by Ivy Jordan
I laughed. “I know. What the hell has happened to me? Maybe I’ve been abducted or something.”
“Or maybe you’re in love.”
“In love?” I said a little bit too loudly. “With Travis?”
“Duh. Who else?”
“No, I’m not in love with Travis. Although I am very much in lust with him. He’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“And amazing in bed?”
“And amazing in bed,” I said and giggled. “Oh, and he saved me! Did I tell you that?”
“No! What happened?”
“We were out in the storm and this tool came flying at me from this crazy wind that had picked up. He somehow managed to push me down on the ground so that it flew straight past me instead.”
“Are you kidding me? This is seriously starting to sound more and more like one of these crazy romantic books. I always think they’re so far-fetched, but I’m not sure anymore. This sounds amazing.”
“Well, you were right. I obviously needed to get away and I needed a bit of a holiday fling. It’s not love but it sure is a whole lot of fun.”
“I’m happy for you, Harper. You sound more relaxed than I’ve heard you sound in years. But do me a favor and be careful out there, okay? Any sign of a storm approaching and make sure you head back or get yourself under some shelter. I do still want to see my best friend in one piece when you get back.”
I smiled. “I’ll be careful. I promise. I can’t believe I’m going to see you again so soon. I know it hasn’t been that long but it feels like I’ve been here for a lot longer.”
“For me too. I miss you. And I have so much to tell you.”
“Oh yeah? Things with Thomas going well then?” I asked although I knew what the answer would be anyway. I could hear by the tone in her voice that she was happy and in love.
“Oh yeah. Very well,” she swooned. “Better than ever really. But this is all conversations I’d rather have to face to face. So hurry up and get back. And while you’re there, have the best time ever.”
I giggled. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem.”
Now that I’d slept with Travis, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to keep doing it until we left. It was strange how easy it felt to be around him and how neither of us felt awkward at the end of the sex. We just got along so well. Anyway, I really was looking forward to the big outdoor experience. I felt like I had come too far not to at least experience it. I had already learned so much about myself since being out here and I wouldn’t mind finding out a bit more.
I met Travis at the stables and we saddled up. I had a small bag packed with a change of clothes and a few things, but I saw that Travis had a whole lot more. I assumed it was the tent that we were going to have to put up. I was more than likely going to make a big fool of myself as I’d never put one up before, but I didn’t care too much anymore. Travis was the sort of guy that appreciated a person that tried despite the odds against them. We climbed on the horses and headed out. The more we rode, the more the clouds began to part and the more relaxed I started to feel. We talked a little as we rode but it wasn’t always easy to have a proper conversation while up on the horses. So, for the most part, we rode in silence. There was something about being out in nature and allowing myself to relax in stillness for a while that made me feel more myself than ever before. No matter what happened when I got home, I was going to have to adopt a bit of this policy going forward. I could feel that this was good for the mind, body and the soul.
“Should we take a break by the stream?” Travis asked once we’d been riding for a few hours.
I nodded. “Sounds good to me.” I had already spotted that stream and had been hoping for a bit of a break. But I didn’t want to be the first to suggest it. I still sometimes felt an overwhelming desire to prove myself to Travis.
We climbed off and walked to the stream with the horses, where we sat down under a tree to get some shade. There were still some dark clouds in the distance, but for the most part the sky was clear and the air was warm.
“Ah, this is nice,” I said. I looked at the time in surprise. “Wow, we’ve been out here for a while already. Time flies.”
He smiled. “Yeah, and I’m starving. Want something to eat?”
I grinned. “I’d love something to eat.”
Travis pulled out a sandwich and handed it to me. It was a simple sandwich with nothing more than cheese, tomato, and chicken, but it was delicious.
“This is so good,” I said. “I’m not sure if it’s because I’m just out here in nature or because I’m so hungry, but it tastes better than a fancy lunch ever could. And trust me, I’m very used to going out to eat only the best food out there.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you are. Well, I think it’s a combination of things. First, I think you do appreciate more simple food when you’re out here. You’re also hungrier from being outdoors. Also, and this is probably the biggest reason, these sandwiches were made by Allison.”
I burst out laughing. “How does she do it? She’s incredible.”
“I know. I don’t know how Mike is so slim. Although, I have noticed a bit of a belly on him, which I’m not letting him live down. He’s lucky to have her though. I think all the work he does outside probably keeps him fit.”
I laughed at that. “Can you imagine if he lived in the city? He’d be very chubby.”
“Well, you live in city and you’re not chubby,” he said and smiled at me. I couldn’t help the flush that spread over my face. He’d seen me naked after all. So he knew what he was talking about.
“Thank you. Uh, well, I might not be outdoors a lot but I am constantly on the move. I never stop moving with my job. I’m always rushing from one client to the next. And I go to the gym. I’m a little too busy though. I never thought that until now. I thought my life was pretty perfect. I had no idea I was missing out on all of this,” I said and gestured to the air around me.
