C ourted by a Stranger

A young girl with shoulder length red hair and astonishingly blue eyes was walking her two black dogs one day. In the midst of the walking she sees a young man waiting by the woods, his black pants and white shirt looked too formal for a day like today and he seemed to be searching for something as his eyes wandered aimlessly. Then as she stared and watched him, his eyes finally found themselves on her. He smiled, and his smile seemed to wash away the sun. The girl’s shyness turned to embarrassment, as her cheeks turned blush red, for it’s not polite to stare. But the man didn’t care, his head found the ground thinking whether he should go over and greet her or he was too shy like her. He chose to greet her and as he walked towards her with his hands in his coat pockets, his eyes were all she could see. As he reached to her side he knelt to his knees as if proposing and asked,1

“My lady, I am taken back by your beauty.” His voice had an accent too far away to know where it came from. He stood back up, his chocolate eyes, those eyes had fixated on her that she found no words. Then she replied.2

“Why is such a dashing young man so fond of a girl like me? I’m just a poor girl with nothing to offer. Please don’t say such things to me, I don’t deserve them” She turned around making a swishing noise with her red dress, and started to walk away. Her dogs though had other plans, they planted their little feet’s on the ground not wanting to move; they sniffed and sniffed at the young man’s shoes.3

“I guess they want us to be together, like it’s fate or something” He stepped forward and held out his hand, as if offering himself to her. 4

“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to be straight forward, its just …” Without letting him finish she said. 5

“You don’t see me for me, you are like all the rest of them you know nothing except dawdling around pretending to love when it’s only for sex and money do you guys care about.” The man was taken back by her words even took a step back as if he was being pushed. Not knowing what to say he just stood there watching her as she twisted a strand of her hair around her finger.6

“I may be a man but I assure you I’m nothing like the rest of the men here in town. I don’t care what the girls look like I just care if she loves me or not. The money has no meaning to me except buying food and clothing. Please” He again offered his hand in an apologetic way. 7

“Please forgive me and let me walk with you, then you can see that I’m different.” The girl thought it over for a few minutes, wanting so bad to forgive, but is this man really what he said he is? All these thoughts came to her head, but then looking deep in his eyes she saw nothing more than the truth. No man could have that much passion in his eyes if he wasn’t so sure of himself. She placed her hand on his. 8

“Shall we” she said as she pulled him close. Pressing his lips on hers, they shared a kiss so warm and sweet that the girl’s leg had shot up. It was in fact a true kiss, her first real kiss. And as they walked down the road together they held each other’s hands, the dogs were excited too as they trotted down the rough pavement. It was a warm day and the clouds began to drift away, with the birds singing a soft song the man turned to the girl stopping her in her tracks. 9

“I’m sorry but I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Jacob Hardegon” The girl stared into his eyes and with a smile said, 10

“Well, the stranger does have a name” Jacob laughed.11

“And what may tell is yours, or do I have to call you Angel, for that’s what you are?” Her smile dropped as her head quickly turned away.12

“I thought you said you weren’t going to say such things?” Just realizing what he said he stepped forward and shook his head as not meaning what he said.13

“I just, that is what you are and I thought an angel should have name other then Angel…” The girl turned around, smile slowly rising. 14

“You say these things as if you mean them, but I am not an angel, I am simply Sarah and nothing more.” She turned and began walking; her dogs again stood their ground. 15

“They do want us to be together” Jacob grabbed her free hand and kissed it, and said. “Sarah, what a pretty name.” Sarah shook her head and smiled. 16

“Jacob and Sarah, what an odd paring” She gesture for him to come, and he did. “Yeah what an odd but nice paring” 17