EYES TO REMEMBER Chap 34 "Giddy Up, Ranger"
Stephanie laughed watching Tank, Bobby, and Lester carrying the rafts down to the lake so they could float for awhile. They'll be water logged. Allie, Sparky, and Hobo were all sound asleep on her bed wore out from water sliding. Her father was watching a baseball game stretched out on the sofa while her mother was sewing something. Julie and Katie were changing clothes to go to Butterfield Farm so they could check on Midnight.
"Carlos, did you have a good time?"
"Hmmmm," nuzzling Stephanie's neck as she was sitting in his lap as they rocked in the wicker rocker on the porch. "I especially like the view," running a finger around her tropical bikini top under the oversized tank she wore over it.
''Only that?"
Finding her lips, "No, these."
Stephanie's arms were around his neck, fingers tangled in his silky ponytail. He growled when she nipped his ear lobe.
"Ahem," came from behind them. Stephanie's father was watching them from the storm door. They never heard him.
"Do I need to separate you two?"
Ranger chuckled.
"Daddy!"
Julie and Katie were smiling broadly beside him.
"Go have fun, Pumpkin," Frank said, "but, if Allie wakes up before you get back, my Princess is going to be a little upset."
"I know. It will be more than a little," Stephanie agreed. "Hopefully, we'll be back before she wakes up."
"Enjoy riding."
Directing Ranger through the business district on Main Street, he turned off the main road and came upon green corn fields, white fences with horses and cows within them, rolling pastures.They were in an area of farms and small homesteads. He drove the Hummer under a high white arch, which read 'Butterfield Farm', to match the fencing. At the end of the driveway sat a sprawling ranch house with pink and white rose bushes with dark pink lilies interspersed between. Bud was riding his John Deere tractor cutting a portion of a field by the big red barn where Ranger parked.
Midnight was running carefree with some of the Palominos in a large fenced field off the barn. Thunder, the Pinto, and few other horses in another enclosed area beside it. Pygmy goats were eating some high grass off the other side of the barn.
"Those are so cute! Look how little," Julie was pointing to the small goats. "The horses are so beautiful."
'Hi, Honey," Bud brought the tractor to a stop near them getting off it carefully with his cast. Looking at Midnight, "She seems to have settled in quite well. Thunder keeps trying to make friends with her."
"He has good taste," Ranger acknowledged.
The girls were feeding the horses carrots and apples they brought over the fence.
"Can I use a couple of saddles?' Stephanie asked the farmer.
"Go ahead,' waving a hand towards the barn, "you know where everything is."
"Is there a particular Palomino I can saddle for the girls. Julie has no experience so I was going to let them ride together."
"I'd take either Sandy or Copper Penny. What about this beau of yours?"
Ranger chuckled at the reference to him by Bud.
"Carlos has never rode before either. Do you think we would be too much for Midnight?" Stephanie asked.
He looked at Ranger, then Stephanie, "No, just take it easy. Use one of the lighter saddles, too."
"I was just going to go out the trail and up to the pond and back. Allie's sleeping so I don't want to be gone too long. I was going to stop back later so my father could see her."
"We'll be here. Hey, what happened last night with BJ?"
Seeing Katie was occupied with Julie feeding the goats some apples, Stephanie quickly related the story.
After she finished, Bud angrily said through clenched teeth, "I knew he was bad news. He got what was coming to him and I hope more."
"If he makes it to jail," Stephanie stifled a giggle, "I hope he drops the soap. You have to watch those ex-Rangers," looking at Ranger.
"Babe."
Ranger walked into the barn with Stephanie, then into the tack room. She gathered up two saddle blankets, then checked out the saddles setting on top of saw horses. Julie and Katie wandered in after them.
"Want to take the blankets out?" Stephanie asked the girls. Each carrying out a blanket.
Next she picked a saddle for Katie's horse. A nice brown worn leather one. She started to pick it up, but Ranger grabbed it.
"Let me help you."
"Ok. Set it on the fence."
She watched Ranger walk out with the saddle checking out his tight ass. then, looking for a comfortable saddle for both of them.
"Like that, Babe."
She stuck out her tongue. Damn, his smugness!
"You going to use it," calling over his shoulder never looking at her.
She stuck her tongue back out twice.
Ranger laughed, "I guess so."
He walked back in chuckling until he saw the riding crop now in her hand.
"I should use this on you for being a Smart Ass!"
His eyes were dark, stalking over to her, "If I get to use it on you."
"I'm not a Smart Ass."
"You just drive me wild, that's enough," grabbing an end of the riding crop with one hand and the other end in his right hand after putting it against Stephanie's back so she was pinned against him so tight air couldn't fit between them. His lips came down devouring hers. Finally, breaking away, "Let's go ride,"
Stephanie was left panting and only nodded grabbing a brush before leaving the barn.
Katie had Midnight waiting for Stephanie handing the reins to her.
"Get Copper Penny for you and Julie."
"Ok," Katie walked back over to the fenced area towards the Palominos.
Stephanie started brushing Midnight, "Before putting a saddle on a horse, you want to make sure there's no dirt or anything in their hair to irritate their skin with the saddle on them," looking both at Ranger and his daughter.
