I squinted down the path to the stables and saw a shadow moving around inside. I started the long walk down, stopping once to pick a purple flower from a patch along the path. I twirled it around in my fingers and smiled as I stepped into the barn.
"Hi," I said.
"Hi yourself." Edward hung up one of the saddles on the wall and turned towards me. "Well, well. You look like you had yourself a makeover."
"Alice picked it out."
"I like it. It suits you." He smiled and grabbed another saddle.
"What are you doing?"
"Just cleaning up the stables a bit."
"You want some company?"
"Sure." He smirked and adjusted the saddle over his shoulder.
I took a few more steps inside and smiled when I saw Princess. She instantly turned her head towards me as I approached and neighed.
"You wanna ride her?" He asked.
"Can I?"
"She's your horse," he laughed. "Do you remember how?"
"No. Is it kind of like riding a bike?"
"Yeah. Kind of like riding a few hundred pound, hairy bike." He sauntered over and opened Princess's stall. He reached over and grabbed her saddle to get her ready. "Okay hop on up."
I put my hands on my hips and kinked my eyebrow trying to figure out this contraption of a saddle. It seemed simple enough. There were places for your feet, your ass, and your hands.
I put my right foot up on the stirrups and started bouncing lightly on my feet, trying to get momentum.
"Other foot," Edward said.
"What?"
"Start with your left foot up. Then you can just swing your other leg over real easy."
"Easy for you to say."
He laughed and walked around to the other side of the horse.
"Alright you just hop yourself up a little and I'll pull you from this side to help. Easy as pie."
I bit down on my lip and switched my left foot into the stirrup. I bent my knee and launched myself up and right over. I completely missed the stirrup on the other side and I must have put a little too much into it because I slid right off the saddle and fell into Edward. He grabbed me as I plummeted towards him. I crashed right into his chest and we both fell back, hitting hard against the side of the stall. The bucket with all of her food shook from its hook and spilled all over us.
"Good Lord you sure weren't lying when you said you didn't remember," he winced.
"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" I brushed the barley and oats from his hair.
"I'm fine. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I guess I need a little more practice with my mount and dismount," I laughed.
He steadied me on my feet, keeping his hands protectively secured around my waist. I thought I felt his fingers tighten on my skin for the slightest moment.
I cleared my throat and glanced behind us. The back door of the stable was wide open and I could barely see rows of crops in the distance.
"Hey," I smiled. "You wanna go flying with me?"
A/N: There will be several romantic moments in this story and one full lemon towards the end. Just to answer some questions on the citrus : )
