“In time, you’ll learn that horses have their own personalities, and you have to build trust with them.” He pauses as he cocks his head to one side to look at me. “Sort of like what we do when we meet other people. Without trust, you won’t be able to ride safely.”
Inside the stables, Aiden points out two mares. “These two girls will be good to learn on.” He then motions towards the horse closest to me. “I think this one might actually be best as she’s a bit older.”
I point to the one mare he has not suggested I ride. “What’s wrong with riding on this one?”
He scratches at the stubble on his chin. “Well, she has a bit of a mean streak and is quite young. She was born while I was away, so I don’t know her too well yet. I’ve taken her out a couple times, but I don’t think she likes being ridden.”
I notice this horse looks a bit different than the other two. “I know I’m a woman and shouldn’t say this, but she looks a bit heavier than the others. Is that normal?”
Perplexed, Aiden moves into the stall and looks over the young mare. He runs his hands against the flanks of the horse as he examines her. “You know, you’re right.”
Sensitive to the loss of Dusty, I speak in a low voice. “Is something wrong, Aiden?”
“No, not at all.” Once more, he looks over the mare and smiles. “If I didn’t know any better, I think she might be pregnant.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. And she’s only been around Dusty.”
“Oh, my God. Do you mean, she might be carrying Dusty’s offspring?”
His eyes fill with happy tears. “She most definitely would be, if she’s pregnant. I’ll have to get the vet out to check her over.”
Aiden comes out of the stall and walks towards me. He smiles as he grabs to hold my hand against his chest, just over his heart. “It would be good to have another little Dusty around. I’m really going to miss him.”
I give his hand a squeeze. “I know you miss Dusty. I’m sorry you lost him.” My voice cracks as I speak. “It’s my fault. We could have gotten the snake a few days ago.”
Putting his finger up against my lips, “Don’t even think it. It’s not your fault. You have to accept this is the way things are out here. It’s not always easy and you learn to deal with it. Besides, for all we know, it may have been a completely different snake.” He takes my chin in his hand and looks into my eyes. “I’m just glad it wasn’t you. I couldn’t forgive myself if something bad happened to you.” He pulls me close and kisses me.
Loud rumbling crosses the sky over the stables.
Aiden looks towards the open door of the stables. “Not sure how much of a lesson we will be able to have now.”
We walk outside and see the heavy dark clouds bearing down on us. The sky has blackened in the few minutes we were inside the stables. A gust of wind blows against us as we watch for lightning. We smell the scent of petrichor as a few heavy raindrops begin hitting the ground.
Aiden looks at me and says, “I think we might wait on the lesson until this storm passes. How about we go and watch the storm from the swing on the veranda?”
“Sure.”
We run towards the house as the rain falls harder. We laugh as the heavy drops soak us. A flash of lightning streaks across the sky, its path as jagged as the journey I've been on.
Once we are safely on the veranda, Aiden turns me around and puts his hands around my waist. He pulls me against his damp shirt and places his full lips against mine.
I break our kiss and look into his eyes. “It’s good to hear your laugh, Aiden.” My stomach flutters from the rising adoration I have for him. I’ve never known someone so resilient when faced with the most adverse situations.
I guess this is what Australians mean when they say someone is tough as nails.
Thunder crashes and reverberates, shaking the earth around us, but we stand unwavering in our embrace. In Aiden’s arms, I do not cower or fear what may happen next.
Nuzzling my nose, he says, “I love you, Holly.”
My pulse quickens as I give in to what my heart feels, completely ignoring anything my mind tries to say. In this moment, I know I only want to follow my heart from now on. “I love you, too.”
He lifts my chin to his and kisses me once again. We stand on the veranda, letting the wind blow the rain against us. Within minutes we are completely drenched, but we don’t care. The world has stopped for us and all that matters is our passion and the words that have just sealed our fate.
A smile stretches across my face. He leans in and we nuzzle our noses against each other. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the flower has fallen from my hair onto the veranda. I remember the burning question of who sent me the flowers in my office.
With uncertainty and hesitation, I decide to ask about the roses. “You like to give a girl flowers, don’t you?” I watch his face, searching for recognition.
He scrunches his eyes as a warm smile crosses his face. “Yes, I do.”
I lower my head and close my eyes to hide from this potentially uncomfortable situation. “Did you send roses to me at my office?”
His smile widens as he pulls me closer, the rain still blowing straight onto us, soaking through our clothes. He raises his hand and pushes a wet lock of hair off my face, searching my eyes as he speaks. “Yes, I sent them to you.”
My heart skips a beat as I lean in and kiss him again.
We continue our embrace, drinking in one another while the drops of rain blow onto us, washing away the past as we look forward to the start of our future together.
LIGHTNING CONTINUES TO crackle and thunder booms, rolling around us as we remain trapped in our embrace. I shiver as I press myself against Aiden’s wet body. Feeling me trembling, he breaks our kiss. “I better get you inside and out of these wet clothes.”
