Chapter 16
Ryder stood leaning against the doorway to the barn as he watched Riley make her way over to him with Kira, Zay and Farkle. He tensed slightly at the sight of him knowing he was one of the people who had caused Riley a lot of pain, but as he watched her laugh with him and smile, Ryder knew that she had sorted things out on her terms. He watched as her eyes fell onto him and his stomach did a somersault as her face lit up and she quickened her pace and fell into his outstretched arms.
"Hey Angel, you okay?" Ryder asked as he studied Riley's face intently, he knew she could handle herself but he couldn't help but worry about her.
"Yeah, I think I am." Riley said softly which a small smile, before turning to see the rest of the group catching up. "Farkle is coming with us." She announced.
"Cool, the more the merrier. Have you ever ridden before Farkle?" Ryder asked as he looked Farkle up and down.
"Uh..no.." Farkle admitted, he didn't want to admit that he was scared of horses or the thought of being on one terrified him.
"That's okay mate, Adam is taking the cart so we can put all our camping stuff on there, you can ride on it with him if you want?" Ryder offered kindly, Riley watched on with a fond smile, she couldn't have ever imagined that she would meet someone like Ryder, who accepted her with all her flaws and cheered her on with all her accomplishments and efforts.
"That would be amazing, thanks! Uhh I also need to get my stuff from the rental property." Farkle muttered, he didn't really want to see Maya and Lucas, he knew that they wouldn't be happy he was hanging around with who they classed as the 'enemy.'
"We can go there on our way out?" Adam suggested as he appeared from the barn leading two fully tacked horses to group, he passed them onto Ryder before returning back into the barn to grab two more, one fully racked for riding and the other tacked to pull the cart. As he attached the horse to the cart, Kira went into the barn and brought out the last two horses. After tying all the horses to a water trough with a bar above they started to load the cart with the camping gear that Ryder and Adam had gathered.
Finally they managed to load everything including Riley's duffel bag into the cart and looked up as they heard approaching footsteps.
"Hey guys!" Vanessa called as she approached them, her own duffel bag slung over her shoulder. "Sorry I'm late!" She apologised as she placed her bag beside Riley.
"You're right on time darling." Zay cooed as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Right let's load the rest of our bags and then we will go and get Farkle's stuff?" Adam asked and everyone murmured in agreement. Once they had loaded all their bags they all walked over to their horses, Adam and Farkle climbed up into the cart and waited as everyone sorted out their stirrups and reins.
"We all ready?" Ryder asked as everyone nodded. "Let's go!"
"Wait!!" A feminine voice from the house called, they turned to see Ryder and Kira's mum walking quickly down the steps to where they were, her arms full with hats. "It's going to be hot." She stated as she passed them out to everyone and waited for them to put them on. "Now ya all look like proper cowboys and girls." She nodded satisfied before letting them head on their way, waving them off with a smile on her face.
Riley sat upon her horse and closed her eyes enjoying the gently swaying motion as they all rode in single file on the road, the wind was blowing through gently causing a peaceful breeze. She could feel the warm sun from behind her closed eyelids and she reached out her arms as if to soak the sun up as she tilted her head back gently.
"Peaceful isn't it?" Kira whispered softly causing Riley to open her eyes and look to the right of her where Kira was riding beside her.
"So peaceful, I never thought I would find myself living somewhere that wasn't the city and now, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else." They shared a smile as they continued on their way to the rental property. Riley felt her heartbeat increase as she saw Shaun sat on the porch in a chair and Maya and Lucas sat in the swing seat. Kira followed Riley's line of sight and her hands clenched around the reins in anger at the sight of the two of them cozied up on the swing seat.
Upon noticing the groups arrival, Shaun, Maya and Lucas all stood to watch them draw closer. Adam halted the cart just outside and everyone came to a stop, releasing the reins so the horses could graze while they waited. Ryder jumped down from his horse with ease and with a glare at Lucas and Maya he made his way to Riley and placed a hand on her knee as he looked up at her.
"Hey Angel." He smiled at her when her eyes snapped to his and he saw the tension melt away like butter.
"Hey cowboy." Riley replied before looking once more over at the three standing. "I want to say hi to Uncle Shaun, will you come with me?" Her voice quivered with anxiety.
