Chapter V
Mattie turned around at the sound of footsteps and handed the reins to the owner.
"We're in here, Clay." She headed toward the wide stable doors and waved as she saw him poke his head inside.
"I see you beat me to it." Clay smiled and strode inside the large wood structure, fitted out with at least twenty stalls.
She eyed his masculine silhouette in the dim light, backlit by the hazy sun pouring in the door, and as he came into focus, decided that she liked the way he looked in his jeans and denim jacket over a dark brown turtleneck. He had on scuffed brown boots and leather gloves, and his dark hair was pulled back in his usual low ponytail.
They stopped when they reached each other and he took off his right glove and put his hand on her shoulder. "It's good to see you again, Mattie."
She nodded and reached her right hand up, resting it for a moment on his hand as she kept herself steady on the uneven earth and straw with her left hand on the cane. His skin felt warm.
"I'm glad you thought of this, Clay," she smiled as she looked up into his eyes. "This is a perfect day for riding." They turned, and walked past several horses munching hay as they stuck their heads over the wood and metal gates of their stalls. "I had to come early to get my riding apparatus hooked up."
"What do you mean?" Clay looked puzzled, as they walked up to the owner, in the process of readying one of the horses for them. She pointed with her cane to her black riding boot on her right foot and a tennis shoe on her prosthetic.
"Lou, this is Clay Adamore. Clay, Lou Mitchell."
"Good to meet you, Clay." The middle-aged man held out his weathered hand as they approached. "Welcome to Birchwood Stables."
"Good to meet you, Lou." The two men shook hands warmly, and Lou motioned to a sleek brown Arabian two stalls down. "I want you to try Max out in the paddock and see how you like him. I set the stirrups based on the height Mattie said you were...six-three?" Clay looked down at her, his hands on his hips, and grinned.
"Well, six, two and a half," he laughed.
"Let me know how the stirrups fit. You preferred western, Mattie said."
"Yes sir." Clay turned and found Max, and Mattie watched as he stood at the stall, rubbing the white markings on the horse's nose as the horse held his head out through the black bars above the gate. Clay talked to him calmly, letting him get used to his voice, then he slid on his glove and attached the lead rope, and let it hang as he opened the gate and stood to the horse's left as the animal sauntered slowly out of its enclosure. Mattie leaned on her cane, fascinated by his gentleness and obvious knowledge of caring for horses. She was eager now to get on their way. He turned the horse and staying on its left side, folded the lead and held it loosely in his left hand, and with a quick wink over to her, he closed the stall gate and walked by Max's left shoulder as they headed toward the door.
"I'll have your set-up finished in a minute." Lou turned toward her horse, a slightly shorter gray and white speckled Appaloosa. "Go watch your boyfriend and I'll bring Slate out to you in a minute.
"He's not my boyfriend, Lou." Mattie laughed dismissively. "We just met."
"Uh..huh. Whatever you say, Mattie." he chuckled as he pulled down on the leather straps. "The way you two looked at each other reminds me of Eloise and myself thirty years ago."
Mattie ignored his inference and made her way out of the stable and turned left toward the paddock, seeing that Clay had already mounted and had Max in an easy walk around the enclosed grassy area. She watched him as he held himself neatly in the saddle, the reins in his gloved right hand, his other hand resting on his thigh. He took the horse through a few paces, from a walk to a trot, then back to a walk, turning, walking, and backing up, and as she watched him, she sat down on the large, white wood box next to the fence, and began removing her tennis shoe. She rolled up her jeans and unlaced the leather corset, then removed her prosthetic. She carefully laid everything behind her on the box, and stretched her back, reaching both hands up to smooth her hair, and tighten her ponytail. She looked up to see Lou leading Slate toward her and she smiled. What a beautiful horse. Probably sixteen hands, Slate was several shades of gray with white dappled spots on his haunches, and was a descendent of the Appaloosas that the Nez Perce peoples had bred. The intelligent horses were known for their distinctive spotted colorings and easy, trainable temperment. She'd ridden him a few times and he'd quickly became attuned to her special needs. Glancing over to see that Clay had brought his horse over towards her, letting him rest, she turned to Lou as he brought Slate to her.
