Page 61 of The Facilitator, Part 2

“You know,” I pointed to mybits.

“Then maybe I need to soothe thosebitsfor you in awhile.”

“Let’s just walk. I’m sure you’ll still need to do some soothing, the seam of these jeans is causing some friction aswell.”

We continued for another hour or so, just walking and chatting. While Mackenzie pointed out wildlife, we crossed a stream, rode up a hill and down another. The sun beat down but it wasn’t unpleasant. I loved every second of our ride. We came to a river, a faster running one, and stopped under the shade of a tree, Mackenzie slid from hishorse.

“I don’t know how to get off,” Isaid.

“Feet out and swing your leg over the back of the saddle,” hesaid.

He reached up and as my knee caught on the back of the saddle and I was left dangling, he pulled me off and into his arms. He stumbled back, not expecting my less than elegant dismount. Once I was righted, I felt the ache between my thighs. I winced as I took a step into the shade of thetree.

“It feels good to get off,” I said. I lowered myself so my back was against thetrunk.

Mackenzie let the horses graze. “Won’t they run off?” Iasked.

“No, well, saying that, they haven’t before. Something could spook them, I guess.” He settled besideme.

“What would we dothen?”

“Walk, wait forhelp.”

“No one will know where we are,” I said, feeling a little panic rising in my voice, and trying to remember if I’d read about any wild man-eating animals in this part ofAmerica.

“Well, then I’d just call them,” he said, laughing. “We’re not out in the sticks and we haven’t been transported back to the eighteen hundreds, either.” He waved his mobile phone atme.

I snuggled up against his side. He draped his arm around my shoulders and we just sat for amoment.

“I can’t imagine leaving somewhere like this for dreary old London,” Isaid.

“If I hadn’t, I would never have met you, would I?” He pulled me tighter tohim.

“I can’t tell you how glad I am for that night,” Iwhispered.

“You do, every day you’re withme.”

We fell silent and just watched the horses. I could feel my eyelids start to close and I fought against it. I yawned, unsuccessfully hiding it fromMackenzie.

“We should head back. Vivienne wants us to dine with her, but I’ve said we need to head out to my house. I want to spend the night there, we’ll go see my dad in themorning.”

He pulled me to my feet and in the most ungainly, comical way, he pushed my bottom until I was lying over poor Murphy. Eventually, I managed to get myself into a sitting position. Mackenzie shook out his wrist, warding off a strainedmuscle.

“Maybe horse riding isn’t for you,” he said, with alaugh.

We followed the stream, which took us directly back to the house. After handing the horses over to Jack, and giving Murphy a kiss on his whiskery nose, I waddled into the house where we met with a disappointed Vivienne after being told we weren’t staying. When Mackenzie had told her he wanted me to see his childhood home, she perked up a little. Of course, we’d be back for Gabriella and Alex’s party, he assuredher.

Our suitcases were back outside on the veranda and a red car stood on the drive. Mackenzie loaded our cases on the back seat and patted the bonnet at he ran around the car to open the passenger door forme.

“Wow, what a stunning car,” Isaid.

“It’s a 1966 Mustang. She’s called Karen,” he said, stroking the bonnetlovingly.

I’d heard of the Ford Mustang, of course, but I was guessing this was a special car for Mackenzie. I’d never heard of anyone calling their car by a female name,though.

“Is it yours?” Iasked.

“It was my mom’s originally, and she named her before you ask. It sat in a barn for years just rusting away, until I had itrebuilt.”