A/N: A bit late with this one too...But it's just past Christmas so I can be forgiven, right? I hope you all had a good Christmas and thanks for reading!

Chapter Twenty-five.

Things got far easier with my checklist of things to do, had taken my visitors all over the place, petting zoo one day and climbing up large rocks the next. It was certainly an interesting week and few days but there was one activity that I had decided to save for Alfred's midweek day off (he got a four day week, he had Thursdays and the weekends off) for the soul reason that I was shaking with fear at the very thought.

Horse riding.

I had tried to avoid this one but once Peter and Allistor found my list that I had made with Alfred they wouldn't leave me alone about it until I promised them I'd give it a go.

And these two weren't exactly a pair I'd want to break a promise to.

So horse riding it was.

The only time I had met a horse was ten years ago and it had kicked me in the stomach. My fear was understandable.

And now the promised day had arrived. I was under my covers at six in the morning, trying to control my breathing as Allistor snored away in his next to my bed as if all was well. Alfred and Peter weren't even due here until ten. I had a whole four hours to worry about it and then an hour and a half of a bus journey to worry too.

I didn't know how I was going to do this, I hadn't told Allistor or Peter about by discomfort at the day's plans because they fine well knew. They just did not care.

I had kept it quiet to Alfred too, the moment I told him that I wanted him to come horse riding with us he was so over the moon with joy. I didn't have the heart to tell him that that I was scared, why should he have to worry about me on what, as he quoted, "Was gonna be the most awesome day of the summer"?

I settled back into my blankets, sitting here wasn't doing me any good, besides I was more likely to fall off a horse if I fell asleep on it.

And with that fear instilling thought I forced myself into a half sleep.

The next thing I knew there was a pair of strong hands on my shoulders, shaking me, and calling my name.

"Artie...! Artie!" Ah, that was Alfred...

I opened one eye to see him looking down at me, he looked so worried...

Wait... If he was here and I was still in bed...

I sat up quickly, suddenly awake, "I've slept in, haven't I?"

Alfred, who had backed off of me now, looked at me and nodded, "Yeah... Sorry, man."

I scrambled past him and stood up, whirling around, trying to figure out what to do,

"Allistor!" I shouted at him in the next room, "Why didn't you wake me!? The bus leaves in fifteen minutes!" I grabbed the clothes that I had chosen last night and pushed Alfred out of the room before he could say a word more and changed in a flash.

I burst from my room five minutes later, sprinting to the bathroom, closing the door and grabbing my toothbrush in one swift motion.

I was ready to go I burst out into the front room where the other three were waiting,

"Are we ready? Good, we need to go now." I said breathlessly before searching for my keys.

"Artie, shirt!" Alfred said behind me. I turned to him and he was pointing frantically at my chest.

"What?" I looked at him quizzically.

"Aye, it's inside oot, you wee pleb." Allistor helped out.

I looked down and realised to my embarrassment that it was, it was back to front too.

I flushed and turned around to sort myself out, patting down my now correct clothes before getting everyone dashing out the door to catch our bus.

.oO0Oo.

"Waaait!" Alfred cried out as he suddenly left our jogging formation, going down a different path entirely.

"Alfred! What are you doing!? The bus is right there, you'll miss it!" Sure enough the blocky formation of the bus was there; ready to drive off at any given moment.

"Tell the guy I'm coming!" Alfred shouted as he sped off leaving me and the other two to board the bus alone.

I sighed and boarded the vehicle; I had been here before on my last trip to the ranch with Allistor and Peter a few days ago.

It was far quieter today than it had been last time. Last time it had been the weekend and so prime time for family days out. It was mid week and so the only other passenger was an elderly lady, who had been aboard last time too, she was sitting in the exact same spot that I last saw her in. I wondered if she had actually gotten off the bus since.

I informed the portly bus conductor that someone else was coming and paid the fare as he registered this information.

I decided I preferred this bus trip to my last one. We got pick of the seats this time, and there was a set of four with a table in the middle with our names on it.

We all sat down and seconds later we were joined by a panting Alfred who threw himself through the bus doors, a polystyrene bag hanging from his arms.

I looked up at him, waving to tell him where we were and he gave me a nod of recognition as he paid his fare and smiled at the old woman that I passed on my way to my seat,

"Hey, Jojo!" He greeted her cheerfully.

The woman looked up and then looked around as if she had only just realised where she was,

"Alfred...?" She looked up at hi

"You're taller...~"

Alfred grinned, "No I'm not! I've barely grown an inch!"

"Turn around so this old doll can have a look at you."

Alfred turned around for her, letting the old woman inspect him.

"Like that?"

