by K. B. Draper
Theo pulled alongside Kanyon who was leaning against her blacked-out Cadillac Escalade in the grocery store parking lot. “Cooool. I knew you’d have to have a black car. I mean the yellow was cool too, but this is more fitting for the Dark Savior.” Daylen cleared her throat. Theo glanced at her, then back at Kanyon. “I mean you, fitting of you, Kanyon, not the Dark Savior. The Dark Savior is not real, obviously. But you, Kanyon, are … so you. Black cars are fitting of you, Kanyon, Kanyon McKane.”
“Got it.” Kanyon held up a hand to stop his rambling. “Thanks,” Kanyon offered then gave a thankful wink to Daylen.
“So, can I ride with you guys?” he asked.
“Yes.” “No.” They answered in unison.
“Yes, you can ride with us,” Daylen said, giving Kanyon a discreet look.
“Of course you can,” Kanyon corrected herself. “I’ll stay here while you guys run in. It’s just easier,” she said as she watched a couple walk in front of them, shooting glances at her and whispering back and forth, as another person at the cart return dug for their phone. “You guys get whatever you want,” Kanyon offered, handing Theo a hundred-dollar bill as she climbed back into her SUV.
“Whatever I want?” he asked excitedly, looking down at the bill in his hand.
“Yeah. Whatever. But I better see a Ho Ho or a Zinger in the bag when you get back.”
Daylen waited until Theo jogged ahead then leaned into Kanyon’s open window. “Thank you for this. I think I’m as excited as he is to see the horses again.”
Kanyon nodded. “They’ll be excited to see you too.”
“Green apples still their favorite?”
Kanyon couldn’t help, but smile at the memory of Daylen bringing green apples every day the horses were on set. She remembered watching them dance with excitement when they saw her and her offerings. She was pretty sure their excitement had more to do with the “her” than the offerings. “Yeah, still their favorite.”
Kanyon watched Daylen anxiously as she led her into the stable of the small farm she’d purchased to house their horses. Daylen’s eyes filled with tears the second they found CJ. CJ obviously felt the same excitement to see Daylen, as she began to bay and dance in her stall. Daylen ran to her and threw her arms around the horse’s extended neck and began stroking her mane. Kanyon couldn’t help but smile as she walked over to greet her own, more reserved hoofed friend. “Hey, Stormy. How’s my boy?”
Stormy snorted once and stretched his own neck out to receive a well-deserved stroking. “I missed you too,” Kanyon whispered in his ear as she patted him affectionately.
Theo burst into the stable, arms filled with the grocery bags, which he immediately dropped at the sight of the two warrior women standing next to their steeds.
“Oh my God, they’re amazing! Can I take pictures? Can I touch them? Which one do I get to ride?”
Stormy turned to stare at Kanyon. Kanyon took that as horse speak for “Don’t you even think about putting the dork on my back.” She patted his muzzle and reassured him. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Gus, a retired trainer who tended to the property and horses, had already laid out the saddles and gear. Kanyon and Daylen both learned how to saddle and care for the horses while on set, so it didn’t take long for them to prepare the horses for a ride. Kanyon put the groceries in the saddlebags and turned to find Stormy and Theo in a stare down. Stormy was apparently winning, since Theo was taking slow steps backward.
“I guess Theo’s riding with me?” Daylen said, walking up beside Kanyon.
“Looks like it.”
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” Kanyon led the horses out of the barn and into the fenced pen. She dropped Stormy’s reins and handed Daylen CJ’s before she walked over to open the gate to the field. Stormy became noticeably excited and began scuffing at the ground with his front hoof. “Stay,” Kanyon instructed. He snorted at her in response but stayed as ordered as she went over to CJ and Daylen. Kanyon took in the woman and her horse, the scene causing her heart to do an unexpected flip in her chest. They were both stunningly beautiful. A smile crept to her lips. “You two look amazing,” she said before she thought to stop herself.
“I can’t thank you enough for this. I missed her so much,” Daylen replied, beaming.
“You can come out, see her, take her for a ride anytime.” Kanyon patted CJ on her neck. “I think she’d like that.”
“Can I come anytime too?” Theo broke in.
