Dear Inkdrops, sorry for the delay but I was working on other stories ("Courage and Knowledge", "Sibirian Summer" and "Marvel goes Reality-TV", if you are interested in marvelly kinds of stories) in the meantime. No worries, I won't quit writing this one though :)

Thank you to aall who support me by reading, commenting, following and favouriting!

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG, only my OC's and the storyline

October 1804

Riding out

William Adama

He swung himself on his horse with the ease of a much younger man, riding was still like second nature to him. This was definitely an advantage, so he could fully concentrate on his Visitor now. When he looked over to her, she just nodded, confirming again that she was ready.
So they started, making their way off the yard and down the street. Nobody else was around, so they could ride next to each other without the fear of being run over by a coach. Still, Adama made sure that Laura was to his left, further away from potential danger. Her horse, Blackbird her remembered, was indeed black as a raven and not white like her owner had joked. She was a beautiful thing and very well behaved, by what he had seen so far at least. Or Ms Roslin was simply a very good rider. Which would be strange as she claimed not to ride. Adama made a mental note to try and find out the truth.

In the lovely afternoon sun, the silence in between the two people was only filled by the song of the birds and the sound of the hooves, but it all felt natural, as if they had done before. At the same time, it was something totally new, like setting foot on an unknown island, full of wonders. That woman next to him, she was a wonder in herself, Bill was already sure of that.

"We will leave the road here", he told her after a couple of minutes, "it might be better if I go first as I know the terrain."

"Yes, sure", she answered, holding back her horse so he could pass.

The little path they used soon was joined by a small brook and went parallel to it so they could hear the gurgling of the water next to them. It wasn't used often but often enough, so it wasn't totally overgrown with ferns and bushes. Husker started to prance impatiantly, he wanted to go in a quicker pace from here on. Even though Bill held him back with a firm hand, his friend had seen it, as she called out to him, laughter obvious in her voice.

"I think your horse is getting giddy! Why don't we go a bit quicker?"

He turned around to look at her, taking in the confident way she was sitting on her side-saddle. If she thought she was up to it, then he definitely wouldn't disappoint her!

"Alright then!", he answered, "we usually canter from here up to an old oak tree, it's about half a mile. But we can stop in the middle if you would like."

"Half a mile?", she asked, "I think I can just about manage that."

This answer very much led to the conclusion that she was a better rider than she had claimed to be, but it was not as if he would complain. So he turned towards the path again and drove Husker on. At first, the horse fell into trott and then into a smooth canter. From the sounds behind him, Blackbird was cantering too, that was a good sign, it would be a shame if he lost Laura on the way. Literally and figuratively. While nature was flying by, his mind calmed down and one thought pressed itself into the foreground: When had Ms Roslin become Laura to him?

Adama dared to look over his shoulder and all his worries about his companion not being able to keep up dissolved into thin air. She didn't seem to have any kind of trouble following him. Finally the tree came into view and he slowed his horse down until he finally stopped. The woman did the same, using the time to straighten her hat that had moved a bit to the left side. A totally unnecessary action, as Bill found, as it looked really adorable. Despite the grace with which she had performed the riding, one could see the consequences of the exercise, she was breathing a bit heavier than usually and her cheeks were red like apples in autumn. He smiled at her.

"Now I really don't believe that you don't ride", he stated.

The man was surprised when she ducked her head slightly.

"Okay, I might have exaggerated. I do not ride often", she explained.

"I might believe that", he answered, "now, to get to the picnic spot, we have to ride over the field to our left. There are three more trees over there where we can keep the horses and sit in the shade. Let's ride!"

Side by side, they cantered over the plain, brown-green grass. Now he could catch more than a glimpse of her and absolutely took the opportunity to admire what he saw. Suddenly, she turned her head and caught his gaze, holding it for a moment. Adama felt caught again, like it seemed to happen so often with her. Horrible. He had to get himself under control!
Much too soon they arrived at their destination. After he had slided off Husker, he just wanted to turn around and help the lady, when he saw that she was also already down from her horse. That woman was nothing but efficient.

"Over there", he said, pointing to a beam next to the trees. "There we can tie the horses to. I will get water then from the small water hole a few yards away. I'll be back soon, just don't get lost!"

"I won't", she answered over her shoulder, smiling, while already making her way a into the field.

He had just come back with a bucket full of water, ready to fill the little trough Lee and him had build a couple of years back, when suddenly and very unexpectedly a soft voice behind him spoke.

"So I have already untied the gear but where would you like to put the blanket?"

Bill was so startled that he nearly dropped the bucket. The water sloshed around dangerously and only by a hair's breadth he managed not to get it all over his trousers.

"Jesus Laura, you nearly gave me a fucking heart attack!", he called out, the sailor slang slipping into his normally rather refined upper class mode of expression.

She looked back at him, dumbstrucked, eyes wide open. For the first time since they had met, she genuinely seemed to be at loss for words.

Well, here we are! I know, this chapter is not as smooth as I would have liked it but I am feeling slightly blocked at the moment. To get over it a bit better, I am trying to write One-Shots again. Which pairings and fandoms would you like to read? Which crossovers? Which scenarios? Just send me a PM.

Cheers, Silver