"I'd go with you to the ends of the earth and back." Ryder replied in a serious tone before he stepped back to give Riley space to dismount. Once she was on the ground she smiled up at him and took his hand. He smiled at how his hand easily engulfed hers and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze as they joined Farkle who was waiting for them and the three of them made their way to the porch.
"Hey kiddo." Shaun greeted and he opened his arms giving Riley a gentle hug.
"Hey uncle Shaun, this is Ryder. Ryder this is Shaun, my dads best friend since childhood." Riley introduced them, keeping her eyes trained on Ryder and Shaun, she didn't want to look at Lucas and Maya just yet. She smiled as Ryder tipped his hat respectfully in greeting.
"So where are you guys headed?" Shaun asked as he sat back down in his seat and motioned for Maya and Lucas to do the same, once they saw the situation wasn't escalating Ryder and Farkle nodded to each other and Farkle headed inside to pack a bag.
"I'm taking them to a lake nearby sir, it's mighty fine for swimming and a nice place to camp." Ryder responded as he leant against the rail that surrounded the porch, his arm slung over Riley's shoulders.
"Never thought I'd see you on a horse kid." Shaun responded as he looked at the horses outside the property. He saw Zay, Vanessa, Kira and Adam all gathered together and watching them intently.
"Yeah, I never would've thought that as well. But Ryder, Adam and Kira have been great teachers." Riley looked over at the group by the horses and smiled at them before turning to look at Ryder next to her, he looked down at her and suddenly it was like it was just them two.
"Nah, you were a great student." Ryder teased as he ruffled her hair causing her to swat his hands away whilst giggling.
"So, how come Farkle is going with you?" Maya spat out, unable to contain herself any longer and her anger was growing as she watched Riley and Ryder together. Riley looked uncomfortably in her direction and shifted even closer into Ryders hold.
"Farkle and I spoke." Riley responded carefully, not wanting to give away to much information.
"So you can forgive him but not me? Not Lucas? What the heck Riles?!" Maya shouted as she jumped up from the swing seat.
"Maya." Shaun warned but before he could finish Lucas was standing too.
" No she's right, why forgive Farkle? Maya has been your best friend since forever and I was your first love. Does that not mean anything" Lucas started with his voice gradually raising more and more throughout. Ryder stared at Riley and saw her pull her bottom lip through her teeth anxiously.
"Well this has been lovely but I'm sure Farkle is ready by now and we want to make sure we don't miss all the day." Ryder firmly told them as he looked over his shoulder and jerked his head, simultaneously Kira and Zay walked up to the porch and stood by the entrance.
"Come on Riley, let's go get ready to go." Kira spoke softly and gently pulled her out of Ryders grasp and with a arm wrapped round her shoulders, she guided Riley towards the horses. Maya looked like she was about to follow but Zay stood firmly with his arms crossed and looked at Lucas and Maya with a face of disappointment.
"You couldn't give her time. Instead you had to make it all about you. Poor Maya, poor Lucas." Zay snapped. "You pushed her away. You stopped checking on her. You were so wrapped up in your own worlds that you ignored you're so called best friend and so called first love." With every word Zay got more frustrated and stepped towards Lucas and Maya until he was directly in front of them. He glared at them both. "Want to know something?" He asked and waited until they both nodded. "You two are nothing compared to Ryder and Kira." Zay said calmly, he saw the hurt on Mayas face at that and the anger in Lucas's but he didn't care.
"If I were you, I'd unclench that fist." Ryder nodded towards Lucas's fist as he stepped behind Zay, ready to back Zay up if needed. "Look behind me, you see how they are all watching, ready? Yeah? It's because we don't like you. We don't like what you did to Riley, how you broke her down just to make yourself feel better. If you want to start you're gonna have to deal with me and them." He saw the realisation dawn on Lucas's face that he couldn't fight them all.
"Ready." Farkle announced as he stepped back onto the porch, a rucksack slung on his back. He stared at the tense situation in front of him. "Uhh everything okay?"
"All good Farkle, we were just saying goodbye. Nice to meet you sir." Ryder tipped his hat in Shaun's direction and with a last glare at Lucas, he, Zay and Farkle made their way back down the path to the group.
"Well played guys." Shaun snapped at Maya and Lucas before he headed inside slamming the door behind him, leaving Maya and Lucas to stand and watch as the group continued their journey.
"Are we really the bad guys in all this?" Maya asked uncertainly.
"I..I think so." Lucas muttered.
