Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters nor the original Inspector Lynley Mysteries – they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC. I have borrowed the characters from the TV-Show and only own the ideas of my stories.

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Author's note and summary: Even detectives need some time off. These two spend it in Cornwall. Just a fluffy piece. Enjoy...

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Out in the Country - Riding Lesson

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He looked forward to the time after dinner, when they would be alone. He had decided to make it clear today. It was about time.

Tommy Lynley, 8th Earl of Asherton and Detective Inspector at the Met in London, was at his birthplace in Cornwall and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers was accompanying him. He still could not believe that she really had come with him, and even without an argument.

They had a few days off together. About two weeks ago he simply had asked her to join him at Howenstow and she simply had said "Okay. I'd love to have a change of air." Well, she had added that she was not going to join any boring function or anything similar but that only made it better that she had agreed on the slightly formal dinner tonight. Daze, his mother, had invited a friend and the mayor of Nanrunnel with his wife. His sister Judith also would be there, but afterwards he would have some precious time alone with Barbara. The others would go out to an open air play of the local Shakespeare theatre group which would end in a small after-show party. They would not be back before midnight.

Tommy was going to have a lot of time sitting at the fireplace with Barbara and talking with her. He had a lot to talk about. Except for the strenuous day of arrival and the following day which had been a bit chaotic for some reasons, the previous days had been extraordinarily enjoyable. They had spent almost every minute together and their proximity had become more and more familiar. He finally knew what he had to tell her after dinner when they would be alone.

But before dinner he would have a shower. It had been a slightly exhausting day and there only was a bit more than an hour to get refreshed.

... x X x ...

"Have a ride?" Barbara asked with a confused expression and hid her nose behind a huge mug of coffee. They were all sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen when Tommy had asked her to have a ride in the hall next to the stables. "Sir, all I know about riding is from when I was a kid and donkey riding at the beach of Blackpool. And you know these creatures are indifferent to anything and anybody. I wouldn't dare sit on a horse. Least of all on one of your huge pedigree horses."

Tommy laughed. "But at least you know the basics." He winked. He knew that she knew that he knew very well, that donkey riding at a beach had nothing to do with riding. Least of all with riding on one of his admittedly really big horses.

She rolled her eyes. "Bull... Bollocks!" She had changed her phrase with a look at Daze who only lowered her morning papers just a tad.

Judith laughed out loud. "Oh, Barbara, once you'd sit on Chilli you'll never want to get down again."

"Chilli?" Barbara asked. "Oh, yeah. It sounds quite... fiery."

"Not at all, my dear." Daze chimed in. "She may be called Chilli Pepper but she's my dear old mare, probably the calmest horse on earth. Sometimes even too calm, if you ask me."

"Oh, I don't mind to have her sedated before you put me on it." Tommy had to chuckle about Barbara's words. "Isn't this the huge one you sat on when we arrived here?" Daze nodded. "Oh, bloody hell, I'll never get on this giant!"

But she did.

Judith's breeches and Daze's boots fit her perfectly well, a helmet was found, and Tommy was delighted to see Barbara in clothes hugging her beautiful curves in such a delicate way. He turned rather abruptly and led the way to the stables.

"She's a giant." Barbara breathed when they reached Chilli Pepper's box.

"But a gentle giant!" he replied.

Realising they were here to see her, Chilli came to the half open door and put her head out. She knew that there must be a treat for her. Tommy gave her some hard bread crumbs which she happily munched. Barbara carefully stepped closer.

"Don't be afraid." Tommy encouraged her. "Come, give her a pat. She loves to cuddle."

As if to emphasise it, his face disappeared in her mane. His arms went around her neck and Chilli seemed to lean into his touch. Barbara dared to caress the other side of the horse's neck and accidentally stroked across Tommy's hand that still laid there. She quickly withdrew her hand. His head came around Chilli's head. He grinned broadly.

"She has an impressive mane." Barbara said overplaying the touch. "And an impressive height. I'll never get onto that colossus."

"You will." he replied. "Here. Get that helmet on."

