Lucy stood on the porch watching the sun rise the next morning. The
sunrise was beautiful and birds were chirping. She'd been right to come.
Ben came out onto the porch. He definitely looked better than yesterday. She hadn't seen him for the rest of the day. Maybe he slept all day. He said, "Don't mind solitude?"
"I like it."
"Well I like being around people. I like all kinds."
She laughed quietly, he spoke the truth.
"You have a beautiful laugh Lucy."
That was her cue. She reached for her case of supplies, but Ben was quicker. "Leaving again? Want some company?"
"I work better by myself, thank you."
"Work?"
"Paint" she pointed to her case.
"Really? I thought you worked for the CIA."
Lucy nervously laughed. Why would he think that, even if he was kidding? Did he wonder about her? Did everyone? She reached for her case, "Will you excuse me please" She walked over to the stables and saw Kevin hitching up the same horse. She wanted a horse with power and strength, but decided not to argue.
Lucy rode out into the woods in search of a scene to paint. After searching, without luck, she emerged into an opening. She could see the corral. Kevin had driven up his truck and was working the colt.
She stopped to watch. Kevin's muscles bunched and with a swift, smooth motion he mounted the horse. The horse reared up then jackknifed. Kevin ended up on the ground covered in dirt. He caught the reins and led the horse over to where Lucy stood at the fence.
She reached her hand to his muzzle. "I'm certain I could ride him. Maybe he only fights you."
"I don't think so."
"You'll never know for sure until you let me try." She gave him her most genuine, honest smile.
Kevin didn't return the smile and simply said, "No."
She hid her annoyance. "Do you not mind pain?"
"I accept it. Ben doesn't, that's why he never helps."
Lucy rubbed the horse's chin and he nodded. "I think he like me."
"Ben?"
She frowned. "Destiny."
"Forget it Lucy."
She decided to add stubborn to the list that described him. She left in search of something to paint. Unfortunately, Cassie's boys found her and were asking questions and distracting her. She wondered if she let them take the horse if they would leave. "Did your parents sign a waiver?"
"No, they didn't want to pay extra" one responded.
Pay extra? Kevin didn't charge her extra.
"Well you why don't you boys just climb up there and I'll let you take him riding."
She walked the horse down to Kevin's corral. He saw them coming and without saying a word removed the boys from the saddle. They climbed on the fence, pestering Kevin with questions. Satisfied with herself, she left to retrieve her supplies.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just before dinner, Kevin approached Lucy on the porch. "Did the boys not tell you their parents didn't sign the waiver?"
"No they did, but they sure enjoyed the rind" she smiled.
"Lucy... do you have a problem with rules?"
Yes. More so then she thought. "I thought they would like to see you work."
He held her gaze straight on. "Is that what you thought." His tone made it an untruth, not a question. "Well they distracted Destiny so much that I had to quit working him. I run a careful operation. I can't have people crossing highways or letting children ride without permission."
She winced but had no answer.
"Do I make myself clear?"
"I understand."
"Good." Then he took the steps purposefully and went inside.
Lucy took a deep breath. What was she thinking, antagonizing Kevin, the owner. What if he asked her to leave? The thought was sobering. That night she slept deeply with out dreams – or at least none that made her whimper and shake.
The next morning, Lucy ran into the professor. "Do you consider painting for money or visiting a gallery?"
"I would if I could" she replied, half out the door. She wanted to catch the sunrise.
"I bet you could, if you paint from your heart/"
"Thanks professor."
That evening she returned to the ranch with her paintings. She asked the professor his opinion. "I'm no artist, but I think this is high quality work. You should talk to the gallery."
Her spirits soared, but she kept it hidden as she returned the painting to the case.
A/N: Keep the reviews coming. Some things will be explained/cleared up in the next chapter.
Ben came out onto the porch. He definitely looked better than yesterday. She hadn't seen him for the rest of the day. Maybe he slept all day. He said, "Don't mind solitude?"
"I like it."
"Well I like being around people. I like all kinds."
She laughed quietly, he spoke the truth.
"You have a beautiful laugh Lucy."
That was her cue. She reached for her case of supplies, but Ben was quicker. "Leaving again? Want some company?"
"I work better by myself, thank you."
"Work?"
"Paint" she pointed to her case.
"Really? I thought you worked for the CIA."
Lucy nervously laughed. Why would he think that, even if he was kidding? Did he wonder about her? Did everyone? She reached for her case, "Will you excuse me please" She walked over to the stables and saw Kevin hitching up the same horse. She wanted a horse with power and strength, but decided not to argue.
Lucy rode out into the woods in search of a scene to paint. After searching, without luck, she emerged into an opening. She could see the corral. Kevin had driven up his truck and was working the colt.
She stopped to watch. Kevin's muscles bunched and with a swift, smooth motion he mounted the horse. The horse reared up then jackknifed. Kevin ended up on the ground covered in dirt. He caught the reins and led the horse over to where Lucy stood at the fence.
She reached her hand to his muzzle. "I'm certain I could ride him. Maybe he only fights you."
"I don't think so."
"You'll never know for sure until you let me try." She gave him her most genuine, honest smile.
Kevin didn't return the smile and simply said, "No."
She hid her annoyance. "Do you not mind pain?"
"I accept it. Ben doesn't, that's why he never helps."
Lucy rubbed the horse's chin and he nodded. "I think he like me."
"Ben?"
She frowned. "Destiny."
"Forget it Lucy."
She decided to add stubborn to the list that described him. She left in search of something to paint. Unfortunately, Cassie's boys found her and were asking questions and distracting her. She wondered if she let them take the horse if they would leave. "Did your parents sign a waiver?"
"No, they didn't want to pay extra" one responded.
Pay extra? Kevin didn't charge her extra.
"Well you why don't you boys just climb up there and I'll let you take him riding."
She walked the horse down to Kevin's corral. He saw them coming and without saying a word removed the boys from the saddle. They climbed on the fence, pestering Kevin with questions. Satisfied with herself, she left to retrieve her supplies.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just before dinner, Kevin approached Lucy on the porch. "Did the boys not tell you their parents didn't sign the waiver?"
"No they did, but they sure enjoyed the rind" she smiled.
"Lucy... do you have a problem with rules?"
Yes. More so then she thought. "I thought they would like to see you work."
He held her gaze straight on. "Is that what you thought." His tone made it an untruth, not a question. "Well they distracted Destiny so much that I had to quit working him. I run a careful operation. I can't have people crossing highways or letting children ride without permission."
She winced but had no answer.
"Do I make myself clear?"
"I understand."
"Good." Then he took the steps purposefully and went inside.
Lucy took a deep breath. What was she thinking, antagonizing Kevin, the owner. What if he asked her to leave? The thought was sobering. That night she slept deeply with out dreams – or at least none that made her whimper and shake.
The next morning, Lucy ran into the professor. "Do you consider painting for money or visiting a gallery?"
"I would if I could" she replied, half out the door. She wanted to catch the sunrise.
"I bet you could, if you paint from your heart/"
"Thanks professor."
That evening she returned to the ranch with her paintings. She asked the professor his opinion. "I'm no artist, but I think this is high quality work. You should talk to the gallery."
Her spirits soared, but she kept it hidden as she returned the painting to the case.
A/N: Keep the reviews coming. Some things will be explained/cleared up in the next chapter.