At the sight of Daylen on CJ, Kanyon had nearly forgotten about their geek tagalong. “Ahhh, we’ll see if you survive today first. Get on.” Kanyon signaled with an upward swoosh of her hands.
Theo took a tentative step forward. “I’ve never been on a horse before, unless you count the mechanical ones outside the grocery store,” Theo admitted nervously.
“Same concept.” Kanyon made the same “get on” movement. “Just hike a leg over.”
Theo looked from the ground to CJ’s back. CJ wasn’t the biggest horse, not like the 17.2 hands high of Stormy, but Kanyon guessed it could be intimidating for Theo who maybe weighed 140 pounds soaking wet. “Fine. Come here.”
Daylen watched as Theo walked hesitantly toward them. She wondered which he was more intimidated by, the horse or Kanyon.
“Maybe I’ll just watch you guys ride and I’ll take photos.” He scrambled to find his phone in his corduroy jeans pocket.
“Theo, it’ll be fine. Come here and Kanyon will help you up,” Daylen urged.
Kanyon shot a look up at Daylen. “Seriously?”
“Help him up,” Daylen ordered, amused at Kanyon’s dismay.
“Fine.” She scoffed and waved him over. “Come here, Theo. Let me help you.” He did as instructed. “Put your foot in the stirrup and I’ll help guide you up.” It took him a couple times hopping on one foot and nearly falling over backward before Kanyon grabbed him by his shoe and placed his foot in the stirrup.
“Sorry, I’m not athletic,” Theo said as Kanyon held him upright.
“Really?” Kanyon said, not trying too hard to hide her sarcasm.
Daylen flicked Kanyon on top of the head.
Kanyon grimaced. “Ouch!”
“Be nice,” Daylen mouthed.
With his foot in the stirrup, Theo started to fall backward. Kanyon caught one of his flailing arms and pulled him back upright. Theo grinned in appreciation.
Kanyon placed his hand on her shoulder. “Use my shoulder to steady yourself, then just kind of jump and swing your foot over.” Theo nodded and then concentrating hard he began hopping. After about the fifth hop, which he only got about three inches from the ground, Kanyon finally spoke. “Anytime you’re done warming up, Little Bunny Foo Foo, you can jump on up there.”
“I am jumping.”
“Seriously?”
“Not athletic, remember?”
Daylen broke in before Kanyon could reply. “Theo, maybe take my arm and Kanyon can kind of give you a boost.” Theo took his hand from Kanyon’s shoulder and reached up to grasp Daylen’s forearm. “Good. Now Kanyon, can you give him a little help?” At Kanyon’s annoyed look, Daylen batted her eyes. “Please, Kanyon.”
Kanyon rolled her eyes, positioned herself behind Theo, and gave Daylen a glare over Theo’s shoulder. “Much better as my slave girl,” she muttered as she placed her hands on Theo’s hips.
“What?” Theo asked over his shoulder.
“Jump,” Kanyon replied.
He jumped as Kanyon lifted, but he lost his balance again and forgot to lift his leg, which caused him to bounce off the side of the horse and come butt first back at Kanyon. Kanyon was still in mid-lift and with her hands full of Theo, she couldn’t avoid the butt-face collision. Theo began to squirm making the situation worse, his butt coming to rest on top of Kanyon’s head. She immediately repositioned her hands under his ass and pushed him off and belly first onto the back of the horse.
Kanyon stepped back from the catastrophe and began wiping off her hea
d, like Theo had left butt cooties. She stopped when she heard Daylen suppressing a laugh. She glared and pointed a finger at her. “Not one word.”
Theo, who had worked himself into a sitting position, smiled triumphantly. “That wasn’t so bad.”
“Wasn’t bad? You weren’t the one wearing the ass hat,” Kanyon muttered under her breath.
She walked to Stormy who was snorting and bobbing his head. “You enjoy that, did you?” Stormy snorted and bobbed his head again. “Fine. He’s riding you on the way back.” She mounted Stormy in a swift practiced motion and looked over to Daylen who had walked CJ up next to them.
“Follow me out and we’ll stop for lunch over by the pond.” She looked at Theo. “Theo, you never know when CJ might just take off running and bounce you right off, so you better hold onto Daylen really, really tight.”
Kanyon grinned as she watched Theo throw himself against Daylen’s back and wrap both arms tightly around her chest. Daylen was prying his arms loose and saying something about needing to breathe when Kanyon and Stormy took off at a trot.
