Elise
Ford and I didn’t go out a lot since moving to Rockwall but not for any other reason than we just didn’t want to. Sometimes we would go on a hike or go to Humble and ride the horses. Of course, Carol and Terry loved that. It had been a while since we had gone riding, so I was convinced we were going to go out there Saturday and take advantage of the nice weather. Plus, I could see that Ford had been tense, and I wasn’t sure why but I knew that fresh air would do us both good.
While tacking the horses up and getting them ready, I kept glancing over at my fiancé, thinking about how lucky I was and how I couldn’t wait until we got married. I wanted to call Ford my husband more than anything.
I watched as he had his baseball cap on backward and was wearing a TMU shirt that I had claimed, but he had called dibs on today. He only wore his jeans and boots out here on the property, and I was the same now. In class, I wore usually a pair of Converse or sandals, throwing them on in a rush to get to where I needed to be.
When we were back in Humble, we were back at our home. Ford had said himself that he was more comfortable here than his own home where he grew up. Here, he was himself.
Ford, being the ever gentleman, helped to settle me on Rose and then got ready himself.
We start on an easy ride, letting the horses warm up, and I kept glancing over at him.
“What are you all smiles about today?”
“You, us, and being here.”
“It’s a lot to smile about, isn’t it?” He winked at me and gave Daisy a good pat, letting me know he would speed her up. Hard to believe both of us had only been riding since we met. It looked and felt like we were born to ride.
And he was off, just as I suspected. I gave Rose a good squeeze and pull, and we were off to catch them.
The wind blew through my hair, and I bounced up and down, moving with Rose’s movement while smiling ear to ear. I started to laugh with the excitement of chasing Ford and Daisy and the fun I was having.
Ford halted and then turned to wait for me as if he was uncatchable.
“About time you caught up,” he said as I moved beside him.
“You suck. And once again, you got a head start. I had to catch up.” I smarted off to him, and he smiled.
He was a gorgeous man. He had always been good looking, but today, I really noticed it more. Maybe it was the light, maybe it was the fun I was having, or maybe it was just because my heart felt full, but we were back where it all started for us, and it always made me grateful. Perhaps it was the scare he had on the football field not long before.
I smiled wickedly and then took off further to the tank that was at the back of the property. Rose was moving quickly as if she knew I had to beat him. We were working together.
I heard Ford talking to Daisy in a sorts and the sound of her hooves not far behind me.
He followed me to where I was leading him to willingly.
I led Rose right into the tank, and she moved gracefully with me on her. I smiled, knowing Ford was right behind me. Rose seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was.
Once making it to the other side of the tank, I halted Rose, got off her, and led her to the fresh grass. Ford followed suit, and we walked off to the tree that shadowed the grass by the tank before a small incline in the land.
“Playing games with me today, baby?” He asked as we took a seat on the grass.
“I wasn’t the one playing games, Ford. You were. I was just giving you some of your own medicine.”
“Is that a fact?” He leaned in and touched my face before kissing me. His hat was still on backward, and he knew I loved that because I could see his blue eyes more intensely.
I moved my hands under his shirt and felt his skin underneath. He had started to sweat, and I motioned for him to take it off.
He began to do as I asked, as he usually did, but then smiled and stopped.
“If I take off mine, then yours comes off too.”
Without hesitation, I smiled, puckered my lips, and then took it off.
He stood up and took off his boots, so I copied him.
Then he unbuttoned his jeans but stopped …
He took off running to the tank, waiting for me to follow him.
And I did.
We chased each other around the tank, and he dunked me but then grabbed me, wrapping me in his arms to kiss me while running his hands up and down my back.
The sun was beaming down on us, and it was just us two here other than Rose and Daisy that seemed happy left to their selves.
“You ready to get out, sweetheart?”
“I guess … let’s sit for a while, though, before we get back. I just wanted to spend some time with you here.”
He lifts me up in his arms and carries me out of the water and to the spot on the grass where we had started.
He laid me down softly and then joined me, leaning on his side, pushing my hair out of my face, and kissing me. He paused, admiring my face over and over.
“You are the most beautiful woman, you know that?”
I wanted to cover my face, but instead, I just smiled. “I’m glad you think that… that is all that matters.”
“I mean it … I know we are going to go through things in our life.” He paused, seeming lost in thought. “I just want you to know that I love you more than I ever thought was possible, and I would never intentionally hurt you. I promised Thad I would protect you, and I don’t break my promises. I never have. And especially to the love of my life.”
The look in his eyes was different although I couldn’t peg it. He seemed worried; something didn’t seem right. Maybe I was looking more into it than necessary.
“I never thought you would.” I paused. “So when are you going to make me Mrs. Kelly?”
“As soon as possible. I love you, baby.”
“I love you.”