Flames and Feathers Book 1

Horse play

Hunter kept the engine going, well we sat in silence ejoying the heat and looking out the wind sheild toward the pastures in the distance.

"You don’t even know me Hunter ! But I want you to, I really do....but we literally just met!

I don’t want to put you into a position where you feel obligated to have to help me and I dont want to unnecessarily get you hurt... It will literaly hurt my heart.... .”

I turned my face to look out the window feeling like I was fighting a battle that I could not win. I was almost disappointed in myself, because I really did like him, in time I would probably even love in, but at what cost?

I wasn't normal... I had demons chasing me where ever I went... I couldn't fathum the thought of someone I loved being hurt again... because of me... I can't let my heart rule... I needed to think logicaly about the whole situation... love had nothing to do with it.., I had to keep the ones I cared about safe... safe from me...

Hunter watched me from behind the stiring wheel.. He looked sad.. like I'd somehow hurt him with my words... His eye brows arched and he gripped the stiring wheel with serveral times before replying.

“I’m trying to help Emma.....not because I have to, but because I want to!

Your right I don’t know your story but I want too. Please, let me know you... the real you Emma. ”

He reached out and touched my cheek and I moved into his touch, I let my head lean into him for a few seconds, even though I was still keeping my distance.

I wanted to let down my concrete walls and open the ginormous iron gates that threatened to break me any moment, but if I let them fall, I’d better beware of the consequences that followed. He would not only know my story but also the things that could put his life in danger. I couldn’t let someone else I care about get hurt, I won’t let that happen, I refuse to....

Thinking before I spoke, rest my cheek against his warm hand and then abruptly moved not wanting too but needed to, so I could think rationaly.

“If you knew the real me, you might not like me very much. I come with a lot of baggage.”

Hunter looked as though he was trying very hard to hold back a laugh, his lips were turned upward in a silly frown.

What did I say that was so remarkable hilarious? I had not a clue......

I glared out the window, watching a brown colt and his mother come into fiew in the far off fence.

“Even if you happened to grow wings and fangs at night, or turned into an wolf on a full moon, you would probably never scare me off.

Although, I will be honest, that movies about vampiers, kind of creep me out, but honestly... Emma... I see you... nothing about you, could make me turn my eyes away from your beauty. You hide it graciously inside and out but I can see it... ” Turning his head, he looked behind his chair, for an extra jacket in the back seat of his truck.

Laying a green and black jacket similar to his own on my lap, he directed me to put it on...

" Here is an extra jacket for you to borrow. It can get chilly here, exspeicaly if a breeze hits the air.. it will cut right through your hoodie."

I obeyed and put the flanel over the top of my sweater. It was a bit bigger then mine but would help keep me warm.

I knew it would be cooler as the day progressed... if I hadn't been so absent- minded this morning... I could have remebered to grab my jacket when I was headed out the door... dumb stomach wanted food.... !

Hunter jumped out from his side of the truck and opened my door.. Holding out his hand he helped me down..

Good thing too, being as clumsy as I have been today, I did't want to tumble out it, and have to be caught.

So pathetic...

The property was so pretty, I loved how all the trees hung over the roads like a lush green canopy. The mountains in the distance were dusted with a small layer of white at the very tips. From here, the snow looked very little but I was sure, futher up in the mountains, it was deep.

For a brief moment, I could almost picture us trying to walk in it, knee deep, frezzing, Hunter by my side, helping me reach the cabin with a roaring fireplace blazing inside. The warmth of his body beside my all night long as we sit infront of the fire, watching the snow flakes fall softly outside.. Not a care in the world.. we could be snowed in and left for dead, but he had one another to keep each other company.

" The sunlight lights the way Emma, it brings it magic and touches the whole lands like a lamp to guide the way.

The property is glorious, isn't it? I love it here! " Hunter looking twords to sky, sounded as though he was reciting a page of script from a old poetry book.

He was either trying to impress me, which he was clearing doing , or being his normal self, which I was not quite sure of just yet. Every second I spent with me made me learn more about him and I wanted to learn as much about him as I could... he was just so beautiful... inside and out.

Looking up at him , I could only gawk.. I had no words.... all I could do was stare.. and bite my lip... I had nothing to say... nothing that would stand up to his words. So I just giggled nervously ... " Is that from a book? or did you just come up with it on a whim? It really does decribe this place, it is magical... nature is all around us and it makes me feel alive. " I giggled again.

Looking down at me, his eyes glowed blue and his lips curled into a small smile... His hair framed his face just perfectly and in this light he was breathtakingly gorgeous...... every curve from his forehead to his chin was edged out of perfection. I had a hard time looking too closely, it made my fingers want to wonder off to places they should stay clear of..... they were itching to touch his jaw line, and the softness of his lips.. to see if he was real... dang it...Emma, you and your touchie fingers....

Holding his hand out, he took mine into his, and we began to walk out towards the fence area where a large red roofed barn was located.

