A/N: This is to the 8 people who reviewed chapter 30. I know this sounds so demanding and desperate – I don't mean it like that, and I'm really sorry I've been updating so slowly. I've had a lot on, but I really am much more motivated when you respond to the story. Thank you very much for reading – will be bringing it to a close soon if there isn't too much objection!
31
Kate got up again and put on a robe, going out of the room. She went down to the kitchen to get a basin or warm water, and met Lanie there. Lanie chuckled when she saw Kate's ruffled hair and mildly dazed expression.
"Good morning?" she asked. Kate smiled.
"It was alright. How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you for asking. And you? I feel as if I've hardly seen you for days."
"You haven't," Kate said, putting a pan of water on the already lit stove. "I've been..."
"Busy," Lanie supplied, sitting down at the large wooden table. Kate sat on it, looking at her friend.
"I... I think I'm in love," she said quietly. "I mean, I know I'm in love."
Lanie laughed. "So does everybody else. So you told him?"
"Yes," Kate said proudly.
"And I take it that is why he is currently in your bed?"
Kate grinned. "You could say that."
"What changed your mind?"
"I... I realised I care more about him than I do about anything else. And that... maybe it isn't wrong for me to have something I want."
Lanie laughed. "Maybe? You are the most selfless person I know, and I'm very glad you have taken what you deserve. And he loves you?"
"I always knew that he loved me."
"It's a good feeling, isn't it?" Lanie mused a little sadly. Kate reached out to pat her friend's shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I couldn't be happier for you, and seeing you happy is the closest I'm ever going to get, now."
"You might-"
"I won't. I'm the one and done type, as you know."
Kate frowned, but she understood. Now that she had Richard, she couldn't imagine being with anyone else, even if anything happened to him- But she wasn't going to think about that. She wouldn't worry or start to feel guilty. Not today.
"We're going to go riding," she told Lanie.
"Riding? When did you last do that?" Lanie asked, amused.
Kate made a face. "Not since I was a teenager. Never really needed to. I used to love it, but I always went with my mother..."
"So it's quite significant that you're going with Castle, then?"
Kate nodded. "I suppose so, yes. I hope I don't embarrass myself."
"I don't think there's much danger of that. Him embarrassing you, though..."
Kate laughed. Her water was boiling; she tipped it into a basin and set it to cool a little.
"Doesn't he need some?" Lanie asked. Kate thought of something; she found a razor for Richard to shave with. Then she winked.
"No. He can just use mine when I'm finished."
Lanie laughed. "Have a good day," she told her friend, handing her a cloth to carry the basin with.
"You too. I'll see you later – you could have dinner with us."
"You won't be eating here," Lanie reminded her.
"I could be. Or you could come to the Castles'."
"I think I'll wait until I'm invited by someone actually from the family. But that's kind. I'll see you when you get back, anyway."
"I'll talk to you. I promise. Before we go to bed. I have more to tell you about but he's awake and waiting, probably."
Lanie smiled. "You go and be with your lover. I'm fine. I look forward to our conversation this evening."
"Me too," Kate said, smiling back. She picked up the basin and carried it upstairs; Richard jumped up and opened the bedroom door for her when he heard her approaching. She set it on the chest and picked up a cloth, sliding out of her robe and beginning to wash herself. Richard closed the door.
"May I..?" he asked a little cautiously, reaching out to take the cloth from her. Kate handed it to him, grinning.
"You may. But I do actually need to get clean."
"You will," he promised, running the warm, wet cloth along her arm. He picked up her soap from a little dish and worked some into his hands; Kate sighed as he carefully cleaned her body. It didn't matter that he wasn't trying particularly hard to excite her; the touch of his hands on her skin was enough to double her heart rate almost immediately.
By the time he had finished washing her she was so far gone she had to attack herself with the towel just for a distraction, and so she didn't jump on him right there. He moved on to himself, smiling at the razor blade.
"Is this a hint?" he asked as she aggressively dried her hair. She ran a hand along her slightly red jawline and gave him a look. He chuckled, then began to shave, watching her reflection in the mirror as she dressed behind him.
Kate pulled on her tight jodhpurs, tucking her shirt into them and putting on a jacket. She bent down to fasten her leather riding boots, still with Richard's gaze fixed on her.
"Careful, you'll cut yourself," she teased, using the little hook to fasten the dozens of tiny buttons on her boots. She arranged her hair in a tight braid; he rinsed the razor in the water and put it down, then ran his hand through his own hair.
"Are you bringing this?" he asked, picking up a riding crop he had spied leaning in the corner of her wardrobe. Kate grinned, taking it from him and tucking it into her belt.
