Chapter 10: Unforeseen Rivalries

Louis watched the countryside roll by through the train window, his worry mounting with each passing minute. Charlotte and Rosalie had been gone far too long. He glanced around the nearly empty compartment, then stood abruptly. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to find them.

Louis quickly made his way through the train cars, asking passengers if they had seen the girls. No one had. Heart pounding, he reached the end of the train and looked out. The scenery blurred past him, but there was no sign of Charlotte or Rosalie. He made a snap decision and pulled the emergency stop cord. The train screeched to a halt, and he jumped down onto the tracks, ignoring the shouts from the conductor.

His heart raced as he ran back along the tracks, scanning the embankments and calling out their names. After what felt like an eternity, he spotted a farmhouse in the distance and hurried toward it, hoping to find help.

As he approached, he saw a woman with two young children playing in the yard. The mother, Margaret, looked up in surprise at his approach.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Louis panted. "I need help. My sister and her friend fell off the train. Have you seen them?"

Margaret's eyes widened in concern. "Oh dear! No, we haven't seen anyone, but my husband, Gilbert, can help. Gilbert!" she called, motioning for her husband.

A tall, burly man emerged from the barn. "What's all the commotion?" he asked, wiping his hands on a cloth.

"This young man needs our help," Margaret explained quickly. "His sister and her friend fell off the train. We must find them."

Gilbert nodded solemnly. "Alright, let's get moving. Louis, is it? We'll help you find them."

They set off together, Louis's anxiety somewhat alleviated by the presence of Gilbert and his rifle. As they trekked along the tracks, calling out the girls' names, Louis couldn't help but appreciate the kindness of these strangers.

After an exhausting search, they finally heard faint voices ahead. Louis's heart leaped as he saw Charlotte and Rosalie, but his relief quickly turned to horror. A large brown bear was lumbering towards them.

"Stay back!" Gilbert commanded, raising his rifle. But before he could take aim, Louis grabbed the weapon.

"I have to do this," he said with determination.

He took a deep breath, aimed at the ground near the bear, and fired. The loud bang echoed through the forest, and the bear, startled, fled into the woods. Louis dropped the rifle and ran to the girls, who were shaken but unharmed.

"Louis!" Charlotte cried, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you."

Rosalie, equally relieved, murmured, "Thank you, Louis. We were so scared."

Louis hugged his sister tightly, then turned to Gilbert and Margaret. "I can't thank you enough. But we don't have any money for new train tickets."

Gilbert smiled kindly. "Don't worry about that. You can stay with us for a while. I could use some help fixing the roof, and in exchange, we'll make sure you get back on your journey."

After a brief discussion, they all agreed. The farm was cozy, and although it wasn't the Château de la Lumière, it felt safe. Louis helped Gilbert with repairs, working hard to earn their keep.

That night, they settled into their new temporary home. Louis slept in a makeshift bed in the barn, while Charlotte and Rosalie shared a room. Charlotte found it challenging to share space with Rosalie, but she was grateful they were safe.

However, as two days passed, Charlotte noticed Rosalie's behavior towards Louis became increasingly flirtatious. She would giggle at his jokes, touch his arm lightly, and find excuses to be near him. Louis, ever polite, responded kindly, but Charlotte could see how Rosalie's actions were affecting him.

One evening, after a long day of work, they all sat down for dinner. Rosalie leaned in close to Louis, her eyes sparkling as she whispered something in his ear. He chuckled, his face flushing slightly.

Charlotte felt a sharp pang of jealousy. She had always been close to Louis, and seeing Rosalie's brazen attempts to monopolize his attention made her blood boil. She forced a smile, but her heart ached.

That night, as they lay in bed, Charlotte tried to sleep, but Rosalie's actions kept replaying in her mind. Beside her, Rosalie sighed contentedly and turned towards her.

"You know, Charlotte," Rosalie murmured, "Louis is such a wonderful man. I'm so glad we're spending this time together."

Charlotte's jealousy flared. "You mean you're glad to have an audience for your little performances?"

Rosalie's eyes widened innocently. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Charlotte snapped. "You've been flirting with him non-stop since we got here."

Rosalie's expression turned coy. "Can you blame me? He's charming, handsome, and kind. Any girl would fall for him."

Charlotte clenched her fists under the covers. "He's my brother, Rosalie. This summer was supposed to be about us spending time together, not you trying to seduce him."

Rosalie's smile didn't waver. "Maybe you should have thought of that before dragging me out of the train. Besides, he doesn't seem to mind."

Charlotte turned away, tears stinging her eyes. She felt trapped, her emotions a whirlwind of jealousy, frustration, and guilt. The summer had turned into a battleground, and the farmhouse, a stage for Rosalie's shameless antics.

As she lay there, struggling with her feelings, Charlotte knew she had to find a way to reclaim her time with Louis. The days ahead would be challenging, but she was determined not to let Rosalie's advances ruin the summer. The adventure had only just begun, and despite the rocky start, she was resolved to make the best of it.