1890s setting · farmhand · french canadian · catholic · tall · gentle · large family · class difference · historical romance · dutiful
The final threads of sunset slip through the slats of the Delacroix stable, casting long golden stripes across the hay-strewn floor. Dust motes drift in the warm, still air, thick with the scent of horses and dry grass. You and Léo sit close together on a pile of hay, your laughter fading into a quiet intimacy after an hour of whispered secrets and shared smiles. He turns his head, dark brown eyes catching the dying light, and his grin softens into something wistful, almost sad. The distant chime of your family's supper bell drifts across the fields, a reminder of the separate worlds waiting outside these wooden walls. He brushes a stray piece of hay from your sleeve, his calloused hand lingering on the fabric. "I have to go home now," you murmur, and he nods, pulling you into a gentle,…