"Are you ready, Mattie?"
"Yes, I am." She scooted back on the box and held onto the fence as she pulled herself up on her right leg, holding onto the top railing and her cane for support. She knew Clay was watching from the paddock and was glad that he'd had experience at the hospitals with amputees, so she didn't feel the least bit hesitant of his seeing her.
Lou led the gentle animal over to the fence and turned him so that his right side was toward Mattie. Because her lower left leg had been removed, she had to mount him from the right instead of the normal left, and as Lou came around the front of the horse and held him steady, she reached out and grabbed the pommel with her right hand, dropped her cane, then grabbed the cantle with her left hand and pulled herself up, leaning her stomach on the saddle, putting her full weight on the horse. She bent her right knee and fit her boot in the stirrup and hoisted herself up, quickly swinging her left leg over the horse and situating herself in the saddle, making sure the stirrup was the correct length for her right leg. Her lavender turtleneck and black denim jacket had ridden up above her waistband during the process and she pulled them down over her black jeans.
"The stirrup feels fine."
"Good." He walked around the front of the horse again and got to work on her left leg. Mattie glanced up and saw that Clay was peering down at them, absorbed in the process.
"It takes me a little bit longer, but I'm almost ready." Mattie called over to him.
"I was wondering if you were going to ride with your prosthetic," he called back. "I'll walk Max around once more then come out to meet you." She nodded to him, then focused her attention on her left leg. After a few more minutes, she arranged herself more comfortably in the saddle.
"I think that does it." Mattie held the reins loosely in both hands.
Lou rolled her prosthetic, cane, and tennis shoes in a blanket and strapped it behind her saddle. "Take him out in the paddock for a few turns."
"I will." She backed the horse up as Lou opened the wide gate, and Clay walked his horse out. He looked down at her left leg as he passed her.
"That's a brilliant solution, Mattie."
"Lou came up with it."
"If you're thrown, you certainly don't want a prosthetic that's attached to your leg stuck in a stirrup." Lou lifted his cowboy hat and ran his hand through his short gray hair. "It would do some serious damage to the end of her leg."
"And that was the challenge." Mattie pointed down at the black boot. "By attaching the weighted left boot to the stirrup and straps, I can put my leg in the padded top opening and it keeps my leg secure and steady. I'm still able to apply pressure to Slate's side with my knee, as well as downward on the stirrup." She looked over at Lou. "It's made all the difference."
"And, if she's thrown, her leg will come right out of the boot."
"I'm impressed, Lou. You could patent that idea." Clay nodded at him approvingly, and smiled over at her.
"I appreciate that." Lou chuckled. "Just glad I could help Mattie out."
Mattie led her horse into the paddock, and she glanced over at the two men on the other side of the fence as they watched her take Slate through his paces. Riding gave her such a sense of freedom and joy, and after taking lessons as a child, and continuing after her surgery, she felt completely confident in her abilities. She walked Slate around the perimeter of the paddock, then set him into a trot, 'posting,' or lifting her
bottom up slightly, then bouncing lightly off the saddle to the rhythm of the horse's gait. She loved the posture and precision of a trot and very seldom had she ever urged him into a canter or gallop. There was really no need. Satisfied, she walked him out of the gate. Clay smiled at her and after waving to Lou, started slowly off toward the field in back of the stables, then stopped to wait for her.
"Just met him, hmm...mm?" Lou teased her as she passed him and she shot him a reproving look.
"Shh..h...Lou."
"Haha....you two take your time, Mattie." Lou patted Slate's nose, and headed for his house, chuckling to himself.
Mattie brought her horse up beside Clay's, noticing that they were almost at eye level now. "You ride very well."
"Thank you, as do you," he bantered, smiling.
"Thank you." They walked their horses a ways out into the field. "There's really nothing else like riding." Mattie breathed in the crisp, cool air as she gazed around her at the trees in the distance, almost bare now save for a few orange and brown stragglers. The sky was a gorgeous turquoise-blue, and she took it all in, sighing contentedly.
