Chapter 52: Let's Go Riding
"Um... Derek... itching... I am itching." Meredith quickly jumped up out of the hay, just now getting off the sex fog to realize she was in the hay.
"And I thought you liked the hay." He smirked, sitting up to help get their clothes.
"No, I got caught up in the moment... no more hay. I may get hives from that shit." Meredith said trying to be serious, but really playing around.
"You aren't going to get hives." He laughed with her watching her furiously find her clothes that somehow got strewed all over.
"I had hives once Derek... BAD SHIT... really bad shit. Trust me... you don't want me to get hives." Meredith laughed.
"And you are the expert in hives?" He got up, trying to look around for his own clothes, suddenly shuddering at the cold weather outside.
"I am... I had them... and it was hell, pure hell. Chris had to . . ." She stopped not even thinking what she was saying, but she knew Derek wouldn't want to hear.
Derek stopped what he was doing and looked at her. He knew she was panicked at saying his name, "He had to do what?" Derek asked knowing she didn't mean to. He also knew... she was completely in love with him, and he would never question that.
She let out the breath she was holding. She couldn't believe she had the most wonderful man ever. She smiled nervously and continued, "He had to hear me bitch about it, non-stop. They never knew what caused it, but probably stress. Life was crazy in med school. You remember what that was like, I'm sure."
"I do. Very stressful for everyone. You know though, I would take care of you... go and get you benedryl and stuff. I can play a very good nurse you know." Derek smiled going back to gathering his clothes and putting them on. Meredith was doing the same thing.
"I would like to see you play nurse." She said getting dangerously close to him, with her bra, panties, and jeans on. She had yet to find the sweater as that was the first thing to go.
"I am a very good nurse." He breathed in her ear, knowing they needed to get their clothes on before they were all shed again.
"Derek... clothes, we need to put... clothes on... riding." She breathed, grazing her mouth on his ear.
He pulled back hesitantly, "Yes, riding... the horses."
"I will help you... put the... um... thingy on." Meredith said as she walked over to the spot, she found her sweater.
"Are you talking about the saddle?" Derek couldn't help but laugh putting his sweater on at the same time.
"Yes, that is it." She giggled.
"It isn't as easy as it looks you know." Derek knew she could more than handle it, but he loved giving her a challenge.
"Are you suggesting Dr. Shepherd that I... may not be able to do it?" She asked raising an eyebrow, challenging him, just like he knew she would.
"I would never do that." He smirked.
"That is what I thought." She said rolling her eyes, going over to, Queenie, who was Derek's horse, but the horse she rode last time, "Hello, Queenie, how are you this morning?" She said petting the horse's nose.
Derek looked over at her and couldn't help but smile while he was getting the gear out of the tack room. She really was a natural with the horses. She wasn't timid in anyway and that was good; many people are when they are around horses for the first few times. He never even would consider ever bringing Jill here.
She continued to talk with Queenie and then went to her son, Koda, who Derek rode last time they went out.
"So, do you want to stick with Queenie today or ride on Koda?" Derek smiled.
"I think I will stick with her today. She is beautiful. They both are."
Derek began to gather the saddle pad to put on first and Meredith grabbed the other one. "Oh, that is Koda's that you have. Put it over him like this." Derek dropped the one he had to help her and show her. She really did want to help.
He helped her put the saddle on Koda because he could ride with it less than perfect, but hers, he wanted to make sure everything was perfect with hers. If the saddle was off, it could create a hard ride. He put Queenie's saddle on, knowing it was perfect for her.
"Ok, I think we are ready." Derek smiled at Meredith, seeing her almost expertly throw her foot in the stirrup and throw herself on the saddle perfectly. He... had to stop and watch her. Something about seeing her... up on the horse, made him want her, but he had to get those thoughts out of his head right now because they were riding. He wanted to ride with her sometime soon.
They rode through the trail together before coming to a clearing. They talked a little, but for the most part, they just enjoyed the cool, crisp morning with the sun glimmering through the trees.
Derek pulled Koda beside Queenie, "So, are you up for running them?"
"Of course. What do I need to do?" She asked curiously, excited that they were about to do more than walk.
"Just hold on to the reins tight. Watch my lead and she will probably follow Koda knowing it is time to run. They run a lot in this opening after being in the trail." He smiled at her knowing she would do great.
He and Koda took off and Meredith followed, Queenie going just as Derek said she would when Meredith indicated they were running.
After a few seconds of them running, Derek hears it... and his heart stops, he hears... the bucking... of Queenie. He quickly whipped the reins around so that Koda would turn around and the second he saw her... he saw the most terrifying thing in his life…