The trail Beau had chosen skirted the lake, but he didn’t plan riding all the way around. He would break off at the midway point, travel up a gentle slope, and as they came down the backside they would catch another trail that would drop them back on to his property.
They’d only been riding a short time before the lake came into view. Though she’d been nervous at the outset, Nickie was beginning to feel completely comfortable and didn’t see the need for Beau to continue to lead her.
“You said Trixie would stick to Pepper’s side, so what’s the big deal?” she argued.
“It’s your first time on a horse, that’s the big deal,” he said firmly.
“I think you’re being overly cautious. I’m fine. Look, I’m holding the reins, see?”
Pulling Pepper to a halt he pointed to the lake.
“Instead of arguing with me, take a minute and look at what you’re missing.”
Shifting her gaze she stared out at the view and broke into a smile.
“You’re right, it’s gorgeous.”
“I’ll give up this lead rope when I think it’s time, and none of your complainin’ will change my mind. It might get you a fresh red backside though.”
“You’re so annoying,” she frowned.
“I am?” he laughed.
“Yes, I can see how things will be. If I don’t like something and complain about it, you’ll threaten to spank me.”
“Yep, that’s about the size of it, glad you figured it out,” he grinned, and giving Pepper a gentle squeeze he moved them forward.
There was a specific reason Beau was maintaining control of Trixie. The trail was designated for horses, but there were some rebellious teenage boys who had hijacked it, and had been seen tearing around on their bikes at breakneck speed; the unexpected sight could scare the bravest animal.
“I think you just look for excuses to spank cute girls,” she giggled.
“Sometimes,” he chuckled, “and sometimes they need it, like a certain someone I know.”
“Who would that be?” she asked innocently.
“Think real hard and it might come to you,” he quipped. “Tell me about your job. Won’t you have to be headin’ home soon? I mean, even if you are-”
“I don’t want to talk about my work,” she interrupted, her smiling face giving way to an irritated frown. “I’m here to get away from it.”
“Easy there, you don’t have to take my head off. It was just a simple question,” and man, you are trigger happy talkin’ about your life.
“I’m sorry Beau, it’s just not something I want to discuss.”
“Apology accepted,” he smiled. “We don’t have to talk at all. Relax, enjoy the serenity of this place, give Trixie a pat. Horses have a way of makin’ you feel better no matter what the problem is.”
Taking a deep breath she lifted her eyes back to the lake, forcing herself to shake off the irritation, then leaning forward she stroked Trixie’s neck; the lake hadn’t made her smile but patting Trixie did.
“You’re right, it’s so weird,” she remarked.
“About pattin’ the horse?”
“Yeah, I mean, it really helps. It’s like they have some kind of energy or something.”
“They do. I’m tellin’ you,” he said solemnly, “these guys have gotten me through some real tough times.”
“I believe you,” she replied, then pausing for a moment she announced, “I’m going to buy a horse. I’m going to learn how to ride and I’m going to buy a horse.”
“You are,” he chuckled, “and how are you going to learn to ride and care for a horse, and where are you going to keep it?”
“You,” she beamed. “You can teach me and I can keep it at your ranch. I’ll pay you of course.”
Beau stared at her for a minute, then began laughing so hard he had to pull up.
“What?” she demanded. “Why is that funny? Stop laughing like that!”
“It’s how you say things,” he replied, finally able to compose himself. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m real happy you’re thinkin’ this way. A horse would be great for you, hell, a horse is great for anyone.”
“So, then…?”
“Nickie, I have never met anyone who is so…I can’t think of the word? Maybe the word is entitled. You say it, so it has to be. I’m going to teach you how to ride! That’s it, Nickie has spoken. Did it ever occur to you to ask me if I’d like to teach you how to ride?”
“Why would I? You’d like to, right?”
“That’s hardly the point,” he replied raising his eyebrows, but the earnest look on her face sent him laughing again, and it was unexpectedly contagious.
“I honestly don’t see what’s so hilarious,” she grinned. “I mean, the fact that you’d like teach me is blatantly obvious. How is that amusing? Stop it! Now you’re making me laugh and I don’t even know why,” she giggled.
“You are precious,” he laughed, “come here, I need to kiss you.”
Leaning across he grabbed the back of her neck and dropped his lips lightly on hers.
“You’re right, I’d love to teach you, but not just about horses,” he said quietly.
