Thirty Three

By the time he glanced up again, he noticed that the shadows had lengthened and he realized in shock that it was much later than he had thought.  Quietly, he took two of the pancakes they had had for breakfast from his saddlebag and put away his sketchpad, before he gently woke her and handed one of the pancakes to her.

She was still groggy from sleep and he smiled with amusement when she obeyed him without question.  But he also felt guilty for allowing her to tire herself out so much.  Matthew handed her clothes to her and left her to put the saddlebag on the horse’s back and to lead it into the shadows of the trees.  By the time he returned leading the horse, she had dressed and started to roll up the blanket.

Tying the blanket in its place, he watched Kara out of the corner of his eye and noticed that she still looked rather tired.  He had not intended to stay out so long or allow her to push herself so hard, but she had been so excit