GRETEL sucked a breath as she wrapped her arms around her exposed breasts. She caught the man staring at her nakedness. Her face flushed in fear and embarrassment.

“Are you looking for trouble, woman? Why do you go running around the forest… like that?” he spat. He stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.

Gretel swallowed, still unable to move. The dog appeared behind the man with her dress still in its mouth.

“That dog stole my clothes!” she said.

The man grabbed her dress from the dog’s mouth.

“Did you do that, Black?” he asked.

“Oh, no,” Gretel uttered as she stared. Her dress was torn!

The man took his jacket off and threw it on her.

“Wear that. That will make you look decent.” He slightly turned away from her.

Gretel grabbed the jacket with trembling hands. She was sure it was expensive. She had seen this type of cloth in Dory’s shop a couple of times before. She put it on as she stood up. It felt warm and pleasant.

“Your dog is so mean.”

“He’s just a dog,” he said arrogantly as he glanced at her. He looked relieved that she was finally clothed.

“Aren’t you even going to apologize for your dog’s behavior?”

Gretel stared at his face. Though he looked undeniably good-looking, he was intimidating.

He reminded her of the alpha heroes in her favorite novels. He looked like he was in his late twenties. He had thick eyebrows and a thin stubble around his mouth.

“I’m going to take your jacket as compensation for you and your dog’s behavior,” she said stubbornly.

He raised an eyebrow. Then he sighed and smirked.

“Do what you want. I mean, not everyone can afford that jacket,” he said cockily.

Gretel narrowed her eyes at him. No, she was wrong to think that he was like the alpha heroes in her favorite novels. This man was nothing but an arrogant beast.

“How can you afford an expensive jacket and not an appropriate behavior, Sir?”

“Do you know who I am?” The man closed their distance.

Gretel could not help but look up. She had never met a man who was as tall as him.

“I-I’m certainly not interested to know.” She snatched her torn clothes from his hand and walked out of the forest without looking back.

*** *** *** ***

“I WONDER if I’m foolish to think that I could meet a man who was the same as the heroes from my favorite books,” Gretel uttered with a sigh.

She was helping Dory tidy the shop since the latter’s assistant was sick.

“So, do you admit now that you were just reading too much?” Dory joked. She was busy with the papers on her table.

“Of course not,” Gretel said with a frown as she organized the clothes hanging on the rack. “You know I could never get enough of reading. It’s just that…” She sighed in frustration.

She did not sleep well last night. She could not keep the man from the forest off her mind. She still hated his guts. Nothing changed.

“Didn’t the book end as you expected?”

“Oh, no, no, Dory.” Gretel shook her head. “It was wonderful. I’m just wondering if I could have the love as great as that.” It was the truth and a lie at the same time.

She was simply disappointed with the man she met yesterday. That was all.

You can’t possibly fall for a man like that, Gretel.

“For sure you would,” Dory replied with a smile.

“I’m done here. I’ll come back this afternoon once I finish my chores.”

“You can take your time. Thanks again, Gretel. You’re the best.”

“Anytime,” Gretel replied with a sweet smile.

*** *** *** *** ***

GRETEL saw Mr. Rodman picking up scattered sweet potatoes on the ground to put them back into his cart as soon as she got out of the shop. She ran to him right away and helped him.

“Wow, these all look delicious, Mr. Rodman,” she said.

“Oh, Gretel. It’s you. Good morning,” said Mr. Rodman. “I’m going to the market today. I harvested too many sweet potatoes this month, and they could not seem to fit my cart.”

“Would you sell some to me, then?”

“You can just get as many as you want. It won’t make me broke, anyway.”

“That’s very nice of you, Mr. Rodman. Thank you so much.” Gretel pulled the hemline of her long skirt and put the sweet potatoes in it.

“Sweet potatoes make you healthy and beautiful. Here, have some more.” Mr. Rodman grabbed a handful of sweet potatoes from his cart and put it on her skirt.

“Wow. This is too much already,” Gretel said gratefully.

“Eat as many as you want. See you, Gretel.”

“Take care, Mr. Rodman.”

Mr. Rodman mounted his horse, pulling the cart. He waved at her. Gretel waited until he left. She spotted a few sweet potatoes on the ground Mr. Rodman had probably missed. She bent and picked them up.

Gretel gasped in shock as the familiar black dog appeared in front of her, carrying something in its mouth again. A bunch of fresh flowers. The dog dropped the flowers on her lap and barked.

“I-is this for me? Is this your token of apology?” she asked as if the dog would answer her.

The dog barked again.

“Your name’s Black, right?” She looked around. It was not like she was looking for his master. She still despised him. She was just curious about where he came from. “You did not steal these flowers, did you? Or else, I won’t accept it.”

Black just stared at her, sticking its tongue and wagging its tail. Now, she just realized Black was a lot kinder than his master despite their awful first meeting.

“Okay. I’ll accept this, and I forgive you. Just you, not your master.” She managed a smile and pat its head. “Thank you.” She picked up the flowers and stood up.

She was about to go on her way when she saw two people coming out of Madam Beth’s flower shop.