The ranch was further from the hotel than she’d imagined, and the house and barn were set at the end of a long, gravel driveway, flanked on either side by white fenced paddocks. As they rolled to a stop she saw two horses standing with their saddles on; one grey, the other brown and white. They were relaxed, their eyes half-closed, almost asleep.
“Oh, wow, I’m so excited,” she exclaimed. “Which one is Trixie?”
“Trixie’s the paint,” he replied.
“The paint?”
“The one that’s not grey,” he grinned.
“Oh, that makes sense, I can see why a horse with those patchy colors would be called a paint horse. Cool. Can I go over there?”
“You don’t wanna drop your bag inside first?”
“No, Beau, please, I’ve never even touched a horse, I’m dying to.”
Her enthusiasm was bubbling over, and her face was lit up like a little girl on Christmas morning.
“Well, sure, come on, I’ll introduce you.”
As they climbed from the truck and started forward, both Pepper and Trixie pricked up their ears and turned to look at them.
“Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe this,” she giggled. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”
He stared down at her glowing smile; she seemed like a totally different person to the bitchy, demanding woman he’d first met.
“You’re welcome,” he grinned. “I’m really glad this is making you so happy.”
“Wow,” she breathed as they reached Trixie’s side, “she’s so beautiful.”
“You can pet her, just run your hand down her neck.”
“She’s so soft,” she whispered. “Beau, I feel all…weird.”
“Weird, how?”
“You’ll think I’m an idiot.”
“No, of course I won’t,” he reassured her.
“I just felt, I feel, this thing,” she breathed moving closer to the horse and continuing to stroke her. “This, emotional thing. It’s crazy.”
She lifted her eyes and he could see it; they were sparkling up at him, almost teary.
“Hey, what is it?” he asked putting an arm around her.
“I have no idea,” she replied, “none. Maybe, happiness? I don’t know, I just feel wonderful.”
“That’s a good thing,” he said softly. “Let’s get you on board.”
“Really? Right now?”
“Sure, unless you’d don’t feel like you’re ready, or sitting on a saddle might be a bit uncomfortable,” he winked.
“Stop it,” she retorted. “I’m totally ready, yes, definitely. I’m just sooo excited.”
“Stay there for a minute, I’m gonna get you a helmet.”
She watched him disappear into the barn, then leaning forward she began to pet Trixie, talking to her softly.
“You are so beautiful. Why haven’t I done this before? This is so amazing? Of course in the city it wouldn’t be like this, all the trees, the quiet.”
“Let’s try this on you,” Beau said as he reappeared.
“It’s not very, uh, it looks kind of dorky. Are you sure I need it? I mean, we’ll only be walking, right? What can happen if we’re walking?”
“This thing is goin’ on your head,” he said firmly. “No arguments.”
“But it’s so dorky,” she repeated.
“You wanna go on this ride, you wear the hat.”
“Fine,” she sighed. “I’m so happy right now I don’t really care,” and taking it from his hands she pulled it over her head.
“That looks good,” he remarked, “I thought it would fit. Let’s just close this strap under your chin.
As he moved closer and placed his fingers on the ends of the plastic snaps, he could smell her sweet scent, and his eyes fell on her lips; the pink moistness beckoned him, and on an impulse he leaned in and softly touched his mouth to hers.
Nickie felt a bolt of sexual energy; her butterflies began to dance, and as she pressed her body against him she moved her arms up to encircle his neck, letting herself respond with absolute abandon. She could feel his need rising up against her, and when he finally broke the kiss she smiled up at him.
“Are you pleased to see me or is that a cellphone in your pocket?”
“Damn, girl,” he breathed. “We’d better get you on that horse before we end up on a heap of straw in that barn.”
“What if, I were to, uh…”
“What?” he frowned wanting to kiss her again.
“What if I were to say, fuck, let’s do it.”
“Those are fightin’ words, Missy,” he chuckled. “That might’ve worked last night, but next time you provoke me you might not like the response quite so much.”
The dancing butterflies exploded into a frenzy, and she took a deep breath, gazing at the twinkle in his eye.
“Um, I’m not sure what to say to that.”
“So let’s move Trixie over to the mounting block,” he replied.
Trying to persuade his cock to go back to sleep, he moved away and picked up the reins looped over the hitching post.
Nickie let out a long sigh, and as Beau led Trixie the short distance across the yard she shook herself out of her minor stupor and hurried to catch up.
“Should I get on top of this thing?” she asked standing by the steps of the mounting block.
“Sure, go ahead.”
As she climbed up he couldn’t help but admire the sight of her curvaceous cheeks in the tight, stretch jeans, and the view didn’t help the need in his pants.
“I’ve adjusted the stirrups, I think they should be about right,” he remarked doing this best not to look, “just put your foot in, swing your leg over, and sit down gently.”
“I’m so nervous, she won’t move or anything, right?”
“Nope, she’s on tranquilizers and I’m holdin’ her.”
“Really? You’ve doped her?” she exclaimed.
“Good lord, no, I was just kiddin’. I mean she’s super mellow.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
“Nickie, get on,” he said shaking his head. You may look like Nickie, but right there, that was Nicole!
She gingerly held on to the saddle horn, put her foot in the stirrup, and hoisted herself into place.
“Oh, my gosh, that was so easy. Wow, it’s cool up here. I like it.”
“Good, now just hold the reins like this,” he explained taking her fingers and placing them around the leather straps. “It’s just like you’ve probably heard. If you want to turn right, pull right, left, pull left, you wanna stop, just give a tug backwards with both reins and say ho. I’m gonna lead you back over to Pepper, that’s my horse. All we’ll be doin’ is walkin’ and Trixie will be glued to Pepper’s side so you won’t have to worry about steerin’, but you should at least know that little bit.”
”Beau, I’m loving this, every second. What a sweet horse,” she purred leaning forward and patting Trixie’s neck.
“Okay, I’m gonna lead her now. Sit up straight and relax.”
As Beau began moving slowly away from the mounting block, Nickie let out a long, deep breath and felt confident enough to lift her eyes and take in her surroundings. Beau’s house was a two-story mountain style A-Frame, and looked like something she’d seen in travelogues advertising the mountains in Switzerland.
“Your home is gorgeous,” she sighed. “It looks like it belongs here, surrounded by all the pine trees and paddocks.”
“Thanks, look where you’re goin’ though. When you’re on a horse you always wanna look ahead. Your body and eye-line will tell the horse where you wanna go. Hold on to this for a second.”
“Okay,” she smiled taking the strap with which he’d been leading her. “This is so much fun.”
Pulling Pepper’s reins from the post he swung himself into the saddle, then shifting his horse next to Trixie he reached across and took back the lead rope.
“You’ve got your reins if you need them, but I’ll be leadin’ you along until you feel comfortable.”
“Like training wheels,” she sighed.
“Yep, like trainin’ wheels. You ready?”
“I am, but I don’t think you need to. I feel really good.”
“Just for a little while,” he smiled.
As they headed off, Beau brought Trixie close to his horse’s side.
“You look good,” he grinned, and I sure wish I could think about somethin’ other than havin’ you naked in my bed.
“I feel amazing,” she exclaimed, and as much as I’m loving this, I can’t wait to be naked with you. I hope you don’t make me wait until tonight, I don’t think I could stand it.