Here is the horse riding chapter … solely for the fun of it… hope you enjoy

Chapter 37

"You've got to be kidding me." Escaped Kate's mouth before her jaw fell open in sheer disbelief. She saw Rick appear from the stables with a tall, impressive horse beside him. The horse made Rick look short, in fact even small in build. Kate released a noise of partial amusement at the visual of her partner and his horse, partial fear and a great deal of excitement. She loved to take a risk and had patiently waited for this moment all day.

Rick had refused to allow Kate access to the stables and the horse prior to this moment. During the entire morning, in his typical dramatic writer way, Rick had said and done everything he could think of to increase the level of suspense to the situation. The last thing he had said to Kate was he didn't want her getting anxious. Yeah ha ha she had responded almost 20 minutes ago, having ignored his behavior most of the day. So Kate had sat with Marley, Martha and Alexis in the shade of an old elm tree waiting for Rick to present his horse. Martha and Alexis had regularly nipped at her confidence, had a bit of a laugh and told her elaborate stories of Rick's horse. They made the horse sound like he behaved like a monster, not an animal of flight. Kate had luckily been distracted by the fact she had caught Martha and Marley exchanging subtle expressions with each other. There was romance in the air and Kate was determined to maintain z close observation of their progress. She wasn't sure whether Rick had noticed, and Alexis certainly hadn't. She was more interested in getting to know her grandfather.

"Don't let his size frighten you." Marley responded calmly. Instantly Alexis scoffed in total disagreement. Kate glanced between the two of them then back to the horse. He was brown in color, a messy mane and tail. He was alert as hell. Bright eyes looked about and ears twitched rapidly in response to noises in the environment.

"He looks excited." Kate remarked observing the horse as he suddenly stopped his stance square. He his was right up, ears pricked forward. He snorted. Rick had instantly stopped and quietly waited as his horse stepped sideways, his attention on some weanlings galloping about in a neighboring paddock. Kate saw the horse give a bit of a rear in excitement but also noticed not once did Rick react. Each time the horse played up Rick waited it out and continued on his path to the mounting yard. Kate seriously noted that. It seemed that Rick ignoring the behavior from the horse and note making an issue of it was Rick's way of keeping things quiet. That's kind of how he was with her. She flew off in a temper and he more than often remained calm.

Regardless of Rick's experienced composure with his horse, Kate kind of wished she could have a cigarette right now and she didn't smoke. A drink would have been good too. "He's certainly big." She repeated. She drew a big deep breath. "No fear." She reminded herself and grinned to her new family, clapping her hands a coupled time. "Ok guys. At least wait till I'm out of hearing range before you start putting down your bets." She stated and heard them laugh. In fact it was purely wicked laughter that caused her to pull a face in disgust at them. "And I thought you were my friends." She stated.

"I'm backing you Kate." Marley called as Kate wandered over to the mounting area. She carried a new black helmet and gloves. Rick had insisted she buy new jodhpurs that morning. She had elected to purchase a dark purple pair she had found. Rick had been satisfied because they had suede seat in the buttocks and thighs region to help her stick to his leather saddle. She also had new riding boots and chaps. They had discussed in the store that if she liked horse riding and wanted to do it more, they would invest in more equipment but she was pretty much equipped for her initial stage of learning to ride.

It was the only time Rick could recall in his life that he wanted to lose a bet and was doing everything in his power to ensure he would lose the bet with his father, which was in effect against his own girlfriend. Kate, although a little hesitant by the horse's excitement, was secretly quite excited by the prospect of riding the horse. At the mounting yard, Kate reached Rick and took a moment to check him out. He looked kind of hot in his dusty t-shirt and jeans, old leather boots, unshaven, his hair roughed up, horse hair all over him. He grinned at Kate.

"Did I tell you how hot you look in horse riding attire?" He inquired checking out her long legs in the tight pants. The top half wasn't bad either in an white cotton singlet top, a dark colored bra beneath. He pulled her in for quick kiss grabbing her ass and she instantly smacked blindly at his hand which caused him laugh devilishly.

"I look hot to you in anything Castle at this stage in our relationship." She smartly answered but smiled to him pinching his left cheek as he playfully squawked in response. She then patted his cheek with her finger tips. "But you look so adorable with your pony at your side." She teased in a high voice and received a playful smack on her right buttock for her remark.

"You're naughty." He said letting her go. "This is Chuck." He continued with heavy emphasis on the horse's name mainly to tease her. "Chuck. This is Kate." He said to the horse. "Look after her man. She's my girlfriend."

"Chuck?" She exclaimed glancing between the horse and his owner. "You call him Chuck?" She queried not sure whether to believe Rick. She touched the horse's muzzle with her fingertips of her left hand, holding Rick's hand with her right one. As soon as she felt Chuck's soft fur she grinned uncontrollably at Rick who smiled in amusement at her inquisitiveness of the horse.