They made their way to the far end of the property where a large three-acre pond was nestled in the shade of trees and the side of a hill. When they reached level ground overlooking the pond, Kanyon dismounted and took CJ’s reins from Daylen. Theo skidded off the back of CJ but caught himself before he hit the ground. Daylen dismounted more gracefully and they unloaded the saddle bags.
Daylen and Theo sat up the picnic spread and they all sat to eat. Theo had a thousand questions for them both. Though Kanyon wouldn’t openly admit it, besides the whole ass hat thing, Theo really wasn’t that bad of guy. He was sweet and kind of cute in his own geeky way. They all laughed easily at Daylen’s retelling of mishaps and bloopers that occurred on the set. For Kanyon, the day had actually turned out to be one of the best days she’d had in a long time. As if reading her thoughts, Daylen sent her a soft smile. God, why didn’t we do this before? Why didn’t we spend time with each other in the five years we worked together? Oh right, I was avoiding her, not letting her get close because I’ve wanted her since the first time I saw her. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Daylen say, “Sure, you can ride her by yourself. If you’re up for it.”
Kanyon sat up straighter. “What?”
“Theo wants to ride CJ by himself,” Daylen offered.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?”
Daylen winked at her. “CJ will take care of him.”
“Fine, but you’re helping him up.”
Daylen laughed. “Then you’re cleaning up.”
“Deal.” Kanyon quickly started picking up the picnic aftermath.
It only took a few seconds for Kanyon to tidy up. She grabbed one more Zinger, her favorite little frosted snack, and sat back on the blanket to watch as Daylen gave Theo instructions. They walked CJ over to stand next to a tree stump. Daylen gave Theo more instructions, he nodded then got up on the stump, took ahold of the saddle horn and flopped across CJ’s back. From there he wiggled into an upright sitting position. He looked back at Kanyon with a big goofy grin and Kanyon couldn’t help but give him two thumbs up. Daylen led the horse and rider around in slow circles as she talked to him. She finally handed him the reins then watched as he and CJ took off on a slow stroll.
Daylen watched for a while until she was satisfied the horse and her rider were going to be okay, then rejoined Kanyon on the blanket.
“If the P.I. thing doesn’t work out, you could be a riding coach,” Kanyon said, watching geek and horse.
Daylen laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
“Good thinking on the tree stump.”
“I wasn’t going to let my face become the middle of a butt cheek sandwich.”
“Funny.” Kanyon plucked a piece of grass from the side of the blanket and twirled it in her fingers.
“Didn’t want to wear a butt bonnet,” Daylen continued.
Kanyon nodded. “Hilarious.”
“I have enough jewelry, didn’t need to wear Theo as an ASS-essory.”
“On second thought, maybe you can be a comedian if the P.I. thing doesn’t work out.” Kanyon threw the blade of grass at her then plucked another.
“Didn’t want to put a fart-dora on my head. It might mess up my hair.”
“Cute. Finished?”
“Yeah, think that’s about it,” Daylen said smugly as she laid back on the blanket, closing her eyes and soaking up the sun. “I already exfoliated my face this morning and didn’t need a butt-lufa.”
Kanyon’s hand was already pulling on another blade of glass, but instead of plucking one, she ripped out a handful and tossed it playfully at Daylen. Daylen rolled, sputtered, and spit out a grass blade that landed in her mouth. Kanyon grabbed another fistful of grass and went to toss it, but Daylen caught her wrist and rolled, pulling Kanyon off-balance toward her. Kanyon caught herself on one elbow before her full weight landed on top of Daylen. Their faces were dangerously close and Daylen let go of Kanyon’s wrist. Kanyon didn’t move as she looked down at the woman beneath her.
“Kanyon, I …” Daylen started, but lost her voice as she searched Kanyon’s face, her eyes coming to rest on Kanyon’s lips. “I don’t think this is a good idea,” she whispered regretfully.
“I’m really not known for my good ideas,” Kanyon replied as she watched Daylen bite her lower lip.
Daylen shuttered at the electricity sizzling through her body. “Kanyon, we–”
“Da..yy..ll..ee..nn.” Theo’s voice came bouncing across the field. “TT..ee..ll he..r we can st..oo..pp nooow.”