Looking at the ground below Hunter scuffed his shoe against the dirt and admitted that he'd had made the words up... to make me smile.

I admitted, he didn't need to impress me or even say anything as my heart was already smiling.... corney, yes I know but it made his blush and laugh awkwardly.

We held hands and walked to the large red roofed barn in the distance. A grassy field was to the left of it with a coral and a pin to keep the horses in. Several horses were grazing in the pasture to the right of the barn. They noticed us right away as we moved closer and cautiously watched us, keeping a small distance between them.

“There are a total of twelve horses boarded here. We also have a couple of baby colts. I actualy work with them on a daily bases. "

Winking , he tapped me on the shoulder and added in a very deep southern accent, " They actualy call me the horse whisper'er around these parts."

" That's awesome, I bet they call you other things too... like, down right hot... "

The word hot, then got stuck in my throat... Had I actually said that " outLoud" gosh... I hoped not...

Hunter just stared ahead, so I guess I was very lucky... because man.. I was flushed... like I'd commited a sin by even thinking it...

"The horses are trained and fully bomb proof, if I can trust them with my nieces and nephews, I can trust them with anyone. I trained them, I know they are safe.. you have nothing to worry about Emma.. It's going to be a fun day."

He glanced down at me as he unlatched the lock to the gate. To help block out the sun I held my hands up to shield my eyes. I watched as the horse’s ears perked up and they cautiously made their way toward us.

“I don’t anticipate too many people today, only a few signed up. So, I think if we lead in six or seven, it should be enough.” Making sure to lash the gate back behind him, he unlatched the lock to the wooden doors of the barn and walked me to the back where all the horses’ supplies were kept.

The barn had a pleasant smell to it, not musty but more like fresh hay and earth. I was surprised at how clean it was, I had always envisioned a barn to be smelly and covered in manure and it was also a lot larger then I was expecting as well. From front to back it was lined with stalls and the ceiling had beautiful exposed wooden beams. Hidden in the very back, there was also stairs leading up to a large loft area at the very top of the building.

If I hadn’t seen the spiral wooden stairs leading up to it, I probably would have missed it.

My thoughts were was it an extra area where equipment was kept or did someone live there?

Hunter interrupted my train of thought when he came up from behind me with some items in his hands. Looking to him and then bacl towards the staircase, I asked. “Hey! What’s up the stairs?”

He averted his eyes as if a little self-conscious about the question. I had not idea why he would feel the need to feel that way but I didn't push the subject much.

“ I actually live up there, that’s my place.” His voice turned quiet, and he continued, “I know it might sound weird, but I really like being out here.” He took a few items from a shelve and placed it on a work bench style table near him.

" I don't think of it as living amongst the horses, it never smells bad, I also keep it super cleaned.. My home, is really pretty.. It is decorated similar to some of the cabins around here and it has enough space that I feel comfortable. "

I shrugged my shoulders and moved my head back and forth,” I don’t think your weird, I see nothing wrong with it. I was just curious what was up there, and what it looked like. The wooden stairs are quiet beautiful. “ I ran my hand up the curves of the carvings imbedded in the wood.

They were just as gorgeous as the woodwork done at my cabin. I was in awe with the techniques used. Each carved flower twirling around the curve of the wood, it was perfection.

“Thank you, I am glad you like them. I dabble in a little wood work here and there.” Changing the subject rather quickly, he took some bridles from the table. “ Emma would you hold these for me? ”

Hunter asked me to straighten out my arms and lay them flat out in front of me. He laid several bridles and ropes across them and then began filling his own arms with equipment for the horses. I then followed him through the large barn door my arms full with items, so fully I could see my self dropping some of it but I made out with no problems.

We set the equpiment on top of a long work bench just outside the barn near a log fense to tie up the horses next to. Hunter then placed several saddles on top of one another until we had enough for each horse.

After that he disapeared into the barn once more and came out with a plastic baggie full of round brown circles.

Grabing for my hand, he lead us to the pasture where all the horses were gathered.

The animals lifted their heads from their grass and hay alfalfa, as we moved closer to them. A chocolate pony’s ears perked up to full attention as he ran to the side of his momma.

" The babies get scared easly, i can't fully train them yet but am working on getting them used to humans." He said as we got closer to the curious creatures.

Hunter handed me a hand full of hard round looking things that he had hidden inside a brown knapsack hanging at his side.

“They will come right up to you when they smell their favorite treat. They are made of apples, barley, and grain, it’s my own personal recipe!” His eyes lit up as we talked about the horses and a sexy dimple appeared on his right cheek every time he smiled.

Someone grab me a mop because I'm going to be a melted mess before the day is up. I could picture myself on the ground, clothing in a pile of melted Emma and I wanted to smack myself, I was such a dork. Shaking the image from my head, I just stared in awe.