"Just like that. My, what a handsome young man you've become!"

Alfred laughed, "Aw, but you said that when you saw me in the spring too!"

"Then I mean it... You must have a very lucky girlfriend."

"Yeah?" Alfred looked directly at me, "I'm pretty lucky to have him too."

I bushed and looked out of the window, luckily the woman had either not noticed Alfred's choice of words or chosen to ignore them,

"How's Mr. Jones?" She asked in that old person way, a way that makes you want to reassure them that the person they're asking after is well.

"He's doing just fine, Jojo. Now I'll see you later, got it?"

I didn't hear her reply but Alfred was on his way back to us, dumping his bag on the table and sitting down as the bus started to drive.

"You knew her?" I asked him quietly.

"Course I do!" Alfred said, a little less quietly, "She's Josie, she was like my nana when I was little, my dad hired her to take care of me when he was away. She's a real nice lady~"

"I'm sure she is... She was here last time too, you know."

"On her way to the ranch? Yeah, she goes everyday!"

"Really!?" That was a bit excessive... It cost a fortune just to enter.

"Sure, they don't make her pay though; cos she's made friends with the owners~ She used to take me there all the time, that's why I like horse riding so much!"

"But why?" I was still baffled.

"She says one of their horses looks like her dead husband... She likes to visit him and feed him; she thinks he's the re-incarnation."

"Oh, I see..." This was getting a bit strange now.

"If you ever died and turned into a horse I'd visit you every day too~" Alfred remarked as he stretched out in his seat.

It was a funny kind of statement... But I found it rather sweet.

Before I could reply, Peter suddenly drew his attention from his gameboy and noticed the white bag sitting on our table.

"Arthur, what's in there?" His blue eyes lit up with curiosity and looked at me like I knew.

"Oh yeah!" Alfred perked up and proudly pulled a jumbo bag of lolly pops and other assorted boiled sweets, "Can't go on a bus journey without candy~"

Peter gasped like he had just been shown a ton of gold before looking back up at us, "Arthur didn't let us but sweets last time." He said accusingly.

"Seriously?" Alfred turned to me, "But having candy on long drives is the rules!"

I scowled, was my own boyfriend really taking the side of my eight year brother? "Look, mum wouldn't be pleased if I sent you home with rotten teeth."

"But he can have some, right?" Alfred asked me.

"Well..." I shouldn't be allowing this... but not one, but TWO sets of puppy dog eyes were fixed on me, "Not too many."

Peter took that as a yes and without a second to spare he had ripped open the bag, the sugary hard sweets spilling all over the table.

"And don't make a mess." I warned him.

Alfred reached into the bag for the second time and produced a sandwich and a small bottle of orange juice. Putting them in front of me, "You need breakfast." He told me, and even did the honours of opening the top off my juice.

I looked over to him, he was serious about this. But how could I possibly eat? My stomach was starting to do flips again as I looked out of the window of the bus that was surely taking me to me doom. The horse riding was getting closer.

But obviously Alfred had no idea about this. And so expecting me to gobble up my egg sandwich was nothing out of the ordinary.

I reluctantly tore open my box to see the bits of bread, filled with a light coloured eggy mush nestled inside.

I still ate it. He had thought to but it for me so I could hardly decline the offer. Besides it gave me something to do other than sit here all jittery at the fact that I was going to be sitting on top of a horse later.

I would be sitting on top of a horse.
I would be sitting on top of a horse.
I would be sitting on top of a horse.
I would be sitting on top of a horse.

I would be sitting on top of a horse.

Yes, it would be safe to say that I was quite frightened.

I was so deep in thought that I near jumped out of my skin when I felt Alfred's hand sneak into mine.

I pulled it away and gave him a look; we couldn't do that in front of the other two!

But he gestured to tell me that they weren't going to see and after a moments consideration I wiped off the cold sweat that had managed to break out on my palms and let him hold my hand again. Despite the fact that Alfred had no clue as to what was going on in my head I felt reassured... Brought back down to earth.

I was still trembling like a leaf though.

I looked across the table; Peter was sucking a lolly pop and both he and Allistor were engrossed in his gameboy. Allistor was peering over his shoulder and Peter tilted the screen slightly just so he could see. It was a heart warming scene.

I really could sense Peter and Allistor getting closer over the week or so that we had all spent together. Peter had gone from being called a 'little shit' to a 'wee brat' and now just 'the wee one'. It was a progress that I had never made with Allistor but I was quite enjoying watching their relationship forming. What could be more innocent than a forming friendship devious but friendly eight year old boy and a half-delinquent, violent eighteen year old Scotsman? I had a feeling the two were going to be as thick as thieves at any on coming family gatherings. And that would be all thanks to the time they spent at my house. Well done me.

