Natural Attraction

by C L Green

  I cannot believe my eyes.

  Wordlessly, Jax moves left and right, backwards and forwards and Trouble continues his excited prancing while sticking to Jax like glue. No ropes, no sticks, no nothing. It is like watching a dog play with his master except that this is a full sized stallion and it is something that I have never seen in real life. Sure I’ve seen similar things on movies, but never this close. To be honest I had always thought there were see-through ropes or something going on in the background.

  Jax and Trouble continue to ‘play’ like this for a few more minutes. I am broken from my mesmerized trance when suddenly, without warning, I see Jax swing his leg and he throws himself up onto Troubles back.

  Still no ropes, nothing!

  Jax and Trouble then meld into one as Trouble swiftly turns and takes off down his paddock. I feel fear grip my insides as I watch the two of them racing towards the far end of the paddock.

  Oh my God.

  What should I do?

  How the hell am I going to stop a crazy stallion I know nothing about from killing Jax without getting hurt myself?

  I think about my alternatives quickly and am about to make my initial maneuver of at least shutting the gate when I hear Jax whoop madly like a crazed Indian. I then see Trouble turn and head straight back towards me. Flat-out.

  My brain freezes. I am going to die and so is Jax.

  They are about halfway along the paddock on their way back to me when I notice Jax’s face. His is not the face of a terrified man. His is the face of a man in rapture as he beams his enjoyment to be racing around, out of control, on his horse.

  It is then that I also see Jax start to lean back on Trouble’s back and to my surprise, Trouble skids to a dead halt. Just like you see the horses do on television with their legs right under them and the dust flying all over the place.

  Apparently Trouble is not out of control?

  I cannot believe my eyes.

  Jax then gently slides off Trouble’s back and gives him a loving hug around the neck. He then walks back towards me looking pleased with his self.

  Trouble, as if nothing has even happened, walks calmly at his side.

  “Wow,” I breathe.

  “Cool isn’t he?” Jax beams as he gets closer to me. He turns to give Trouble another fond rub as he sets about closing his gate again.

  Words fail me and I feel my heart swell to the size of a watermelon inside my body as I fall, completely and utterly, in love with Jax Walker – and his horse.

  Chapter Three

  Natural Horsemanship

  “Where did you learn to do that?” I ask as we walk together back to the day yards, my tour complete.

  “I didn’t,” he says quietly, tilting his head towards me looking almost hesitant. “It sort of just happened one day. He’s pretty cool isn’t he?”

  I study his face for a moment, confused and slightly fascinated that he is being shy about what he has just shown me he can do with Trouble. I’m sure if I could pull off what he has just shown me he can do, I wouldn’t be shy. I’d be feeling as cocky as they come.

  “He is, but what about you? You are pretty cool too. Not just anyone can do what I just saw you do.”

  “Yes they can,” he announces confidently, “it’s not exactly a new idea. Native Americans have been riding their horses around for centuries without ropes and saddles. It is only us modern day horse riders who don’t know any better.”

  “True, but still, you are amazing,” I tell him, feeling embarrassed as soon as I say it. I quickly move my eyes to focus on the ground in front of me, praying he didn’t hear me.

  Once again I have said too much and the last thing I need is him seeing that I am now embarrassed that I have called him amazing. What is it with me when I am around this guy, why can’t I just say something like ‘True, but you are very good with horses.’

  Amazing, who calls someone they just met amazing?

  Jax stops walking abruptly. “Are you blushing?” He asks with a hint of humor in his voice.

  “No!” I snap, not stopping to turn and look at him. I most definitely do not want to see the humor on his face that I know will only embarrass me more.

  God this sucks.

  Why can’t I stop running off at the mouth and getting all these stupid emotions flaming across my face?

  This is so not me.

  I quickly devise a plan to just keep walking hoping that he will ignore me and change the subject. I have barely made it another two steps when I hear the thud of his booted foot behind me and his strong hand grabs mine as he pulls me to a stop.

