Chapter Text
Maysilee donner could not stand the summertime. while most girls enjoyed it, being able to wear their finest silks and dresses. walking along their gardens in the sun while the birds chipped ; maysilee hated it all.
Every summer, her family would make their way to their summer home across the state and maysilee would be forced to stay there the entire time. That meant only going through the garden or the back patio. She couldn't go into town or barley outside the front door without her mother scolding her
“The town is no place for a young lady like you!” her mother would scold. maysilee wasn't always upset, she had her sister of course, but that company got old eventually.
as the carriage trotted against the dirt road, maysilee rested her hand on her face and glanced out the window. The only thing she could see were the lush green trees and fields alongside the summer sky that had sporadic fluffy white clouds.
“maysilee?” a voice chimed. maysilee looked over towards her sister Merrilee, whose hands were neatly folded in her lap.
“Huh? what?” said maysilee.
“I was asking if you had heard me?”
“oh no I didn't,” maysilee said as she straightened herself up. “what was it?”
“I was asking if you were excited for the summer?”
maysilee sighed as she folded her arms across her chest. Merilee raised a brow.
“I'm taking that as a no?”
“there's nothing to be excited about!” maysilee said with a groan. “I mean every year we come here, just us two! mother and father don't even let us invite over a friend so it's just us being stuck here!”
Merilee gave an awkward shrug.
“But they get to go out all they want, seeing plays and meeting with old friends. I mean for chirst sake—when's the last time we went to the market?”
Merilee was quiet.
“Exactly.”
“Maybe it'll be different this year,” merilee said with a small smile. “I mean we both are 16, maybe mother will give us some freedom.”
Maysilee shook her head with a sigh.
.ᐟ
The carriage came to a halt as it pulled into the front entrance of Donner family summer home. It was about medium size compared to their main estate. cream white walls with off grey roofing. alongside the house laid a dozen bushes of hollyhocks and roses.
big lush green bushes were perfectly trimmed into circles in front of the house. as much as maysilee didn't always enjoy being her, she did like the look of the house, the flowers especially.
maysilee watched as a figure came round the side, opening the door, merilee moved first, the figure helping her out. masyilee followed her sister out of the carriage, grabbing hold of the side. As she made her way down, her right foot slipped slightly. She felt her body fall forward,
maysilee stumbled forward but thankfully caught herself—no, someone caught her. maysilee blinked for a moment, before she turned her head to see a boy?
He was looking at her, eyes wide as he held her slightly above the ground. The two were silent for a moment before the boy set maysilee down gently to the floor.
“Sorry about that ma'am,” he murmured. “are you…okay? you almost fell.”
maysilee blinked again, now trying to take the boy in. She hadn't seen him before, not an ounce of familiarity. He looked younger, olive skin and black hair that was hidden underneath a dark brown cap. He was wearing a dusty looking jacket and trousers with a beige worn shirt—and boots.
“I'm fine.” Maysilee suddenly as she dusted herself off. “Thank you.”
and before the boy could say anything, maysilee walked forward. her sister was standing off to the side, a bit of shocked look on her face as she made her to maysilee’s side.
“What's with that look?” maysilee said with a raised brow.
“did you not just see what I saw?” merilee said with a chuckle.
“uhm some boy helping me from falling face first?”
“well yes–but it's the way he did it! it was something out of a fairytale!” Merilee said. “You should've seen it.”
“I mean I did. Just from a different perspective.”
.ᐟ
“There you two are!” Said Ms Donner as the two entered the estate. They looked similar to their mother in many ways. Fair skin , blonde hair, similar eye shapes. But their mother had more hazel-esque eyes and her hair tended to be a bit shorter than theirs.
“How was the ride over?” Their mother asked as she smiled.
“It was boring.” Maysilee said. “Same trees and fields we've seen every year.”
“Maysilee.” Her mother said, her time slightly sharp. maysilee sighed, her mother never enough being like that.
“A boy saved maysilee today” merilee chimed in. Maysilee immediately whipped her head towards her sister, giving her a look.
“A boy? What boy?” Their mother asked.
“The boy who helped us out of the carriage just a bit ago. Maysilee slipped and he swooped in like a prince to save her!” Merilee said. Maysilee was still looking at her wide eyed—she honestly was going to ring her neck for this.