I nod as we retreat inside the back of the house. As soon as we are in the kitchen, I seductively unbutton my shirt and slip it off, letting it fall to the floor, exposing my breasts. Confident and consumed by my sexual needs, I slide my pants off, rolling them down and bending over to pull them past my feet, while flashing a salacious look towards Aiden.
He has removed his shirt and discarded it onto the floor next to him. With trembling fingers, I help him remove his jeans, pushing them down his muscular legs until they drop to the floor. His hands caress my back, his fingers run through my wet hair, enticing me with what I know will be coming soon.
Goose bumps cover my body as Aiden rubs his strong hands against my damp skin, trying to heat my flesh. He rubs his large hands up and down my arms, trying to generate warmth on my skin while a fire is already burning deep inside me. Leaving the wet clothes on the kitchen floor, we sprint naked up the stairs to get into the hot shower.
Under the stream of water, Aiden massages my shoulders and whispers into my ear. “Follow me to bed?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” A smile crosses my face as I relish the thought that out here we really can stop to enjoy each other without that incessant pull to get on the internet or answer a phone the second it rings. No need to rush off to the shops, no need to catch up on a pile of work building up in an email inbox somewhere. No need to do anything as my everything is already here standing in front of me.
He gets out of the shower first and hands me a towel as I turn the water off.
Drying himself off, he looks and me and jokes. “I can’t believe you spotted that with the horse. I think I might be able to turn you into a Jillaroo after all.”
“Oh, you think?” I tease back as he lightly snaps me in the legs with the towel he’s holding.
Ding, Dong! Ding, Dong!
Aiden freezes in place and his eyes widen in fear. He stares straight at me, placing his index finger against his lips. “Stay here. Don’t come out.”
I nod as dread overtakes my thoughts.
Who is at the front door?
My heart breaks as Aiden leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. Panic builds up insid
e and I cannot catch my breath.
Oh, no! Is the person at the front door here to take me back to my old life? How do I go back to a life I no longer want now that I’ve experienced a whole new way to live?
I break into a sweat as I slump down against the tiled floor, wrapping myself in the towel I’m holding. I tremble at the thought of who is waiting on the other side of the front door.
I’ve become so mesmerised by Aiden and his way of life, that I’d forgotten I’m not meant to be here.
Will he wind up back in jail for taking me?
I have forgotten that there are people out there possibly looking for me, thinking I need saving. What they don’t realise is that Aiden has been the one to save me from a life that has held me captive for years. He has shown me more freedom in the last week than I have felt my entire life.
In my mind, Aiden is no longer my captor. Instead, he is my liberator, my redeemer, my saviour.
My body shakes as my heart pounds full of adrenaline. I’m about to fall off a ledge and break into a million pieces that can never be put back together again.
How can something so beautiful be so wrong? Wait, this isn’t wrong. Being here with Aiden is more right than anything in my life has ever been. Dear God, please don’t take Aiden away from me.
EPILOGUE
THE BUSTLE OF the coffee shop has picked up in pace, now that the lunch rush has started. I stop to order another latte and a panini while Kylie waits eagerly for me to tell her what happened next.
She begs, “Tell me. Who was at the door?” She stopped writing notes about my story hours ago and has just been listening intently to my every word.
I lean forward onto my elbows and answer, “Well….”
Find out what happens between Holly and Aiden in the second book of The Dusty Rider Series: Leading Hand
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to all the beautiful souls that helped make this book a reality. Without your support and encouragement, I would never have seen my ideas take shape and become the story I wished it to be. I would like to send out a special thank you to the editors and critiquers that helped push me to go further with my writing. You have truly shown me the power of words.
To all those who read my book I hope I inspire you to break out of any prison you may feel stuck in. Follow your heart and live a life that makes you happy.
Lastly, I want to thank all the people that work in rural Australia. Without you and your tireless efforts, Australia would not be the amazing country I think it is.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stella Knights has lived and worked in several countries across four continents, journaling her life experiences along the way. Blurring the lines between her reality and dreams, Stella found the courage to share her stories in hope that she will inspire others with her love of travel and living life the simple way.
Having spent a good part of her life in Australia, Stella wrote her first novel series based on things she experienced and learned while living there. Stella hopes that The Dusty Rider Series opens others to the resilience, hardship, beauty and eternal love of those living in the Australian bush.
CONNECT WITH STELLA KNIGHTS
If this story has stirred you in any way, Stella would love to hear from you at her email: [email protected]
Or through her Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/stellaknightstheauthor
You can also find Stella Knights on Instagram at:
www.instagram.com/stella_knights_the_author
Keep watching for other stories and novels by Stella Knights along with the next book in The Dusty Rider Series.
Taken Outback (The Dusty Rider Series Book 1) Page 18
