AllFreeNovel
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Once all the hens are gathered in the riding ground courtyard and the pink-mobile is parked in the visitors lot the manager comes to greet us. After a short welcoming speech, he asks us to raise hands accordingly to our riding experience and, as predicted, it’s just me, my sister, Lana, and two female archeologists from Logan’s half of the invitation list in the advanced group.
We follow a boy to the stables where he introduces us to our rides. I’m with Thunder, a beautiful gray stallion. I pat the horse and caress his muzzle, whispering small words to get him used to my voice. And while we familiarize ourselves with each other, I compose a quick reply for Archie.
To Archie
I’ve just met Thunder
He’s going to be my ride today
Archie replies with a yellow emoji holding its chin questioningly.
From Archie
That’s a very bad name, even for a male stripper
I chuckle; time to put the guy out of his misery. I lean my face next to my equine companion and snap a selfie. I caption the pic: Archie, meet Thunder.
Archie’s reply is a head-exploding emoji.
In the background, the tour guide calls for everyone who’s going on the long ride to gather at the trail entrance. I grab Thunder by the reins and guide him out of the stables, following behind my sister’s and Lana’s rides.
Before mounting, I compose a quick text for Archie.
To Archie
We’re about to leave
The guide has asked us not to use our phones while on the trail
They have a history of people getting distracted and falling off their horses
Talk later?
I’ll be gone for about two hours
A reply comes within seconds.
From Archie
Those are going to be two long hours
His words make my heart flutter. Even more when they’re followed by a cat-face emoji blowing me a kiss. This guy is unbelievable. So big and strong, with the bad-boy bike and everything, sending me kiss-blowing catmojis. I shake my head. He’s sure full of surprises.
At times, I feel like he’s just being flirty and having a good time. At others, I feel like we’re crossing boundaries we said we wouldn’t cross. I mean, is this normal behavior for a relationships-avoiding, incorrigible bachelor?
Or is he like this just with me?
That’s a dangerous thought to have, that Archie is different with me, and I should be careful not to rely too much on it because he’d never commit. After all, he made sure the boundaries were clear from the start—no strings attached between us. But those boundaries become more difficult to keep in check when he sends me messages like that. Or keeps being so sweet. Or spoons me in bed. It’s confusing, and yet, it feels so good.
I push the thoughts to the back of my mind as I store my phone in the saddle’s pocket made for this specific purpose, and then place my right foot into the corresponding stirrup to haul myself atop Thunder.
The ride is as scenic and filled with breathtaking vistas as advertised. Still, nagging questions about Archie’s intentions keep flying through my mind like the ever-changing landscape of the tour. But I do my best to ignore them. I’ve lived obsessed with the past for the last year, I won’t trade that fixation for one about the future. I should try to live more in the present.
As we make our way through the trail, Thunder’s powerful gallop takes me back to the ranch in Indiana. Memories of my grandparents, my cousins, and the horses we rode flood my mind. The cold wind hits my face, and I close my eyes, inhaling deeply the scent of nature around me.
We continue riding until we reach an open field. The guide instructs us to halt our horses and dismount.
“We’re stopping for a short break,” he says. “Feel free to explore while we rest.”