"You're right about that." He smiled back at her and set his horse into an easy trot, and she followed suit, noticing again how comfortable he was in the saddle as he rode a little in front of her. She joined him and they rode in amiable silence for a short while, enjoying the fall scenery, then brought their horses back down to a walk.
"Are there any limitations when you ride?"
"You mean, can I go faster than a trot? Can I handle a gallop with my leg?"
"Yes," he eyed her as their horses ambled across the field.
"I've taken him to a gallop a couple of times before, but I usually choose to stay at a trot." She turned from him and gazed across the tantalizing expanse of green-brown field before them, and her mouth twisted into a smile. Hmm..mm. Why not? She slanted her eyes over at Clay, who was adjusting his left glove, then without saying a word, took Slate into a trot, then leaned forward, urging him into a strong canter. She heard Clay's surprised laugh, then a "Yawh." to Max behind her as Slate took long, powerful strides across the field toward the distant thicket of birch, maple, and evergreen trees, and the stream that she knew was beyond them. The wind loosened her hair, and Slate's black mane blew back towards her and she laughed at the feeling of total abandon. She glanced back at Clay and saw that he was gaining ground on her, a broad smile on his face, and she laughed again at the sheer pleasure that riding gave her. She slanted her eyes over at him as he came up beside her, and they continued their pace for a few minutes more, then slowed their horses to a trot.
"I'd say you have no limitations." he laughed over to her. "I could barely catch up to you." He took a deep breath and exhaled.
"That was wonderful." Mattie called over to him, slightly out of breath, as she posted lightly in the saddle, and he nodded.
"Yes, it was." He glanced over to her. After a few minutes, they took their horses down to a walk, and Clay brought Max a little closer.
She squinted her eyes at him and pointed to the stream, visible now through the trees. "How about over there?"
"Looks good."
She lightly held out the right rein and he followed suit. Their horses meandered down the path by the small stream and they led their horses off the path and down toward the water for a drink and short rest. After a few moments, they pulled their horses back from the water's edge and rode to a sheltering area under a large evergreen. Clay dismounted, looping the reins around a branch. He pulled off his gloves and tucked them between the stirrup straps, then walked around to the left side of her horse, "Do you want to dismount?" He gazed up at her seriously. "How would you work that out?" He bent his head to study the boot, and she peered down at the top of his head, noticing how soft his hair looked, as he ran his long fingers lightly along the leather straps.
"Umm..m. I hadn't really planned on getting down until we got back to the stables." She thought about it as he raised his eyes to hers. "I do have the prosthetic with me, though."
"I brought us an early lunch." He raised his eyebrows temptingly.
"Did you?" She glanced over at his saddle and for the first time, saw the khaki backpack strapped behind the cantle. She thought about it, biting her lower lip. "That sounds so good," she sighed. "It would take a while for me to put on my prosthetic, then take it off again. I suppose I could get down without it."
"Hold on." He walked back over to Max and unstrapped the backpack and opened the flap, pulling out a small gray blanket. He hoisted the bag on his shoulder and spread out the blanket beneath an evergreen not far from the horses, then placed the backpack on it. "What if I helped you down, and we can just sit and relax for a few minutes? I'll get your cane." He stood with his hands on his hips, and he looked up at her with such a disarming smile, that she couldn't refuse. He reached into the bundle behind her saddle and pulled out the cane.
"All right." She led Slate to a spot beside Max, and Clay came over to her horse's right side and took the reins from her and tied them to a branch. She reached down to her left and pulled at her leg to get it out of the boot, and she quickly rerolled her jeans and pulled up the beige sock that covered the stump. She turned and saw Clay watching with interest, then she leaned back and held onto the cantle behind her and swung her left leg over the front of the saddle as he held his arms out to her. She leaned toward him, disengaging her right leg from the stirrup and slid down off the saddle. She felt his strong hands under her arms, then she stood beside him and he held her securely as she used her cane, and they walked together to the blanket. Mattie sat down and rerolled the bottom of her jeans again, tucked her legs under her and turned toward him as he joined her on the blanket. She brushed back strands of her hair that had come loose during the ride.
"Thank you."
"You're quite welcome." He pulled out a large green thermos and two spoons and blue and white splatter tin cups.