"He chucks people Kate." Richard told her. "So he got named Chuck. His real name we forgot years ago. Alexis may remember it."

"He's beautiful." She laughed as the horse moved in closer to her, breathing in Kate's scent, his muzzle browsing her body. She stood still letting him do it, not at all afraid of the animal that was almost as tall as she was, his warm air blowing gently against her skin. She sniffed his scent, the smell of sweet grass on his breath. She savored the smell, some sense waking inside her that she liked. The horse suddenly blew air from his lungs making a loud noise that cause Kate to jump a little in surprise and laugh in response. She wiped her face that he had just sprayed with drops of saliva with her bare forearm. "I'm ready. I listened to Esposito tell me what to do when I'm riding, I listened to you. I'm ready." She affirmed. "I'm committed to do this." She stated looking at Rick's blue eyes.

"Put on your helmet then." Rick said with the distinct feeling Kate was going to pull this off. He looked over to his family who were staying back so Rick could concentrate on assisting Kate. She put on the helmet and clipped it up. "Ok, remember, stay straight in the saddle and keep your legs on his body. Keep it simple today Kate. Not heroics."

"I won't." She seriously replied and as Rick guided her, she moved to the left hand side of the horse. He glanced to the barn.

"Thank bloody God." He said relieved.

"What?" Kate looked to him and followed his gaze to see a woman coming from the barn. "Who is she Rick?" She asked suspiciously and with a tone of jealously.

"She is your new riding instructor. You won't listen to me so I hired you the best instructor I know." He handed her the reins of the horse and kissed her cheek. "Sandra will take over from now. Please listen to what she says, just do it and don't think about it." He explained. Once Sandra was close he introduced the two women.

Kate shook Sandra's hand grinning, already liking this woman. They were about the same age, she was as tall as Kate but her hair was fair, naturally blond and drop dead gorgeous. Her second thought was Rick had slept with her. The woman was stunning.

"I hear there is a bet on as to whether you will stay on old Chuck." Sandra remarked patting the horse's shoulder.

"There is." Kate smiled. "I'm opting for the stay on. He's too big to fall off of."

"That he is."

Rick watched on a couple of minutes as the girls talked about the concept of riding. He never guessed that day he had introduced Kate to a woman who would become one of her closest friends at the Hamptons. Little did they know, this ride was going to change Kate's life forever. "I will leave you to get this lesson started." He said to Kate and leaned into her ear. He whispered. "No, I haven't," and kissed her cheek and looked directly in her eyes seeing she understood.

Sandra called as Rick walked away. "A hundred Kate will stay on Rick."

Castle laughed. "Alright, but I'm going be fucking broke by the end of the day betting against my girlfriend. Does everyone hear that, against the girlfriend." He called back and kept walking to stand with his family. Bets started increasing as they stood and waited for the ride to begin.

"He sounds a little worried." Sandra observed.

"Mmmm." Kate replied. "He's just nursed me back from the brink of death so I can understand his concern." She said seriously, then grinned wickedly. "I'm determined to stay on. I've always been a risk taker and that won't change. He's just gotta get used to it. But he's supposed to be on my team and he's betting against me."

"He's on your team Kate. He was freaking out in the stables. I just happened to be there. I had just finished riding my horse."

"Ok. So you ride a lot."

"Yes. Rick says you have never ridden a horse."

Kate grinned. "I lied." She stated.

Sandra smirked. "Seriously?"

"Mmm. I thought I would give them all something to bond with last night. They assumed I don't ride, so I let them assume. Rick's Dad is new on the scene."

"Smart girl, I think."

"I thought it would be fun to observe them in conflict. It's been comical." Kate grinned broadly recalling the conversations, teasing and planning that had gone into this moment, all because she had said she had never ridden a horse. "I'm finding the dynamics of the family interesting." Kate commented. "And they have been at each other continually since the bets were placed."

"I think I like you a lot Kate." Sandra stated, looking over to the group who were involved in animated discussion.

Kate looked to Sandra, studied her face. "Me too Sandra. But I should warn you, I'm quite the devil," she added.

"I think I can see that. Maybe that's what Rick likes about you. He's been talking about you for years."

Kate scoffed. "More so been trying to sleep with me for years," She corrected.

"That too. So when did you ride before?"

"When I was a kid I was sent to my Dad's brother's farm during the summer. My cousin and rode the ponies bareback with rope halters everywhere all summer. I've never ridden with English tack like all this equipment on Chuck. Just jeans, boots and helmets."

"You'll win this bet." Sandra said.

"I think so." Kate confirmed. "I just don't know how to mount with a saddle. I'm accustomed to hopping and jumping on."

