For a moment the difficulty of holding the pair in check increased and by the time the barn was in sight the struggle had stirred her blood. It colored two little circles in her cheeks and had lighted fires of animation in her gray eyes. She saw the rising entrance to the barn and only took heed that the doors were wide open. Then she gave all her strength to guiding the rushing horses up the long incline. Just as their heads shot under the doorway the off horse shied. The front wheels of the brake bounced over the threshold and Alice saw, standing within, Robert Kimberly.
She gave an exclamation of surprise as she threw on the wheel-brake, pulled with all her strength on the reins and brought her horses to a halt. Kimberly with one hand on the casement stood perfectly still until she looked around. Then he came forward laughing. "You certainly are a capital whip."
"You frightened me nearly to death!" exclaimed Alice with a long breath. "Where, pray, did you come from?" she demanded, looking down from her eminence.
He laid a hand on the foot-board. "Really, I wonder whether there is anything you can’t do."
"I am afraid there is one thing now. I don’t see how I am going to get down. Aren’t there any men around to take the horses?"
"The horses will stand. Just hook your lines and jump from the wheel."
Alice looked at the distance in dismay. "That is easy to say."
"Not hard to do," returned Kimberly. "I’ll break your flight."
"Nonsense. You can’t tell me you’re a wretched anything after that drive."
"Step away then and I’ll jump. Only, I don’t see just how I am going to stop after I start."
"What do you want to stop for? Come ahead."
She put her foot cautiously on the wheel; it was a very pretty foot. Then she steadied herself and with her hand swept little ringlets of hair from her eyes.
She knew he was waiting to receive her and, meaning to elude him, turned at the last instant and jumped away from where he stood. Kimberly, in spite of her precaution, caught her as her feet struck the floor, and leaned an instant over her. "Beautifully done!" he exclaimed, and drawing her suddenly into his arms he kissed her.
She pushed him back with all her strength. He met her consternation with good humor. "I couldn’t help it."