  Still looking at my feet I watch Jax’s boots walk around and stand squarely in front of me.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he says softly. “I was just amused by your reaction to me and Trouble. I’ve never shown anyone what he and I do when we play together, but for some reason I wanted you to see it. On top of that, I was also feeling embarrassed about having shown you what we could do. I thought it was funny that you were the one who ended up embarrassed. Believe me, I wasn’t laughing at you, I was laughing with you.“

  My eyes shoot up to his face.

  “You were embarrassed about showing me that? Jesus Jax, don’t ever be embarrassed to show anyone that. I can’t believe I’m the first person you’ve shown. Why me?”

  The million dollar question.

  How can someone do something so amazing with a horse and not ever show it to anyone? It sort of defies logic and doesn’t fit with the ways of modern society. It’s far more common to see someone take an IPhone video of their self and plaster it all over YouTube or Facebook. What does he have to be embarrassed about?

  Jax sighs and lets my hand go. He moves his fingers to the bottom of my chin. With gentle pressure he tips it towards him and speaks softly, “I don’t know. It just felt right today. It was something to do with the way Trouble was connecting with me. It was also looking across to see you looking all soft eyed and amazed. I suddenly wanted you to see it.”

  He chews his lip thoughtfully and continues to rock my world.

  “I have shown some of my close friends what we can do on the ground. You however, are the first person I felt strongly enough about to show what I could do with him when I was on his back. I suppose there’s always been a mixture of fear of failure and general caution in my actions. Most of all, I normally worry the extra pressure of having someone watch us together will shatter the link we have going and we’ll both look silly. Even worse is the fear that it will all go to pot and I’ll fall off in front of someone. The worst case scenario is that Trouble is hurt ‘cause I am stupidly showing off. Today I didn’t feel that and it had something to do with you.”

  Wow.

  That was left field and a bit deep for this time of day. Especially with all the strong emotions I am feeling towards him after only spending a few hours with him.

  This is a conversation better had after an hour of two of steady drinking.

  Time to move on.

  I step back to break his finger contact with my chin and ask him the first thing that comes to my mind.

  “Is it lunchtime yet?”

  Jax fixes his sunglasses on my face for a few more seconds looking confused and sighs.

  “Sure, it’s probably good timing and then after lunch we can go and start working with Maverick.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I say spinning back around and continuing my way to the barn. It is time to shake Jax out of my head and focus on the job at hand.

  Lunch, then ride Maverick, then go home.

  It’s always good to have a clear plan.

  A sick feeling hits my stomach and I feel it churn.

  Crap.

  The part of the day I have been dreading is here. It has been six full weeks and I still can’t shake the uneasy butterflies that keep overtaking me. Although I feel like Maverick and I know each other a whole lot better, the butterflies hit every time I think of climbing up on his back.

&
nbsp; The memories of the pain and injuries I have received launch to the front of my mind and I feel my breath hitch.

  I so wish I could get out of this.

  I start racking my brain for excuses to use that might get me out of the riding demonstration that Jax wants.

  Perhaps I can plead sickness?

  It would need to be a sudden illness considering I was healthy all morning. A dodgy salad-roll for lunch perhaps? Maybe a faked phone call that draws me back home?

  Yes that would be perfect.

  I speed up a little planning to grab my lunch from the fridge and head straight to my car to call Jen and set up my fake call. My plans are interrupted when I hear the loud, deep grumble of a v8 engine approaching along the driveway.

  I slow my pace again and turn to see Jax looking up the driveway shaking his head. He looks annoyed.

  I follow his gaze and see what looks like a fiery metallic red version of Clint Eastwood’s car out of the movie Gran Torino inching it’s way along the driveway.

  My eyes bulge and my jaw drops as I quickly scan the car of my dreams. Shiny mag wheels, black racing stripes across the bonnet, gorgeous sleek lines running smoothly along the fastback body. This car is amazing.