"Alright. Let's get on with it."

The group fell quiet and sat along the post and rail fence as Kate mounted the horse. Sandra walked with her onto the riding arena, holding the rein for a few minutes. They could hear the women talking but didn't know that they were saying.

"This is horrible." Rick stated after 10 minutes of watching his girlfriend and horse walking with Sandra.

"She is ok." Marley responded.

"I'm not talking about that. What I'm saying is we are literally siting here waiting for Chuck to do what he does so well."

Alexis smirked. "This could be the end of your relationship with Detective Beckett." She teased.

"Detective Beckett is the most determined woman I have ever met." Martha replied. "She will do this."

"I won't lose her because of a horse." Rick replied.

They fell silent as they saw Kate start to ride the horse at a walk in a large circle around her instructor who was stationary. She was constantly speaking to Kate, who was seated straight, her legs wrapped well about the horse's girth. The horse above all, remained calm and obedient.

They could see Sandra was instructing Kate to transition the horse from walk to trot. Kate was doing very well with her work so far. Rick watched on his heart starting to move to his throat because he knew Chuck had a tendency to play up when he progressed to his first trot under saddle. Not a second later Chuck stopped dead in his track swishing his tail in response to Kate's prompt to encourage him to continue.

"Here we go." Rick murmured in worry when he saw his horse give a mediocre rear. He heard Sandra yell at Kate to allow in the reins and instantly the horse sprung energetically forward once Kate did as she was told. She whooped and laughed in response to the power between her legs. She fell behind the ride a little but regained her balance and rode forward, rising out of the saddle as instructed.

"She's bloody laughing." Marley stated in disbelief.

"I hear." Rick responded. His breath hitched as Chuck suddenly jumped forward again, dropped his head and threw in a bit of buck in response to Kate's riding. Kate almost lost her seat but was saved by her legs gripping him and her hands falling to his wither. She growled at the horse and pushed him forward, suddenly riding in a canter. "I've heard that tone before." Rick sheepishly remarked and everyone chuckled.

"Chuck will behave now then." Marley replied. "I've been on the receiving end of that growl as well." He added recalling the evening he had his agent save her.

"I thought she said she had never ridden a horse." Alexis commented.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Rick asked his daughter.

"She looks like she's ridden before." Alexis replied watched Kate as she rode the horse in canter. It was easy to see Kate was not accustomed to riding and was relying on her natural balance and abilities as an athlete to stay on the horse, but Alexis could see there was experience or she was naturally a good rider. She was keeping the horse relatively straight between her legs, and most importantly she was making Chuck continue to move forward. Most people who failed with Chuck didn't permit him to move forward. Because he had such a large stride in all his gaits, riders often jammed him. Because Rick was such a fearless rider, he permitted Chuck to go forward naturally. Kate had obviously listened to Rick because the more she allowed the horse to freely move forward the better they went.

"She's a noisy rider." Martha noted listening to Kate's laughter and vocal prompts at Chuck to keep moving. In fact the faster the horse moved the more noise she made and the better she rode.

Marley laughed. "She's having fun. I guess you have lost your bet Castle."

"It's not over yet." Rick answered and continued to watch his girlfriend fearlessly ride exactly as Sandra told her to. Towards the end of the lesson as she was cooling the horse down, Rick walked out to stand with Sandra who wore a big grin over her face. She patted Rick on the shoulder.

"Man, can Kate ride or what?" She asked excitedly, turning her eyes back to Kate who was maintaining a trot around the entire arena now.

"She can ride. I get the feeling she's done it before." Rick said.

"Never ridden with a saddle and bridle she told me."

"Oh."

"She survived Chuck. Turned him into a pussy."

Rick laughed. "Yeah, and I think I've just lost my horse."

"I think so."

"I'll buy her one." Rick said and walked to Kate and his horse and she walked to them, letting the horse have his head. She let her feet out of the stirrups, hanging them down. Chuck was breathing hard, as he walked to his owner. He stopped square heaving heavily. Kate stayed in the saddle a huge grin over her sweaty face.

"Castle, this is totally awesome. Can we come out again tomorrow?" She asked patting the horse's neck.

"We can."

Chuck took a big breath, exhaled in a big spray of foamy saliva and shook his whole body. Kate hung on not expecting such a movement. When it was over she swung off the horse and hopped to the ground. Rick took hold of the reins anticipating Kate's legs would turn to jelly from all the expenditure on her muscles to stay on the horse. He held his arm out for her as she laughed reaching out to Rick's hand.

"Oh my God, my legs." She exclaimed. "That was so much fun Castle. Thank you Sandra." She shook out her legs. Stable she let go of his hand and pulled off her helmet. Her hair was wet.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it and I'm very pleased I lost my bet."

