Void
"Carly's gonna kill us if she catches us making out in the studio again," Sam whispered as Freddie kissed the sensitive part of her neck right underneath her ear.
"Yeah…I don't care," Freddie mumbled, strumming his fingers through her long locks.
"Aw, look at my rebellious boyfriend," Sam chuckled, kissing him deeply. "God, I love you."
"I love you too," Freddie said thickly. "I love you so-"
"Again? Really?" Carly snapped, suddenly walking into the room and flipping the light on, causing Sam and Freddie to scrunch their eyes shut.
"Jeez, Carly, can't you knock?" Sam mumbled, sitting up.
"It's my house!" Carly said. "Anyway, you two are in luck. I'm not gonna get mad at you. Actually…how'd you two like to go on a fun, romantic getaway?"
"Huh?" Freddie frowned.
"Yeah, I have two train tickets for you guys to go down to Wyoming for the weekend!" Carly said.
"Oh, the train!" Freddie said excitedly.
"Hold on," Sam said slowly, raising a suspicious eyebrow. "Why? What's the catch?"
"What? Why's there got to be a catch?" Carly scoffed. "Look, I know how hard this past year was for you two. You were apart at two different colleges and you really missed each other. I think taking a fun little trip like this would be perfect for you guys!"
Sam continued to stare at her best friend.
"Alright, I need a favor," Carly conceded. "So my granddad owns a farm in Cheyenne, and now that he's getting kind of old, he can't take care of it like he used to. Normally he has a couple of foremen who look after it, but they both have the weekend off. Granddad wanted me and Spencer to go and make sure everything's running smoothly, but, let's face it, neither of us is any good with that. I'm gonna be afraid of stepping in something and Spencer, well, the place doesn't have fire insurance. So we were thinking maybe you guys could go."
"I dunno, Carly," Freddie said slowly. "I don't really know much about farm stuff."
"You wouldn't have much to do!" Carly said quickly. "You'd just have to feed some horses, clean up some hay, milk some cows."
"Yes, because I know how to milk cows," Freddie smirked.
"Oh come on, you can find a video on the web!" Carly said. "Besides, what else would you be doing? You're stuck living with your mom until you go back to MIT in the fall. Wouldn't it be nice to have fun weekend away with your girlfriend as a little break?"
"Well…that part sounds appealing," Freddie smiled, looking over at Sam. "And we'd get to ride the train. Alright, I'm in. What about you, baby?"
"Mama's always in for a free trip," Sam shrugged. "Besides, those farm towns always have really good barbecue."
"You guys are the best!" Carly exclaimed, throwing her arms around the two of them. "And you know what? You guys go ahead and keep making out up here! It's my way of saying thank you."
"Wow…we get to keep kissing without Carly yelling," Freddie grinned as Carly hurried out of the studio. "And we get a free trip together? I'd say it was a pretty successful day."
"Yeah, yeah, it's been great," Sam said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Now less talking, more lips, got it?"
….
"I guess this is the place," Freddie said as him and Sam stepped up the gravel driveway of a large ranch house. "God…I can smell the horses."
"I wonder why Carly's granddad owns a ranch in the first place," Sam said. "I mean he never seemed like the type."
"A lot of people used to own farmland back in the day," Freddie shrugged. "It used to be a great investment. Now…not so much. But hey, let's check the place out and see where we're staying. You have the key?"
"Here," Sam said, tossing it to him as they started up the front steps.
Freddie unlocked the front door and the couple stepped inside.
"Wow, this isn't too shabby of a set up," Freddie commented, looking around. "T.V., comfy looking couch…maybe ranch life isn't too bad after all."
"Plus there's a giant Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom," Sam said.
"Well I know what we're doing later," Freddie grinned.
"What? No way!" Sam said. "Dude, this is Carly's granddad's place. Do you know how often he's probably soaked in there?"
"Ugh, thanks for those images!" Freddie cringed.
"Come on, let's go look around at the actual ranch part of this place," Sam said.
"Right, we should get started on our duties," Freddie nodded.
Sam laughed.
"Oh grow up!" Freddie said, rolling his eyes.
The couple headed out the back door and out onto the ranch, where there was a large barn.
"I can't believe Carly and Spencer haven't ever taken us out here," Sam said as she opened the barn door.
"Why would they?" Freddie shrugged. "What would we all do out here? Okay, first thing we've got to do is feed the horses…so what to these things eat? Hay? Or-Whoa! They're huge!"
Sam and Freddie were now standing in front of two large, brown horses standing in their stalls and eyeing the newcomers shrewdly.
"Wow, look at them!" Sam said, carefully stepping over and gently petting one of their manes. "They seem really friendly. Come pet one, Fredwad."
"No thanks, I'm good," Freddie said. "I'm busy trying not to choke on their fumes."
"What a priss," Sam said, shaking her head.
"Let's just feed them and get out," Freddie said. "So seriously, do I just give them a handful of straw or?"
