustav and four horses.

When they paused on the dock, Noella turned to her son, her hands in fists on her hips. “You gave that pirate five hundred gold pieces?”

“It was his price and we needed to get to Ingrid,” Nicholas said, unapologetically.

She heaved a sigh and cut a glance to the girl who was currently jabbering away at Gustav while he readied the horses.

“Well, since it was for a worthy cause…”

“It was, Mother.” He kissed her cheek. “Where are you off to?”

She looked astonished. “What makes you think I’m off somewhere, hm?”

“There are only four horses,” Ella pointed out, amused.

“Ah, so there is.” She gave Ella a rueful smile. “I’m off to spread more good tidings and cheer. I’ll see you off at the castle before you leave for the village.”

Then she was gone in a cloud of glittery fairy dust.

“How many horses are at the castle? Do they all have names? What’s your favorite color?” Ingrid chattered away at Gustav, who had an exhausted look on his face.

Ella smiled. “I suppose we should give poor Gustav a break and get going.”

Nicholas watched with a bemused look on his face. “Let’s make sure she rides next to him.”

“Why is that?” Ella asked.

“So Ingrid can talk to him the whole way, of course.” He flashed a wicked grin before going to his horse and sticking his foot into the stirrup.

Ella snickered. She limped to her horse, her ankle better but still a little sore. She climbed into the saddle. Meanwhile, Gustav helped Ingrid onto her horse.

“Do you know how to ride?” he asked.

“Of course, I do!” she said.

She snapped the reins. The horse took off at a full gallop, leaving the rest of them behind.

“I think you best catch her, Gustav,” Nicholas said, amused.

Gustav muttered a curse under his breath, quickly mounted his horse and took off after the girl.

“This should be an amusing ride home,” Nicholas said, watching the disappearing form of the Captain of the Guard. He nudged his horse into a walk.

“Poor Gustav.” Ella nudged her horse with her heels falling in step with him.

“Poor Gustav nothing,” Nicholas said. “He’s getting a dose of his own medicine, I’d say.”

Gustav finally caught up to the girl. He leaned close enough to grab the reins and slow her to a trot. She blushed, giving him an adoring look as he slowed them both down. He said something to her Ella couldn’t hear and she nodded.

“Looks like he has an admirer,” she said.

“He does,” Nicholas said with a nod. His eyes landed on hers, a spark of some indefinable emotion there. “And so do you.”

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