"There was a moment I thought you were gonna win." Kate confessed. "When I squeezed him and he jumped forward. I thought I was going off the back of him but I saved myself."

"I love your long legs Beckett." Rick exclaimed. "Let's go clean him up. He did good." Rick gave his horse a good stroke down his neck and let him rub his head over his back. "I had a chat with him in the barn and told him to take care of you."

"Sure Castle." Kate glanced to Sandra as the three of them commenced to walk to the stables.

"Kate."

"Mmm…?"

"These notes are great."

"I know." She grinned, quite proud of the notes she had written in her copy of his novel.

"To the point at times."

"Of course." Her eyes looked up from the manuscript she was reviewing for Richard. They were alone in his study. "This is a great story Honey."

Rick smiled to his girlfriend who was stretched down the length of the aged brown leather couch he had once found at an antique sale. He loved the couch being a part of his study and more so found that the sight of Kate relaxed on it her bare legs over one end of it extremely appealing. She was lying on her back with his iPad reading his work. A few days ago, he had talked with her indicating he wanted to have time with her alone every day if it was possible. He didn't care what they were doing, but they agreed to put at least a half hour aside each day for them. She had said it would be important to her a well.

Earlier, Marley had offered to take everyone out for a mid-afternoon lunch but Castle had declined as he sensed Kate was tired from the ride and reluctant to go out. As much as she was active and back to basically normal, he saw how much she struggled mid-afternoon most days. Kate had told Rick to go but had said she was too tired to venture out. She was awfully pale now but seemed ok in herself. He also wanted Alexis to have one on one time with her grandfather. Martha had gone to meet a friend for a couple of hours.

"You like it?" He inquired.

"I do." Kate laid the iPad on her stomach and closed her eyes feeling very drowsy. Their morning training session the horse riding lesson and a swim had worn her out. "I like this," she murmured.

"Lying there?"

"Mmm… Just doing nothing, relaxing, being with you without having to do something."

"Never done it in your life have you?"

Kate opened her eyes and stared at his calm expression. "Done nothing? Like this?"

"Exactly," he confirmed.

"Never. Never can I remember just lying around." She lifted the iPad off her and laid it on the floor where it was safe.

"Well, you look gorgeous just lying around."

Kate smiled, "Can we stay here?"

"For as long as you want."

"If we went back to New York?"

"We go back to living in the city. You go back to work at the Precinct and I continue my life."

Kate hummed a contemplative response. "I will need to go back to work to pay the bills."

"The bills can wait," Rick reassured. "I'm not ready to go back just yet."

"Me neither." Kate closed her eyes and laid her forearm over them to block out the daylight. She thought about the fact that one day soon she would have to make a decision that involved people other than herself. The day they returned to New York she would be in a position better known as being between a rock and a hard place. She had a life in New York, a career, her own apartment and independence. Would Rick ask her to give it all up to be with him or would he allow a natural progression of their relationship to occur? He had been married twice already and might not want to commit to her in their normal lives. Their first hurdle in the city at his loft would be to face the scene of the fight again. Rick had been there since but Kate had not. She made a grunt in response to the thought of seeing the study again.

"Kate?"

"Mmm?"

"I don't want to go back to the city yet Babe. I'm not ready." He put the novel on his desk face down so he wouldn't lose his page. There was a sound that came from Kate that he thought indicated she understood his statement. He saved his work. "I've started writing again."

"I know, and it's really good what you have done." The draft she had been reading contained two chapters, written as he described in his first draft.

"If you read what I wrote the night you were taken to the hospital …." He waved it off, leaning back in his chair.

"I would probably have you committed." She giggled and heard him break into a chuckle. "Ryan told me you were writing like a madman."

"Fair description," Rick replied quietly. "Hey, do you want to watch a movie with me?"

"What movie Castle?" She asked suspiciously.

"I was thinking about The Green Hornet."

Kate lifted her arm, turned her head towards Rick and opened her eyes to him. He immediately expected a line of ridicule from Kate and braced himself for it. "Ok. I'll watch The Green Hornet with you, so long as you supply the popcorn."

Rick pushed himself out of his seat chair quite excited. He went to Kate who passed him his iPad which he took. With his spare hand he half lifted her off the couch and led her to the formal lounge he had a large flatscreen. He hit the button to close the windows to make the room dark. "If you find the DVD on that shelf over there, I will go make the popcorn and drinks." Rick said and pulled her in close for a kiss. "Best girlfriend," he stated. "You're the first one who is a graphic book fan." He added as he started to leave the room.

"And magic fan." Kate added.

"Like I said, best girlfriend." He yelled out as he walked out of the room to go make the popcorn. "Best girlfriend eva!"