Thanks, Stace :)
Chapter 21
"Where's Salem?" I asked a week or so later as Windy and a groom walked towards me leading Danny and a bay horse I'd never seen before.
"You get a new mount today. This is Shakespeare."
Shakespeare looked like a really nice horse, but he wasn't Salem. And I'd only just gotten comfortable with Salem. I wasn't ready to give him up. "Why can't I ride Salem?"
"I thought you wanted to ride racehorses." Windy told me, holding the reins out for me to take. "Shakespeare's a nice horse. He's five, experienced, an allowance horse and relatively easy to gallop. He's perfect for you to start out on. He's just coming off of an injury, so he has to take it easy and start back slowly."
That sounded ok, I thought, except that Shakespeare didn't seem to agree on the easy part. He snapped his teeth around the bit and shook his head, before tugging on the reins and taking a step towards the barn door.
"Easy." Windy told him as she led Danny past.
"Can't I at least have the western saddle?" I had ridden in the scrap of leather Windy called a flat saddle three times now. It was aptly named, I admitted, as I eyed it on top of Shakespeare's back. It was flatter than the pancakes I had tried to make one time when I was still married to Dickie. And that was a pretty big feat; I hadn't thought anything could be flatter.
"Nope. Racehorses go in flat saddles." Windy informed me as she led the way out of the barn. "I wouldn't put you on him if I didn't think you could handle him."
That was a laugh. I couldn't handle the two-legged men in my life, as was evident by Joe's...cheating...2 weeks ago, so how on earth was I supposed to stay on the back of this hot-blooded creature?
"Have a little faith in yourself already." Windy rolled her eyes before handing Danny off to a groom and checking Shakespeare's girth. "C'mon. I'll leg you up."
This was something I was actually good at. Once I got the timing right, getting legged up onto the horse was actually an almost graceful process. Unfortunately, though, Shakespeare was walking off before I was even truly sitting on his back. "Omigod." I squeaked, grabbing his mane as tight as I could and squeezing with my legs to stay on. Shakespeare bounced a bit, and Windy glanced back.
"Relax, sit up, get yourself together. Don't worry about Shakespeare, I've got him."
"Salem didn't move when I got on." I pointed out.
"Salem's a pony horse. The racehorses aren't used to standing still, and they aren't made to. It's no big deal, I've got the horse, so you can get yourself together."
I could deal with that. I wiggled on his back a minute to get comfortable, and then found both of my stirrups. It took a minute, but I managed to get both feet in without having to lean down and grab one and hold it while I stuck my foot into it. Good thing, too - I wasn't sure if I could stay on while he was moving, and I didn't really want to test my luck today. Then, I gathered up my reins. As soon as I had a feel of his mouth, Windy let him go. Jake legged her up on Danny, and by the time Shakespeare had taken me - because he was truly the one in control - to the gap onto the track, they were right behind us.
"You're the driver, not him. And relax, I rode him yesterday and he was fine." She told me, and urged Danny into a trot. I took a deep breath, then I squeezed Shakespeare and he followed suit. I'd really started to get the hang of the posting rhythm, and I found it even easier on Shakespeare. His trot was different from Salem's. It felt bigger, and faster, and while it was powerful, it was also smoother. I tried to focus on everything I had to remember - heels down, eyes up, where were my hands? Don't let them get tangled in the mane... Shoulders a bit forward, but not too forward... I couldn't remember everything, anymore. Shakespeare was also narrower than Salem. I thought maybe I liked that better.
Before I knew it, we were halfway around the track and Windy was asking Danny to canter. I took a breath and steeled myself. "Alright, Big S. Don't go too fast, ok?" I asked, as I carefully moved one leg back a few inches, the signal that asked him to canter. He was already thinking about it, and he surged forward immediately. I struggled to stay with him, and then, all of a sudden, he was ducking back underneath me as I lost my balance to one side. He swung himself over and caught me without missing a step, and then continued to canter, right behind Danny.
