Chapter 4
1867 Words
Throughout the following days, I was so keen on avoiding Nathan. I was still so embarrassed about what happened the other day.
Whenever I would feel him coming towards me, I would walk faster or hide from him. Miriam eventually took notice of this.
“Why are you hiding from him?” Miriam asked. “Did he do something wrong or something offensive?” She added.
I immediately shook my head.
I was the one who did something embarrassing.
“Nothing,” I replied. “I’m just trying to keep the space between us,” I added.
Miriam's forehead creased, as if she was trying to understand or make sense of what I just told her.
Neil came into the kitchen and told us Nathan had gone out to get something.
This time, my forehead creased.
“Did he tell where he was going?” I asked curiously.
Neil shook his head. “No, he just said to borrow the car and that he would be back afterward.”
I nodded, then unconsciously smiled a little, because I could finally go back to the ranch and learn horseback riding.
I was so eager to learn it, because these past few days of hiding from Nathan, I kept on watching television.
Browsing through so many channels, I got personally hooked on the horseback riding one. Then I realized I could learn that while I'm here.
I told Neil to buy a horse the other day. Told him to buy two of them to have something here on the ranch. I smiled upon seeing a white horse on the ranch.
“God, it’s so beautiful,” I uttered upon getting closer to it.
I stared at it as it stared back at me.
“Maybe, I should name you?” I asked as if the horse could actually reply to me.
I chuckled upon seeing how it tried to touch me with its head.
“Is that a yes?” I asked. Then the horse made a sound that made me laugh.
“Maybe I should name you, dream?” I uttered.
I was beginning to argue with myself about what I should name the horse when I heard noises coming from the garage.
My forehead creased.
“What on earth is that sound?” I uttered as I walked towards the garage. I was about to open the door when the door opened on the other side.
My eyes widened when Nathan was standing in front of me, once again topless. My mouth agape.
He looked at me from head to toe.
“Fancy seeing you here?” Nathan uttered.
My forehead creased in annoyance.
“And, what do you mean by that?” I asked.
He tilted his head to the side before speaking up again.
“I mean, you’ve been hiding from me for the past few days,” he uttered. “I’m surprised to see you here outside your room and in front of me,” Nathan added.
I cleared my throat.
“Who told you I’m hiding from you?” I asked, pretending to be confident. “Besides, this is my house, my place. Why on earth would I hide from you?”
Nathan nodded as if he was not convinced about whether I was telling the truth.
I was starting to feel uncomfortable by the way he stared at me as I cleared my throat and made my way towards the inside of the garage.
My eyes widened upon seeing the wrecked car he came in.
“You’re fixing it?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Are you a mechanic?” I asked curiously, because his car is beyond fixable as far as I know, but then again, I’m not a mechanic.
“I know a thing or two,” He replied.
My eyes roamed around the car.
“What were you doing out here? You mostly spend your days in your bedroom, on the beach, and in the kitchen,” Nathan said.
I cleared my throat.
“I told Neil to buy two horses. I was planning to learn how to ride one,” I said.
“And who will teach you?” He asked.
I bit my tongue. I never really thought about it.
“I think Neil?” I said, though I was not sure about it.
Nathan chuckled.
“Neil doesn't know how to ride one,” He said. “I could teach you, if you want,” Nathan added as he wiped the dirt off his hands.
I remained quiet.
“I’m professional at it. I could definitely teach you,” Nathan said.
All I could do was nod. I didn't know how to respond.
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Around 7 am the next morning, I heard a gentle knock on my door. My forehead creased upon hearing it.
I was still half asleep.
When I opened the door, my eyes widened upon seeing who it was.
It was Nathan dressed up.
My mouth agape. “What are you doing here?” I asked, not sure what was happening.
I took a step backward to glance at my bedroom wall clock just to make sure I remembered the time correctly.
I nodded as I saw 7 am and returned my gaze towards Nathan, who was still standing right in front of me.
Nathan smiled a little and showed an equestrian helmet. “I told you yesterday I would be teaching you how to ride one.”
My eyes widened.
Right, he did tell me that.
Nathan smiled at me a little. “I’ll give you an hour to prepare yourself. I’ll just be on the ranch waiting for you.” He then handed me a paper bag.
My forehead creased, but I got the paper bag from him.
