Page 12 of Beauden & Yelena

“Females are actually mares. The male horses are stallions but it’s a common mistake,” he explains before grabbing my hand. He leads me closer to the horse. “I want you to meet my Midnight Love.” He strokes the horse’s face with his free hand. “Thanks. I got him, Travis,” he says, then takes the reins.

I timidly take one step forward then stop. “Can I touch him? He’s so pretty.”

He releases my hand then places it on the side of Midnight Love’s face. “Yes. You can rub his side. He likes that.”

Since he’s holding Midnight Love’s head, I bravely take the other two steps forward and touch his side. His hair is silky and soft to the touch. He’s warm and I can feel his muscles under his skin. As I stroke him, he makes soft noises. The little exhaling and nickering are subtle, surprisingly subtle for such a large animal. I didn’t expect that. I’m also surprised by the smell. It’s an earthy, rich, yet grainy fragrance, not at all what I imagined.

“He’s gentle,” I comment.

“Very but nevertheless, he’s spirited and bold. I want you to ride him with me.”

“Will he let me?”

“Of course,” he says and the side of his lip curls up.

That beautiful ass half smile.

As I admire it, his eyes survey my face then land on mine. With intensity in them, he says, “I’m giving you a private tour of the ranch.”

“I’m ready.” I beam, totally enamored by this fine ass man.

He leads Midnight Love out of the stable and I follow. Once outside, he wraps the reins around one of the beams on the porch. Then, he grabs a block and positions it on the side of the horse before reaching his hand toward me.

“Come on,” he coaxes and I grab ahold of his warm hand. Even in this cold, he manages to stay so warm to the touch. He grabs the stirrup then looks at me. “Step on this block then place your foot in here.”

“Is he going to move?” I ask nervously. I’ve already embarrassed myself with the goat. I do not want to break any bones because the horse moves.

“I got him and you.”

After taking a deep ass breath, I look to the handsome man who wants to show me all of himself and completely relax. I feel one hundred percent confident that I’m safe with him. So, I step onto the block, place my hands on Midnight Love, then raise my foot up to the stirrup. Once it’s securely inside, Beauden pushes my ass up and I straddle the horse.

“Whew!” I exhale nervously and excitedly.I’m on a horse!

“Hold onto the pommel,” he says and I look at him for clarity.

My hand reaches for the hook looking thing on the saddle. As I reach for it, I question, “This?”

“Yea,” he confirms.

He unwraps the reins from the beam then steps on the block and mounts the horse behind me. He reaches in front and splits the reins between his hands. Then, he taps the side of the horse as he makes a ticking sound.

Midnight moves and my body jerks a little. Although Beauden’s arms are firmly around my sides, I’m still gripping the hell out of the pommel. I have to adjust to the unsteady feeling I have as Midnight trots. My balance kind of feels off. However, after a few more steps, I get used to it and enjoy the ride.

The beautiful bright sky, cold wind, peaceful vibe, and power I feel being on top of such a magnificent creature are amazing. I can barely put the feeling into words.

“I’m going to take you around the back side of the property first,” he utters in my ear as we get further away from the stables. “The ranch is split between the cattle and the horses; they occupy this side of the property.”

“It’s beautiful,” I remark as I admire the snow-blanketed, hilly land. “And all of this is yours?”

“Yes, it’s all mine.”

“How big is it? I mean I know the brochure said twenty thousand something acres but what is that in miles?”

“In total, about thirty-two miles.”

“Wow! You have a small town all to yourself. I can’t imagine having this much space.”

“Space and freedom. It’s my own piece of heaven on earth. I take pride in my ownership too. I take care of my land, cultivate it, and nurture God’s creatures on it. There’s nothing like owning the ground you walk on, especially as a Black man. Our people built this country; worked this land for free and I’ve secured a small piece back for me, my family, and my children.”

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