I could see why Windy loved riding the racehorses. More and more every day. There was something about this that was soothing. Peaceful. Almost hypnotic. It was early and brisk, and the track was silent except for the sounds of our horses cantering footfalls, and the snorting breaths that accompanied each stride.
We came around past the oval, side by side with Shakespeare on the rail. I couldn't help feeling a surge of pride as I realized that I was managing to stay standing in the stirrups way easier every day - so easily today that I hadn't even struggled yet. Windy picked up the pace, and Shakespeare followed suit before I could even ask. Probably a good thing, since I wasn't quite sure I was ready for faster.
"We're going to pick up the pace a bit more." Windy said, pretty well as soon as I was comfortable with the new, faster canter. And then we were galloping - a real, four beat gallop that I'd ridden on Salem once. I was proud that I could even tell the difference. And more than that, I realized, Shakespeare was smoother, more powerful than Salem, and he carried me with him as if I was a feather. I'd never felt like a feather before. I'd never felt this graceful before. And I did, and all I had to do was hang on and stay right side up, and he took care of the rest. I could feel his muscles moving underneath me, rippling with fluid power. It felt like Ranger...pressed against my...better not go there, Stephanie. Focus on the horse.
Our horses stayed side by side, and I listened to Windy as she walked me through changing the rein pressure, asking Shakespeare to take hold of the bit. The amazing thing was, it felt easy, and it worked, and we were just...there, and it was magic. I couldn't even think of a way to describe it. Shakespeare turned his head slightly and looked at Danny for a minute. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Danny make a face at Shakespeare. The next thing I knew, Shakespeare surged forward on his own, into a much more powerful gallop, pulling completely ahead of Danny in two strides. I asked him to settle, and he did, but he didn't slow - instead, he just stayed at the faster gallop, with Danny behind him. I was pretty sure Windy was holding Danny in, but that was ok with me.
We came around past the gap again, and I started to pull him in.
"Keep going - we'll finish at the end of the straightaway." Windy hollered. That was fine by me - I was no where near ready to get off. We galloped down to the end of the track, pulling the horses in when it started to curve. It took me longer to pull Shakespeare in than it took Windy with Danny - but I was still getting the hang of the stopping part.
"This horse is AWESOME." I told her, as we trotted back towards the gate together. I gave Shakespeare a hearty pat on the neck, and he shook his whole head and neck in agreement with me.
"I thought you'd like him." She laughed. We were walking as we exited the track, and I rode forward to where Ranger was standing. I could feel my grin splitting my face as I swung off of Shakespeare's back. I landed hard on my feet and pain shot through my ankles, but I barely noticed. My grin got even bigger as I turned and faced Ranger. He looked down at me, his eyes dark and bright, filled with what looked like a mixture of amusement and lust...It was hard to tell, though, because it was over shone by pride. I'd never had someone look at me that way. Ever. Impulsively, I threw my arms around him and gave him a hard, quick kiss, before turning and flinging my arms around Shakespeare, burying my face in his neck.
"This horse is amazing. He's incredible. He's freaking phenomenal. I want him." I said into his neck. Jake laughed as he took the horse, and handed him over to a groom.
"I'll keep that in mind for his retirement." He told me. "In the meantime, enjoy riding him."
Deprived of the horse, I turned back to Ranger, my face aching from the grin that wouldn't go away. He chuckled and slung an arm around my shoulder. "Come on, Jack-O-Lantern. Let's go home and get you showered. You smell like wet horse."
Murphy hated me, and even though my day started terrific, it just didn't get to end that way. Ranger and I pulled up to the Bonds office, only to find that scum had managed to slink in. It manifested itself in the form of Morelli, slouched on the couch, obviously waiting for me. Fucker.
"Cupcake, I've been trying to get a hold of you for days."
"And I swore you off a week, two days, and ten hours ago." I snarled. "Leave me alone." I shoved past him and went to the counter. "Got any files, Con?" Connie shook her head, but didn't interrupt as Joe continued.
