The Duet(25)

He plopped down across from me with enough food on his plate to feed a small group of starving grad students. He probably worked it all off on the ranch each day. I mean, I knew he did because the cowboy was fit.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, trying to make polite conversation.

“Oh, yeah. That bed in the guest room is really comfortable.”

He nodded, “That’s good. It didn’t used to be a guest room, but Jason had it done up before you arrived. I think he used to store guitars or something in that room.”

“Oh, really?” I asked.

That seemed like a thoughtful thing to do. I could have just taken the couch or something. I’m sure it would have been comfortable enough.

“Yeah, said something about ‘a pop princess’ and ‘beauty sleep’,” he answered with a little smile.

I groaned. Thoughtfulness ruined.

Derek must have picked up on my annoyance because he changed the subject. “Do you have some time after breakfast to come out and see the barn and stable? I can show you our new horse and the other animals.”

“Oh, yeah. Okay,” I smiled. I already had plans to inspect the grounds by myself later, but his option seemed better. I didn’t think Jason was even awake yet, and we hadn’t set up a time to start writing, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to peek outside with Derek.

After I’d finished my granola and yogurt, and Derek had wolfed down his food (which probably equated to three small pigs), we headed outside. I was expecting to be greeted by a brisk chill, but the blast of wind that hit me as I walked down the front path had me wrapping my arms around my chest. My damn sweater had too many holes to actually keep me warm, but it was too cute to get rid of.

Derek led the way around the side of the house, following a loose gravel path. The sounds of the animals could already be heard and I wondered if they would reach my room if I opened my windows in the morning. I could wake up to the sounds of horses and chickens. Wait, who am I kidding, I’m not that ‘one with nature’.

“So the barn is up there on the right. We have a few pigs and chickens in there,” he said, pointing to the first wooden structure. “And just beyond that is the horse stable.”

“Oh! Can we go inside the stable?” I asked, anxious to see the horses. I’d ridden once or twice as a girl, but never as an adult. It was definitely on my bucket list though. Well, riding bareback with a sexy man… then after we were done, we’d saddle up and actually go horseback riding. Hah.

“Sure. Let’s go,” he said, resting his hand on the small of my back to steer me toward the building.

The stable itself was nearly twice the size of the barn. A massive wooden door was already pushed to the side. Just beyond the entrance, the gravel path turned into a cobblestone floor. On each side there were rows of stalls, maybe eight in all. They were spacious and open on the top with black metal bars that let us peek inside to see the horses. The stable was impeccably clean, but that aroma of horses was impossible to ignore. I loved it.

“I’ve already fed them this morning, but I’ve got some sugar cubes in the office. I’ll be right back,” he said, turning and heading toward a door near the entrance, which led to what I assumed to be the office. I turned back toward the stables and crept forward hoping to get a good look at the horses. The first stall on the right was occupied by a small white horse who was sticking its nose out on top of the black bars, anxious to see who’d just entered the stable. I stepped forward tentatively and held my hand out to see if the horse would scare. It pushed its body against the door even more, trying to get to my hand. I laughed and stroked its cheek. Its mane was brushed free of tangles and it felt so soft to pet that I stood there for a few minutes rubbing back and forth before Derek came back out of the door.

“Sorry about that, I couldn’t find any. I’ll have to grab some at the store when I run into town later.”

I smiled, keeping my hand on the horse. “No worries, I think this one likes me even without the sugar cubes.”

He laughed, “That’s Dotty. She’ll love anyone who will give her a bit of attention. Don't expect the same from Jason Jr. though.”

“Aw man,” I said, suddenly feeling much less special. For a second I thought I’d been a horse whisperer.

Derek took me down the aisle of horses, introducing each one to me until we finished up at the end where there was a black horse sticking close to the back wall. I knew right away that the horse was Jasper, the Arabian gelding that Jason had told me about the night before. (Aka Jason Jr.) His coat was a deep, shiny black and his mane was just as dark and glossy. He held his head high, but didn’t make a move to greet us.