Sabrina strolled down the dirt road toward her mansion, lost in thought. So much so, in fact, that she never even heard or felt the thunder of hooves heading her way. That is, not until someone shouted "Look out!", grabbed her arm, and yanked her off the road.

She found herself wrapped in Vaughn's arms, staring up at him, flustered and bewildered. He was staring angrily toward the beach, and following his eyes, she spotted the hindquarters of a white horse vanishing around a corner up ahead. She paled slightly as she recognized the rider as her cousin.

"Dumbass!" Vaughn growled as he scowled at the retreating horseman, then he looked down at her, his violet eyes softening. "You okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

"N-no, thank you," she gasped. "I'm okay. Th-thank you for saving me—I didn't even hear him!"

"I haven't seen that jerk around here before. Have you?" Vaughn muttered as he released her.

"I-I... yes," she stammered, feeling her cheeks grow hot. "I saw him the other morning, I think."

"Hmmph. Must be that new rich boy with the fancy skiff. Well, you sure you're okay? Want me to walk you home?" Vaughn asked.

"N-no, I'm okay. Thank you," she whispered, then instantly regretted it as Vaughn tipped his hat to her and sauntered away. She watched him go, her heart still pounding, and wished she'd had the presence of mind to say yes to his offer, maybe invite him in.... She spent the remainder of the afternoon lost in daydreams of what she might have said and done, imagining herself as bolder, wittier, more entrancing than she had ever felt herself to be.

**************

"Any idea whose boat that is?" Colette asked as she cast her line.

"Nuh-uh," Denny mumbled, focused on his own line. They stood back to back on the ferry dock, fishing more for enjoyment at that hour than with the hopes of a great catch. Suddenly his line dipped and his float bobbed, and with a delighted grin, he pulled back, slowly reeling in his line, then relaxing it, then pulling it in more. "Got a big one!" he shouted, and Colette turned to look just as the tip of the rod dove toward the water, then sprang back up again.

"Damn line broke!" he groaned. He shook his head in dismay, then sighed. Turning to Colette, he said, "Anyway, no idea who owns that thing. It showed up sometime during the night a couple nights ago. First I knew of it was when I got up to fish before sunup the next morning." He picked up his gear. "Welp, guess I'm done for the day. How about you?"

Colette reeled her line in. "Yeah, I'm not really having much luck anyway. Too bad yours got away, though. Better luck next time!"

He chuckled as they started to walk back to the shore. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"Not sure. I might try my luck with the mines, or maybe I'll go for a swim."

"Sounds great," Denny replied with a slightly nervous grin. He stopped and cleared his throat, then speaking rather quickly, he asked, "Hey, wanna join me for dinner tonight? My treat!"

Colette chewed her lip as she looked at him watching her with hopeful eyes. She liked Denny, he was a lot of fun to hang out with. But nice as he was, he wasn't exactly a Prince Charming on a snow-white steed—though she wasn't sure she believed in princes anymore anyway. Besides, she didn't want to hurt Lanna.

"Thanks, Denny, but I think I'll pass. I promised Belle and Julia I'd come over this evening. But I do know someone who'd love to join you," she added as his face fell, glancing toward the nearby houses.

"Yeah? Who's that?" he replied curiously.

She grinned and turned her head, and he followed her gaze to a lone figure sitting on a rock a little ways down the beach, obviously trying hard not to stare at them.

"Lanna? Seriously? Look, Colette, I don't know why you keep trying to push me at her. She's terrific and all, but you know as well as I do that, well, she's just outta my league."

"Stop already," she exclaimed, exasperated. "Look, just try, okay? Ask her out on a date and see what happens. Or don't you like her?"

He turned bright red and looked away. "It's not that...."

Colette gave him a playful shove in Lanna's direction. "So give it a shot! What have you got to lose?"

"My pride?" he said, resisting her efforts to move him.

She laughed at that. "Then you'll be just fine—you've plenty to spare! Now go get her, Tiger! I'll even drop your fishing gear off at your house for you."

He gave up and shrugged helplessly, then shoved his hands in his pockets and started to walk off. "Hey!" she called, and he turned to look back. "Make sure you ask her out on a date! Not just to 'hang out' or whatever!"

