“If you’re sure?” He frowned a little, but I figured it was more out of being a bit insecure than actual doubt.
“I’m sure. I promise.”
“Well, okay then.” He gave me a smile and followed me to grab the two horses so we could tack them.
Carter walked Humphrey and led him to the barn as if he’d always been doing it. Humphrey, for his part, plodded along because he trusted me to not put him in harm’s way.
Snoopy was perky and happy and definitely ready to go home tomorrow. There was always something you could work on with a horse, and I’d made a list of things for his owner to keep working on once they got to the new home and Snoopy was settled.
We saddled the horses and I led the way with Snoopy, while Humphrey continued plodding along. Carter was a bit stiff in the saddle until he realized that the gelding wasn’t going anywhere and was barely interested in the proceedings.
“You good?” I asked as I guided us toward the event barn.
He smiled. “Yeah, we’re good.” After maybe five minutes of silence, he asked, “Are you going to let me know where we’re going?”
“We’ll get there.” I smiled back.
Once we were on a stretch of road where I could easily see each way, I nudged Snoopy into a trot.
Humphrey perked up and Carter managed to remain on top of the situation and the horse, which I thought was nice progress.
“You’ve gotten better at riding,” I told him honestly.
He could’ve taken it as me talking down at him, but instead, he understood I was complimenting him and beamed.
“Thanks. I’ve tried hard to learn.”
“I can tell.”
Once we got to the event barn, I steered us to a barely there path past it and up the hill.
Both horses liked the challenge of the change in terrain, and Carter seemed to be having a good time.
“There’s this place near the cow pasture where everyone thinks is my favorite spot on the ranch,” I spoke when we got back on even ground. “That’s where I built my little hut when I wanted to get away from everyone when I was six.”
“But it’s not your favorite?” he asked astutely.
I smiled. “No, it’s not.”
I kept leading the way to my actual favorite place on the whole ranch. It was up the hill behind the event barn, past all the work Fern had done there to get her business running. It took us another fifteen minutes of riding to get there.
It was nothing special. There were blue spruces on a spot that slightly overlooked the creek in the distance.
I stopped Snoopy on an even spot and dismounted, then went to grab Humphrey’s reins with my other hand so Carter could get down, too.
There was no need to tie the horses, so I gave Carter the reins back and walked to the spot I wanted to show him with Snoopy trailing along behind me.
“I like the view, such as it is,” I said quietly, gesturing with my free hand.
Carter and Humphrey came to stand next to us. Carter didn’t say anything immediately. Instead, he inhaled the fresh, cool air and the scent of the pines.
“I can see that. You said you needed peace and quiet sometimes. This is both of those things. And the view is lovely.”
“If I turn my head and you’re looking at me, I’m gonna withhold blowjobs for a week,” I deadpanned.
Carter guffawed, then laughed for a moment as I tried not to do the same, failing miserably.
He shook his head and took my free hand. “I wasn’t, for the record. But I could’ve been.”