“Didn’t you do many country trips growing up?” he asked. “Have you always been a city girl?”
I nodded. “Oh yeah. I’m a New Yorker through and through. It’s all I know really. I mean, I’ve done the odd trip out over the years. But very little, and even then I never did this. I never just lay out in the fresh air like this. To be honest, Travis, until this trip I never truly understood it all. I thought it was overrated. I thought people were just trying to convince themselves that this life was better.”
“And you don’t think so anymore?”
“Well, let’s just put it this way… I was convinced that having a picnic at Central Park was the equivalent of a country experience. So that’s how little I knew.”
“Well, I mean, it’s still the outdoors I guess,” he said and I could see he was just trying to make me feel better. Which was sweet of him.
I shook my head. “No. It’s great there, but you’re just surrounded by people and noise. And when you look around you, all you see are tall buildings. It’s not the same. Not the same at all. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the city.”
“Oh, I know, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” he said and I couldn’t help but wonder why such a strange look crossed his face when he said it. “There’s nothing wrong with the city. Not everyone necessarily needs to live out in the country to enjoy its beauty, but everyone should still at least experience it. At least once in their lives. Or, maybe once every few years. You know, just to take a break from the hustle and bustle. But, on the other side of the coin, people from the country should also go out and enjoy the city. The world is big and we should be experiencing it all.”
I wondered what he meant by that. Did he mean that he wanted to experience the city with me? I was too afraid to ask. The day was too perfect to ruin. Instead I turned to look at him. Our sandwiches were finished now and we were both lying on our backs, just looking up at the branches of the big tree.
“You know what I haven’t experienced yet?” I said.
“What’s that?”
“
Well, I’ve never had sex outside.” The moment I said the words, I was surprised by my bravery and forwardness, but by the way Travis was looking at me, I knew I had said the right thing.
“Is that so? Well, you’re in luck then. It’s actually part of the whole dude ranch experience.”
I giggled. “Oh yeah? I didn’t see that in brochure.”
“It’s not something we advertise. It’s a little something extra we like to give our clients. End their time with a bang, if you know what I mean…”
“Well then, I’m very glad that they are not here,” I said. “I mean… I don’t mean to sound rude or anything, but having Jackson here would’ve ruined things a bit for me.”
We laughed easily with one another and then Travis pulled me toward him. The wind picked up for a brief moment. Just enough so that a few leaves fell onto us. I laughed and didn’t even bother brushing them off me. For my first outdoor experience, this was by far exceeding my expectations. It didn’t take long for the gentle kisses to turn fervent. I stood up, and slowly took my clothes off, piece by piece, while he watched me. I couldn’t believe I was standing out in the middle of nowhere naked, the sun rays streaming down onto my body. There was nowhere to hide out here. Travis took off his own clothes and smiled up at me.
“You’re so beautiful, Harper.”
I watched as he fished a condom out of the pocket of his crumpled pants and put it on, and I didn’t bother asking him why he had one with him. The fact that he had planned for this to happen with me actually made me very happy. It was always nice to be wanted, especially since I wanted him so much too. I blushed as I felt my skin prickle at a slight breeze, then lay down on top of him, pressing my lips against his in a soft, sweet kiss as he slipped inside me. Then I sat up and straddled him so that he could see my body as I rode him. He reached up for my breasts, squeezing them in his hands while caressing my nipples, a small smile playing on his face. I closed my eyes, feeling the wind touch my face, and the warming my back as we moved in perfect rhythm with one another. For a while, I forgot where we were or how exposed we were. I knew that we were so far out there was no chance of anyone walking past. But even if someone did I wasn’t sure if I would’ve seen or heard them. I was too fully absorbed in the moment. Too happy to care.
Afterwards, he looked at me and smiled. We were still lying together without any clothes on, neither of us wanting the moment to be over.
“How was your first outdoor experience?” he asked.
I smiled. “It was perfect. Although, I do hope it’s not going to be the last.”
“I’ll be sure to add it into our schedule. Sadly, I think you’ve made Thunder very sad,” he said and pointed to the horse who had walked out into the distance with his head down. He was just eating grass but from where we were looking it really seemed like he was upset and forlorn.
“Poor thing,” I said. “I hate to break his heart.”
“Well, he’s in luck, because I think we better get moving. Are you ready to go again?”
I grinned. “Let’s do it! Also, I’ll be sure to let Mike and Allison know what a perfect host you’ve been. You really should get a raise for this.”
He laughed. “Oh, I’ve gotten a raise, all right.”
Chapter Thirty
Travis
Harper seemed to be having a good time, and there was no denying that this was the best part of my trip so far. I’d had my reservations, but I was now so glad that Mike and Allison had forced me to do this with her. It was great to get away from the rest of the group and good to relax. It was obviously good for a lot of other things too. Harper had no idea that I had never had sex outside either. I didn’t want to tell her though. I wanted her to think of me as someone more experienced than her. It had been an amazing afternoon, just riding, talking, and having sex under the cool shade of a tree. We’d been riding for quite some time now but it was getting dark, and I decided it was time to take another break. I was already impressed that she had not complained once. She seemed to take everything in her stride.
