Chapter Twelve

The morning was cool and bright, perfect for riding, and Jon slowly relaxed on Drummer’s back, no longer so conscious of the fact he was pressed hard against the back of a virtual stranger. A stranger whose voice and spirit touched something inside him, somehow, making him feel like the guy he used to be, back before the whirlwind took him. Billie seemed perfectly happy at his arms around her waist, and they rode in companionable silence, only occasionally broken as Billie would point out something of interest.

Jon was amazed by her attention to their surroundings, as she’d point out a bird or small animal that he hadn’t even seen, but as they rode on, his own senses became more attuned to the area around them, and he began to notice tiny things he’d have never seen before. Silly little things like the occasional patch of brightly colored flowers brightening a cactus. Things that he’d usually have ignored but that now seemed rare and precious.

Finally, Billie guided Drum along a track through a dense stand of trees, emerging into a wide meadow, and she took him across to a stream before halting.

“We’ll give him a break here.” She turned to speak to Jon. “Harder than usual for him, with two up.”

“Okay.” Jon replied instantly, waiting to see just how dismounting would work out.

Billie let go of Drummer’s reins, and his head dropped to the grass, leaving her space to swing her right leg over his neck, sliding to the ground. Once she was out of the way, Jon just leaned forward and dismounted the traditional way, landing briefly on his feet before hitting his butt in the long grass.

“Shit!” He yelped.

Even though he’d been riding a bike for weeks now, the far wider body of the horse had left his legs shaky and weak, and he looked up at Billie, seeing her laughing. As he started to laugh too, it flashed through his mind that, a few weeks ago, if this had happened and she had laughed, he’d have thrown a tantrum, but now all he could see was the funny side, and he was still laughing as he reached up a hand, asking for help. Another thing he’d not have done a few weeks ago.

Still laughing, Billie took his hand, but instead of letting her pull him up, Jon pulled suddenly and toppled her onto the ground, too. Billie lay on her back, laughter fading to giggles, then fading totally as Jon leaned over her, his own laughter dying away as he looked down into the dark eyes. They gazed at each other for a moment, then Jon licked his lips and Billie blinked rapidly before sitting up, looking at him a little uncertainly.

He felt it, too. There was attraction there, but also an awkwardness, and Billie gave him a hesitant smile before moving a fraction further away. The tense moment was broken by the intrusion of a wagging Deke, who’d followed them from the ranch.

“Hey, buddy.” Jon said, focusing on the dog, then Billie got to her feet, smiling brightly again.

“There’s a spring over here, if you want a drink. It’s upstream of Drummer.”

Looking across, Jon saw the horse standing ankle-deep - or whatever a horse’s ankles were called - in the stream, looking as though he was trying to drink the whole thing. Billie headed past him, and Jon gave Deke a final pat before getting to his feet and following, finding her bending to catch handfuls of water from where it poured out of a narrow crevice. After she’d drunk, Billie stepped back and Jon grinned at her as he moved in, catching himself a few handfuls of the icy water.

“Why does water taste better like that?” He asked, and Billie shrugged.

“Because there’s no crap in it?” She waited mischievously until he was taking another drink. “Well, other than bird crap, cow crap, deer…….”

“Okay, enough already!” Jon spluttered. “You’re just trying to mess with the city boy, aren’t you, cowgirl?”

“Uh-huh.” She did that damned head-tilt thing again. “Is it working?”

“Nah. Joisey boy, darlin’. Take more than deer crap to scare me.” He grinned at her, relieved that their little ‘moment’ hadn’t spoiled the way they were together. “But you might wanna clue me in on how we get back on that horse. I don’t see a fence around.”

“You vault.”

“Vault?” Jon repeated flatly, looking at the height of Drummer’s back.

“Yes. Vault.” Billie laughed at his expression. “It’s not that hard.”

Jon was still unconvinced, and she laughed again, walking over to Drummer. With that same little bounce and leap he’d seen before, she was up on the horse, and Jon was standing looking up at her, shaking his head.

“Easy for you, Billie. I confess - I’m no cowboy. Bikes are way lower. And they don’t move away!”

She shook her head at him, then leaned forward to grab the reins.

“I’ll swing you up. You just gotta…….bounce a little. S’easy.”

“Swing me up?”

“Uh-huh. You’ve seen cowboy movies, right?”

“Yeah…..”

