Chloe

Chapter 13 - Cole

Dreams of riding Bear down the beach, through the water, through fields of green and to Texas repeated throughout the night. I was anticipating again and I didn’t care. Bear was real, he wasn’t going away tomorrow and he was mine. –Chloe’s diary

Chapter 13

Cole

She woke up with one thing on her mind, Bear. Well truthfully, Edwin was there in her mind too, but that was harder to admit.

    After lunch with Edwin, she made her way to the stables. She pulled the golf cart out and after a few turns arrived at the stables. 

Whistling a tune from the night before, thinking of Edwin, she wasn’t really paying attention to where she was going until a tall guy coming out of a stall slammed into her. She fell to the ground disoriented and sore. The stranger hovered over her, “Are you okay?” he asked as he held out his dusty hand. She nodded as she slid her hand into his.

“Can I help you?” He asked politely his words drawn in the familiar Texan accent she grew up. She sighed. Hearing his accent was like coming home. 

Chloe smiled and introduced herself as the new owner of Bear.

“I’m Cole.” Her smiled grew; she liked that name, Cole. It, too, reminded her of home. In fact Cole resembled a few friends back in Texas. He wore well-loved jeans and boots that looked comfortable. His hair was on the longish side with blonde curls peeping out from a frayed baseball hat. His green eyes showed Texan hospitality and good humor. He was a good-looking guy, but nothing compared to Edwin. Nor did his touch send tingles through her entire body. But he was comfortable, like an old friend.

“Where are you from, Cole?” 

He grinned a lopsided grin, “Why from the best state in the world, Texas.” She laughed and nodded her agreement.

“Where in Texas?”

“Tyler, ma’am,” he answered. She knew exactly where Tyler was. He lived in east Texas.

“I’m from Central Texas, 45 miles north of Austin,” She volunteered.

He gave a big toothy Texas smile and she knew she had a new friend.

  Cole was nice enough to give her a tour of the stables. He also helped her saddle Bear then led her to the round-pin for a warm up. The warm up would help her become familiarized with Bear’s temperament. Cole sat on the edge complimenting on her style of riding and comfort.

She was in heaven. Bear was everything he promised to be. He moved as if his hooves barely touched the ground. She wanted to ride him forever but she also didn’t want to overwork him or herself. Finally she reluctantly got off him and cooled him down with a bath and rub.

   Later Cole met up with her as she walked Bear back to the stables. They talked about Texas and how he missed it. He told her he came here when his mother remarried and found a job running the stables full-time until he decided to go to college. He had just graduated high school last year and wanted to take some time off before starting school again. She could understand his need to take a break, even though back in Germany all she could think about college was the escape she needed. 

   Once she was back at the cottage she hurriedly took a shower then fell asleep, she didn’t wake until almost dark, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was she was so sore from horseback riding that it took her twice as much time to get dressed. She wobbled out onto the deck groaning at the sight of the steep steps. She was staring hatefully at them when Edwin showed up.

 Eyeing her cautiously he climbed the steps slowly, “What’s wrong?”

Some of her pain dissipated when her pulse skipped at the sight of him, “I’m a bit sore from riding my horse.”

He looked as if he was trying to suppress a smile but was failing. She swatted at him. “Stop it, I’m really hurting!”

That was when he did the last thing she ever thought he would do. He picked her up as if she weighed nothing and took her to the fire in his arms. When he got there he announced that they wouldn’t be dancing tonight. Later, when the music was introduced, everyone danced but Edwin and her. Poor guy was subjected to listening to her wax the poetic about Bear. 

“I do believe I may be jealous of a horse. He’s a very lucky chap, indeed, to have such an affectionate owner.”

She bumped her shoulder flirtatiously into his, “Yep, I’m love with a tall black horse named Bear!” 

Then she lifted her head and smiled into Edwin’s eyes. His eyes burned her. She became uncomfortable and looked away, shy. She was scared, unsure, confused as to what it meant when he looked at her so…naked.

When it was time to go, it was quite the ordeal to get her back to the cottage but Edwin persevered. She didn’t even complain when he held her close as he carried her. Being in his arms was the best feeling in the whole wide world.