Racing For Love

Chapter Eighty

I'm awoken by the noise of a loud engine - unlike the roar of a race car though, this noise is coming from some sort of farm machinery, and I get up, pulling open the curtains to see a young guy loading bags of feed into the back of an ATV. When I look at the time, I realise it's later than planned - the fresh country air and being back in Jono's arms meant I slept better than I had all week.

We'd talked about looking around the ranch this morning and helping with some of the feeding duties, but it looks like that's already underway. Feeling guilty for the long lie in, I quickly pull on a pair of jeans and my new shirt before tying my hair into a ponytail, noticing the empty bed beside me and rushing down the stairs to apologise to our hosts.

"Morning Annie. Did you sleep ok?" Sylvie greets me holding out a mug of coffee for me.

"Amazing, thank you. I'm so sorry I slept in. Have I missed all the morning jobs? I heard stuff moving about out there?" I ask, sipping at the delicious coffee.

"Not at all. Our farmhand, Cody, and Pete have taken Jono to feed the livestock, and then we're going to head out on a hack."

"Really? Oh, I'm so excited ride a horse again - I've not ridden for a long time."

"Great stuff. Well, you can either go out and fill the hay nets for the horses, or help me with breakfast?" Sylvie gave me the choice, but could see my excitement to go and have a look around the yard, so shooed me out of the door.

I used to ride regularly, a long time ago. It was something I used to do with my mother - long hacks across the British countryside, or in the hills of Nice. It was a time where we would catch up, chat about what was going on with me, challenges with school, fallings out with friends or if there were any boys I fancied. I continued to ride sporadically after her death, but it was never the same.

I walked out to the stable, breathing in the scent of hay and sawdust as I looked around the large barn, which housed several stables. A horse at the stable furthest from me whickered and poked it's head over the door - the dapple grey ears wiggling back and forth at my arrival. I walked down to stroke the soft velvet nose before spotting the hay nets to fill.

I chat to my new friend, who - if his stable nameplate is correct - is called Smoky, filling the silence as I carry out my task. I'm stuffing the sweet meadow hay the last net as I hear the rumble of an engine and see the ATV make its way back into the yard.

I look up to see Jono heading in my direction. He's dusty from his escapades, and there's a light sheen of sweat across his brow. He looks incredible and it's times like these, I can't quite believe he's mine. I smile across and give him a little wave as he reaches my side, giving me a kiss on the cheek before whispering into my ear.

"This is your look, bloody hell, Ace, I want you," he smirks at me before his hand gently cups my backside, turning me towards Pete and Cody who are making their way down the building.

I wipe my dirty hands along the front of my jeans, offering my hand in greeting as Pete introduces me to Cody, and I ask how they got on with the feeding, before they both look a little sheepish - turns out Jono had asked if he could drive back, and this resulted in him nearly tipping the vehicle over. Of course he was showing off about driving, and I chastise him jokingly, before Pete tells us we need to head inside for breakfast.

As we walk back towards the farmhouse, the smell of pancakes and bacon fills my nostrils. "Oh my God," I exclaim, turning to Pete, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Only the best for our guests," he winks at me and I skip up the steps throwing my boots off before going into the kitchen, and taking another deep breath of the heady mix.