“Okay, I think we need to stop,” I said. I pointed out a place in the distance. “See that spot over there? That’s where we’re going to camp. I’ll race you.” I galloped off as heard Harper laughing as she tried to catch me.
We climbed off the horses, and I pulled out the tent that I had brought with. It wasn’t the biggest tent in the world, but there was only so much that I could carry on horseback. I still had to make space for the food and the drinks, but that was thankfully getting less the longer we were out. I saw Harper standing nervously by Thunder, and I wondered what was on her mind.
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Don’t laugh. I’ve… uh… I’ve never put up a tent before.”
I laughed and then put a hand over my mouth. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. Ah, that’s okay. It’s easy. Anyway, this is the simplest tent in the world. I hope you don’t mind but I only brought the one with. I figured it would be better to lessen the load for you to carry.”
She grinned. “You mean I have to share a tent with you?”
“It’s the price you have to pay.”
“I’ll pay it! Of course I don’t mind.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Otherwise, I would’ve had to sleep outside.”
“You might still have to,” she said. “We’ll see how the night progresses.”
I chuckled. “Oh yeah? Well, how about I put up the tent and you just watch? You see, I’m earning my stay.”
She shook her head. “I’m just kidding. You’re staying with me for sure. And as far as putting up the tent goes, I want to learn.”
I had to hand it to her; she wasn’t one to shy away from a problem. I wished I could be more like her. She seemed to take everything on as a challenge that she was determined to beat. We spent some time setting up the tent, and I chuckled at how delighted she was once it was up. She seemed very pleased with her new outdoor skills and no longer spoke about dust or her broken nails. When I told her that we were going to take a shower under the stream the next day, she actually whooped with delight. It was a far cry from the girl with the snarky bad attitude I had first seen come off the shuttle bus. One we were all set up, I put a blanket down and set up a few snacks for us. Again, it was simple food, but she seemed to take absolute pleasure in all of it.
“I sort of feel bad that Jackson isn’t here to experience this,” she said with a sigh.
“Are you sure? He might have wanted to sleep in that tent with you.”
“Well, he’s a big guy. So if it’s cold, he might’ve offered me a bit of warmth.”
I laughed. “You cut me deep, Harper. You cut me deep.”
We lay there looking up at the stars and talking about life. Every now and again I wondered if I should tell Harper the truth about what I did for a living, but every time I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I wasn’t sure why. Harper believed that I lived out here and that this way my everyday life. I was surprised at how quickly she had jumped to conclusions, but I supposed I couldn’t blame her. I could’ve come clean so many times. The longer I left it, the more I wasn’t sure how to tell her, and the more I didn’t want to. Part of me was still sure that she was only with me because of this role I had taken on. Maybe she wouldn’t like the other me, the one that was so much more like her than she realized. It made me think that I was being a bit like Jackson: simply playing the role of a cowboy. I seemed to be doing it so well that I no longer wanted to let it go. So every time the topic turned to me, I would ever so gently turn it around to her. It was so much easier when we were talking about her. Thankfully I had a lot of questions. I wanted to know everything there was to know about this beautiful and very contradictory woman.
“So, tell me about your life back home. How did you get into PR? Was that always the dream?”
“It was always fashion. Always. I used to dress up in the craziest outfits when I was younger and I would tell my parents that I was going to become a famo
us fashion designer. I was so sure of it too. But life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan. A friend of mine asked if I could help her with some PR job that she was doing. She was feeling a little overwhelmed and needed someone to lessen the load. I had just finished school, and I wanted to earn a little bit of money, so I helped her out and found out that I was pretty good at the job. More than good. I had a knack for it that I would never have known about if it wasn’t for that opportunity. Her boss hired me instantly, and I never looked back. I’m still at that same company. I love it there and don’t ever see myself leaving. At least not for a while.”
“And you don’t wish you were in fashion still?”
“Not at all. It seems crazy now to think it’s all I wanted to do, but I really am happy with the way things turned out. I can still be involved with fashion but I do it for me now and not for work. In a way that’s so much better. My job is a lot of fun. I get to meet so many interesting people and watch their companies grow from strength to strength. I love being sociable and I have always been fascinated by the connections that people have with one another. Sometimes I feel like my job is all about finding that connection. Connecting with people on a real level rather than a superficial one is what makes one company stand out from the rest. Because, trust me, there are a lot of fake people out there. It’s always a pleasure to find those that are real. So, what about you? Have you ever wanted to leave the ranch?”
I felt a little sick at the question. She’d just told me how she hated fake people and here I was being fake with her. But I held back the truth regardless. I was sure I could skirt around the question. Answer it without really giving all that much away.
“For sure,” I said. “Like I said, I believe that everyone should experience all facets of life, not just the one that was given to them to them at the start. Of course, not everyone has that luxury. But if you do, I think it’s important to take it.”
