North Mansion Part 5

            James showed her all his former beloved coves in the forest and by the river. He told her of his many adventures in the very woods they rode and promised later to show her the tree house he had built. He would have added a worried statement about if it had lasted this long, but his building skills had been fine and the help of one of his friends, it had become a sturdy place. Eleanor chose not to show her favorite spots with anticipation of eventually needing them to get away from her brother and guardian. He knew exactly why she didn’t share and he respected her privacy. She did laugh aloud as he brought her to one of his favorites, a large boulder in the middle of the river

            “I have to admit, even this has changed since last I was here.” James said, dismounting and securing the horse to a tree. “The trees have grown so much around.”

Eleanor slid down and joined him in the scramble to the top.

            “But still, on a summer afternoon with food stolen from the kitchen and a good book. This was my idea of a good time.”

            “Did someone tell you?” she asked dubious over his words

            “No, wait, tell me what?”

            “About this spot? I come down here during the warm summer afternoons with food and a good book.”

His smirk grew into a grin.

            “I guess we really are related.”

Eleanor was beginning to fall in love with her brother. He was kind and attentive, but she couldn’t help think that he held back the person he had become and of that, she was terrified.