"Do you think I need anything else?" she asked, raising her eyebrows seductively. He kissed her on the cheek instead of answering, and quickly pulled on his own clothes. Kate watched with her arms folded; he struggled with the buttons on his pants.
"It does add a certain pressure, doesn't it?" Kate commented, still watching him.
"Okay, I get it, I'm sorry-" he began.
"Don't be. I like a little pressure. Don't you?"
Richard finally succeeded with the button.
"If you were applying it, I think I could learn to like anything."
Kate took a step towards him and reached around to tuck his shirt in at the back.
"I'm glad to hear it," she said. Richard ran a hand lazily over her back.
"We have to go," he said suddenly, moving away a little. Kate grinned.
"We do."
The carriage ride to the edge of the city didn't take long, even with a stop to check in with Charlie. His report was good; he said Sally was getting better, though she was still very sick, and none of the children had seen anyone threatening or come to any harm. Kate still tensed up when she saw him. Richard dropped a cushion on the floor of the carriage in front of him and motioned for her to sit on it.
"What?" she asked, but she did as he indicated. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"We're going to win," he said, squeezing them to loosen the muscles. "We're going to beat them, Sally will be fine, and you will be free of it once and for all."
Kate tried to believe him. She almost could.
"And today," he continued, "we are simply going to have fun."
Kate chuckled. "Fun? I don't know if I remember how to simply have fun."
Richard laughed. "I'm sure you do. We're nearly there. Are you nervous?"
"A little. I haven't ridden in a very long time."
"I don't think it's a knack you lose. And as I said, you can ride with me if you're not confident enough to ride alone."
"A very generous offer."
The carriage slowed to a stop and Kate looked outside at the stables of a beautiful country house.
"A friend's," Richard explained. "I keep my horses here when I'm in town."
"It's good to have friends," Kate said, looking around. She went into the stable and her attention was immediately caught by a beautiful mare with a shining brown coat. She stroked the animal's neck.
"What's her name?" she asked Richard, who was greeting a huge black stallion. Predictable.
"Whisper. Lex named her, she was born when Lex was little, and Lex was there. Everyone kept telling Lex to be quiet, she was asking questions but we were all far too busy... So when I asked her what to call the foal, she came up with that."
Kate smiled. "I like it. Hello, Whisper. Is she Alexis' horse?"
"No. That redhead there is Lex's. Ginger. Genius with names, my little girl."
"And yours?"
Richard winked at her. "This is Royal."
Kate kissed Whisper on the nose and went in to get her saddled up. She sneaked a glance over to Richard and Royal; she was impressed by both his love for the animal and his efficiency. He talked to his horse, just as she wanted to talk to Whisper. She was a little embarrassed when she began to speak; she knew Richard was looking over into Whisper's stall, watching and listening to her.
"I hope you'll be gentle with me," Kate said. "I haven't ridden in a while. But you're so friendly, I don't think we'll have any trouble. I'm going to put your saddle on now. It looks beautiful. I imagine everything of yours is beautiful. Do you eat out of a golden bucket? You must eat special food, your coat shines so well... I had a horse once. His name was Benny; I rode him almost every day when I was a teenager. You'd have liked Benny..."
She continued to talk until she was leading Whisper out of the stall by the reigns. Richard joined her with Royal.
"I loved riding as a child too," he told her. "It was the fastest way to get away. And I could be alone without being alone, if you see what I mean."
"I do, completely," Kate said. She put a foot in her stirrup and mounted, swinging herself up and landing neatly in the saddle.
"And you said you were out of practice," Richard joked. He landed in his saddle a little more firmly, but just as neatly, and began to walk Royal out of the stable area and towards the back gate of the house. Whisper seemed very ready to go; she walked quickly, showing Kate what she wanted. Kate patted her and muttered something soothing.
They finally reached the field.
"Can we move it along now?" Kate asked, finding that she was itching to move as much as her horse. Richard winked at her.
"Race you," he said, digging in his heels to get Royal to accelerate. Kate laughed wildly as Whisper chased after Royal. Rick kept pace with her; he had excellent control. They were approaching a fence.
"You think you can jump?" Richard asked.
"I think I can fly," Kate called out. Whisper was happy to charge even faster, and leapt gracefully over the fence. Her hair whipping out behind her, the wind in her eyes, Kate felt so alive, so free... She slowed Whisper carefully and leaned down to murmur in her ear,
"I think you're secretly a unicorn."
Whisper whinnied softly and Kate laughed.
"What's funny?" Richard asked. "What did you say to her?"
"I said she's a unicorn."
"You did? I didn't have you down as the type who believes in unicorns."
"I don't," Kate said. "But today... Maybe today I do."
Richard's eyes glowed at her. She was so caught up in them she didn't even register the shot until a moment after it was fired.
A/N: No one is dead. I count horses as people so the horses are safe too!