Their mother chuckled, “Ah, you mean the new stable boy!”
Maysilee now turned towards her mother. “New? What happened to the old one?”
“Who knows? Your father said the old stable boy kept sneaking off during hours so he hired a new one, Wyatt Callow is his name I think. His family is from the town.”
Maysilee nodded. A boy from town was their new stable boy—huh.
“I doubt you'll see him much, he's awfully quiet and gets his work done quite fast. He's usually gone by mid day according to your father.” their mother said as she turned her head towards the clock on the wall. She perked up and hurried across the house before grabbing a small purse.
“Sorry to cut our conversation short girls, I've got plans to see Mrs March this afternoon. Will you two be okay in the house by yourselves?”
Both girls nodded. Their mother smiled before placing kisses on top of both their heads.
“Okay then! Be back soon girls!”
and with that, Ms Donner was off as she headed outside, closing the door behind her. Now the house was quiet, maysilee had no idea where her father was.
He was probably off with work or his own things. Maysilee sighed as she made her way upstairs towards her room.
The upstairs part of the house was a bit smaller but just as nice as the downstairs. floral wallpaper along the walls as paintings and framed photos hung against the way. white curtains hung above the windows as a slight breeze blew through. Maysilee turned towards the end of the hall and headed into her room.
It wasn't much, a simple lilac colored bed with a white bedside table. The same white curtains like the ones in the hall, in the corner stood an oak wood closet off to the side and a small white vanity. Maysilee sighed as she crossed over to her bed and flopped onto it.
.ᐟ
it had been a few hours since maysilee had gotten to the estate and she was already bored out of her mind.
Unlike her sister who often entertained herself with books and other things, maysilee often got bored of it quickly. She lifted herself from her bed and decided she needed to go for a walk around the garden, maybe the outside air would do her some good. She made her way downstairs and out the back door of the house, which led out to the garden.
It was lush and green, bushes and shrubs lined around the edges as flower bushes sat next to them. From afar, you could see the few stables.
For the girl's 14th birthday, Mr Donner had bought them two horses. While maysilee liked her horse, she always found the gift a little…extravagant.
maybe she should go see her horse, it had been some time. maysilee crossed through the garden, occasionally running her hands along the bushes and flowers.
After a few moments, she had made it over to the stables and to her surprise, someone else was there. Dark brown cap, dusty jacket, those boots.
it was the boy from before.
wyatt callow according to her mother.
maysilee stood there for a moment, this wyatt boy seemed to be focused on her horse. Grooming its mane with a brush and he quietly hummed a tune. It took a few seconds before he turned around to see maysilee standing there.
She watched as he jumped a bit, looking at her with the same wide eyes as before.
“Hello.” He said.
“Hello.” Maysilee replied, glancing towards her horse. “Seems you are tending to my horse.”
“I mean, it's my job so…” Wyatt trailed off. “Did you want to ride her, I can finish up.”
Maysilee shook her head. She wasn't the biggest fan of riding, she liked to walk around with her through the garden.
“I was just coming to see her, it's been awhile.” Maysilee said, turning towards her house with a small smile. She gave it a few small pets on its neck before looking over at Wyatt.
“You must be the new stable boy.”
Wyatt nodded his head.
“Must be nice out here.”
“Not really. It's hot, and the constant smell of horse manure doesn't help either.” Wyatt said with a shrug. Maysilee gave a stiff chuckle as she looked over at him.
“My name is Maysilee.”
“I know—i mean like I know cuz of your father and everything.” Wyatt said. Maysilee gave another chuckle. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by shouting.
“Maysilee!”
Her head turned to see her sister making her way over to her. After a few moments, she had finally made it and was out of breath.
“There you are!” Merrilee said with a few pants. “I was looking for you.”
“I didn't go far.” Maysilee said as she raised a brow.
“Thankfully, mother is home and wanted us to meet Mrs March and her daughter!” Merrilee said. Before maysilee could protest, she felt herself get pulled forward and towards the house.
She turned back to see Wyatt standing there and for a moment, the two were looking at eachother before Wyatt gave a small wave
Which Maysilee returned.