The next morning I slipped out of bed early, I got dressed, left a note for Lucas telling him that I was going to my fathers house.
The morning air was chilly, it was cloudy out and the air smelled crisp, the fall leaves made everything look so beautiful. Perfect.
I drove to my dads house, I knew he would already be gone but I wasn't really going to see him, I was going for me.
When I pulled into the driveway I drove Lucas's escalade through the yard around the back of the house, I parked in front of the barn.
When I got out of the car I walked thought the cracked sliding barn door, everything was quiet. I walked over to the stable that held my horse, ranger.
I put my hand to his face, he turned his head to me. "Good boy." I said, unlatching the stable gate.
I put the saddle and reins on him then led him out to the pasture. Before I climbed on I made sure the saddle was tight against his body.
I put my boot in the saddle then threw my leg over the other side, surprised that i had no trouble since I hadn't rode in almost a year.
When I was on I snapped the reins and ranger took off, I smiled, even though it was cold outside the wind blowing through my hair felt so refreshing.
I snapped the reins again and ranger pushed himself to go faster.
In that moment nothing mattered. I felt so disconnected, worry free. No drama.
Ranger ran around the pasture for a while, when he stopped I instantly stood up, when he didn't want me to ride anymore he would just fall onto his side, he had crushed me a few times doing it.
When he dropped to the left I let myself fall to the right, thankfully I landed on my feet. Ranger stood back up and let me lead him back to the barn.
When we got closer I could see Lucas leaning on the fence watching me. "How did you get here?"
"I picked up your new truck."
Lucas held up a key, I dropped the reins and let ranger run before I put him back into his stable.
"I didn't know you rode." He said.
"Yep." I mumbled, brushing off my jeans. "It's relaxing."
Lucas smiled. "Hot too."
I smiled back. "You think?"
I climbed over the fence.
"You really shouldn't be riding though, your head.."
I put my hand up. "Fine, lets go do something else." I said pulling Lucas close to me, he bent down to kiss me, I ducked away from him and ran to the garage.
Before Lucas walked in I pulled the string back on my compound bow, when Lucas got to the door he jumped back. "Oh my god Marie!"
I laughed. "I think the arrow is what makes it dangerous." I let go of the string. I walked over to the tool bench in the back corner of the garage and picked out 6 arrows.
I walked back out of the garage, I led Lucas around the house to the tree where Gabe and I would practice shooting our bows. It was something we both got pretty good at.
I shot all 6 arrows, all but one hit the bullseye. I handed the bow to Lucas and went to get the arrows.
Lucas did as good as I did, when he was finished we walked back to the garage. When we walked around the corner a black truck was parked next to Lucas's escalade.
"Like it?" He asked.
"It's to big." I said honestly, I would love to have a truck, but something small. Like a ranger maybe.
"Well then you take the escalade I'll keep this."
I nodded. Lucas kissed my cheek before I walked over to the escalade and got in. Lucas took off before I did.
I took my time driving home, I played country music with the window cracked, I took a blunt out of the console and lit it. When I got home I butted the blunt out and left it in the ashtray.
When I walked inside the house, I kicked my boots off and went into the kitchen to find something to munch on. Lucas said at the kitchen island with his laptop in front of him.
"What are you doing?" I asked, taking a box of Cocoa Puffs out.
Lucas turned the computer to me, I stuffed a handful of dry cereal into my mouth before I looked at the screen.
A photo of a cabin filled the screen, it was beautiful. Completely surrounded by trees, a small lake a few yards away.
"I thought it might be a little more private than Hawaii."
"It's beautiful. When can we leave?"
"Well we don't have any camping gear, so after we go shopping them come home to pack." Lucas said, closing the laptop.
I went upstairs to change my clothes, They had gotten dirty from riding today. When I was done I went back down to Lucas, I slipped my boots on and we left.
When we got to the sporting goods store, Lucas picked out most of the things we would need, my grandpa had taken me and Gabe camping every weekend back when he was alive and able. This was something I was pretty excited about.
When we were finished, Lucas paid almost $200 for the new camping gear, an employee helped Lucas load everything into the bed of his truck.
When they finished the young man stood and waited for Lucas to tip him. I climbed into the truck, Lucas opened the drivers side door.
"Dude if you are waiting for a tip, Your not getting one for looking down my girls shirt." Lucas said before he closed his door and started the truck.
I zipped up my jacket over my chest, Lucas watched me before he put the truck in drive and headed back to our house.