“You make these? That's so awesome! You sir, are far more then meets the eye! Horse whisper, king of flats and hearts, cowboy wood worker..... Oh and cook.... you are all men, put into one amazing talented one. ” I shot him the sappiest smile I could and I was downright impressed.

His face flushed and he thanked me. " You give me way too much credit... but thank you..I try to be as good of son as I can be, for my father."

Holding a ball of grain mixture in my hand, it felt like a hard rock cookie. I took the treat up to my nose to see what it smelled like.

The smell of apples was faint with very hint of maybe cinnamon and barley. I bet the horses love it, considering their sense of smell was at least five times better than mine.

I fed a treat to a white mare as she stuck her head out at me, sniffing at my hand. I petted her silky fur, letting my fingers glide over her back. Hunter was feeding a few of the others while I paid attention to Lilly, the painted pony.

“These guys are like family to me, I’ve practically raised them. Horses are very smart and very kind hearted creatures. They have such pure souls, I love being around them just as much as they love their treats, but maybe more. “

" They are beautiful animals Hunter ! " I explained.. I never been this close to one, in so many years.. I wasn't afraid of them.. just never had the option to touch one until now.

Watching with wide eyes, I saw that they were all around us, the noses nudging Hunter every chance they got... even the babies, athough keeping thier distance were curious enough to want a piece of the action.. coming just close enough to sniff and then running off again.

A young black mare began sniffing at his pocket, pulling at the bottom of his green flannel shirt. “Hold on Beautybear! I’ll get ya some!” He pressed his palm against the horse’s soft muzzle pushing her away, as he searched his bag, pulling out another treat deep within it .

She was quite pleased with herself as she swooped her head back in and swiped the apple nugget from his hand.

Patting her head Hunter searched his leather satchel with his other hand, this time pulling out nothing.

“Looks like, we are all out of treats besides, we should really get these horses up to the barn and get these beauties saddled up for our trail ride.”

Making a gentle clicking sound... and a whistle... Jake came runing out from inside the barn, how he'd heard or better yet, got out here so quickly was astounding and he was ready to work.

Jake moved the horses into a straight line and every one of them knew what was exspected. Slowly we all walked to the gate, briddling one horse at a time, this process took about thirty mintues to get each horse securred, and ropped up to the log fence.

Hunter then turned and began grabbing ahold of a solid saddle blanket and then one of the brown leather saddles.

“Hey Emma ?” He questioned.. " Would you mind helping me apply a blanket and then saddle onto each horse? Then I can buckle down each piece."

In his hand he drew the leather strap securring the saddle to BeautyBear.

Handling me a solid purple blanket, he added. " It justs helps the process go quicker, that way we might have time left to talk before the guest start to arrive."

His gorgeous eyes sparkled behind his long lashes, like dazzling saphires.

I had to close my eyes squinting slightly as the sun was shining brightly behind him.

In this light, he looked like an avenging angel surrounded by the glow of a bright radiant light. If he had wings, they would be very visable above him, at a masive hight of ten feet or more, spreading out slowly in the heavenly glow. His bare muscular chest prononced, his facial features hard, emitting power within him, through him....

I pushed the thought away as soon as it came to me, if he were an angel, he definitely would never be the avenging type.

As sweet as he was I could never picture him being an angel of vengeance.

His amazing eyes seemed to glow in reponse to my suggestive thoughts or at least thats what my mind wanted to percieve.. it also could have been the sun blinding me... but either way... god.. he was mezmerizing to look at, in any light.

Hunter grinned as I stared, continuiously... .. " Emma... could you help me with the next horse, your still holding onto the purple blanket I handed you earlier.. " Laughing he moved to the next horse, my favorite of them all.

She was a petite little white and brown painted mare, her eyes were the color of the sky..honestly her's were almost as beautiful as Hunter's.

Her name was Twinkletoes, and she was beyond sweet.

I instantly became drawn to her... but horses were so much work, I wasn't quite sure if I could ever devote all my time to takeing care of them. I would have to have someone more qualified to help me, if I ever owned one.

I admit, I didn’t know much about horses but being with Hunter made everything sound and look so easy.

As we continued to get each horse ready, my mind started to wonder. How was my family? My mom and my dad? Did I even have a family anymore? What if I did stay here awhile? Could I even get a job at the café or shop in town?

I could really try and make a life here. I know it was too soon to even think about that right now but maybe it was possible... Maybe... just maybe this was a safe place for me , where the whispers couldn't harm me.... I feel so safe with Hunter by my side.. but would that truly be enough?

Would I be staying for the right reasons? Or was it just a blind fantasy?

I hardly knew Hunter and he hardly knew me. Brushing aside the thoughts that were constantly clouding my mind and my judgment, I continued helping Hunter get the last of the horses ready. We saddled a totally of six horses by the time we finished up. Good timing too, as cars were starting to pull up in the drive way near the fence where we’d parked earlier.