Natalia Andrews Chapter 3 - Surprise!

WARNING! This chapter contains strong language as well as some lovey dovey crap. If you don't like cute love stories then you shouldn't read this... you heartless witch! <3

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Sooo.....

I've been staying with JT for almost a week now.

Don't get any funny ideas! He took the couch. But, I have to admit, it has been really nice to have someone else in the house at night. He has even offered to cover my chours for me so I can spend more time with Warner. Speaking of Warner...

His leg is doing a lot better! The vet said it will probably be another month before he can do any kind of work. It’s really killing me not to ride him every day. But, at least I get to see him. JT has really been great with him as well. He goes to see Warner every morning before I even get up. Warner is really starting to like him also, which is really weird to me. Warner has never really bonded with anyone but me. But he is genuinely excited to see JT in the morning.

I had mentioned to JT that I was really itching to ride again and he offered that we could go on a trail ride with Singe and Reina. A TRAIL ride.... in a WESTERN saddle...... on WESTERN horses..... nah I think I'll pass!

"That’s fine, JT. I'm not all that comfortable in a western saddle."

"You seemed to do just fine when you went galloping off after Warner. I think you could handle a simple walking trail ride. I promise you won't fall off!" I still hated when he joked like that.

"I know I won't fall off! That's not the problem!"

"Well then what is the problem?"

"It's uh.... Um..." I couldn't come up with a good enough excuse... "Fine!"

"Great! We'll leave tomorrow morning! We can make it an all day trip!"

Wait.... what? ALL DAY?! Before I could object he was practically skipping away in excitment. What did I get myself into?...

The next day rolled around. JT had Singe and Reina tacked up just after the sun rose. "Bright an early! A beautiful day!" It's at these times when I really just wanted to punch his lights out.

"You ready to get this show on the road?" He asks in his same tune that he does everything in... Happy.

"Uh... Yeah. I guess."

I took Reina's reins from JT and flung them over Reina's head. But, they just fell to the ground. I swear JT almost had a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

"What do you find so funny? You gave me broken reins!" This was really pissing me off!

"They aren't broken. They are split reins. Here I'll show you." He explained after he caught his breathe from laughing.

He did what I could only describe as magic and before I knew it the reins were laying nicely on Reina's neck.

"You got it from here?"

"Yeah whatever. Just get on your horse," I bitched as I swung myself up in the mammoth of a saddle. I felt like I was surrounded by leather.

"I think my stirrups are a little long," And by a little I meant that I could barely reach them!

"Nope. You look good to me. You ready to hit the trail?"

Is he fucking serious? My seat feels like a fucking banana, I can't collect my reins to save my life, and I can't tell if I'm riding a horse or a recliner!

"Yup. Let’s go." I said waiting for him to lead the way.

JT starts up the conversation as we ride. The way he speaks is really kind of funny. Not just the accent but that he can just start talking and ramble on about the most random things. But, I learned that he can be kind of funny too. He told me all about his life on the Canadian rodeo circuit. It was actually really interesting. He asked me about my life in France and all about endurance riding. Before I knew it we reached a small flat meadow and JT stopped Singe and reached in his saddle bag.

"What are you doing?"

"It's lunch time! I brought a picnic!" And indeed he did. He pulled out a red and white checked blanket and a small picnic basket. I hopped of Reina and let her graze by a small fallen log. I cautiously sat on the blanket across from JT.

"Here ya go!" he said handing me a paper bag. In the bag was a ham and cheese sandwich, an apple, a bag of skittles, and a large uncut carrot. I held up the carrot and looked at him.

"It’s for the horses. They should get a treat too."

The lunch was really good! JT has really surprised me today. He isn't the back woods hick I thought he was. After lunch we packed everything up and started on the trail again. For the next few hours we rode the trails and talked about all sorts of things. No one has gotten me to open up like that since... well... that’s another story. As we approached Libertas again I started to feel a little sad. The day was drawing to an end and it was time to put the horses away. I decided then that tonight was the night I should go back to my own house. After we put the horses away JT said he would walk me back to my apartment. I made a joke about this being some kind of date. He just smiled. As the sun set it got colder and colder. I only brought a light jacket because I didn't think we would be out this late. JT saw me shivering and let me have his jacket. I accepted 'cause it was fucking freezing! As we reached my door I gave JT his jacket back. I thanked him for the nice day and he thanked me for going with him. Before I could even think he kissed me on my cheek. My jaw dropped as he backed away from me. There was no remorse or anything like that in his eyes, just a sly smile across his face.

"G'night ma'am" he said with a tip of his hat before turning around and walking straight to his apartment. Leaving me dumb founded on my front porch.

As soon as his front door closed behind him Amanda came running out of her apartment and pushed me straight into mine.

"What was that?!" she asked as giddy as a school girl.

Amanda is like my best friend in American and I can tell her everything and anything. Well almost everything. But, she must have been watching through the window. She lives right next door to me so it must have been pretty easy to see everything.

"I-I don't know." my words fumbled across my lips as i tried to regain my composer.

"You have to tell me EVERYTHING!" Amanda demanded as she pushed me down on the couch so I could start from the beginning of the day. I told her everything. From the talks we had to the surprise picnic.

"That sounds so romantic!"

"It wasn't romantic!"

"Oh come on Nat! How is a couple ride, a picnic, and a goodnight kiss not romantic? I mean you were basically living at his house for a week! You can't tell me that NOTHING happened!"

"Nothing happened, Amanda! I don't know where this is all coming from."

"But how do you feel about it?"

"I think... I think I may be falling for the Damn Cowboy..."