Page 18 of Lassoed Love

“Wait, there’s no way you’ll be able to lift me up that way,” I ramble quickly, embarrassment creeping up, making my cheeks flush.

His response is instant, a low growl, almost a challenge. “Watch me.” With effortless strength, he firmly grips my waist and, without breaking a sweat, hoists me gracefully onto the back of the horse. I instinctively wrap my arms around Blue’s withers, smoothly lifting my leg up and around his back, finally settling myself into the saddle.

“Hold the reins like this,” he demonstrates, his large, calloused hands guiding mine.I’m sweating profusely now, and it’s not because of the heat.“Keep a firm but gentle hold. You’re leading him, not the other way around.” Why does that sound sodirty?Oh, shut up you, horny cow.

I nod, trying to absorb his guidance while fighting the distraction of his proximity.

“And keep your heels down,” he adds. “It helps with balance. You’ll get the hang of it.”

“Got it,” I manage to say, my voice slightly shaky. I can feel the warmth of his body as he leans over to adjust something on the saddle, his chest brushing against my bare thigh.

“Okay, that should do it,” he says, pulling back.

“Right, thanks,” I reply, trying to focus on the task at hand.Riding a horse, not getting flustered by a handsome cowboy.

Looking out into the distance, the vast expanse of the farm overwhelms me.Where the fuck am I supposed to go?I glance back at Xavier nervously. “Go on,” he urges, and with a soft click of his tongue, Blue starts to move forward.Well, there’s definitely no going back now.

“Lead the way then, cowboy,” I say, attempting to sound lighthearted while inwardly cringing at my awkward attempt at humour.

As I continue my ‘walk’—let’s not kid ourselves, it’s more of a leisurely stroll at this point—in the direction I was originally running, my anxiety prevents me from pushing Blue into anything resembling a trot. Xavier trails behind me, Buddy faithfully following. The relentless chirping of crickets resonates loudly, blending harmoniously with the distant chorus of birds.

Xavier, perhaps sensing my silent struggle, breaks the serenity ofthe moment. “Just about another kilometre or two up towards the left is our farmhouse,” he trails off hesitantly.

“We could stop here, if you like.”

To be honest, my ass is on fire, and my thighs are protesting vehemently from the prolonged saddle seat. How people manage to endure these horses for longer periods, I’ll never know.

I glance to my right, where a small path continues past the property's fencing, trailing downwards. Lights adorn the tree branches, casting an illuminated yellow glow along the path, although the blaring sunlight somewhat mutes their effect. “What’s down there?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me once again.

Xavier turns to follow my gaze toward the path leading down. “Leads down toward a water bank,” he remarks. He seems to ponder on this for a moment before deciding, “I don’t usually take the horses down there, but Blue’ll be fine. Come, I’ll show you.”

“Oh, no, no, we don't have to. Seriously, I was just asking. I’m sure you’ve got a full day’s work ahead of you and I should go,” I ramble on, desperately trying to find an excuse not to go.You should have just kept your mouth shut.I scold myself inwardly.

Ignoring my protests, Xavier gives a gentle pull on the rope attached to Blue's reins, directing us down towards the path. “Today’s my easier day. There ain’t much to do out here. I just took Blue out for a run earlier to get him moving.” His nonchalant demeanour adds to the charm that I find both irritating and strangely appealing.

The path stretches ahead of us, winding through the tranquil landscape, and despite my feeble attempts to resist, I find myselffollowing Xavier down the trail. Blue ambles along obediently, seemingly unperturbed by the deviation from his usual route.

The path gradually descends, and I catch glimpses of the water bank through the trees, its surface glinting in the filtered sunlight. My initial reluctance begins to wane as curiosity takes over.

As we approach the water bank, Xavier guides Blue to a halt, and I do the same. The scenery is breathtaking—the gentle rustle of leaves, the shimmering water, and the occasional ripple as a fish breaks the surface. I can’t help but marvel at the serenity of what is in front of me.

The water bank reflects the surrounding greenery like a mirror, and the rustling leaves provide a soothing backdrop. It’s a stark contrast to the city life I had now left behind in Sydney. I’d forgotten how to appreciate the simple things—like mother nature..

The city had its own allure, with its towering buildings and a constant hum of activity. Yet, in the heart of this never ending bush, I rediscover the calming embrace of nature. I realise how much I’ve missed this—being surrounded by lush greenery.

Xavier watches me, his expression unreadable. “So, um, how’s Duchess?” I ask, trying to break the awkward silence. The mention of his horse seems to soften his features, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“Duchess is doing much better since Monday,” he replies, a note of relief in his voice. “Hasn’t chucked up since then and has returned to her usual self.”

I nod, a sense of understanding passing between us. It’s clear thatDuchess holds a special place in his heart.

“How many horses do you have?”

“Only two now,” he answers. “We used to have three, but Dad sold Jazz a few years ago to a local breeder.”

“Oh, okay,” I reply, not wanting to pry further.

After our brief exchange about the horses, we lapse back into silence. I take the opportunity to take in the scenery around me, the beauty of the bushland soothing my frayed nerves.

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