"Steph, be reasonable."
"Reasonable? Go screw Malibu Barbie, why don't you." I headed towards the door. I wasn't staying with this asshole one more second.
"Look, Steph, I just want to talk to you, let me explain." Explain? I stopped and spun.
"Explain? I don't need your excuses, Morelli. You're scum. And don't come back - you're not welcome."
"And he's faithful?" Joe pointed at Ranger. "Didn't take you long to fall into his bed, did it?"
"I'm not IN his bed." I growled.
"Yeah right."
"Unfortunately, she's telling the truth. And if you talk to her like that again..." Ranger left the warning hang.
Morelli held up his hands. "Ok, Ok. Look, Steph, I just wanted to... I didn't want you to find out like that."
"Right. You'd have much rather I walked in on you doing the nasty." I snarled, focusing in on him. I wondered if I could kill him and get away with it.
"No! Geez, Cupcake. I told you we had to talk."
"Right, so this is my fault? I don't need you, Morelli. Not anymore." And then an evil idea came to my mind, and I couldn't help the foolish grin that crossed my face. "Besides. I have a new man, and he's way better than you'll ever be."
"Manoso?" Joe asked, his voice laced with disbelief, at the same time as Ranger said, "Who?"
"William." I gave a dreamy sigh, while I chuckled inwardly. This was gonna be good.
"Who's William?" Both men asked. I looked at Ranger, who was regarding me with one eyebrow raised.
"You know. William. William S." I exaggerated the S, and Ranger's eyes crinkled with laughter as he got it.
"Remind me to give you the talk about unhealthy patterns." He shook his head, and then grinned at me. "And personally, I prefer Sandburg."
"She calls you William?" Joe asked.
"No, you asshole. I met William in the last ten hours. He's the love of my life." I couldn't help the next dreamy sigh. It was hard to remember that I was mad when I was reliving my ride on Shakespeare.
Joe sighed. "Well, I guess..."
"I guess you can go now." I put both hands out and pushed against his chest, shoving him backwards until he was out the Bonds office door. The last thing I heard out of him was a disbelieving, "But Cupcake!"
"You been holding out on me, girl?" Lula asked as soon as the door was closed. Ranger was eyeing me with distinct appreciation, and Lula looked rather miffed. "Who the hell is William?"
I grinned at her. "A victory sonnet." I couldn't resist using Shakespeare's race name, Victory Sonnet, as Windy had told me while we were trotting them home after their work.
Lula gaped. "A what?"
"Oh man, you wouldn't believe it. I met him this morning, and he's the most amazing ride. The way his muscles bunched and moved underneath me...It was the most amazing thing..."
I smiled another dreamy smile, that was interrupted as Ranger's arm snaked around my stomach, pulling me back into him. "As amazing as mine?" He whispered, his breath hot on my ear.
"Mmmm... I don't know. Yours have never moved underneath me." I told him, the scent of Ranger and Bulgari fogging my brain and making me almost - almost forget the new love in my life.
"We could try." He suggested, and Lula made an eeping noise.
"Girl, you better ditch this William and ride Batman's muscles. Cause no girl in their right mind would decline that invitation."
"No kidding." Connie chimed in. "And then we want details!"
"You can have details about the horse." Ranger informed them. "The rest is classified info."
"Horse? William's a HORSE?!" Lula roared.
"Name's Shakespeare. Gotta go!" I ducked out of the office, Ranger chuckling as he followed.
She felt him before she heard him, as she wrapped one of Judge's front legs. She couldn't stop the squishy feeling that grew in the base of her stomach, or the sudden elevation of her heartbeat. If she were a horse, the change in heart rate would have worried her.
"Hey Beautiful, good morning?" Lester's voice, warm and amused, filtered in from behind her. She finished the wrap, checked it, and stood before turning to face him.
"Who let you on the backside?" She asked, then mentally slapped herself across the face. Way to go, Windy, that's totally the thing to say to a guy you've got the hots for.