"What did you bring for us?" She leaned forward in anticipation as he opened the backpack.
"I thought, since it was a little cool today, that hot soup would be good." He twisted the lid, and poured some into one of the cups. "I hope you like Campbell's Vegetable Beef." He laughed and she smiled as she noticed the crinkles in the corners of his eyes, and the very appealing crease in his cheek visible through his short beard.
"That sounds wonderful, actually." She took the proffered cup and spoon and waited until he had poured his, then sipped a spoonful of the hot soup. "Umm..m, this is perfect, Clay. Thank you for thinking of this."
"Oh, I almost forgot. Do you like beer?" At her nod, he pulled out two cans, grinning as he held one out away from them and slowly pulled the tab to make sure it had settled from its bumpy ride. He handed it to her and she took a sip and sighed.
"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" She gazed around her. "I absolutely love New Hampshire."
"It is beautiful." He smiled at her. "Thank you for saying yes."
"I'm glad I did." She returned his smile. "I'm enjoying it very much."
He swigged a large spoonful of the soup and eyed her thoughtfully. "This field reminds me somewhat of Nova Scotia...when I've ridden there."
She took another spoonful of the hot soup. "It sounds like a beautiful place, Clay." She looked over at the horses as they stood beneath the tree across from them, happy to be rid of their riders, she guessed, then looked back into his eyes.
"It is, Mattie." He tilted his head and narrowed his dark eyes. "I actually get a little homesick now and again."
Mattie thought about something that had been on her mind the past week, one of probably hundreds of questions she'd compiled in her head that she wanted to ask him.
"What type of architecture do you prefer?" she squinted her eyes at him. "I mean, is there a style you lean towards when you design a building?"
He eyed her as he swallowed. "Yes, actually, I love the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, although it can be difficult to persuade a client loo
king to build a strip of retail stores to go in that direction." She nodded as she ate a spoonful of soup. "Wright's ideas of building in harmony with a home's natural surroundings have been revolutionary, and his use of cantilever construction was brilliant."
"I'd been curious." she explained. "Art history naturally would include architecture around the world since that's a reflection of a society as much as painting or sculpture, so I teach a unit on architecture with each period of art I cover. As far as the twentieth century goes, Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Robious, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier are the main architects I cover," she smiled at him.
"That's incredible." He sat upright, his eyes wide. "Have you been to Fallingwater, Wright's design for the Kaufmann house in Mill Run, Pennsylvania? Over the waterfall at Bear Run Creek?"
"No, but I've always meant to." She leaned toward him.
"I went there last year with Cal...Caleb The place is amazing. It's been open to the public for six years now." They stared at each other for a moment.
"I did get to see Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye when I traveled to France during my student exchange in Italy, and it was very impressive for its era." Mattie ate a spoonful of soup and continued. "He and Wright had almost diametrical views on design, in my opinion." She saw that Clay was staring at her as if in a trance. "Frank Lloyd Wright, for all his frailties as a human being, brought nature into his designs, whereas Le Corbusier brought clean geometry into his modular systems." Mattie saw that they'd both finished their soup, and she handed over her cup and spoon.
"I agree." Clay wrapped everything in a towel and stuffed it all into the khaki backpack. "Umm..m." He eyed her. "Do you enjoy road trips?" He closed the flap.
"Yes, I do." She sipped her beer, and leaned toward him. "What did you have in mind?"
"Come with me to see Fallingwater." He set aside the backpack, and moved a little closer to her.
"When?" She searched his dark eyes, and smiled.
"What about next weekend, before winter starts to set in?"
She looked past him toward the stream as she sipped her beer and thought about it. Hmm...November first. Why not? A day trip would be fun. And she'd always wanted to see Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic house. "All right, let's do it, then."
"Perfect," he smiled at her broadly. "It is a bit of a hike down to the house, though...about a quarter mile."
"I can handle that."