But even so, it wasn’t until Billie wheeled Drummer around and rode away, turning to head back to him that Jon understood what she meant. Hoping like hell he could do it - without landing himself, or them both, on the ground again - he raised his arm as she cantered slowly toward him, and the momentum of the horse helped Billie as she pulled him upward, Jon landing inelegantly - but safely - on Drummer’s back. Billie halted the horse immediately she felt Jon land behind her.

“Okay?” She asked.

“Yep.” Jon laughed. “That was a first!”

“What?” Billie turned to flutter her lashes at him coquettishly. “You mean you’ve never been picked up by a cowgirl before?”

Jon snorted as the laugh exploded out of him, laughing so hard that he had to grab onto her again to stay on Drummer’s back.

“No.” He finally spluttered. “I’ve never been picked up by a lady in quite that way!”

“A lady?” Billie muttered as she urged Drummer into a walk. “You must’ve hit your head when you fell.”

The meadow stretched out in front of them, and Drummer tossed his head impatiently. Jon was - again - pressed firmly against Billie’s back, his arms around her slim waist once more. She hesitated, but it was easier to let Drummer have his way when there was an inexperienced rider behind her, and she twisted again to look at Jon.

“I usually let him run along here, and if I don’t he’ll just be an asshole about it. You okay with going a li’l bit faster?”

“I think so.” His voice was a little doubtful, but trusting, and Billie smiled reassuringly.

“You’ll be fine. Just hold on to me. If you feel like you’re going to fall, just yell and I’ll stop him, ‘kay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Billie rolled her eyes as she turned forward again, running a hand along Drummer’s mane.

“Okay, baby.” She said gently. “Just behave for once.”

With that mild warning, praying he’d remember he had a novice on his back and not let loose with one of his infrequent - but impressive - bucking displays, she closed her legs on the horse, and Drummer moved smoothly from walk into trot, then up into a loping canter, the gait actually far easier for Jon to sit to than the trotting had been. The movement of the horse rocked him against Billie in a far too comfortable motion, bringing all kinds of naughty thoughts into Jon’s mind, and he didn’t even realise that he was pushing himself tighter against her, rocking his hips as the horse moved, grinding forward against Billie.

Billie could feel it, and it was anything but unpleasant, feeling the hard, warm body against her, feeling his pelvis butting against her ass with each long stride Drummer took. She felt Jon’s arms tighten on her, and his hips thrusting harder against her, and there was the beginning of a hard lump in his jeans pushing against her with each thrust. Billie tried hard to remind herself of the Dorothea he’d mentioned, but she found she really didn’t care too much. She liked Jon. She wasn’t looking for anything from him, but she liked him, and he seemed to like her.

Jon felt himself getting hard, from the motion of the horse and the friction against Billie, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad about it, and he just kept his tight grip on her waist as they cantered through the meadow and up into the forest.

When Billie finally slowed Drummer to a walk, deep in the forest where the trail twisted like a dying snake, Jon eased back a fraction, relaxing his grip on her. Neither of them said a word about his reaction to her, Jon just chuckling and speaking softly.

“Thanks, Billie.” He raised his voice slightly, confident enough to take one hand off her for a moment, reaching back to pat Drummer’s flank. “Thanks, Drummer.”

The horse snorted softly, and Jon laughed again. “Did he just answer me?”

“Are you nuts?” Billie turned to look at him. “Horses can’t talk!”

They started to laugh again, then Jon was surprised when they emerged from the forest, finding themselves just behind the barn.

“Hey - we’re back!”

“Yep. Shortcut through the forest.” She confided, riding up to the corral.

They repeated the dismounting procedure, shutting Drummer safely back into the corral and heading indoors in search of a cold drink. A few minutes later, they were sitting on the porch sipping from icy beers and grinning at each other for no reason. Jon hesitated for about a millisecond before asking what was on his mind.

“Billie……….is it okay if I stay here again tonight?” He pursed his lips in thought. “Or maybe a couple nights? I like it here. It’s……..peaceful.”

“Sure.” She’d been hoping he wouldn’t leave. “Just make yourself……….aw, you know the drill!”

“Yes, ma’am. Make myself at home.” He winked.

“Maybe you could make yourself useful, too.” She suggested. “I have a couple of jobs I should really do, but they’re easier with help.”

“Whatever you need. Consider me your designated helper.” Jon grinned at her, no clue what kind of jobs she meant but not caring. Doing something useful would make a nice change, he thought.