Upon opening it, it was a complete set of equestrian outfits. My mouth agaped upon seeing it, and I uttered to myself.
“Where did he get these?” I asked, then proceeded to close the door and start preparing myself.
It took me almost half an hour, and I decided to just opt for sunscreen and eyebrows. Too much makeup wouldn’t help me anyway.
Miriam was already in the kitchen when I got down.
She greeted me and said, “It’s a good thing, Nathan asked for your clothes size,” Miriam said.
“He asked you?” I asked
She nodded. “Yes, he was asking if I knew what your size was and when I asked him what for. He said it’s for the equestrian outfit. I gladly told him.”
I nodded, still unsure of what was happening.
When I reached the ranch, Nathan was there petting the horse and scrubbing it at the same time. I smiled upon seeing how calm the horse was, and so was he.
Nathan must have felt my presence because he moved his gaze towards me.
I nodded upon meeting his gaze and proceeded to walk towards him. Nathan stood beside me. His eyes softened with patience as he watched me approach.
"First thing," he said gently, "is to understand the horse’s body language. They sense your emotions, so stay calm and confident."
I nodded, trying to absorb his words. I reached out hesitantly, my hands were trembling a little bit as I touched the horse’s velvety nose. The horse responded with a soft nuzzle, and I felt a tiny spark of reassurance.
Nathan gently guided me around to the side of the horse. “Approach from the side, never from the front or behind. Horses tend to be jumpy when they don’t know who the person approaching them is. So you have to make yourself known. Always be aware of their movements.”
He showed me how to gently stroke the horse’s neck, feeling the warm, smooth muscles under my hand. Then, he indicated the mounting block. I stepped onto it, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation as I prepared to get on.
He steadied me as I swung my leg over the horse, his hands firm but gentle on my waist. I settled into the saddle, feeling the leather creak beneath me. My heart fluttered again—this was real.
"Good," Nathan said softly. "Now, sit up straight, relax your shoulders, and keep your heels down. Feel the connection with the horse."
I adjusted my posture, trying to keep my balance. Nathan took the reins, demonstrating how to hold them with a light grip. His voice was soothing, explaining how gentle pressure and subtle movements communicated with the horse.
"Take a deep breath," he advised. "Focus on your breathing and the rhythm of your body."
I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaling slowly. When I opened them, I saw Nathan's steady gaze, encouraging me. I nudged the horse gently with my heels, and it responded with a slow, deliberate step.
The first few minutes were a delicate walk of trying to stay relaxed and balanced. Nathan was right there, offering tips and reassurance. He showed me how to steer, how to give subtle signals with my hands, and how to keep my weight centered.
As I grew more confident, I began to feel a strange, thrilling sense of harmony with the horse. The gentle sway of movement, the quiet breathing, the soft heartbeat beneath me—all of it was oddly calming.
Then, suddenly, the horse shifted unexpectedly—perhaps a sudden sound darted across the ranch or a speck of wind spooked it. My balance wavered, and I instinctively jerked the reins. The horse reared slightly, startled.
I started panicking.
My eyes widened in panic even more when the horse wouldn't calm down. I lost my footing and slipped, my hands gripping the reins wildly. In a split second, Nathan was there—his arms reaching out, steadying me.
He caught me just as I was about to topple backward, both of us tumbling onto the soft grass beneath us. We landed face to face, inches apart, our breaths mingling. For a moment, everything seemed frozen—our eyes locked, caught in a strange, intense silence.
His f*****g face was close—so close I could see the bridge of his nose, the slight curve of his lips as he looked at me straight in the eye. My heart pounded loudly in my ears, cheeks flushing with embarrassment and something else I couldn’t quite name.
We both sat up slowly, our faces still closed. I could feel the warmth of his hand lingering on my arm where he had caught me. For a moment, neither of us moved or spoke, as if time had paused in that small, intimate space.
Then Nathan broke the silence with a soft chuckle. "Well, that’s one way to make an impression, on our first day," he said, his voice gentle but amused.
I laughed nervously, brushing grass from my clothes. "Guess I still have a lot to learn."
He offered me his hand, helping me to my feet. As I stood, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhilaration—this lesson was more than just riding; it was a moment I wouldn’t forget.
What the hell is happening to me?
- Writer