Explaining everything, Tommy combed her, cleaned her hooves and then saddled her. He was watched by Barbara sitting on a bale of straw. Everything was warm and it smelled of horses, leather and hay. In one moment he caught the sight of her leaning against the wall and inhaling deeply. It made him smile.

Of course, Barbara was allowed to use the stair to climb on Chilli's back in the stables. Tommy led her into the riding hall and walked them around, telling her how to hold her hands, to sit straight, and what to do with her heels. Although she told him multiple times that it was really high on the horse's back, Barbara dared to let Chilli walk at the lunge.

Nobody else was allowed in the riding hall of course.

"Looks good!" Tommy said.

"Nah..." Barbara objected. "It feels rather strange..."

"Chilli is the most empathetic and calm horse I know. You should try to ride on your own. She will just walk the rounds. She knows the way. Hands higher!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Then he explained how to steer the horse with small movements at the reins and Barbara was able to walk towards the middle of the hall where Tommy stood.

"And with a little tug you'll make her stop. Emphasise it with a... Yes, just like that." Instinctively, she had moved her hips and slightly leaned backwards.

Chilli came to a halt in front of the Earl and immediately searched for another treat. She sniffed her nostrils across his jacket and he could not help but caress her and give her a small portion of her favourite hard bread crumbs.

Tommy looked up to Barbara. He was happy that she had given in to his plea and actually sat on a horse. And in her eyes he could see a happiness she could not hide completely, although she tried to sound casual when she told him that it was better than she had expected.

"And easier... sort of."

"Then just try it on your own." Barbara's eyes went wide at his suggestion. He patted the horse's neck and released the lunge. "You don't have to be afraid, believe me."

When she was free, Chilli Pepper made a step to the side and Barbara sucked in a shocked breath. "How will I make her walk?"

"Give her just a tiny pressure with your thighs and push your... Hey! You know it already!"

For a while Barbara let Chilli walk along the edge of the riding place. The horse knew the path by heart but when there was a small tug at the rein she walked closer to Tommy and then in a nice circle. Tommy gave hints and reminded Barbara several times how to sit or hold her hands.

"Don't cramp." he said. "Or the pressure of your thighs gives wrong signals."

"What will happen?" Barbara asked. Her face was red and her expression was something between strained focus and pure happiness.

"She'd speed up."

"Like thi- whoa!"

Out of pure imprudence, Barbara had pressed her thighs against the horse's sides and suddenly Chilli was in a trot.

Only for a couple of moments Barbara was shocked but then she enjoyed it.

Tommy adored her. She seemed to be a natural talent. Of course it did not look perfect and the reining was too obvious but her bottom was glued to the saddle. She had chosen the rather unusual way of riding a trot but it was chosen by instinct and both the horse and her rider appeared to feel comfortable with it.

Two hours had gone by in a heartbeat. Barbara was completely out of breath when she slowed Chilli down to walk and finally stopped near her riding teacher. Her face was flushed and her chest was heaving rapidly. Pure bliss was beaming from her eyes. She patted the horse's neck and purred a sweet thank to Chilli.

Taking hold onto the reins Tommy stepped closer. His heart was beating fast because of the visible joy Barbara had in her riding experience. He looked into her eyes and almost blurted out that he loved her. He only could hope that she did not recognise his excitement. "I love... to go on a country ride with you."

"Nah!" Barbara laughed. "I wouldn't dare!"

"You'll see, in a week you're almost as good in the saddle as I am."

"Stop being silly, Sir!"

They brought the horse back to the stables, Tommy unsaddled her, and they combed her down together. Back in the kitchen Barbara plonked onto a chair and groaned.

"I'm so exhausted!" she sighed.

"Hush! Off you go. You should have a very hot bath. Or tomorrow you'll be sore all over."

Barbara still laughed on her way up the stairs, so Tommy better kept it to himself that she would feel every muscle on the next day anyway.

... x X x ...

This had been about one week ago. Tommy remembered every nice second of it when he undressed and slipped into his bath robe.

Thinking about Barbara in riding clothes, he folded his trousers and hung up his shirt.

He would never forget that sight.

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