Beauty and The Geek

Horseback Riding

***
Clove

"Hey, Cato." I say to him as he fastens the girth on the saddle around the horse. Or at least I think he said it was a girth.

"Hey," he looks up, smiling. The horse snorts, stomping its hooves on the floor. "Easy, boy." Cato holds his hands out and pets the animal's snout and neck, causing the horse to calm down. "Good boy."

I laugh and look out the stable doors. "It's snowing." I say, my brows furrowed.

Cato shrugs. "What's it matter?" He hoists himself onto the horse. "Hop on."

My eyes grow wide. "What?" I say, surprised at his offer.

"Come on," he says, gesturing me with a flick of his head to get on. "He won't bite." I attempt to climb on and fail, falling on my butt on the floor. He chuckles, "Here, I'll help you." He slides down off the horse and picks me up off the ground and sets me on the horse's back. "There you go." He climbs on the animal again.

"Thanks," I say as I push a strand of hair behind my ear.

"You're welcome." He smiles at me. "Tsk-tsk," he beckons the horse to move; the horse obeys, moving slowly. "Hold on."

I wrap my arms around his stomach. "Where are we going?" I ask curiously.

"You'll see." He says, looking back at me. The horse snorts again. "Wow, boy. No need to get huffy and puffy." He laughs, earning a giggle from me.

"What's his name?"

"Huh? Oh, the horse. Dad hasn't named him, yet. He's still trying to figure that out."

"He's beautiful." I pet the plain white coat of the animal.

"Yeah," he says.

"So... " I say. "How long were you planning on keeping that secret?"

"Hm?" He asks.

"You know. You being actually really smart."

He shrugs. "For as long as I could." He says. "Close your eyes." He commands and I obey.

"What are you-" I start, laughing.

"Just wait."

I giggle, "Okay."

"Now."

I open my eyes and gasp in astonishment. "It's beautiful!" I exclaim quietly. It's a snow-covered meadow with a creek running through it with a waterfall at the end of the creek.

"Yeah," -he slides down off the horse- "it is." He offers his hand to me -which I genuinely take- and slide off the horse too. "Come on," he grabs the reins and begins walking with the horse. "I'll tie him up where he can get water." We walk to a tree beside the creek. "Here you go, boy." He ties the reins to the tree and gives him a few cubes of sugar. "Shall we?" He asks, smiling at me.

I smile back. "We shall." We begin walking along side of the creek together.

"I love coming here," he says.