Unfazed, Lester simply shot her one of his dead sexy, lopsided grins. "I'm a Range-man. With Ranger showing up every morning, it was easy to get on."
"Oh." Yup, that was her, Miss Eloquence. She wasn't even sure why she did have the hots for him, or let herself, for that matter. Best she could tell, Lester was a heartbreaker. Nevermind that, she just plain didn't LET herself get attracted to guys.
"It's about time you start." Jake laughed, slapping her on the shoulder as he walked past. He'd gotten good at reading her mind. Too many years, she supposed. "Poultices on Judge?"
"He worked pretty hard today, don't you agree?" She turned to Jake, and more comfortable territory. At least horses were easy.
"He did. Don't know what I'd do without you." He commented, then headed off into the stall that was his office. "I'll see you tomorrow." He called back to her.
"Bright and early." She agreed.
"That mean you're done for the day?" Lester asked, and she could stop the small smile that curved her lips.
"Yeah. Just gotta put Judge away."
"Judge, huh?"
"Judgement Day. Poor bastard. Next thing you know, they'll be naming his sons after the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. That'll be a sure fire winner." She rolled her eyes, then laughed. "Poor bastard." She repeated as she turned back after putting him in his stall. He offered her another lopsided grin, and her laugh turned into a giggle. Geez, Emily, get a frigging hold of yourself, she chided.
"So what are you doing now? Need help with any skips?" Lester asked her, snaked an arm around her waist and pulling her towards him, then heading towards the end of the shedrow.
"I'm going home to shower." She pointed out. "And then, I don't know. I'll have to see what's available at the Office."
"I'm off today." He pointed out unnecessarily.
"And?"
"I'm offering you my services." He paused, then turned to her and waggled one eyebrow. "Whatever services you require."
She couldn't stop the laugh from bubbling up in her throat anymore than she could stop the heat pooling in her stomach. "Dream on, Santos."
"Believe me, I will." He tugged her closer and stole a kiss. Her body melted and her mind went fuzzy, and she couldn't help the bemused expression she was sure came across her face.
And she wasn't entirely sure she liked it. Well, she liked it, but she didn't think she trusted it. Giving her head a sharp shake, she turned and yelled down the shedrow. "Alyse, get a move on! We've gotta go!"
"Coming!" The young girl's voice rang out, and then she was jogging down the shedrow towards them. "You know, I think I preferred it when I didn't go to school." She commented as she skidded to a walk beside them, her voice slightly breathy.
Lester winked at Windy and laughed as he reached behind her and tugged on Alyse's ponytail. "Spoken like a true teenager."
"I can't believe you let Morelli think William was a guy." Ranger said as he stopped at a red light. Ranger volunteering conversation while he drove was so abnormal that it stunned me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, well, I had to say something. And I thought it was kind of smart." I shrugged. Mostly, I didn't feel like hearing about how Morelli was my last hope at any kind of normal life. And I wanted to give the asshole a taste of his own medicine. The "there's someone out there better than you" pill. Even if that someone out there was a horse. Maybe it was childish…well, definitely it was childish, but… "Anyhow," I added, "I can't believe you helped me egg them on about it."
"The look on Lula's face was worth it." Ranger chuckled. "And I've learned not to bother trying to dissuade you, when you think of something. What are your plans for the day?"
"Sleep? I don't know. I don't have any new skips." And I didn't want to go home for lunch and listen to my mother. Supper two nights before was painful enough. Apparently I was supposed to overlook Joe's cheating, and marry him anyhow. And, if I wanted to keep him in MY bed, I apparently had to get more educated in sexual wiles, and get a new job so that I spent more time at home, waiting for him, so he could take me to bed.
"Babe. I smell something burning."
I sighed. Of course he would.
"If you want to come back to Rangeman, I've some searches you can run. And you should do some research on 'The Commanders'."
"Who're they?"