Next, she laid the blanket on Midnight's back. Adjusted the stirrups based in her arms' length, then Ranger picked up the saddle and put it gently on the horse's back as Stephanie instructed from the left side. She cinched the saddle under her. Katie was showing Julie how to brush the Palomino and put on the blanket. Ranger picked up that saddle and Stephanie tightened it.
"Go ahead, Katie, get up there. I'll adjust the stirrups."
Once Katie was sitting on Copper Penny, she led the horse over to the fence so Julie could get on, then handed the reins over to Katie.
"Make sure you're weight is centered. Now, I'll get your father up and we can go."
Bud was holding Midnight's reins.
Stephanie told Ranger, "Carlos, put your left foot in the stirrup."
He went effortlessly up and swung his right leg over, sitting back in the saddle. Stephanie followed wearing a straw Cowboy hat from the rack in the barn and took the reins from Bud.
"You Ok, Midnight?"
The horse gave a whinny and shook her head.
"What about you back there?" Stephanie leaned her head back to look at Ranger.
He kissed her forehead, "I'm good back here, Babe," an arm went around her waist and fingers tickled her ass.
"Stop that," giggling. Clicking the reins, "Let's go, Girl."
"We'll go out the path and up to the pond, Katie, if you want to go a little faster."
Picking up her horse's pace heading down the path, "Ok."
Midnight picked up the pace going from a walk to a slow trot behind them. Ranger was listening to the sounds the hooves were making on the trail, feeling Stephanie in front of him.
'Is this hard for you?"
"What, Babe?"
"Not being in control?"
"Yes and No. I'm used to being in control but I have no experience riding a horse. So, I need to watch and learn. I think Julie is liking it. This is something totally new for me."
"There was a stable near our house in Denver. That's where we learned to ride. How is it so far?" turning her head to glance at Ranger.
"Still back here."
Stephanie did a 'Burg' eye roll.
"OK, it's relaxing. I'm just sitting watching the scenery go by and down."
She felt the waistband of her shorts pulled away.
"Hey!"
"Nice view," kissing her hair. "This is beautiful up here."
The horses were coming up to the pond. Katie and Julie were ahead trotting around the pond. There were cattails outlining the edge of the pond. At the far end was a wooden gazebo with blue irises and yellow roses blooming around it.
"Bud put that in for Beth. They will come up here for lunch when he comes in from the fields and after tending the animals or bring wine up in the evenings," Stephanie explained.
"They seem like a nice couple."
"Katie and I met them when we bought corn here. Also, we would come over to watch the horses."
Feeling the vibration of her cell phone, Stephanie slipped it out of her pocket, "Hello."
"Pumpkin."
Before Frank Plum could say another word, Stephanie could hear cries, "Mommy weft me!"
Holding it away from her ear, Ranger chuckled hearing the little girl. "Allie sounds upset."
"Daddy, we're coming around the pond and be there in a few minutes."
"Hurry. I can't stand to hear my Princess crying. We're sitting on the fence waiting."
Telling Ranger over her shoulder, "I was afraid this would happen, Allie waking up before we got back from riding."
Stephanie picked up Midnight's pace from a walk to the slower trot again heading towards the farm.
"Come on girls, Allie knows we left without her."
Katie called to Stephanie, "We'll never hear the end of it."
"Mommy, you weft me," the curly haired toddler was sitting on the fence top with her Grandfather, arms outstretched to her mother, tears running down her cheeks, crying with a broken heart. The two horses stopped right in front of her. The Ferrari was parked next to the Hummer.
Frank looked frazzled, 'I thought by driving over here she would calm down. When she realized you came here, the dam broke."
Stephanie got down from Midnight and held her so Ranger could dismount, then Stephanie immediately took her daughter in her arms. "Sweetheart, you were taking a nap. So, I came to check on Midnight."
She was rubbing her face in her mother's tank, gulping back a sob, "You weft me. I like horsies."
"After dinner, I was bringing you and Grandpa here to see her."
Pointing to the horse, "I go now," with a quivering bottom lip.
Letting out a chuckle, Ranger tickled her, "You're good. You could make me cry."
A small smile came over Allie's pouty little lips. Tears lingering on her long dark eyelashes. "Times up for you."
Stephanie sat her back on the fence, "I have to take the saddle off, Midnight." Thunder was saddled next to them, hoof scratching the dirt.
"Take her, Pumpkin. I'll get it off with my helper," Frank nodded at Ranger, who nodded in agreement.
Stephanie put the straw Cowboy hat on Ranger's head, "Giddy up, Cowboy," giving him a sly look then got up on Thunder's back.
Ranger handed a now smiling Allie up to her mother, "You were just crying, now you're smiling."
"I happy now," patting the horses large head.
Stephanie clicked the reins and touched her sneakers to Thunder's sides. He took off in a fast gallop up the path with Copper Penny following. Allie let out a happy shriek.
"How was your virgin horseback ride?" Stephanie's father asked as Ranger lifted off the saddle.
Flashing a contented smile, "Relaxing. Julie seems to be enjoying it. If we do well in our lessons, we might need more horses."