“Cool,” she replied her eyes gazing back at him.
“I’m not sure how long you’ll think that,” he winked. “Especially when your butt’s on fire.”
The butterflies that had started with the soft kiss suddenly began to do the polka, and she felt the now familiar hot flush cross her face.
“When you say things like that…” she murmured.
“I know,” he grinned. “We’d better get movin’ or we’ll be out here all day, and Gina’s cooked us lunch.”
“Who’s Gina?” she asked as he sat back in his saddle and started moving forward.
“She’s my housekeeper, cook, laundry person-”
“Oh, so she’s your maid.”
“No, I wouldn’t call her my maid, she’s more like a…hold up,” he suddenly frowned.
“What is it.”
“Dammit. You hear that?” he asked pulling Pepper to a halt.
“Kids yelling?”
“Yep, they’re gonna come around that corner on mini-bikes, it might upset the horses,” he said urgently. “Sit up, and if Trixie starts jiggin’ don’t pull on the reins, I’ve got her. Grab her mane or the saddle horn. Reins aren’t for balance. Got it.”
“Shit! Yeah, I’ve got it,” she replied feeling a ripple of fear shiver down her spine.
“You’ll be fine,” he promised as he pulled Trixie closer to Pepper.
Beau had been staying alert, but it was the prick of Pepper’s ears that told him that something was ahead, and seconds later he’d heard the kids himself. He was confident neither horse would react too badly as the rogue kids zipped by, but he’d heard a recent story about a young woman out riding by herself who had been circled by a gang of them, terrifying both her and her mare.
If he’d been alone he would have had no qualms about jumping off Pepper to nab them, and catching the renegade teenagers had become a mission, but he couldn’t put Nickie at risk.
“Okay, here they come, remember, sit up, stay calm. Trixie can’t go anywhere, I’ve got her.”
“Shit,” Nickie repeated.
The teens appeared, laughing and joking, riding their small bikes as fast as they could, and when they saw Beau and Nickie they started whooping in an obvious effort to scare the horses.
Pepper began to react, and ignoring the teens Beau stroked his neck to settle him. A few seconds later Trixie followed suit, though Beau knew she was reacting to Pepper, not the approaching bicycles.
“Fuck, fuck,” Nickie whispered as they sped toward her.
“You’re all right, stay calm,” Beau said steadily. “They’ll be past us real quick.”
Beau was right, but they screamed and waved their hands as they whizzed by, unsettling both horses a second time.
“Damn,” he growled as he settled Pepper again. “I’m gonna find ‘em. I got a real good look at ‘em. How you doin’, Nickie? You okay?”
“Not really, kind of, I guess so.”
“You did good,” he said softly, reaching out and rubbing her arm. “Real good, and Trixie was a star. Take a deep breath, let yourself relax again.”
“Who are those bastards?” she frowned.
“I’m gonna call Tyler, he’s a buddy of mine and he’s a cop. Maybe he can get here in time to catch ‘em.”
Pulling out his phone he made the call while Nickie leaned over and stroked Trixie’s neck, telling her what a wonderful horse she was. When he dropped his phone back in his pocket he smiled across her.
“That calmed you both down,” he remarked.
“It did,” she sighed. “I love horses and I didn’t even know it.”
“Aren’t you glad I insisted on keepin’ this lead rope now?”
“Yes, Beau,” she admitted, a wry smile on her face. “You could have told me.”
“What for? Then you’d have done nothin’ but worry.”
“Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Lets move on. We’ll be leavin’ this trail soon.”
“Yes, please, I don’t want to go through that again.”
“We’ll be ridin’ up a hill, and once we’re headin’ down you can take the reins,” he said moving forward. “Trixie will know where she’s goin’. You won’t even have to steer.”
“Cool,” she grinned.
“Again with the cool,” he chuckled.
They continued their ride, and as they started up the gentle slope she looked behind her at the lake below.
“It’s gorgeous,” she remarked.
“After lunch I’m gonna drive you to Flat Top Point above the ranch and you’ll be able to see forever.”
“I’d like that, I’d like to see forever.”
“It’s an amazin’ view from up there,” he remarked. “Okay, we’ll be headin’ down in a minute. Remember what I said, look ahead.”
“Oh, right, gotcha.”
As they crested the top of the hill she could see the roof of his house in the distance.
I love it here. I love everything about this place. I have to stay here, I absolutely have to make this happen.