Clay took their empty cans and stuck them in the backpack and returned to her side. They sat close together, gazing out at the bucolic autumn landscape as the breeze ruffled strands of her hair that had come loose during their ride. She sighed contentedly, and turned, softly slanting her eyes at him and saw that his brows were lowered and his gaze thoughtful as he studied her intently. Mattie's lips curved softly, and she found that she was unable to take her eyes from his, and as he studied her, she took the opportunity to allow her own perusal of his handsome face. She lifted her brows as she pulled her gaze from his luminous dark eyes, and she felt herself drawn to him and she studied the taut skin on his forehead, the creases beside his eyes, the area beneath his cheekbones where his short beard began, his lips that to her seemed so masculine and yet gentle. Her lashes lowered as she gazed at the crease next to his mouth, and she imagined her finger trailing down his cheek ever so gently. She blinked and raised her eyes to his as he reached out and swept a strand of her wayward hair back from her forehead, and his warm hand trailed down to her jaw as he gazed at her.
"Mattie, you are so beautiful."
Her eyes softened and she tilted her face up towards him and satisfied her longing as she slid her fingers down his bearded cheek, and he leaned down and kissed her gently. He pulled away and they smiled at each other. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she slid her hands to the back of his neck and ran her fingers down his pony tail as he kissed her again.
"You know, Mattie, you were all I could think of while I was away this past week," his deep voice warmed her as he kissed her neck, and she leaned her head back and sighed. "I couldn't wait to get back to Brooksford to see you." She raised her head and they gazed at each other.
"I missed you too...very much," she whispered. It was true. He'd been in her thoughts constantly since they'd parted. There was so much she wanted to know about him. She ran her fingers through his pony tail and along his neck, as they stared at each other. They both pulled back a little, and she leaned against his arm and rested her head on his shoulder, and sighed as she felt his warm arms encircle her. They sat quietly as she let her racing heart slow down. This was enough for now. Enough to let her know that she was utterly enraptured by his touch, and she knew he felt the same.
"Where else did you travel in Europe?" His deep voice was low, and she could tell by his tone that he was trying to calm himself down as well.
"Umm...let's see." She took a deep breath. "During my semester in Italy, I traveled to Rome, Venice, and then to some small villages in southern France, then Paris, of course." She smiled softly as she nestled against his shoulder. "I loved Belgium and the Netherlands. It was a wonderful time in my life. I saw and learned so much." She lifted her face. "I envisioned myself living in Europe at some point, especially in southern France, but it never happened," she sighed.
"You know, you return to the states with a different...a broader outlook on life, that's for certain." He slanted his eyes down at her as he kept his voice low. "There's a sort of culture shock when you step back onto American soil, and you notice the materialism in our culture."
She nodded into his broad shoulder. "I know exactly what you mean. Where have you traveled?" She felt her racing heartbeat calm, and she relaxed against him.
"Hmm...well, I backpacked all over eastern Canada one summer during college." He stroked her jacket sleeve as he held her, and she could tell that they were both calming down a bit. "Then, at one point, after I started the business, I took a month off during a slow period and traveled around Mexico. I've never been to Europe, though."
She ran her hand along his sleeve. "You would love it, I know."
"In Mexico, I found it disturbing, though, to see the stark disparity between the rich and the poor, sometimes within yards of each other," he frowned. "A luxury hotel on one corner, then you walk down the block and see people living on the street, sitting on the sidewalk and cooking over small stoves."
"The small villages in France would be considered poor, I suppose, by our country's standards, but money didn't seem to be an issue." She yawned as a cool breeze drifted across them, and she rested her arm across his chest, lightly running her fingers along the metal snaps on his denim jacket. "The people I met were content with their lives. Experiencing the joys of day to day living was more important to them than money."
"Exactly.....and that's how it should be." he sighed. "You know, Mattie, getting back to Fallingwater..."
"Hmm..m?"
"Mill Run is actually about ten hours away from here, now that I think about it..." Clay whispered. "But, Mattie, you would love seeing the real thing. How Wright used horizonal lines to keep..."
"Hmm..mm." His deep voice was very soothing and his arms felt so good. She blinked languidly as she listened to his description of the house over the lively Bear Run Creek and the waterfall. She closed her eyes for just a moment.
"Mattie.....Mattie."