  For the second time today I am seeing something in the flesh that I have only ever seen on movies or in magazines.

  I refocus my attention on the occupants of the vehicle and receive yet another shock for the day. Not only are there three ladies in the car (no men!), but the driver of this gorgeous machine is an elderly gray haired lady with a perm.

  A perm.

  Who gets a perm in nowadays?

  I almost feel like laughing out loud but think better of it. I think better of it because when I take a second glance, I see a gorgeous set of crystal blue eyes shining above another cheeky set of dimples.

  Dimples... Is this his mother?

  Sitting by the elderly ladies’ side in the front passenger seat is a very attractive young woman who looks to be about my age. She has shiny black hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and big gorgeous dark brown eyes that give her an almost Native American look.

  Her complete lack of make-up, yet capacity to look like a super model without it confirms her as a true beauty who requires no product assistance to look stunning. Do gorgeous people sprout out of the ground around here?

  Clearly I live in the wrong area code.

  The rear seat of the car is occupied by another attractive, middle-aged woman with spotlessly presented honey blonde hair. It is cut short to sit just above her shoulders. She is sporting a splash of make-up around her light brown eyes and a big friendly smile that makes you want to walk over and strike up a cheerful conversation with her.

  I swing my gaze back to Jax to see him looking at his feet, still shaking his head. He looks anything but happy.

  What could be so bad about his mum visiting?

  I see him blow out a huge breath and still looking at the ground he reaches up to his eyes and takes his sunglasses off. He does this with one hand while he starts scrubbing over his eyes and forehead with the other, stress emanating from his every movement.

  It is then that he tilts his head sideways to peek at me from under his brows and the next shock of the day hits me.

  Another set of crystal blue eyes framed by the longest, softest looking eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a man.

  Jesus, could this guy be any better looking? Those eyes are almost illegal they are so beautiful. At least I can confirm that that is his mum driving the car. I blink, mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off his.

  I vaguely hear the big engine rumble to silence and two car doors squeaking open. With a surge of willpower I didn’t know I had, I drag my eyes away from Jax’s and swing back to the beautiful car. I see the three women, all dressed in tracksuit pants, t-shirts and running shoes exiting the car.

  Without a word, they all silently bend back down to the car and reemerge loaded to the hilt with shopping bags packed with groceries and cleaning buckets full of cleaning products.

  Is this Jax’s personal cleaning and grocery delivery team?

  I then hear the deep rumble of Jax’ss voice saying, “Hello Ma,” as he strides towards the elderly woman and bends to give her a peck on the cheek. “How long you had this one?”

  “We picked it up yesterday, what do you think? It's gorgeous isn’t it?” His mum announces cheerfully.

  “Your father saw it on some website somewhere and bought it for me to try to heal the loss of writing off the Camaro in Melbourne last week.”

  I hear Jax muttering, “Jesus, Ma. A Gran Torino. Could you have found anything less powerful and overstated?”

  I process the information that this short, elderly, gray haired woman has a perm. She has a perm and wrote a Camaro off last week. She then bought a Gran Torino this week. This can mean only one thing.

  She is the coolest mum, ever!

  I wish she was my mum!

  I can’t help myself, my feet unfreeze from the ground and I semi-jog over to get a closer look at the Gran Torino’s interior.

  “This has to be the coolest car I have ever seen,” I announce to no one in particular. I then continue to cast my eyes lovingly over the car.

  Not even hesitating, Jax’s mum turns towards me with her gorgeous blue eyes flashing mischief and her dimples popping.

  She throws her hand towards me and announces loudly, “Now that’s more like the greeting I would have expected from my son on seeing my fantabulous new car. My name is Rowena Walker but you can call me Ro. Who my pretty little dear, are you?”

  I reach out to gently shake her offered hand.

  “Ashleigh Thompson, it’s nice to meet you and your fantabulous car. I’ve never seen one of these in real life. I am impressed, almost beyond belief.”

