Animal Heart(7)
Her relationships usually fizzled out after a few dates, due to lack of enthusiasm on her part. They were all so fucking wet and boring. Or was it her fault? Maybe she was too fussy or looking for someone who didn't exist except in her mind? She sighed to herself and put her foot down on the gas, overtaking a gigantic ugly truck that was spoiling her panoramic view ahead. She turned on the radio and Taylor Swift belted out loudly. She sang along to 'Trouble' enthusiastically at the top of her lungs, and smiled deep down inside herself at the lyrics of the song.
Mmmmm, a bad man. A really hot bad man. A steamy animal affair. Now wouldn't that be something else?
The journey shouldn't take that long. Normally about two hours to the lower parts of the Rockies, then maybe an hour into the mountains from there. As she took a large sip of her coffee, her eyes were drawn to the sky. Clouds were gathering in the distance ahead. Hopefully it wouldn't rain. She wanted to get there before a torrential downpour made it difficult to see. Her GPS was set with the details of the ranch, but these places tended to be fairly remote, and the roads were never the best and could be treacherous in bad weather. Especially in a car like hers, that was about as well suited to the rugged outdoors as a frilly lace dress.
* * *
It was after four in the afternoon as she drove along the road towards the Ranch, slow and cautiously. Her foot was barely touching the gas. Ever since she'd turned off the highway, the road had been getting narrower, bumpier, and extremely muddy after the earlier downpour. She'd long ago left behind any noticeable signs of civilisation. The few houses and cabins she'd passed on this undulating hilly road, after leaving Heart town, were miles back now. She sighed as she looked at the GPS. Another two miles of this crap to go. The barely readable ancient road sign she was approaching indicated a sharp bend ahead and she slowed even more. She wasn't normally a nervous driver at all, but that was on a nice firm road, with blacktop and white lines and things, not this army assault course she'd found herself on now. To her delight, the road opened up beautifully wide after the bend from hell and it started to descend the hill. In the distance she could see a clearing. Small buildings with smoke arising from one of them, and a few vehicles dotted around. Then it all disappeared as she descended below the tree line.
In three minutes she was pulling into the ranch itself, with a sense of pure joy cascading over her whole being.
What a beautiful spot this was. Five days of peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere. What more could a stressed out TV advertising girl want?
She parked up next to a few other cars in the designated guest parking area and got out, quickly putting on her short black leather jacket afterwards as she found it to be quite chilly. September days could be warm and beautiful in the Rockies, but the evenings and nights were often cold. Leaving her suitcase in the car, she set off for a quick nose around.
Her ears picked up at the sound of horses, and she walked towards it, passing what was obviously the main ranch house, where she would likely be staying, and off to the left through an open metal gate. A dozen stables were arranged in a right angle. She approached the first with anticipation and a large, stunning white head appeared through it, dwarfing her own. She patted the horse's nose and made a series of clicking sounds with her tongue.
“You're a real stunner, aren't you? I'm in love already.” She read the name above the stable door.
Storm.... How beautiful...
“Boy, do I want to get a saddle on you,” she sighed, and then laughed as he hung his neck heavily over her shoulder, snorting and snuffling down her back. “Very friendly, aren't you Storm?”
“A fine horse, isn't he?” A deep voice came from behind and startled her. She turned.
“Yeah, and I'd love to... ride... him...” her voice trailed off, and her breath caught in her throat, as she took in the sight before her.
She'd put him at thirty, give or take. He had thick longish dark hair, swept back messily as if he'd run his fingers through it dozens of times. And beautiful piercing blue eyes, in fact she'd never seen a brighter blue than his. His tough looking but handsome head sat above such a tall and powerfully built body, it made her legs feel weak. Her stomach did a little somersault, and then another... She pulled herself together and tried to stop gawking so obviously.
Oh come on... I'm acting like I've never seen a good looking man before!
He came closer and stood on the other side of Storm's big head, stroking his long nose, and staring at her in a very direct manner, his blue sapphires blazing hypnotically into hers.
“Storm belongs to me. He's unpredictable and needs a strong hand. For that reason I don't let clients ride him.” His deep voice rumbled right through her like an earthquake. Could a voice be more sexy? Could he? She forced her tongue into action.