"An organization I think Carson is associated with. And I think it might be a front for more hidden activities. Your skip is starting to look like he's the front and centre on a case I'm working on. I'm suggesting we work together on this."
Whenever Joe said that, it mostly meant I tell him everything I learned, and he told me nothing. With Ranger, it was mostly a real partnership. Unless he thought he had to keep me safe. "Ok." I agreed.
And besides, maybe I could go upstairs for a while when the girls got back from school, and help Ella and Izzy make cookies, or muffins, or whatever it was they were baking today. It always meant taste testing, after all.
"I know it's not much, but it's home." Windy commented as she came to sit in the living room, curling up in the chair across from Lester. Woleska immediately abandoned Lester to come crawl into her lap. Didn't matter that he was too bloody big. Alyse had ducked into the bathroom for her turn in the shower as soon as Windy had vacated it, leaving her alone with Lester, for the moment. "What?" She asked, as Lester's eyes stayed, unmoving, in her hair.
"You should leave your hair down, sometime."
"Braids are simple. Avoids a mess."
His eyes shifted then, until they connected with hers, his heated gaze searing a hole straight to her soul. Even though they were seated on two totally separate pieces of furniture, it felt as if his body were pressed against hers, shoulders to ankles, as if he was trying to seduce her. Briefly, she wondered if he could really do that, with just his eyes, and then she decided she'd just break eye contact and end it. Except...she couldn't.
"Bastard." She said, without heat. A twinkle came into his eye and he flashed her his lopsided grin.
The shower quit, and Alyse came barging out a few short minutes later. "I'll drive you both, and drop you off later." Lester suggested, and she shrugged. Sure, why not. The drive to drop Alyse off at school passed quickly and quietly - Lester drove a lot like Ranger, silent and attentive, and ever so competent. Ignoring the road, she let her thoughts wander, and wondered if she was biting off more than she could chew. She might be getting into trouble, getting involved with this one. He was too smooth, too sexy, and too self-assured in his sexiness. Or something like that. She wondered if he could just snap his fingers and have any woman at his beck and call, and she wondered how many more he'd had, and how quickly he got tired of them. She didn't think she had the makeup for a one night stand, and she was far too in danger of losing her heart. She'd gone soft, she guessed. After years of hardening herself, and maintaining an abrasive front, she was realizing that it really was just that; a front. She'd always figured that if she put it on display enough, it would simply become the truth, but all it took was this man to drop that notion from her mind. It's really too bad Ranger's men weren't like the guys at the track - it was easier to stay abrasive when you're dealing with assholes.
"Off you get." Lester was saying as they pulled up to the school. "Someone will be by for you and Isabelle at 3:30."
Alyse rolled her eyes. "Yeah. As always. You know, people think we're mob daughters, getting into all of these fancy black vehicles."
"Yeah, well, it's safer than the bus, and Ranger's decided you're getting rides." Windy said.
"And when Ranger decides something, that's the way it'll be." Lester added.
"Send Tank. He's Izzy's favorite."
"If he's available, I'm sure he'll come." Lester said, as Alyse shut the door. She headed towards the school, then turned back to give them a quick wave.
"She's adjusting well." Windy commented.
"For now. I think she likes not having the full responsibility of her sister on her shoulders, anymore."
"She needs to be a kid." She shrugged, and they drove in silence to the bonds office.
"Anything?" Lester asked as she slid back into the Explorer after stopping in to see Connie.
"Nope."
"So we both have days off." He turned to face her, and a slow grin spread across his features, his eyes crinkling boyishly. Against her will, again, she melted. "How about we go do something fun?"
"Like what?"
"A surprise."
She couldn't help the funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was definitely a healthy dose of fear, she thought... Surprises, in her life, had never been good. But at the same time, a squishy, warm feeling that she wasn't used to, and one of anticipation.
"Ok." She nodded. "BUT-" She added before Lester could flash his grin and melt her again, "It has to be fun, and our clothes stay on."
He chuckled. "Sweetheart, you can wear as many clothes as you want."