Page 23 of Rusty

"Of course," Rusty agreed, his face flushed as well.

Desperate for a distraction, Janice turned her attention to Snickers, who stood nearby, grazing quietly. The mare's coat shimmered in the fading sunlight, and Janice couldn't help but admire the gentle creature. With a newfound determination, she decided to approach Snickers and try her hand at massaging the horse's tense muscles.

"Wait, Janice," Rusty cautioned, reaching out to stop her. "I’m not sure Snickers is ready for close company."

Ignoring his warning, Janice pressed on, moving slowly and deliberately as she approached the mare. She stopped a few feet away, avoiding direct eye contact so she didn’t intimidate the horse.

“Hey, girl,” she said gently, “I’d like to make that neck of yours feel a little better. How about it?”

“Her neck?” Rusty asked behind her, puzzled. “Is something up with it?”

Janice didn’t reply, because she wanted to give Snickers all her focus. She took another step forward, very slowly extending her hand with her palm facing downward. She let Snickers sniff it, and then took another step.

“What do you think, sweetie?” she asked the mare. “You want me to make you feel better?”

Ever so gently, she reached out and stroked the horse’s neck. Snickers flinched, but didn’t walk away.

“Good girl,” said Janice, aware her heart was thumping in her chest. Whether it was from the steamy words she’d just read with Rusty, or the proximity to Snickers, she wasn’t sure.

She carefully placed both hands on Snickers' neck now, tentatively feeling for areas of tension. The mare flinched again, but as Janice continued to gently massage her, Snickers began to relax, closing her eyes in contentment.

As Janice worked on the mare, Rusty remained quiet behind her, but she could tell he was watching her intently. Knowing that made her all the more determined to do a good job. She carefully worked her way along Snickers’ musculature until she was sure she’d worked on as many knots as she could, then, she gave Snickers a gentle pat and some soft praise, and backed away respectfully.

"Wow," Rusty murmured, clearly impressed by Janice's skill. "I didn't think you'd be able to do that."

"I wasn’t sure if it’d work," Janice admitted, smiling proudly at her accomplishment. "But it seems like it’s helped her."

"Where did you learn to do it?"

Janice shrugged. "Well," she said, "when I was living with my father, I used to try to help his overworked horses. I watched some online tutorials and just kind of picked it up, learning about their muscles and how to relieve tension."

"Remarkable," Rusty said, shaking his head in disbelief. "You have a real gift, Janice. Look at her, she's so happy!"

Snickers moved easily from side to side, and even though horses can't actually smile, she seemed to be giving her best shot at it.

"She does, doesn't she."

"Totally! Look at that grin."

Janice blushed, her heart swelling with pride. It felt good to know that someone appreciated her talents. "Thank you," she murmured.

"Hey," Rusty suddenly suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Why don't we celebrate this little victory? I haven't eaten dinner yet, and I know of a great spot by the lake for a picnic."

Janice hesitated for a moment, her thoughts racing. A picnic with Rusty sounded wonderful—intimate and fun—but would it be appropriate given their shared history? As if answering her question for her, Janice's stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she had skipped food in her nervous anticipation of spending time with Rusty.

“That sounds lovely," Janice agreed, smiling warmly at him. “I am kinda hungry.”

"Great!" Rusty enthused, his face lighting up with delight. "Let me go grab some food and we'll head down to the lake."

As he turned to leave, Janice couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. This evening might not havebeen what she had initially expected, but it was shaping up to be something truly special. And as she watched Rusty stride confidently toward his cabin, she couldn't help but hope that their shared journey of healing and growth had only just begun.

The lake looked beautiful in the evening light. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a warm golden glow over the clear blue water.

Janice sat on a blanket Rusty had laid out, looking out at the shimmering expanse before them.

Rusty opened up a wicker basket filled with all sorts of goodies. "I hope you like sandwiches and apple pie," he said with a grin.

Janice's eyes lit up at the sight of the food. “Who doesn’t?”

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