Though I could easily come to regret ever even letting these two in the same room one day.

But for now it was nice to see them making friends.

The journey was long and seemed to stretch out even longer when we all ran out of things to talk about. Alfred's hand was a comfort but mine kept on getting rather clammy and I had to embarrass myself by making excuses to wipe them off. I was scared sick so I did have a reason to reassure myself but it was still embarrassing.

The last time that this bus rolled up beside 'Horse and hay ranch' I was thinking 'Oh, what a nice little place, that's a pretty mountain over there'. This time things were completely different.

This time the very sight of that admission booth and the corner of the stables that I could see evoked such a strong sense of terror I felt like I could actually sprint all the way back to my bed if I was given the chance to escape.

Unfortunately I did not have that chance.

Josie, the little old lady thanked the driver and left the bus, heading straight for the stables to see her 'husband' the re-incarnated man who was now a horse named Greystone.

We followed soon after, Alfred linked his arm with mine as he too thanked the driver and with a hop skip jump lead our posse over to the admission booth, excitedly asking for three concession horse riding experiences.

"Only three?" I asked him, maybe I was saved... Maybe he had really noticed my fear and was allowing me to sit out...

"Yeah! I came with Josie so much as a kid that I'm a friend of the owner's family too! I get in for free~" So it looked like I was going to do this, whether I liked it or not.

Alfred knew the place like that back of his hand; he weaved with us around the petting zoos, storage sheds, a few out houses and into the stables.

I was the hit first by the immense hot stench of the stables, it was overwhelming. Then I looked around at all the rows of horses, all different shapes and sizes. I saw Josie getting some help getting what must have been Greystone out so she could spend some time with him.

Alfred greeted the animals patting one of them and letting it nuzzle his hand, they didn't look so bad... They seemed to mean no harm. That's when I reminded myself that looking at a horse and climbing on top of a horse were two different things.

I was informed that our instructor would be with us in a moment and so we had these few minutes to 'get to know the horses.'

Peter was being taught how to feed a horse named 'Jean' by Alfred, who was reminding him to keep his hand nice and flat. Peter kept on giggling as soon as the horse's fuzzy lips touched his hand so they never really got too far.

Allistor meanwhile was at the far corner of the stable, cautiously stoking a strong, older looking chestnut stallion that had a few scars mapping his face. The horse didn't exactly look thrilled to be with him but he wasn't complaining, his expression mirrored Allistor's. If there was a horse version of Allistor, that chestnut stallion would be it.

I however was having a productive stare out with a white one named 'Wilfred'.

We all turned to the stable doorway to see our instructor enter, a short woman called Jane. She wore a big smile as she greeted us all, asking our names and then immediately using them in that really patronizing way ("hi there Arthurrr" as if she was trying on my name like it was a shapeless dress). She assigned us all each horses, I was given Wilfred, the one who I had just had a staring competition with; Allistor was given a black one, a bit bigger than mine called Jonah and Peter was given a smaller brown pony thanks to his height called Star.

Of course Alfred was given the biggest, a gallant horse called Bailey; she was the biggest there and was majestic to look at. Not many were allowed on her but Alfred was a confident rider, and he knew Bailey. I was incredibly relieved that I didn't have to climb onto her, my legs were jelly at the thought of mounting Wilfred and he was a good seven inches smaller.

We were given our helmets next. This was my favourite part; I loved the surge of reassurance when Jane told us how much damage wearing a helmet could save you from if you fell. And helmets couldn't kick me in the stomach.

But then the worst part came. Someone had already obviously put saddles of our horses while we were gone because we were then told it was time to mount the horses.

Alfred obviously had no trouble at all. As soon as Jane gave the word he swung his body onto the saddle, his hand on the reins. He looked like a cowboy. And it was not a bad look.

Allistor wasn't as fast but he was up there pretty quickly too, having no troubles in getting into his saddle.

Peter used a bit of help but he too clambered on top of Star and sat comfortably.

I supposed that I was my turn now. Right.

Wilfred's saddle looked so high though...And he was a living animal that could decide to toss me off into some nearby bushes at any moment.

I put my foot into a stirrup and tried to mount Wilfred by following the example given by Jane and the others.

The first two times I tried I didn't launch myself up enough and ended up sort of just bouncing up and down half on and off the horse with the others watching. I was getting desperate by the time Allistor had the nerve to start laughing, Alfred actually started taking pity on me and Peter reminding me easy he had found it and he was eight.

So in a flurry of desperation on stupid bravery I pushed myself off of the ground and drew my leg up and up until it was over the side and...