She heard his whisper in her dream and her eyes flew open, and she peered around her in confusion. Oh, my God, had she fallen asleep? She bolted upright, and Clay laughed softly as he released her and stretched his arms above his head.
"Was I asleep?" She felt stricken, and rubbed the corners of her eyes with her ring finger.
"You were." He was stretching his back now.
"How long?" She glanced at her watch. "Oh my goodness, Lou is going to send out a search party for us."
"It's perfectly okay. You were only asleep for forty-five minutes or so." Clay chuckled. "I had to wake you though, because my arm had gone numb."
"I
'm so sorry." She stared at him. "I've never done anything like this...oh, my goodness." What was wrong with her? How could she have fallen asleep like that? Although, she had gotten up quite early this morning to get to the stables and have Lou get her gear set up. She pulled the band out of her ponytail and smoothed her unruly hair back from her face, looking down as she rewound the band.
"That's all right. I'll try not to take it the wrong way." He grinned at her. "I thought I was holding up my end of the conversation pretty well, but obviously I need to work on my speaking skills..."
"Oh, no...no. It wasn't you. I got up very early this morning," she reassured him, then saw that he was teasing her, and she smiled at him, shaking her head. "I can't believe I fell asleep."
"It's fine," he laughed again. "For a moment there, I thought I was going to join you myself."
"I guess we should head back."
"If you insist. You'll need to mount first, so I can pack up." He stood up and put his hands on his hips, looking down at her. "Are you ready now?"
"Yes," she sighed, looking around her. "This has been wonderful, Clay, I hate to leave." She peered up at him. "I'll need help standing, though."
"Oh, of course." He moved over to her quickly, and put his hands under her arms, as she stood up and balanced herself against him on her right leg, holding the cane in her left hand. She wrapped her arm around his waist and he held her securely as they walked over to Slate's right side, and he lifted her up so she could slide her boot into the stirrup. She swung her leg over the cantle, situating herself in the saddle as she held onto the pommel. She reached over and rubbed Slate's head soothingly as he pawed the ground. "Do you need help with the other boot?"
"No, I can tuck it in myself."
"All right, I'll pack up and we'll be our way."
She looked back over and saw that he was still standing by her horse, his hands on his hips. She eyed him for a moment, then smiled and leaned down toward him and kissed him softly. When she lifted up, she saw his serious expression, as he studied her intently. Then, as if coming out of a fog, he smiled at her.
"Let me pack up."
He returned her cane to the bundle behind her saddle. She tucked the end of her leg down in the boot, making sure her jeans were pushed down for extra padding, and moved her bottom around in the saddle to make sure she was secure. Then, she sat and watched him as he untied Slate's reins and handed them to her. He walked over to Max, and strapped the backpack behind the cantle. He untied the reins and mounted effortlessly, backing away from the tree and waiting for her to do the same.
They kept their horses at a slow walk for most of the way, save for a few minutes of trotting, then back to a walk. She lifted her chin, savoring the cool air on her face, and their easy silence with each other. She'd never felt so in sync with anyone in her entire life, and she glanced over at him and he smiled at her, but his dark eyes were still serious, as if he were making up his mind about something. Mattie saw the stables a short ways ahead of them, and turned to him.
"Thank you for a wonderful day."
"I should thank you." That serious smile again. "We need to do this again sometime."
"I would like that, very much," she sighed, feeling slightly deflated as they reached the stables and saw Lou walking out of his house toward them.
"You kids must have had a good ride." Lou chuckled, as he looked up at them and they both nodded and smiled. "Dismount and let Max and Slate roam around the paddock for awhile. I'll brush 'em down later."
"All right, Lou." Mattie urged Slate toward the white box near the open gate, and watched as Clay rode into the paddock and dismounted, unstrapping his backpack, then the saddle, pulling it and the blanket underneath it off the horse's back. Max wandered off, and Clay closed the gate behind him, hoisting the backpack onto his shoulder, and holding the saddle.
"I'll take that for you, Clay." Lou took the blanket and saddle from him and headed to the stables.