"You just need to put those oats over their in their feeding trough," Sam said, picking up a large bucket. "They'll graze on the hay in their stalls throughout the day."
"How do you know?" Freddie frowned.
"I used to help my Uncle Pete out on his farm when I was little," Sam explained. "I used to spend the summers down in Texas with him."
"I never knew that," Freddie said.
"Yeah, well, once he got arrested for illegal platypus distribution, he had to sell the farm, so I didn't get to hang around there anymore," Sam shrugged.
"So-So you know all about this country, farmish stuff then?"
"I know a little," Sam said modestly. "I can take care of horses and milk cows and stuff."
"Wow," Freddie said, impressed. "That-That's really cool, Sam."
"Not really," Sam chuckled. "I mean when are you ever going to need to know how to milk a cow?"
"Well now, for one," Freddie said. "And it's a good thing you apparently know how because I must've watched a dozen videos online and I'm still confused."
"Oh God…I'm gonna have to do everything here, aren't I?" Sam moaned.
"Well think of it as karma for me having to do everything for you back home," Freddie said.
"Or," Sam said. "I can teach you about this stuff."
"Baby…come on," Freddie chuckled. "Do I really seem like the kind of guy who could manage to milk cows or heard cattle or whatever?"
"It's not rocket science," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"Rocket science would be preferable!" Freddie said. "I mean those horses seem ready to trample me!"
"Nah, they're harmless," Sam said. "You just have to get used to them. Hey, I know! I saw a riding path on our way in. Why don't we take these guys out and-"
"You want me to ride a horse?" Freddie sputtered. "No way!"
"But dude, if you get a chance to see that-"
"Hey, I don't try to get you to become a computer nerd like me," Freddie said. "So why should I try to become a farmer for you?"
"Please baby?" Sam said, giving him a look she knew he couldn't resist. "For me?"
Freddie sighed. "You know, one of these days, that line isn't gonna work on me. Fine, I-I'll ride the dang horse."
"Well don't call him a dang horse!" Sam said. "He's gonna throw you off the second you mount him with that attitude."
"He's a horse, Sam, he can't understand me."
"That's your first mistake," Sam said, grabbing two saddles. "Horses can sense negativity."
"I highly doubt that," Freddie said, rolling his eyes.
Sam sighed. "On second thought…you can just ride with me. If I leave you alone on a horse you'll probably wind up insulting it and it will throw you off into a pile of manure. You'll just have to hold on to my waist."
"Liking these arrangements better already," Freddie said.
"Cute," Sam smirked. "Let me just finish getting the reigns on this guy and then we can go."
"I still can't believe you know how to do all this," Freddie said. "You're a regular farm girl!"
"I wouldn't go that far," Sam said.
"So you don't shuck corn and wrestle chickens for fun then?" Freddie grinned.
Sam glared at him.
"And I'll be shutting up now," Freddie said quickly.
"Good," Sam said. "Well…this guy's all set for us to ride him. Let's go! This is gonna be so cool…I haven't ridden in years."
"You sure you remember how?" Freddie asked as Sam led the horse out of his stable.
"Yeah, it's like riding a bike," Sam shrugged.
The two stepped back outside the barn with the horse and Sam swiftly pulled herself up on the saddle. She then extended a hand to Freddie and helped him up as well.
"The trail doesn't look too long," Sam said, pulling on the reigns and causing the horse to start to trot. "Maybe a mile or so."
"Any way to slow this thing down?" Freddie asked nervously, tightly clutching Sam's waist.
"Scared?"
"Well it's a long fall down!"
"Yeah…you know I broke my arm once riding a horse," Sam said.
"Um, not really making me feel better here," Freddie frowned. "How'd you break your arm?"
"I thought I could ride a horse using my feet to steer," Sam shrugged. "Long story short…didn't go well. But you'll be fine. Just hold on to me."
"What do you think I've been doing?" Freddie said. "But, you know, apart from the crippling fear of tumbling down to my doom…this is kind of fun. Relaxing, almost."
"Yeah, it's really something, isn't it?" Sam sighed happily. "This is what I loved most about riding…it's just so peaceful. Course it's a little less peaceful with you squeezing my guts out, but it's still nice."
"Sorry, am I hurting you?" Freddie asked.
"Nah," Sam smiled. "You're fine. Hey, look!"
"What?"
"The sunset!" Sam said, pulling the reigns and causing the horse to come to a slow stop. She pointed up at the sky. From their position on the riding trail, they were really able to get the perfect view of the entire scene.
"Wow," Freddie whispered. "It's amazing."
"We've watched sunsets before," Sam said. "How come this one seems so…nice?"
"We're higher up," Freddie told her. "So we have less blocking us. Plus in Seattle the sky's always so foggy with smog and whatnot. Out here the air's much clearer."
"Huh…I guess that makes sense," Sam said.
"Thanks for making me come out horseback riding with you out here," Freddie said. "It was worth it to get a chance to see such a sight with you. Seriously, it's beautiful out here…just like you."