I fell off the other side of the horse.

"Be quiet!" I snapped at Allistor who was just about to fall off his own horse for laughing so hard.

A sympathetic Jane came over and asked if I needed a little help. No way, I was going to be a pro at this. I didn't need anybody to hold my hand like I was a child.

Two failed attempts later I took Jane's offer of getting some help onto the saddle.

.oO0Oo.

Once I was seated, Jane explained the path to us. I could only half hear her I was too busy feeling like I was going to be sick. I felt dizzy, if it weren't for the security of my helmet I would have surely fainted. How were the others coping!? We were on bloody horses! Animals that kick innocent boys in the stomach and mentally scar them!

I did get the key features that the path was five miles long and went over a range of terrain. We were to stay on the path and then she started to talk about something else but I could no way focus on that because my horse was actually moving. It was plotting to throw away I could just tell.

Jane led us out to the start of the path one by one, well she didn't need to lead Alfred; he was allowed to leave as soon as we had all mounted. With a smile and a wave he had galloped off on Bailey leaving us to the mercy of Jane.

Once we were all in order we were allowed off. Allistor fearlessly went ahead, going out of sight within the first few seconds. Peter wasn't all too far behind him, choosing to stay at the front of the pack. I was left with Wilfred to wobble on the saddle unsteadily before slowly gaining the confidence to move slowly forwards, away from the ranch and towards certain doom.

Once I had gotten into it I slowly started to realise... Horse riding wasn't that bad.

Of course, I was still lagging behind moving at about a meter a minute but it was peaceful... Relaxing. It could have been even more relaxing if a hundred ways to be maimed by a horse didn't stop crossing my mind but Wilfred seemed to be a gentle creature who would keep on stopping to nibble at the grass. He was surely harmless.

We were around halfway there and I was holding onto the reins with more relaxed hands as I bobbed up and down on the horses back, passing fields and calling out greetings to farmers.

It was quiet, I could hear cicadas in the long grass by the fences and the heat was just right today.

I was too relaxed.

I didn't even realise that we were crossing over the road. So when a huge truck came speeding at us, horn blaring at the sight of us in the middle of the road I screamed out and so did the horse suddenly bucking and taking off at quite a speed.

I yelled out, it wouldn't stop! It was bucking and kicking and spinning all over the place! I couldn't control it.

"Fuck! Fuck!"

My panic distressed Wilfred even further. I had no chance of holding on as he tossed his wedge of a head and burned my hands as they slipped from the reins, my arms feeling that they were going to be yanked from their sockets.

I was falling fast, crying out as I hit the gravel path, my foot twisting in the stirrup. Wilfred whirled around and I thought for a horrifying second I was going to be trampled on as my leg fell limp from the stirrup.

"No!" I cried out as the animal jumped over the fence and headed out towards the forest area. Leaving me, a bruised back and a sore foot at the side of the path.

I sat up looking around frantically for Wilfred but he was gone. I lay back down, closing my eyes.

I knew this was a bad idea and I was right. Horses were a bad omen for me, even the gentle ones like Wilfred ended up running off and leaving me. I didn't even know where I was or if I could even get back to the ranch. My back and foot stung.

I decided to do some further analysis. My back was not a problem, it hurt but it wasn't threatening any movement. It was only bruised.

My foot was a different story. If it was sprained, or worse, broken then I could be in trouble. I had watched it twist in that stirrup; I was scared to move it.

I could wriggle my toes; that was a good sign, and it didn't feel excruciatingly painful. I could be safe in knowing that it wasn't broken. I then tried moving it, it made me wince but I wasn't screaming in pain. I decided that it was twisted, not quite a sprain but not just a little bump either.

I lay back in the grass again. What was I going to tell them now that I had lost Wilfred? The silly animal ran away because of that bloody vehicle but if I had paid more attention we'd be fine. I sighed gruffly. This was such a terrible idea, why did I ever agree?

How about I just made myself comfortable here and never went back? Yes, that was the most promising idea I had thought up.

I shuffled away from the fence posts and path and lay down on the soft grass, shielding my eyes from the sunlight.

I was lying there for at least 15 minutes, contemplating life, death, why horses seemed to hate me when the sound of the fields was broken by the clopping sound of nearby hooves.

I sat up abruptly, Alfred was there riding Bailey without a care in the world. Oh no, he wasn't allowed to find me. I was here uselessly and the horse I had put into my care was god knows where... Perhaps if I was fast enough I could tunnel myself underground he wouldn't notice me... Why was he even here? He was at the front of our line, had had been given a head start, why was he at the back?

That was it; I started to scrape at the ground. It was time to start life as a rabbit or a worm or something.