“We’re not done with this.” Kanyon rolled away and sat up to watch Theo and CJ trotting toward them.
Daylen took longer to recover. She laid there for a long moment trying to return her heart rate back to a normal level. She was in so much trouble. She didn’t know how she was going to continue to push Kanyon away when her body betrayed her every time Kanyon was close.
“I’m going to take Stormy for a run. We both need to burn off …” Kanyon stood and looked down at Daylen who, at Kanyon’s great delight, had her arm over her eyes taking in slow measured breaths through her nose while biting her lower lip, “some energy,” she finished with a satisfied smirk. She turned to see Theo who now had a death grip on the saddle horn. He was trying to keep upright, but his ass slid more off center at every bounce of CJ’s trot. “Daylen, ah, you might want to go rescue your student.”
Daylen sat up to see Theo riding sidesaddle, and not the proper lady kind. “Crap!” She jumped to her feet.
“Meet me in the field after you save your damsel in distress,” Kanyon suggested then she and Stormy took off in a run.
Daylen whistled for CJ and the horse dutifully headed in her direction. Daylen met them halfway. “I’m not sure horses are my thing,” Theo said as Daylen helped him down.
“It takes a little time. You did good for your first ride. You didn’t fall off. Well, not completely anyway.” Daylen poked him teasingly.
“You think I can get better?”
“Absolutely. You just need a little more time to get comfortable and confident. The horse has to know who’s in charge.”
“Like Kanyon?” Theo said, staring off with pure lust dripping from his voice. Daylen looked up following his gaze to the subject of his admiration. Kanyon and Stormy were racing across the field. Her head was forward, her body moving in a smooth rhythm with the horse’s every stride. They were magnificent. The raw power the midnight black horse showed with every flex of his muscle and his rider, the silky, coal black hair flowing behind her, they were the perfect picture of strength and beauty.
“Yeah, like Kanyon,” Daylen muttered watching the warrior, her soul mate, her Guardian. She sighed heavily then turned to Theo. “You good if I take CJ for a run?”
“Yeah. I’m going to sit and let my butt rest for a minute,” Theo replied, rubbing his backside as he walked off the discomfort.
Daylen mounted w
ith a practiced motion and took off after Kanyon and Stormy.
Back at the barn, Daylen found herself enjoying the simple tasks of watering and brushing down the horses. “Kanyon, this was the most amazing day. Thank you for keeping her.” She smiled as she stroked CJ’s neck. “I hadn’t really realized how much I missed her.”
“Like I said, feel free to come see her anytime. I mean she’s yours, always has been. I knew the moment I saw you two together, the first day they brought her in to meet you.” Kanyon hesitated, remembering how she watched from the window of her trailer as Daylen walked up to CJ, eyes excited and a huge smile. Daylen obviously forgot all the trainer’s instructions of stay calm, approach slowly, but confidently, show the horse who’s in charge by taking the reins firmly, etc. because Daylen leapt with excitement and threw her arms around CJ’s neck. Kanyon figured Daylen’s approach worked just as well, actually better, because CJ not only accepted her hug, but nuzzled Daylen’s back with her head and nose. Just as CJ was doing now. Kanyon smiled. “You guys definitely belong to each other.”
As soon as they pulled in a few spaces down from Theo’s car, he leaned up between their seats. “That was amazing! I can’t wait to tell the guys at the store. Do you think we can do it again?”
Daylen started to answer to cut off Kanyon’s protest, but was surprised when Kanyon replied, “Sure, just give me a call sometime and we’ll figure something out.”
“Great!” Theo grabbed his stuff and jumped out. They both watched him walk bow-legged to his car.
“That was nice of you.” Daylen offered.
“Ehh, he’s an alright guy. He has really poor timing,” she shot Daylen a sidelong look and a smirk, “but an alright guy. Where now?”
“Well, Saturday nights are reserved for the one’s you love, right? So, I was thinking about heading back, cleaning up, and then we could follow Lydia again?” Daylen asked, then quickly interjected, “I mean, I’m sure you have other plans or whatever so I can go by myself. I don’t expect you to be with me … go with me.” Realizing she just assumed Kanyon was free and would want to spend the evening with her. “I don’t expect you to go with me.”