Rumplestiltskin by Jenni James Read Free Book Online Page B

behave as I did.”
    He schooled his features. “Do not be. I certainly am most enlivened by your—uh—enthusiasm for life. Your distinct zest and eagerness is refreshing and definitely anything but boring.”
    She leaned down and collected a pile of straw from the floor and tossed it at him. “You sir, are no gentleman.”
    He grinned. “I know. I am a savage, remember?”
    “I do not believe I will ever be able to forget.” Her smile matched his.
    “Good. So, may we eat now?”
    Aubrynn laughed. He looked so much like a little boy, with his twinkling eyes and silly grin, there was no help for it. She simply had to laugh.

CHAPTER NINE
    AUBRYNN STOKED THE FIRE, placing another log on top and churning it to bring some more light into the room while Rumple went downstairs to raid the kitchens and find something for them to partake. He promised he did it all the time and that the cook was used to him foraging for food. And would most likely have something set aside for him.
    She bit her lip as she prodded the logs a tad more. He really was quite remarkable in his concern for her. What man would have thought she would be hungry? Who would have cared or remembered her as he did? And how did he come to be here, now out of all the times she needed him most—he suddenly appeared.
    He must be an angel. Something divine and not quite real, for who else would have thought of her first before their own needs? She knew her own father would have never done such a thing. Frankly, she had never known of a man who was as undoubtedly gentle and genuine as this Rumplestiltskin seemed to be. He could have very easily come after he had some supper of his own, but he did not—waiting first to see if she needed something.
    Her heart warmed. She folded her arms and stepped away from the fire, her eyes taking in the stark room. What would she have done without him? Looking upon the spindle, she walked over to the old instrument and sat down where he had been. Could he truly turn straw into gold? Her gaze fell to the odd piece of straw at her feet. Half gold, half straw.
    Oh, my word. He has done it!
    Quickly she fetched the thing up and twirled it about in her fingers, trying desperately to remember what he had said about attempting to create this article before she kissed him. Something about it being many tries before he was able to…perhaps.
    She looked up, her eyes focusing in on nothing particular across the room. How long had he been attempting the impossible? How long had he sat here in this room trying to achieve her feat for her? Who would do such a thing? Who would work for hours helping someone else—involving themselves with someone else’s deeds and finding a solution for them? Who would concern themselves over such things?
    After a minute of silence, it dawned on her.
    Me. She sat straighter upon the small stool. Me. I would. But, was there really someone else out there who loved as I did? Who cared about people and life and who risked their own to help someone else? Someone besides me?
    Her heart began to glow. Quite perfectly and happily within its chest—it glowed and beat and lived and breathed and all of everything good.
    Who was this man? Who was he honestly?
    She knew he wished her to think of him as rumpled and stilted, but how could she? Yes, he was crippled—distinctively so. And his features were distorted to a point, but not too badly. Were they? He was not quite so ugly as to not be considered beautiful. He sincerely was beautiful. His smile, his wit, his friendliness and ease, his laughter—they all exuded such beauty. How could one look at him and not think him wonderful?
    She had only known him a few hours, but he was perchance the greatest friend and ally she had ever made.
    He was an angel. She knew it. He had to have been. So perfect and divine and—and well, perfect.
    Needing to do something, Aubrynn stood up and set the golden straw upon the seat and then looked around the room. Seeing an old broom