"Artie, is that you?" I heard Alfred laugh and made the mistake of looking up at him as he got Bailey to trot over.

"Alfred! What on earth are you doing here?" I smiled in the most innocent way possible as he climbed off his saddle and came closer.

"I came back round; it's a pretty short route... Where's Wilfred?"

So he had noticed the absence of a large white equestrian.

"Uh... Um..." To hell with this, "I'm sorry Alfred I lost him!" I buried my head in my hands, I felt awful.

"Oh, okay, I see, well, we can get him back, I'm sure..." I peered up to see Alfred furrowing his brow, "It's not like him to try to run..."

"You don't understand! I lost him ages ago! He's probably long gone!" I confessed it all up.

He put an arm around my shoulders, and rubbed my arm comfortingly. I tried to shrug him off. I didn't deserve that but he only pulled me in closer.

"Calm down and tell me what happened~"He sounded sort of cheerful, did he even realise what had happened?

"Well... I wasn't paying attention... And some bloke in a lorry van gave him a fright and he started bucking and throwing me everywhere! I couldn't hold on! So I fell off. My back hurts and my foot is twisted and he ran into the woods and I haven't done anything since."

"Aw that's okay!"

I blinked, confused, "Excuse me, were you listening?"

"Sure I was! Some guy spooked him, he's probably not gone far~"

I felt hope suddenly, and relief, and lots of other things like admiration for Alfred's control and knowledge of what to do. I could have kissed him.

Actually, I did kiss him...

"Just hop on Bailey, we'll go find him~"

I looked up at Bailey. She was huge, and very intimidating. I was not getting on that.

"A-Are you sure? What are you going to ride?"

"Bailey too, we can both get on~!"

"Will she be big enough for that? I'm not sure we'd fit..."

He showed me a confused frown, looked up at Bailey's immense size and back to me. We both knew I was talking complete rubbish.

"Here, you want a hand up?" He walked to the side of Bailey, "I'll help you since you got a twisted foot and all."

I hesitated before reluctantly taking his help and shakily climbing on top of the horse. I hugged around her neck the moment I was on the saddle, she didn't seem to mind and I did not trust those reins anymore.

Alfred swung himself behind me and took the reins, suddenly I was very aware that his chest was pressed right to my back as he got comfy. My arse was squashed to his crotch area... and his breath was right in my ear. I could have sworn it was deliberate when he sighed right into the nape of my neck. Not that I minded shuddering in some sort of pleasure and suddenly getting goose-bumps...

It certainly distracted me from the fact I was sitting on a humongous horse.

"Alright, where'd he go?" His head rested on my shoulder as he spoke.

"The woods..." I bowed my head in the direction of the trees.

He nodded, his hair tickled my throat and chin, "'Kay, I'm gonna jump the fence so hold on tight."

The spell was broken suddenly. "You what!? Jump!?"

He sat up properly now, knowing that I was a lost cause, distractions wouldn't work anymore, "Yeah, it's nothing though, just hold on~"

"No! No we can't! No, we can't jump! Please, Alfred, don't!" I begged and grabbed his jacket as he got Bailey to gallop towards the fence.

"It's fine..." I heard him murmur absently and I buried my face in his shoulder as we headed straight for the wooden fence.

"No!" I almost screamed out as we left the ground.

For just a few seconds I felt lighter in the saddle and thunk. We were back on earth. Alfred was laughing.

"See? Not so bad, is it?"

I was almost hyperventilating as I patted myself down to make sure no part of me had gone missing.

"You stupid idiot!" I cried out.

"Aw was it that bad?" Alfred was still laughing, riding the horse into the woods as a hasty canter.

"Yes!"

We kept riding until we came to the woods. Not far into the mass of green we found a pond and at the pond was the creamy coloured Wilfred.

"I told you he hadn't gone far!" Alfred breathed a sigh of relief with me as we got a hold of the horse and led it along beside Bailey.

"Thank you, Alfred... What would I do without you!?"

He chuckled, "Don't thank me, I'm just glad we got him back safe and sound..."

"As am I." I paused, "Should I not get on him?" Alfred wrapped a hand around my stomach, no permitting me to leave just yet.

"With your twisted foot? No way..." He scooted forwards on the saddle. Suddenly we were pressed onto each other's bodies.

He really was doing this on purpose.

"Besides..." He continued, "I kinda like riding with you this way." And with Wilfred alongside he got the horses into a gentle trot.

I gasped, he was breathing -no, sighing- onto my neck and ear again. His hips bounced up and down against my back and fuck it felt good.

My face was on fire but I tried to settle down. It was obvious that I was in for a rather odd ride back to the stables.