I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank Bogiedevil for the review! I also wanted to say that this chapter is one of my favorites... you will see why!
"You mind if I go for a ride?" I asked and just happened to catch the shimmer in his eyes.
There was one thing I loved when I was a child. Despite the fact that my mother left and only visited when it was necessary for her and my father was constantly away on business, there was one thing I could always count on. The first one went by the name of Royal. It was my brother's horse which I vowed to take great care of while he was away at boarding school. I had only been a merely three or four years old at the time but it was a promise I vowed to keep. Every day I would ask the nanny to take me out to the stables so that I could help with the horses. When I was old enough to ride, my father had purchased me a one of a kind horse to which I deemed Champion. And a champion he was, with my help winning ribbons and medals. He was my first love. The only friend that I had to never let her down.
Even currently my love for horses is strong. I had a hard time parting with the thoroughbred she lost in the bet with Noel. It there was one thing I had come to count on was the love of a horse for its master, the sense of fulfillment after going for long ride and knowing that your trusty steed had your back. Sure they were hard work and it took time to train them properly but the sense of satisfaction would be worth it in the end.
"So Broomhilda, what will it be?" I stood with my hands on my hips challenging him like all the times I had done before. "You gonna let me ride or not?"
"Surprise Surprise. Isn't that what you normally say on your street corner?" Niles smirked as he dismounted from his horse.
"Funny." I said. "Those are the words you only dream of hearing." He couldn't hide the gleam in his eyes or the smirk on his face as he led his horse back into the barn.
"Take your pick." He nodded towards the three other horses in the barn. "That one there is Sebastian. " He tilted his head towards the stall on the right. "On your left are Murphy and Molly." I ran my hand along Murphy's smooth coat. He was of decent size with a shiny chestnut colored coat and rich brown eyes. Smiling back towards Niles, I let him know that this was the one for me.
It wasn't much later that both Niles and I had mounted our horse and were casual riding through the field. I had an unusual sense of satisfaction despite everything that had happened the past few days. Here I am on horseback with the man that I supposedly hated for… forever practically. It was odd and yet there was such a calmness about it.
Niles himself was dressed in jeans and sweater. His hair had grown a bit and I admired how reserved he looked. He had been emotional the past few days not that I blame him by any means. But here, out in the open it all seemed to fade away, like it was just the two of us and nothing else mattered. He was quiet though aside from the barn back at the stable. But it's not like I willing gave up the fact that I was worried about him.
"So I had an interesting conversation with your mother this morning." I said with a grin. His eyes lifted to meet mine and they were etched with confusion.
"And?"
"And what?"
"Aren't you going to tell me what she said to you?"
"It depends." I said as I grinned up at him. " Are you going to tell me why she asked if I had a nice time at dinner with you last night?" I didn't give him the chance to respond as I drove my heels into Murphy's side and ushered him into a gallop and then into a cantor. I heard him giving his horse commands and he finally caught up with me.
"What did she say to you exactly?"
"You think I'm going to give in that quick, Bell boy? Somethings are better when you hold out." I followed his eyes as he looked me over from his horse.
"I bet that's something men don't typically hear from you."
"I bet that's something that you are never going to find out." I shot back. "Besides, why would I tell you anyways? Maybe I like holding something over your head." I sped up Murphy again and enjoyed both the sense of satisfaction I had from riding a horse and from stumping Niles.
Within moments he was at my side again. "Perhaps we can make a bet out of it since you are so into making bets with my family." Damn him. Damn him. Damn him. He knew I wouldn't be able to turn down a bet like he couldn't turn down the chance at a slot machine. "If I make it back to the barn first, then you have to tell me about the conversation with my dear mother."
"And if I win?" I asked.
"Then I will answer your question ."
"Fine." I didn't wait for a response. I drove my heels into Murphy's side once more and prompted him to go forward. This is what I lived for. The air blowing through my hair. The feel of the reigns in my hands and my feet in the stirrups. The feeling as if I was flying and out of control. And yet I was in control the whole time. For a second it didn't matter that Marie was in the hospital or I had flown across the Atlantic to be here for her and her son. It didn't matter. None of it. Hell, it didn't even matter that I was losing the bet and that Niles had somehow gotten ahead of me. I couldn't help but just take in my surroundings as I approached the stable.
"Alright Cruella, spill." Niles challenged. And then the feeling was gone. The sense of bliss, the satisfaction. It all ended like every other good thing in life. I didn't answer. I was caught in my own little world. Everything was just there. Rare and emotional and it hit me. I'm here with Niles not because I was forced to but because I offered. I took off of work to be here with him. I flew with him across the Atlantic. I was here for Marie and her son. I'm here with him. "Cruella?" I heard him repeat and yet I couldn't look him in the eyes. I ran my hand through Murphy's mane but I couldn't allow my eyes to meet his.
Niles must have dismounted his horse because the next thing I knew his hand was on my thigh startling me out of my reverie.
"You really have lost it haven't you?" He asked.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." He smirked at my use of words. "Stop it!" I playfully swatted at his hand which was still casually resting on my thigh. He helped me dismount from Murphy and l shook my head to clear the thoughts that still washed over me. My hand in his sent me reeling.
"So what was it exactly that mother asked of you?"
"You really want to know?"
"Of course I do. She seems to be up to something peculiar these days if I do say so myself."
"So you agree? That Marie seems to be up to something?"
"When isn't she?" Niles laughed softly.
"If you really would like to know, she asked me if you and I had a pleasant time at dinner. And she asked me to keep an eye on you. She seems to think that you actually have a soul and you are worried about something."
"That's rich coming from you, Miss I eat the souls of the innocent for breakfast." Touché. I thought in my head.
"She thought you seemed stressed and that I would be a pleasant distraction."
There comes a point in everyone's life where even the things that they love hurt them. Royal broke his ankle when I was eight years old. Champion died of natural causes when I was fifteen. I didn't ride again for a while after that. Mother married and remarried and my father came and went with the seas. Noel stayed away at school. Sarah was hit by a drunk driver. Despite the causes, the people that we love hurt us in the end. So even as I loved the fact that Niles and I bicker and fight, there came a point where I pushed passed the sting that they caused.
"So she asked you to coming riding with me?" I nodded as we hung the saddle and riding gear in their appropriate places. "A pleasant distraction? You? Please! She really has lost her mind."
I turned on my heels as we were leaving the stable. I grabbed his face with my hands and I pulled his mouth to mine. He wasn't expecting it and quite frankly neither was I but I kissed him for all I was worth. Eventually his arms wrapped around me as mine dropped to his shoulders. His heart was racing as I could feel his heart beating. Lips. Tongue. Every part of us collided we kissed with such passion that made the kiss in the Sheffield living a few years back seem like a simple kiss on the cheek. He tried to pull me closer to him to him but I pulled back instinctively and separated myself from his arms.
I stepped away from him as I caught my breath. "Was that pleasant enough for you?" I asked for leaving him speechless and stunned as I headed back to the house.
Reviews give me the motivation to keep writing!