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From the look on his face she could tell that something wasn’t right, or at least didn’t turn out the way he liked as she opened the door to his new soon to be office… or her old office.
He didn’t move much, just his eyes turned to her and he greeted her with a thin smile.
“Hello there.” Lynelle said and he chuckled lightly.
“What have you gotten me into, Nelle?”
It wasn’t actually a question, she knew that. Their eyes locked for a brief moment as Lynelle crossed the distance between them and leaned herself against the heavy wooden desk in front of him.
“So bad, Johnny?” She asked playfully and John just shook his head amused about the nickname.
He held out is hand for her and she took it, letting him pull her onto his lap.
“You know…” he began after a while in silence, stroking her back lightly as she now leaned against him, her head cozy on his shoulder, escaping reality just for a tiny bit.
“Hmm?” She turned her head just so she could see him and immediately got caught by the soft deep blue of his eyes.
Sometimes she wondered if they were just this soft for her… for she had never seen him give that look to anyone else.
“You owe me a little favor for the shit you got me into.” John continued with a half grin on his face that she couldn’t fight to join.
“Anything.”
“Go on a ride with me. Just you and me.”
John could feel the sudden change in her demeanor as she sat up quickly, her face unreadable.
“No John, anything but that!” She denied, visibly upset, standing up and tidying out her skirt.
John’s hand that had laid on her back just moments before fell down on his leg and he looked down with a hurt smile than quickly to his left and back to the woman in front of him standing with her back towards him arms crossed.
“C’mon Lynelle, as it’s a problem for the Rodeo Queen to go on a little ride with an old Cowboy.” He said jokingly but dropped it quickly when she didn’t respond.
“Well… if you’re considering giving me the honor. 6am tomorrow, at the barn.” He said while getting up from his chair and crossing the distance between them. He hesitate for a moment but when she didn’t shy away he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then left her alone with her thoughts.
It wasn’t that she had a problem with going on a ride and she wasn’t afraid of falling off or something.
But she was afraid of making a fool out of herself, especially in front of John.
The last time she had sat on a horse was ages ago, when she hadn’t had her children yet. She didn’t even know if she could still remember the basics!
Hell no, he couldn’t get that from her.
On the other hand… she had always been a bit jealous whenever she watched him work at his ranch.
“Damn it…” she cursed him.
“That fucking handsome cowboy, and his stupid charming grin..”
John had realized pretty fast that he had crossed a line yesterday. But damn everything had just felt so right with her in his arms. He didn’t know what had come over him to ask her that. Maybe it was that cozy and nostalgic feeling or maybe just that private moment.
When Lynelle was with him… that was the moment he felt truly happy nowadays. And maybe he wanted to feel happy and at peace with her…
A sigh escaped him.
John was pretty sure she wouldn’t show up. But if he couldn’t feel happy today, then he should feel at peace. At least for a brief moment.
When he entered the barn to get his horse,
he was surprised not to see Carter but Lynelle. She was sitting on a bale of hay, one leg crossed above the other grinning up at him.
“Good morning.” She said sweetly as he stopped in front of her, taking off his dark brown hat while looking her up an down.
She was wearing a dark blue bootcut jeans with a brown faded leather jacket and a bluse in a light blue color. Her boots had the same color as her jacket and a worn out hat he recognized as the one she wore at her rodeo days laid head down on the bale beside her.
She looked absolutely breathtaking and John wasn’t sure if she could get any more beautiful than at this moment.
He pulled her up on her feet and kissed her sweetly on the lips much to
Lynelle’s surprise.
“Good morning beautiful.” He answered in a low voice and Lynelle could feel her cheeks start to warm up.
“God John, what was that for?” She asked flabbergasted and leaned back in his embrace to get a better look at him.
“I’m just happy you changed your mind.” He smiled and hold her a little while longer.
“And I almost forgot how good you look in bootcut jeans.” He winked at her and she slapped him playfully on the chest.
Lynelle snatched her hat from its spot on the hay as John lead her away to show her the horse he’d already picked out for her yesterday.
It was a beautiful chestnut mare with a sweet temper and John was sure that horse would take good care of his special lady.
He saddled up the horses and then hold hers as she mounted the mare.
He watched her as she rearranged her rains and thought that for a split second there was a look of concern on her face.
“Everything alright, Love?” He asked and she seemed to snap out of her thoughts.
“Hm? Oh yeah, everything’s fine.” She smiled but John wasn’t actually convinced but left it there.
He mounted his horse as well and looked back to the woman beside him.
She seemed a bit pale…
“Ye ready?”
Lynelle nodded and they gave the horses the signal to walk.
They would start slowly at first. John would make sure that she would feel comfortable and safe. When she looked less pale they would extended to a slow trot. John could see how she would ease up with every moment they’d sit in the saddle.
“Yer ready for a faster pace?”
“Yes!” Lynelle anwesend with confidence and so they change to a smooth gallop.
He could see how she lit up next to him as the horse started to challenge each other and as he heard her laugh, truly laugh wholeheartedly, as her horse would outrun his, he thought he’d be in heaven.
They rode for another hour or so before they found a spot for a little break. He had picked out a little shady spot under an old tree where he leaned against the trunk, Lynelle in his arms, snuggled to his side.
They sat there in silence for a long while just admiring the peace.
“John?” She asked.
“Yes, Love?”
She hesitated for a moment, then continued.
“I was afraid at first… that I would make a fool out of my self. It’s such a long time since I sat on a horse.”
She sat up to look at him.
“What bullshit! Damn woman, you still got it!”
Lynelle’s cheeks went bright red and she leaned forward to kiss him passionately. John didn’t obey to that.
“Thank you, John!” She whispered against his lips as they parted and John just smiled. She got lost in the deep sky blue of his eyes.
“You helped me realize how much I missed all this.”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as he admired her beautiful face.
“You’re welcome, Sweetheart.” He answered, caressing her cheek and feeling better he heat that was still coloring them red.
“And if you ever need a timeout, just call me and I get the horses ready.”
They both chuckled then shared another kiss.
“Should we head back?” He asked a moment later but Lynelle shook her head then snuggled back into his embrace.
“No, let’s just stay a little while longer.”