He gave her a grin and a thumbs up, and strolled over to where Lanna sat fidgeting anxiously. She smiled at his retreating back and shook her head at his denseness, then picked up his pole and tackle box and headed over to his little cabin on the shore. The door was unlocked, so she stepped on in and dropped his gear near the door.

As she approached the bridge to Verdure Island a short while later, Lanna came running up to her, her eyes shining. "Colette! Colette! You'll never guess what just happened!"

She stopped and waited until the blonde caught up to her. "What happened?"

"Denny asked me out! On a date—a real date!" she squealed, bouncing up and down with excitement.

"Lanna, that's great! I'm so happy for you!" she said, giving her a big hug. "Where is he taking you?"

"We're going to have dinner at Nick's, and then go for a walk on the beach, and then I thought I'd see if he'd like to come in for coffee and a piece of pie after that. So I have to hurry home and make a pie! I'll talk to you later!" she exclaimed as she turned and ran toward her house.

"Tell me all about it tomorrow!" Colette called after her, then she chuckled and hurried on her way.

As she stepped off the bridge onto Verdure Island, she heard hoofbeats pounding across the bridge behind her. She quickly stepped aside, and a moment later a tall, snow-white stallion cantered past her. His rider turned off the path and reined him in, then dismounted.

"Pardon me, I didn't mean to crowd you so rudely," he said with a charming smile. She looked him over—he was a stranger to her, and a mighty handsome one at that, she thought as she returned his smile. Stylishly windblown golden hair shone in the sunlight, reaching to just past his square jaw. His white shirt was unbuttoned just far enough to expose his smooth, tanned chest, and he wore black jeans that were just tight enough. The hand he extended to her was strong yet well-manicured, and his icebblue eyes sparkled dazzlingly as he returned her gaze .

"I'm Willem," he said, and she blushed faintly as she realized she'd been staring. "But please, call me Will. All my friends do."

"I'm not a friend," she replied, raising an eyebrow as she took his hand.

"Not yet, but I very much hope you soon will be," he said as he lifted her hand to kiss it.

She snatched her hand away in irritation, though she couldn't deny feeling a thrill run down her spine.

"May I have your name, too? Or shall I try to guess it?" he said, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, and what would you choose?" she asked, curious what he'd come up with.

"Such a stunning woman as yourself surely deserves an exotic name, nothing ordinary or common," he mused, slowly looking her over. "How about Salome, or perhaps Chantal? No? Then I would think Desirée or Angèle would be excellent sobriquets—after all, there is no denying that you are an angel, and without question desirable."

Colette couldn't help laughing at his nonsensical suggestions. "No, no, nothing like any of those," she said. "My name is Nicolette, but most people simply call me Colette."

"Both are lovely, though nowhere near as lovely as their bearer," he smiled. "Now that we have introduced ourselves, you must allow me to take you to dinner. It's the least I can do after startling you so rudely."

"Oh, there's no need," she replied. "I'm fine, really. No harm done at all."

"Please, I insist. Besides, I would greatly enjoy your company."

She sighed, then smiled. "All right, then. Where do you want to go, and what time?"

"Alas, I am newly arrived and therefore unfamiliar with the village and what it has to offer. What would you suggest?"

"Well, there are two restaurants here: Nick's Diner just ahead, and the café over on Sprout Island just across the bridge. Nick's is better for dining out, as a rule, but Haila's Café is popular for lunches, dessert and coffee, and she also makes boxed meals for picnics."

"Then why don't I pick you up around six, and we'll go to Nick's? Where do you live?"

"I live on the farm across that bridge over there," she said, turning to point the way. "Could you make it seven, though? I have my evening chores to do still, and I'll want to clean up afterwards," she replied, brushing at the sand that still clung to her shorts with a laugh.

"Seven it is, then. I'll see you soon, beautiful Colette," he said with a bow, then he mounted his stallion and continued along the road as she stood watching him, thinking to herself with not a little surprise that she was actually a little excited about her date.

**************

Vaughn stopped short halfway across the bridge. There by the road ahead of him was Colette, and she was talking to that jerk with the horse from earlier—the one that nearly knocked Sabrina off the road. He was obviously putting the charm on full blast, even kissing her hand, he thought with a grimace. But then he looked at Colette, and was astonished that she seemed to be eating it up.

Even more surprising to him was how hollow that sight left him feeling.