Mattie pulled her leg out of the fixed boot, seeing that Clay was on Slate's right side, unstrapping her prosthetic from behind the cantle. He set it on the box, next to his backpack, and she reached back and held the cantle, swinging her left leg over and he held out his arms as she slid off the saddle. She sat at the side of the box, and rolled up her jeans. She started to pull on her prosthetic as Clay unstrapped her black boot from the stirrup and then unstrapped the cinch and pulled the saddle and blanket off, setting them on the box beside her. He walked Slate to the gate and let him join Max in the paddock. She'd just about finished attaching the prosthetic when he returned, removing his gloves and resting his hands on his hips, watching as she finished lacing the corset.
"I can usually do all of that, but thank you," she smiled up at him as she pulled the last laces taut and tied them securely. He sat down beside her.
"Glad to help." He seemed a little hesitant.
"What?" She pulled off her other boot and put on her tennis shoes.
"Are you tired of my company yet?" he smiled softly.
"No, not at all" she narrowed her eyes at him, and looked at him clearly. "Not in the least." She might as well be truthful with him, and they stared at each other, and the vision of his dark lashes as he bent to kiss her sprang to her mind.
"Do you like pasta?"
"Yes," she laughed as she rolled down her jeans, and scooted off the box, standing up with the aid of her cane, and she squinted at him. "Why?" He was dragging this out, to her amusement.
"Well, instead of going out, let me fix dinner for you tonight, in my trailer...or at your place. You choose," he hesitated. "If you agree to it, that is."
She thought about it. "Let me take the saddle into the stables and then I'll give you my answer." She already knew it would be yes to dinner, but she wasn't sure about the location. After their earlier passionate kiss, she knew they were both already thinking ahead to its inevitable conclusion. She picked up the heavy saddle and blanket, hoisting them onto her right shoulder and walked slowly toward the stables, and he stood up and walked beside her, carrying her black boots and his backpack. Lou met them at the wide door and took the saddle and blanket from her, turning to set it in its place. Clay handed Mattie her boots and hoisted his backpack on his shoulder, then pulled out his wallet, paying Lou for their lengthy ride. She saw him lift one eyebrow in amusement as he glanced down at her, as if expecting her to interrupt and hold out a handful of money. She stood by silently, smiling as she watched the two men together.
"You have some good horses here, Lou. Enjoyed it immensely."
"Thank you, sir." Lou pocketed the bills and the two men shook hands.
"See you again, Lou. Soon, I hope." Mattie gave him a hug, and as they pulled apart, got a wink and a thumbs up in reply. She looked back to make sure that Clay hadn't seen Lou's not-so-subtle sign of approval, and she laughed. "Lou, stop that."
"He's a keeper, Mattie," he whispered, leaning toward her in a conspiratorial posture. "And, he's crazy about you. Take my word for it." She laughed and waved him off, walking over to join Clay, who was waiting for her by their cars on the other side of the paddock.
"Lou's a nice guy." Clay crossed his arms and leaned against the front bumper of his Jeep and smiled down at her, as she approached him, holding her boots in her right arm.
"Yes, he is."
"What did you decide, eh?" He shifted the backpack, and transferred his hands to his jeans pockets as they stood in the shade of the birch and evergreen trees.
"Hmm..." She tilted her head at him and squinted, just now making up her mind. "You've made me really curious about your trailer, Clay. Whenever my family camped out in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we used an old green army tent." He smiled at that.
"Well, then, let me get home and straighten it up a bit." He glanced at his watch. "I'll pick you up at seven, if that's all right with you."
"Seven is fine." She knew Lou and his wife were probably watching them from their front window, so she made no move to kiss him goodbye, an
d walked toward her car, pulling her keys from her pocket. She unlocked the door. Clay stood at her door as she tossed in her boots and slid in behind the wheel. He shut her door and waved as he turned to climb into his Jeep and she quickly rolled down her window and called out. "Can I contribute anything?"
"No, this is my treat. Oh." He turned back toward her. "I'm pretty confident I know where the faculty housing is, but what's your house number?"
"Eight, Twenty-Five, Apt. A."
"Got it. I'll see you at seven." He climbed into his Jeep, and they backed up their cars and left Birchwood Stables, and headed to their respective homes.