A Love for all Time

Chapter 8: The Lake Ride

Chapter 8

The Lake Ride

I had drawn Tom a very detailed map and given him an old compass that dad had given me when I was little. We had planned to meet at of course the tree stump that we met at the following morning around 10 am. I informed Tom the ride would take us about an hour and suggested that he also bring a jacket in case the weather turned on us.

I did however suggest that should the weather be warm we might take a swin in the lake. It might a good thing to pack some swimming trunks. He grinned at me and said, "I don't think I brought any."

I grinned back at him and said, "Even better," then winked and as I turned away blushed like a school girl. I could not believe I just said that.

When I turned around with my red cheeks he just said. "Blushing never lies." He grinned then chuckled. The sound of Tom laughing was pure joy as he did so with an open heart. One could not help but be light hearted and happy. Seeing his smile how on could anyone not be happy.

I spoke with Dad to make sure the rifle I had planned to take had been all cleaned and ready just in case that cougar I'd heard about was about. Dad suggested taking one of our dogs as a look out just in case. That cougar has been a bit of a pest to one of his neighbors that kept sheep. Our dogs were trained to watch over the cattle and horses out in the fields.

I decided to take little peppy. He and I always seemed to get along and he minded well. He was an Australian Sheppard that was the typical color of black and white meshed together.

Peppy has two black ears and over one eye a large black patch while the other was in the mostly grey mix of white and black. He was not a really big dog but he was not small and his keen ears kept a good watch out. Dad told me that he had been taking peppy out with him on his rides. Most of the time dad said he had been riding Rio because Rio had a very smooth gate no matter what gate it was and with dad's bad back he really appreciated smooth gates on the horses he rode.

After breakfast that morning dad introduced me to the new stock of horses he'd gotten last spring just after my last visit. Dad had been riding a gelding name Rio. Rio was a black quarter horse with a paint father. He had a white blaze and 4 white anklet socks. Dad said he had bought him and Rio's half-brother Midnight star as a package deal.

Midnight star was also a black quarter horse gelding with a white blaze but he had two white socks all the way to the hock on the back legs. Both looked identical and were only 2 days apart. The pair had gotten very nicely trained at driving and also steady trail riding.

I took Rio out and got to him better by giving him a nice brushing and pampering session. I gave him a few sugar cubes I snuck out of mom's pantry. I loved to give the horses little treats from time to time. It seemed very funny how mom never ran out of stock on sugar cubes. Not even when I was young and would stuff a handful in my pockets before going out to do the morning chores.

I chose my favorite saddle, dad always made sure all the equipment was cared for very well. I was even able to use my own bridle it fit Rio very well. It hooked over one ear and down the side of the headpiece there was some sterling silver. The snaffle bit that I used was copper for better tasting as it kept the horses from getting to nervous.

I took Rio all saddled and bridled into the indoor arena. I wanted to try him out before I actually headed out into the wild with him. Rio had the smoothest gate I'd ever laid eyes upon. His gate was so smooth I think he could almost pass as an Paso Fino.

I took a few turns around the arena then unsaddled him and put him back in his stall for a few more hours. I needed to go pack our picnic lunch and a few other things we might need. Dad felt it necessary to give me a refresher course on how to use the rifle. I also strapped on my 9 mm pistol, this one I never rode any distance from the house without. Just in case you need that close range kind of thinks.