  “Why hello Ashleigh. What a lovely name and thank you for your appreciation of my new car. But once again, I ask, who are you?”

  “Um.”

  What did she expect me to say to that?

  I just told her my name, what else did she need to know? Perhaps she wants my date of birth and place of employment?

  “She’s a friend o’ mine Ma and she’s here to get some help with her horse.” Jax interjects piercing me with his crystal blue eyes.

  He gives me the distinct feeling I should stop talking.

  “Mmmmm, I’m sure she is,” his mother muses glancing between Jax and me suspiciously.

  “Anyhoooow,” she continues, “Onwards and upwards. We need to get your house sorted up and get back at my place by three this afternoon. We have some friends coming over for drinks and a Gran Torino tour. Ashleigh, since Jax hasn’t bothered to introduce you to them, let me do the honors. This is Rebecca and Teagan, Jax’s sisters-in-law.”

  She points first to the middle-aged woman and then to the younger woman. Both of them smile warmly at me and give me a little nod of acknowledgment.

  “We descend every second Saturday morning to restock Jax’s cupboards with real food. We also try to restore some likeness of order to his poor abused home. This is sadly a labor of love for us all as my boy Jax here does not have a domestic bone in his body. He’s always far too busy playing with his horses to bother picking up after himself. Lucky for him, he has three woman in his life who love him dearly enough that we continue to perform these tasks on his behalf. We do this while daydreaming that a miracle will occur and he will bother to find himself a lovely new wife who can take over our job.”

  This last piece of information is said with a wink clearly directed towards me.

  “Have you had lunch my dear?”

  “Um, not yet,” I hesitate to respond glancing at Jax wondering if I am allowed to speak.

  “Good! You’ll be having lunch with us then,” she announces firmly.

  She then starts striding towards Jax’s back door with her bags of goodies and the other two women in tow. “Give us about half an hour to get organised. I would recommend you do not even consider coming i
nside his house until we’ve had at least thirty minutes to repair the main damage to his kitchen and dining area. I’d also recommend you use the toilet in the barn until after we’ve cleaned the one in his house as his bathroom is not to be tackled by anyone faint of heart.”

  I hear Jax groan and look over to see him now looking towards the sky, a faint glow of red smearing across his cheek bones.

  “I like her.” I announce giggling at the honest picture she has painted of Jax’s domestic skills.

  “Most people do.” He mutters under his breath and then swings his eyes back to me. Piercing me with his clear blue gaze, he makes my insides melt while the words ‘God he’s gorgeous’, fly through my brain.

  “That’s why I try to keep her away from my friends. If I don’t, they end up spending more time with her than with me. She has a way of dragging you into her life and her activities. As you can see, she even manages to drag my two sisters-in-law over here every fortnight. I’m sure they have better things to do, their own lives to lead. They follow her around and do her bidding like she’s Queen Lizzie or something. I had forgotten it was the second Saturday. If I had have remembered it was their day to come I would have put you off till tomorrow. Sorry.”

  He sounds genuinely sorry. For what, I am not exactly sure. I was the one who should have been sorry. If I hadn’t have barged up to look at her car, she probably wouldn’t have invited me to lunch. Not that I care. The idea of having lunch today, as well as every other lunch in my entire future with Jax feels like the right thing to do.

  “I can skip lunch with you guys and just go eat mine in my car if that makes it any easier on you?” I offer, secretly hoping that he won’t allow it.

  “Shit no. That’s not an option now. If you even think about trying to avoid lunch with my Ma she’ll be out here dragging you inside by your ear to sit you at my dining table. Be prepared be to be overfed. She thinks I don’t eat enough and she makes it her personal mission to make my seams pop with food every time she visits. I’ve fallen into a food induced coma more times than I can count after a meal made by my Ma. Again, I’m sorry, all I can do is apologize in advance.”