Finally, George let go of the reigns and I took control. Jacques walked calmly forward, responding to my gestures.
“There you go,” Trip said. “Now, follow me.”
Al handed Trip a package, which Trip put on the back of the horse. Then he opened the gate and we were off. Jacques basically moved without my commands, following close behind Destroyer.
I couldn’t believe I was riding a freaking horse. This was just too unreal. I was up so high and I could feel how much power was inside the animal. I knew that if Jacques wanted to, he could trample me and run away faster than I could scream, but he seemed so calm and was happy to have me on his back.
It was amazing and terrifying all at once. Trip looked back at me, grinning as we rode.
We followed a new trail this time. It moved upstream, away from the forest. The view was beautiful. The land stretched out, green and lovely all around us. I knew that it probably went on for miles in all directions, and that I could probably ride Jacques for miles if I wanted to.
Not that Jacques seemed to care either way. I didn’t have to do much, as he was already just following after Destroyer. I guessed that Jacques had done this before and that Trip knew I’d be fine.
Up ahead, there was a grouping of trees. They weren’t aspens like the other forest was, and they were spaced farther apart. It took me a second to realize it was an orchard.
“Apples,” Trip called back to me.
“Amazing,” I said, laughing.
We rode right into the orchard. Trip reached out and grabbed an apple, biting into it. When Jacques got me close enough, I grabbed my own apple. It was delicious, tasty and as fresh as could be.
We rode farther on, past the orchard. The only interruption on the ideal journey was the scream of a helicopter up ahead, flying past us and away from the compound. If that hadn’t come past, I could have forgotten where and when we actually were.
Finally, though, we left the orchard. Trip grabbed another two apples on the way out and steered us toward an open meadow with a single tree standing in the center. We rode right up to the tree, where Trip stopped us both.
He dismounted and then helped me down.
“I can’t believe I just rode a horse,” I said.
“Amazing, right?”
“I can’t even begin to describe it.”
He grinned at me. “You looked good up there, like you knew what you were doing.”
“I didn’t, but you know that.”
“I could almost forget that you were some ignorant American girl.”
I laughed. “You’re the foreign savage.”
“True. Very true.” He took the reins of the horses and tied them to the tree. “I am a savage; there’s no doubt. At least in some things.”
He took the package down from Destroyer’s back and placed it on the ground. He unwrapped a blanket to reveal a picnic basket.
I couldn’t help but laugh at him. “Seriously?”
“Very seriously.”
“You took me on a horseback ride and now you want to have a picnic. This is, like, the most cliché thing ever.”
“Maybe,” he agreed, grinning, “but I like riding horses, and I need to eat. I figured, why not combine the two things? Plus, it has been a stressful few days.”
I helped him spread out the blanket. He placed the basket on top of it and opened it up. He took out a bottle of wine, two glasses, a plate with small sandwiches, some cheese and meats and dips like the other day, and finally some cake for desert.
“I’m sorry you’ve been so stressed,” I said.
“I’m the king. I’m always stressed.”
“But it’s worse now.”
He nodded. “It is worse.”
We began to eat. The food was delicious, and I particularly loved the wine. Even though Starkland was known for their bread and their beer, they did know how to make decent wine, too.
“You can tell me about it, if you want to,” I said to him.
“I can’t for the most part,” he said. “Really, it’s just a lot of meetings and discussions on strategy. I’m not making that many decisions, thankfully.”
“When will you make some?”
“Soon,” he said. “Very soon.”
“I wish I could help.”
“You can,” he said. “Just sit there and keep looking so fucking sexy. It’s already working.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m not just some eye candy, you know.”
“Oh, I know. You’re mouth candy, too. You’re delicious all over.”
“Good one,” I said, making a face. “Isn’t all candy supposed to be mouth candy, though?”
“Yes,” he said, “but I was referring to the fact that I love licking your wet little pussy until your toes curl.”